Inverness remain unbeaten away from home in the Scottish Premier League after inflicting Kilmarnock's third consecutive defeat with a controversial 2-1 victory at Rugby Park.
The visitors took a 42nd-minute lead through Adam Rooney's penalty, the award disputed by Kilmarnock amid claims Momo Sissoko's contact on Russell Duncan was minimal.
Kilmarnock dominated the start of the second half, but Johnny Hayes caught Frazer Wright in possession and finished well to make it 2-0 in the 66th minute before substitute Rui Miguel got one back for Kilmarnock with a diving header.
The match needed something to bring it alive following a stale opening half and it came with the controversial award of a penalty in the 42nd minute for a Sissoko challenge on Duncan.
Any contact looked minimal and the stadium erupted into jeers at referee Euan Norris's decision to give a spot-kick, converted neatly by Rooney.
Kilmarnock missed a fine opportunity a minute into the second half, Alexei Eremenko's clever ball over the top putting Conor Sammon clean through, but his lobbed effort bounced wide after defeating Ryan Esson.
An unimpressed Eremenko decided the best option was to go for goal himself with Kilmarnock's next attempt, but while he struck his 25-yard shot powerfully it fizzed wide of the mark.
Kilmarnock looked as if they had a goal in them, but their finishing continued to be wasteful as, first Ben Gordon missed his kick from another Eremenko pass, then Craig Bryson screwed an effort wide when well-placed.
Inverness had done little more than absorb pressure in the second half, but doubled their lead on 66 minutes when Hayes seized on some slack play from Wright to dart beyond him and finish confidently.
Kilmarnock were not done yet, however, and on 75 minutes they had a goal back, Harry Forrester's cross from the right met by a diving header by fellow substitute Miguel to spark hopes of a comeback, however, Inverness held on to preserve their unbeaten away record.
Source: PA
