KILMARNOCK boss Allan Johnston refused to be too downhearted after the defeat in Inverness, the club's first of the season.

They had won their previous four games before coming to the Highlands, including a last-ditch win over neighbours Ayr United in the SPFL League Cup in midweek.

"We've got to learn from it," Johnston said.

"Inverness is always a difficult place to go and we'll have to improve our standards from how we did today.

"We'll not take it to heart as we knew we were going to be in for a difficult game."

Dean Brill, the Inverness goalkeeper, did not have a save to make throughout the 90 minutes and the home defence comfortably dealt with the aerial threat of Michael Ngoo and Josh Magennis.

The result continued the Ayrside side's poor run in Inverness, where they have not won since December 2010.

"I just thought we were a bit sluggish across the park," said Johnston, whose team had started the day in fourth. "We weren't playing the ball like we have been since the start of the season.

"I don't think there were a lot of chances from both teams - certainly not any clear-cut ones.

"We switched off for the first goal and couldn't really do much about the second. It was a wonder strike.

"We didn't pass the ball and create as many chances as we have been doing."