Football: BRYSON: I'M JUST A KOP-Y CAT.

Byline: GAVIN BERRY at Rugby Park

KILMARNOCK 4

INVERNESS CT 1

GOAL hero Craig Bryson reckons he's turned into a goal machine by nicking trade secrets from Premiership aces Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard.

The former Clyde star hit his second double in recent weeks as Killie thrashed Caley to move within two points of the Highlanders.

Watching two of the best in the business seems to be doing the trick for Bryson who led the Ayrshire side to their third successive home victory.

Bryson said: "I like watching Gerrard and Lampard and I try to play the way they play.

"They're quality players and I go out to copy them.

"I watch their games on TV and learn from them as they've mastered my position. I'm an attacking midfielder but I didn't score too many when I first arrived. However, I got two against Aberdeen the other week and another two here so I'm happy."

Bryson's strikes early in the second half sent the home side on their way to three points after they had fallen behind to an Ian Black penalty.

Frazer Wright cancelled out the opener and Iain Flannigan completed the rout.

Caley arrived at Rugby Park on a poor run and but were ahead in 12 minutes.

The Kilmarnock defence failed to clear the ball as it bobbled around their box before Ross Tokely was sent tumbling to the ground by Wright and referee Stephen Finnie pointed to the spot.

Black stepped up with confidence and coolly slotted home as he sent Alan Combe the wrong way.

Caley had another decent penalty shout when Tim Clancy tried to pull Black down to stop the midfielder's run but this time the whistler was having none of it.

Killie levelled seven minutes before the break with centre-half Wright making amends for his mistake.

Black chopped down Danny Invincibile and Flannigan's free-kick hit the post and fell nicely for Wright to tap home.

Jefferies and his No. 2 Billy Brown were furious with Finnie and Brown was warned for backchat on the stroke of half-time.

The Killie bosses had every reason to be unhappy on the restart when Finnie denied their side a stonewall penalty when Roy McBain handled Flannigan's shot on the line after Fernandez's chip was pushed away by keeper Michael Fraser.

Finnie looked to have a perfect view of the incident yet incredibly turned the claim down.

Justice was done when Killie stormed in front moments later with Bryson firing in a low shot that Fraser should have saved.

Minutes later it was three as Bryson's strike deflected off Phil McGuire into the net.

The Rugby Park men added a fourth when Flannigan bagged his first for the club, lashing into the roof of the net from Fernandez's cutback.

Jefferies was delighted with the three points. He said: "Caley started the better side and we were a bit annoyed by what we thought was a soft penalty award to go behind.

But we picked ourselves up.

"Once we got the third goal the confidence was high and everyone was wanting the ball. Some of the quality of our play was terrific.

"We were more relaxed with what's happened to Gretna.

"Caley are the team above us so we've got to try and catch them and there are plenty of games left to get further up the table."

MATCH STATS

KILMARNOCK

SHOTS ON 7

SHOTS OFF 5

OFFSIDE 1

FOULS 12

CORNERS 5

BOOKINGS 1

INVERNESS CT

SHOTS ON 2

SHOTS OFF 1

OFFSIDE 1

FOULS 10

CORNERS 3

BOOKINGS 0

REF WATCH

STEPHEN FINNIE somehow missed Roy McBain's handball - one of the blunders of the season. Called Caley's penalty right but display was pretty inconsistent. Rating: 3/10.

CAPTION(S):

I'm a big Flann of yours: Craig Bryson (right) celebrates his double for Kilmarnock yesterday with fellow scorer Iain Flannigan