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A Simon Ford double against Ayr United gave 10-man Kilmarnock a 3-1 derby win - their first since 1994 - and sealed a trip to Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the fifth round of the Homecoming Scottish Cup.

Bryan Prunty controversially put the Second Division side ahead in the 10th minute of an enthralling fourth-round replay at Rugby Park when he appeared to use a hand to knock the ball past Killie keeper Alan Combe.

Ford (pictured, right, with boss Jim Jeffries) headed the equaliser four minutes after the break and, after David Fernandez was shown a straight red card for appearing to strike Ayr defender Martyn Campbell, Mehdi Taouil put the home side into the lead before Ford added a third with another header.

Killie boss Jim Jefferies said: "We wound David (Fernandez) up and said it was the best thing that could have happened.

"He said he didn't touch him [Campbell], but my first impression was 'you're off' - he swung an arm, and it was really silly. But passions run high in derby matches.

"Simon deserves a lot of credit for clinching it for us.

"We did it the hard way and continued to do what we were doing - and we got the goals.

"Down to 10 men, we were superb. We were the better team tonight, and that showed. But they were dogged and had something to hold on to.

"I think we deserved to be through to the next round but I hope they [Ayr] go on and get promoted - because they caused us problems in the two games."

Ayr boss Brian Reid said: "We held our own for long spells, but superior finishing at the end cost us.

"We've defended well most of the season, but I said to the lads tonight 'you have got to be even more focused'.

"There were a couple of great deliveries. But we switched off, and to lose goals in that manner is disappointing.

"We certainly worked very hard but we'll learn from this. There are a lot of young boys in the team, and I hope this can help further their careers too."

Sporting Life / Eurosport