Ross County 2-2 Kilmarnock: Ross Stewart penalty earns point for Staggies

Chris Burke scores for third game in a row for Killie

Ross County's Ross Stewart scores a penalty to make it 2-2 against Kilmarnock. Picture: SNS

Ross Stewart’s 80th-minute penalty earned Ross County a 2-2 draw against Kilmarnock.

Ross Draper had put the home side in front after 15 minutes, before a much-improved Killie side came out firing at the start of the second half. Alan Power’s strike on the hour mark was backed up by Chris Burke in the 66th minute, putting Kilmarnock in pole position to claim a first win of the season, but Stewart denied them.

County were the in-form side going into the match, and their confidence on the ball was clear to see.

They could have gone ahead inside a minute, when Michael Gardyne received a short free-kick on the left side of the box and whipped a cross towards Draper, whose poke towards goal was not enough to trouble Danny Rogers.

Kilmarnock did not have the same swagger on the ball as their hosts, and County finally went ahead in the 15th minute through yet another set-piece.

Josh Mullin played it short to Iain Vigurs and quickly received it back, crossing first time where Draper had found enough space to head past Rogers and into the far corner.

The visitors had to come out for the second half improved if they were to stand a chance of taking anything back to Rugby Park, and Burke went close with a free-kick.

They were looking much livelier and got their reward on the hour mark when Power received the ball in acres of space before slotting past Ross Laidlaw to level. Power turned provider six minutes later when he slipped Burke into a dangerous area, and ignoring the defenders’ appeals for offside the winger smashed the ball into the roof of the net for this third goal in three games.

County forward Stewart had the final say from the penalty spot when Burke was pulled up for handball, and he made no mistake from 12 yards.

County’s unbeaten start to the season – and Killie’s winless one – continues.