Kyle equalised for Kilmarnock against Falkirk at Rugby Park
Kevin Kyle's killer volley prevented Falkirk jumping off the bottom of the Scottish Premier League table in the five-way battle against relegation.
Kyle was a constant threat as Kilmarnock dominated the first half, while fine Dani Mallo saves denied Willie Gibson and Craig Bryson.
Darren Barr headed the Bairns into a lead after the break that would have allowed them to leapfrog Killie.
But Kyle responded minutes later with a fine equaliser from 20 yards.
The former Scotland striker was the focus of all Kilmarnock's best work on his return from a suspension that followed his hat-trick in the last meeting between the sides.
He had come into the side along with Gibson, with David Fernandez only considered fit enough for the bench and Danny Invincibile missing out altogether.
Kyle gave a hard time to a Bairns defence in which veteran Steven Pressley replaced the suspended Gerard Aafjes.
Michael Higdon was left on the bench on his return from his ban - but only for 11 minutes after fellow forward Mark Stewart failed to return to the action after being accidentally caught in the face by Garry Hay's arm.
Kyle was showing some good touches to bring wide men Gibson and Mehdi Taouil into the game and the striker was also proving a threat inside the box with two headers comfortably saved by Dani Mallo in the opening 15 minutes.
David Lilley produced a brilliant diving headed clearance to stop Neil McCann's cross reaching Higdon, but that Falkirk attack proved a brief interlude in constant Killie pressure.
Kyle should have done better when he headed Taouil's corner over from eight yards.
Barr put Falkirk ahead in the relegation battle in Kilmarnock
Jamie Hamill also squandered a decent chance when he volleyed over from 12 yards after Simon Ford had nodded down Taouil's free-kick.
Kyle then glanced Tim Clancy's long free-kick just wide after a great leap and his best chance of the half came seconds later in the 39th minute.
Gibson's cross found the target man unmarked eight yards out, but Mallo blocked his downward header.
Bryson set up Hamill in a quick break in stoppage time and Mallo pushed away the midfielder's powerful strike from 20 yards.
Bairns boss John Hughes replaced one veteran with another at half-time, Lee Bullen coming on for Jackie McNamara in defence.
Kilmarnock were again the dominant side after the break, but it was the Bairns who broke the deadlock after 56 minutes.
Barr rose above goalkeeper Alan Combe and the Killie defence to head home a Neil McCann corner from three yards.
But Kyle responded with an equaliser when, after a headed joust with Barr, the striker volleyed home superbly from 20 yards.
Barr was even more annoyed minutes later when his claims for a penalty were waved away after he was challenged by Jamie Hamill.
McCann forced a fine save from Combe, who scrambled the ball wide for a corner as both sides pushed for a winner.
The draw edges Killie ahead of Inverness into ninth spot. But, perhaps more significantly, it moves Falkirk to within two points of faltering St Mirren.
Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies: "I think coming back from a goal behind proves they have the bottle for it. We have shown the supporters that we are up for it.
"There was tremendous effort and commitment from the players and that's what they have to do between now and the end of the season.
"We were well on top, especially in the first half and Kevin Kyle was unlucky and we had a couple of shouts for penalties."
Falkirk assistant manager Brian Rice: "We know what is at stake financially for the club, people's jobs, everything.
"But we need to keep focussing, keep calm and keep to the game plan.
"It's good news that St Mirren lost. But, if we don't pick up points ourselves, those results don't matter.
"I thought Kilmarnock were the better side in the first half, but we got better in the second."
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