Kilmarnock 1-1 Gretna

Apr 27 2008 Jordan Costello At Rugby Park

CRAIG BARR smashed home a late equaliser to grab a point for Gretna then revealed stand-in boss Mick Wadsworth is switching his side every week to showcase his players to other clubs. With their top earners shipped out when the administrators were called in and a skeleton squad left to try and see out the season many expected Gretna's remaining games to be a stroll in the park for their SPL opponents.

But the remnants of the squad at the already relegated Borderers are putting up surprisingly fierce resistance and are now unbeaten in their last three games.

And Barr believes the secret lies in the fact Wadsworth is willing to rotate the team and place all the players in the shop window.

The defender said: "We have made changes all over the pitch and the players who came in did a perfectly good job.

"The boss says we have to make changes and it doesn't matter about performances. That showed against Killie as the ones on the bench are the ones who have been most consistent recently.

"The boss is doing the right thing by giving everyone an equal opportunity to show what they can do and hopefully find a new club next season.

"I was glad to score but again we showed great spirit to battle on to get a point after losing a goal.

"To be unbeaten in three games is great given all that's been going on off the pitch.

"Maybe six months ago our heads might have gone down and the floodgates would have opened after losing the opener.

"But when we lost the goal to Killie, that was when we started playing."

The home side dominated the early possession but struggled to create any meaningful chances against the relegated side.

Paul Dalglish, making his first start in a season plagued by injuries, was trying to make things happen and in 13 minutes swung over a cross looking for Danny Invincibile - but the Aussie couldn't get enough on the header.

Killie defender Tim Clancy's afternoon was brought to an early end seconds laterwhen he collapsed clutching his knee before being carried off with Grant Murray replacing him.

Jim Jefferies' side had a great opportunity to open the scoring soon after when Garry Hay picked up a loose ball and put Iain Flannigan through on goal.

However the wideman tried to go round Artur Krysiak and the Polish keeper got down to nick the ball away from his feet.

Just before the break Killie nearly took the lead when Flannigan's free-kick picked out David Lilley who was lurking at the back post but his low header was well saved by Krysiak.

But in 57 minutes the home side finally made the breakthrough after Invincible ended a surging run by playing a superb cut-back to Flannigan.

His strike was brilliantly saved by Krysiak but Spanish striker David Fernandez fired home the rebound.

Gretna hit back straight away and should have had a penalty when Gavin Skelton's blocked shot spun back and clearly hit Dalglish's arm but referee Euan Norris waved play on.

Killie then had a penalty shout of their own turned down when Invincibile's attempted cross crashed off Barr's arm.

The home side nearly added a second when Flannigan's free-kick found the head of Lilley who diverted the ball into the six-yard box but Invincibile couldn't reach it to stab home.

Then in 74 minutes Gretna stunned Killie when Skelton's corner found Barr.

The defender headed an effort off the bar but the ball broke back to him and he slammed it home.

Invincible almost won it at the death when he blasted in an effort from point-blank range but Krysiak did brilliantly to turn it over.

MATCH STATS

SHOTS ON 5

SHOTS OFF 6

OFFSIDE 6

FOULS 13

CORNERS 7

BOOKINGS 0

SHOTS ON 1

SHOTS OFF 4

OFFSIDE 1

FOULS 12

CORNERS 3

BOOKINGS 0

REF WATCH

EUAN NORRIS was enjoying a quiet afternoon with no big calls to make until the second half when it all went wrong for him and he failed to award both sides a penalty for blatant hand balls. Rating: 5/10