DEREK McInnes made a winning start as Kilmarnock manager, sweeping aside Queen of the South 2-0 at Palmerston Park.

The Ayrshire side travelled south sitting fourth in the cinch Championship, five points off surprise leaders Arbroath with a game in hand. They travelled back up the A76 third, two points off the summit and with the chance to go top when they take on Partick Thistle on Friday.

This result came against a side struggling at the bottom, fixtures his predecessor took care of. It was against fellow promotion hopefuls where they struggled. Tommy Wright left unbeaten in nine Championship matches versus bottom-six sides. In contrast, he mustered just one win and one draw from eight attempts against top-half sides.

"It was good to wake up this morning having that feeling of game day again,” said McInnes “Three o'clock on a Saturday is still the best time of the week.

“I though the performance today, first half, was terrific,” said McInnes. “There was a lot of what we’re looking for from the game: twin-striker play, that movement, plenty crosses into the box.

"We were just guilty of not putting the ball in the net which brought a sense of frustration in the first half.

"It was good to see the boys and start with three points.”

Killie displayed their intent from the off in the sharp winter sunshine when Oli Shaw fired over in the second minute following a well-worked move – McInnes encouraging from the sides as it progressed. From there they barely relented until the break.

Shaw was playing in a front two, in back-three system, as McInnes made four changes to the line-up. Strike partner Scott Robinson was dropping deep and attempting round-the-corner passes, one of which sent Chris Burke, playing as wingback, down the line. His cutback was cut out by Queens defender Josh Debayo, one of many desperate attempts to keep the ball out the net.

Not half as desperate as his centre-half partner Euan East who cleared the ball off the line twice within seconds, first from Rory McKenzie then from Burke.

Queens gradually found their footing after a switch to a back three. The most they could muster though were two decent efforts from Josh Todd – one which fired viciously over, the other bounced desperately past the post.

When the opening goal came minutes before the break it had been long overdue. Burke’s corner, one of seven in the first half, was met by a tremendous Shaw leap, the ball crashed off the post and captain Chris Stokes emerged from the pack to finish from close range.

The Dumfries side were much improved in a less eventful second half. Todd continued to look their most dangerous player and was getting a fair bit of joy up against Lee Hodson and exploiting the space left by Burke.

They tightened at the back too, but McInnes’ men always looked the more likely to get the next goal, with Stephen McGinn firing over from outside the box and Shaw forcing a low save from Rae in another effort from range.

Johnston threw on Ben Liddle and Ally Roy in an attempt to make a breakthrough but the Killie rearguard stood firm and Zach Hemming’s ability wss rarely tested other than his catching. With Innes Cameron ineligible against his parent club, they were toothless in attack.

The game was over as a contest when Roberto Nditi felled Shaw as he was advancing into the box in the 71st minute. However the challenge appeared to have taken place outside the box. The striker got up to send the keeper the wrong way from the spot.

The Queens manager conceded his side didn’t start well but was frustrated with the decision after another went against them versus Hamilton the week before.

“In the second half, we came into the game. All right, we weren’t much of a goal threat but at 1-0 you always have a chance of getting something out of the game against good quality opposition.

"It's never a penalty in a million years,” said Johnston. “He's pulled him outside the box. That's two weeks in a row here the refs have made shocking decisions.

"The second goal kills it."