A moment of madness from Inverness substitute Zander Sutherland allowed Kilmarnock to claim a 4-3 victory in a thrilling Bank of Scotland Premier League encounter at the Caledonian Stadium.

Two first-half Darren Dods goals, either side of strikes by Steven Naismith and Colin Nish, had been added to by Craig Dargo from the penalty spot to give Thistle a half-time lead.

But Nish equalised early in the second period for the Rugby Park side.

However, less than a minute after replacing Barry Wilson, Sutherland pushed Naismith in the back to allow the Killie forward to hit the winner from the spot in the 68th minute.

Inverness had taken the game to Kilmarnock from the start and, in the fourth minute, goalkeeper Graeme Smith had to make an outstanding save to tip the ball over after Dargo's shot took a deflection off Grant Murray.

However, Smith could do nothing to stop Dods' opening goal two minutes later when the defender lashed the ball into the top corner of the net after connecting with a Wilson free-kick.

Dennis Wyness drew a good save from Smith after a flowing counter-attack by the home side.

Kilmarnock's revival began as Naismith forced the ball over the line after Gordon Greer helped on a Garry Hay corner.

Only six minutes later, Killie took an undeserved lead when Paul Di Giacomo squared for Nish to wrong-foot Inverness goalkeeper Mark Brown from close range.

However, the Highlanders immediately surged back into contention with a Wyness header which struck the post.

And, in the 39th minute, Caley restored parity through Dods.

The home captain was enjoying his return from suspension and scored his second of the afternoon when Smith fumbled a John Rankin free-kick into the defender's path.

Then, in the 45th minute, Inverness retook the lead in a remarkable game courtesy of a Dargo penalty, after Nish was punished for blocking a Dods shot with his hand.

The former Kilmarnock striker blazed over from the spot in the loss at Tannadice, but showed great composure to drive the ball into the top right-hand corner of Smith's goal.

Within five minutes of the restart, Kilmarnock were back level though as Di Giacomo exploited space down the left wing and, from his low cross, Nish finished expertly from six yards out.

The next chance fell to the home side as Grant Munro advanced forward to pick out Ian Black with a cross and, from the midfielder's glancing header, Smith made a strong save.

Caley boss Charlie Christie attempted to inject some life into his side in the 67th minute by introducing winger Sutherland - but the move backfired in spectacular fashion.

After taking to the field, Sutherland almost immediately pushed Naismith in the area to concede a penalty.

And the Scotland Under-21 international picked himself up to drive the ball past Brown from 12 yards.

Nish should have completed his hat-trick with nine minutes remaining but somehow shot over from only six yards.

However, Kilmarnock held on to record a hard-fought win in a remarkable match.

Teams:

Inverness CT Brown, Tokely (Bayne 74), Dods, Munro,Hastings (McCaffrey 46), Wilson (Sutherland 66), Black, Rankin,McBain, Dargo, Wyness.

Subs Not Used: Fraser, Morgan, Duncan, McAllister.

Booked: Wyness, Dargo.

Goals: Dods 6, 39, Dargo 45 pen.

Kilmarnock Smith, Greer, Frazer Wright, Grant Murray, Hay,Fowler, Invincibile, Johnston (Ford 85), Nish, Naismith,Di Giacomo.

Subs Not Used: Harpur, Wales, Dodds, Leven, Hamill, Campbell.

Booked: Frazer Wright, Hay.

Goals: Naismith 29, Nish 35, 50, Naismith 68 pen.

Att: 3,728

Ref: J Underhill (Scotland).