A goal in the dying seconds of the first half by midfielder Peter Canero gave Kilmarnock a narrow victory over Partick Thistle.

Most of the play in the opening 45 minutes had been energetic rather than skilful and the fans were starved of goalmouth incidents in either box.

However, with only seconds to go before the interval, the Scotland Under-21 international popped up to drive a low 20-yard shot through a ruck of players and into the corner of the net.

After the break the visitors huffed and puffed to get back on level terms but could not break down the resolute Kilmarnock defence, who held firm under some heavy pressure.

The original fixture between these two teams had been called off due to freezing weather conditions last week but the re-arranged match began at a red-hot pace.

And it was the home side who nearly took the lead in the third minute when, following a lucky deflection, Jamie Fowler found himself with only Kenny Arthur to beat in the Thistle goal.

The Killie midfielder slid his angled shot under Arthur's body but the ball bounced off the inside of the post before being cleared to safety.

Thistle striker Alex Burns was proving a thorn in the side of the Kilmarnock defence and in the 19th minute his deep cross from the left found David Lilley at the back post.

But with a goal looking certain, the Jags wing-back suffered stage fright and blasted the ball wide and high past Killie keeper Colin Meldrum's left-hand post.

There was little between the teams but in the 34th minute the home side missed a great chance to open the scoring.

After good work by Gary McDonald inside the Jags' box, the youngster laid the ball on a plate for Gary McSwegan only 10 yards from goal but the ex-Hearts striker side-footed his shot wide.

However, just on the half-time whistle the home side eventually took the lead. After a spell of heavy pressure, McSwegan laid off the ball to the edge of the box to the unmarked Canero who drove a low shot through a crowd and into the corner of the net.

After the interval the visiting side, fuelled by the sense of injustice at losing such a late first-half goal, came out determined to get back on level terms.

But they could not penetrate the Killie defence and in the 53rd minute the home side nearly doubled their lead.

Young midfielder Gary McDonald was tackled by Jags defender Alan Archibald just as he set himself to shoot and from the loose ball, McSwegan's close range shot was blocked by Arthur.

Moments later, with the home side going for the kill, Alan McLaren's attempted lob from wide on the left went past Arthur's left-hand post.

Moments later, McLaren's free header from 16 yards, after a good cross by Fowler, went narrowly over the crossbar.

At the other end, Martin Hardie's goalbound looping header from 12 yards was put past the post at the expense of a corner by the impressive Meldrum.

As the game entered its closing stages the Maryhill men were increasing their pressure on the Killie goal but the home side held firm, although at times their defending was desperate rather than comfortable.

In the 87th minute Killie defender Barry McLaughlin and-team mate Fowler got into a tangle at the edge of their own penalty area which led to yet another Partick corner but once again the Firhill men failed to capitalise.

Teams

Kilmarnock Meldrum, McLaughlin, Innes, Dindeleux (Locke 51), Fowler, McDonald, Fulton, Mahood, Canero, McSwegan (Boyd 68), McLaren (Di Giacomo 88).

Subs Not Used: Stewart, Hay.

Booked: Fulton.

Goals: Canero 45.

Partick Arthur, Craigan, Paterson, McGowne, Lilley, Buchan (Fleming 82), Rowson, Hardie, Archibald, Burns, Elliot (Mitchell 62).

Subs Not Used: Budinauckas, Waddell, Howie.

Booked: Hardie, Mitchell.

Att: 5,651

Ref: I Brines (Scotland).