The locals are unhappy but that is, despite some late pressure and one heart stopping moment, a deserved win for Thistle. 

Thistle clear the ball down field. 

Heart stopping moment as Sneddon gets enough of a hand to a header to take it on to the post. 

Into injury time. Would expect a good few minutes of that. 

Murray gets the ball beyond the Thistle defence but it is straight at Sneddon who safely saves. 

Kilmarnock have a free kick about 30 yards from the Thistle goal in a position slightly to the left of centre. 

Sneddon needs a couple of attempts to grab hold of a Murray cross at his front post but is successful in preventing a corner. 

Sneddon catches a bouncing ball at the edge of his penalty box. 

Shaw makes a near post run to reach a cross from the left but he can't keep his shot down and Thistle have a goal kick. 

With the rain lashing down and the wind swirling Thistle are getting forced back and made to defend. 

Tiffoney is another player who has contributed much today and he is replaced by Ross MacIver. 

Thistle do a good job of defending the corner and play will restart with a Jags goal kick. 

More Kilmarnock appeals for handball and a penalty but they have to settle for a corner. 

We're into the final ten minutes here at Rugby Park. Thistle still leading by a goal to nil. 

Murray's cross is far too close to Sneddon who grabs the ball close to his body. 

It's been a fantastic shift from Rudden but his afternoon is now at an end. 

There is a strong shout for handball against Holt and a Kilmarnock penalty. Looked a good shout from our angle. 

We'd normally be reaching the full-time mark about now but there are still 15 minutes, plus injury-time, to be played after the late start to the second half. 

Tiffoney finds Smith at the edge of the box but Smith can't find a route past Hemming who makes a comfortable save. 

Turner's attempted pass for Rudden is just overhit allowing Hemming to gather. 

The Kilmarnock fans shout for a penalty for what is unclear though. 

Rudden is able to evade a Kilmarnock challenge but from the edge of the box his shot is blocked and spins clear. 

Burke is able to collect a quickly taken Kilmarnock throw but he doesn't get enough bend on his shot and drifts wide of Sneddon's right hand post. 

Smith gathers a Rudden flick and advances to the edge of the box where he shoots wide of goal. 

Thistle make their first change of the afternoon. 

Tiffoney is able to work the ball to Turner to his right but the ball won't sit for Turner to manage a shot on goal. 

We've reached the hour mark with Thistle still a goal ahead. Don't forget we are running 16 minutes late in the second half. 

Hendry has a shot from 15 yards that goes over Sneddon's bar. Sneddon is warned by the referee over the time it is taking him to take the goal kick. 

McGinn lifts the free kick high into the Thistle box where it seems to hang in the wind making it difficult to clear. Foster does eventually step in to clear. 

Docherty clips the heels of McKenzie and Kilmarnock have a free kick on the left hand side. 

A Tiffoney shot is blocked at the edge of the box. 

Docherty is fouled midway inside the Kilmarnock half. 

Akinola's knock down from Turner's corner doesn't drop in front of a Thistle player and is cleared. 

A full 16 minutes late, due to an injury to one of the assistant referees and time to prep a replacement, we are finally back underway. 

Thistle lead at the break courtesy of Zak Rudden's early goal. 

A real threat on the counter attack Thistle can count themselves not to be further ahead, Hemming twice making important saves to deny Bannigan. 

At the other end the home side came closest to an equalising with a curling effort from Polworth that went just wide of Sneddon's right hand post. 

Into first half injury time. 

Docherty is back on. 

Docherty has to go off for treatment for a cut to his face. Thistle down to ten men for now. 

Kilmarnock look for a free kick but the referee waves play on and Polworth collects the ball near the edge of the box and his shot just curls wide of Sneddon's right hand post. 

Thistle again open up Kilmarnock on the counter attack. Rudden has the ball inside the penalty box and has two options, to shoot for goal, himself or cut back for Tiffoney. He opts for the latter but his execution is poor and the ball goes behind Tiffoney. 

Polworth floats a free kick into the Thistle box that McKenzie sticks a foot out at but that takes the ball over Sneddon's bar though not with much to spare. 

Armstrong's corner is far too deep and goes out for a throw on the far side. 

It's a decent corner from Turner that finds the head of Holt but his header drops a yard or so wide of goal. 

Turner's corner is cleared by the home side though the ball is sliced out of play for a Thistle throw. 

A superb Thistle counter attack nearly produces a second goal. Murray threads a pass through to Bannigan whose shot is saved by Hemming. 

Tiffoney whips over a cross that is only partially cleared as far as Docherty at the edge of the box. His shot breaks to Turner who shoots but it is an easy save for Hemming low to his left. 

Rudden forces Naismith into an error but can't find a Thistle player with his low cross across the face of the Kilmarnock goal. 

Armstrong has space on the ball inside the Thistle box but his touch is poor and Thistle are able to clear. 

Murray shows excellent close control and draws a foul winning Thistle a free kick on the right hand side. 

It's been anything but an uneventful start to the game but this corner is easily enough dealt with. 

It takes a fine stop from Hemming to keep out Bannigan's low free kick. 

It's only a yellow card for Waters for his foul on Rudden. With Rudden looking set to have a clear sight of goal he is lucky to escape a red and point that Rudden makes to the far side assistant. 

Rudden looks to set to be clean on goal again and is fouled about a yard outside the box. 

Kilmarnock work a low corner to the very edge of the Thistle box but it is cleared and Murray tries to break down the right hand side. 

Mayo makes an important clearance from a dangerous cross from Naismith. 

There's a half chance for Kilmarnock when the ball spins to Armstrong at the edge of the box but his shot is too high. 

What a start for Thistle! Kilmarnock look frantically for an offside flag that doesn't come and Rudden is clear inside the box and he deftly beats Hemming and Thistle have an early lead. 

Kilmarnock get the game underway. Thistle will be shooting towards the travelling army of Thistle fans in the first half. 

Ian McCall has made two changes to his starting eleven for today's visit to league leaders Kilmarnock. 

Kyle Turner and Connor Murray start this afternoon with Cammy Smith and Brian Graham dropping to the bench. 

On the bench there is a welcome return from injury for Harry Stone.