CRAIG SAMSON reckons some half-time words of encouragement from boss Allan Johnston were the catalyst to Kilmarnock's Firhill fightback on Saturday.

The visitors were 1-0 down at the break after Kallum Higginbotham gave Partick Thistle an early lead but Robbie Muirhead rescued a point after Paul Gallacher had saved Kris Boyd's late penalty.

It is the second time Killie have come from behind to draw in Glasgow this season and keeper Samson was delighted with their second half response as the Jags were left distraught.

He said: "The boss had a few words with us at half time and that did the trick.

"Thistle battered us in the first half and then we came out in the second half and did really well and it was the same result both times.

"Maybe it evened itself out but they will maybe feel aggrieved that we scored and also how we scored.

"I thought young Greg Kiltie came on and did really well on what was his 17th birthday. He made a massive impact for us.

"I think we showed a bit of character in the second half and we pushed hard and luckily for us we got the goal at the end."

Johnston had to replace 19-year-old Chris Johnston at the break as he struggled to make an impact and the manager felt the fresh-faced winger and his young colleagues like Craig Slater and Muirhead did not get the support they needed from their own fans.

"This is a big point for us," he said. "The boys showed a lot of character to come back, especially because I don't think they got the backing they deserved to be honest."