Shinnie has faith Thistle will now rise

Inverness handed out the resounding win that manager Terry Butcher has insisted was coming during a start to the season that has been undermined by injuries and an inability to convert possession into goals.

Caley Thistle bounced back from conceding a 13th-minute goal against the run of play, when Paul Heffernan’s backheel allowed Dean Shiels time and space to stroke home.

The visitors created all the other first-half chances with Kilmarnock goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola making several good stops but Shinnie eventually levelled in the 39th minute with a smart finish following a one-two with the returning Jonny Hayes.

Hayes fired them ahead from 25 yards before Gregory Tade and Shinnie finished with aplomb after Killie had been exposed at the back.

Shinnie grabbed his hat-trick after the impressive David Davis had powered his way through the heart of the home defence.

Shiels, from the penalty spot, and Heffernan pulled goals back, but Inverness remained in control with Tade making it six following Shinnie’s reverse pass.

Inverness remain bottom of the league but are only five points off the top six and are confident of progressing.

Shinnie said: “The manager has been telling us to realise our potential, he has told us all season what we have got in the changing room.

“We have been playing well and not taking our chances. We have been saying for weeks that a game like this has been coming. We’ve been playing good football and maybe we don’t get the plaudits we deserve.

“A lot of other teams get plaudits for being good footballing teams but we are every bit as good as any other team in this league and it’s just about showing it and taking our chances.

“We have never lost belief. We have had some kicks in the teeth but we are big enough to get over it. We have been working on our finishing in training and it paid dividends. I’m sure from now we’ll kick on and get up the table.”