Jim Jefferies hailed his side after Kilmarnock produced a stunning comeback against Inverness to secure their third consecutive SPL home win.Ian Black put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot in the 14th minute but Frazer Wright tapped home the equaliser in the 38th minute after Iain Flannigan's free-kick fell into his path having hit the post.

Man of the match Craig Bryson fired his side ahead after 51 minutes before the former Clyde midfielder's shot was deflected off Phil McGuire past stranded goalkeeper Michael Fraser five minutes later.

Flannigan added a fourth after 64 minutes at Rugby Park and Jefferies was delighted with the stylish manner of their performance, suggesting he may not have as much surgery to perform on his squad as he had been planning.

He said: "We were very annoyed about a soft penalty award which was just a clash and nothing more but we picked ourselves up and in spells in the first half passed the ball really well.

"We played far too many long balls which played into their hands though and I emphasised at half-time we needed to get the ball down and pass it.

"That's what happened in the second half and when we got the third goal suddenly everyone wanted to get on the ball.

"Some of the quality of the play in the lead up to the goals and other chances was terrific.

"David Fernandez benefited from playing quite well last week and really caused them problems today. His hold-up play was excellent.

"We also had Craig Bryson driving forward from the middle of the park - he's always a threat - and young Iain Flannigan and Tim Clancy can be pleased with their performances too.

"They were given a chance today and they grabbed it with both hands. It was terrific to put on a performance like that. The whole team can be pleased of their showing.

"Maybe what has happened with Gretna has enabled us to relax a bit more and we just want to maintain the consistency of performance for the rest of the season and finish as high up the table as possible.

"The challenge is there for the players to make sure they are here next season and if they keep performing like they did today maybe I won't have as much work to do in the summer."

Inverness boss Craig Brewster lamented his side's defending as well as their lack of punch up front after a lacklustre second-half effort in Ayrshire.

Caley Thistle have not won in the league since January 5 - which was against lowly Gretna - and the defeat at Rugby Park was their sixth consecutive defeat.

He said: "It was extremely disappointing, especially in the second half. I thought we played fairly well in the first half without never really troubling Alan Combe.

"But I thought we were up for it and played some decent stuff. We scored the goal but then they got the free-kick and I think it just hit Frazer Wright after coming back off the post.

"In the second half it was one-way traffic for long spells and every time they went up the field they looked like scoring.

"We didn't stop crosses coming in, we didn't close enough in midfield and they passed it round us.

"The goals early in the second half certainly gave them a lift and we didn't really look like scoring a second and that was disappointing.

"We spoke about the need for goals before the game having just scored four in nine games and although we got one from the penalty spot you've got to trouble defences more and create more chances."

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