[tab:Match report]
Phil McGhee at Rugby Park
Motherwell came back from a goal down to take all three points with a thoroughly deserved victory against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park today.
The near 1,000 ‘Well fans at Rugby Park would have been thrilled and encouraged with the team’s response after falling being to an early Kilmarnock goal.
The Fir Park players showed great determination and application with Stephen Pearson celebrating his new contract by grabbing the equalising goal before Lee Erwin capped his ‘man of the match’ performance with the winner, which keeps them in touch with teams above them in the table.
Ian Baraclough made one change from the side which hammered Hamilton, Connor Grant coming in to the midfield at the expense of Marvin Johnson who wasn’t risked with a slight knock. And it was the Everton loanee who had the first strike at goal after five minutes his shot deflected just outside his own post by Ross Barbour.
Killie’s reply was a drive from David Syme, which flashed past the post.
The pace of the game was fast on the synthetic surface and after Grant went down in the box under a legitimate sliding tackle from Barbour, play raced to the other end where Josh Magennis’ thumping effort was parried by George Long.
Having being felled by a couple of aerial challenges, Long looked a little uncomfortable when Paul Cairney lofted a free kick into the six yard box which the ‘Well ‘keeper missed leaving Syme to head home the opening goal.
That sparked a positive response from the visitors and twice inside a minute they forced efforts on the home goal.
A clever piece of work from Erwin opened up the Killie defence but after lobbing the ball over Syme he sliced his volley off target. A nod down from Pearson presented Lionel Ainsworth with a chance to test Craig Samson with a low drive from the edge of the box.
Some of referee Euan Anderson’s decisions irritated both sets of players, although there could be few complaints when he booked Pearson and Josh Law who was having a tough time taming Tope Obadeyi. Likewise, when Stephen McManus was adjudged to have pushed Lee Ashcroft before heading Grant’s corner into the net after 31 minutes there was no protest.
The deserved equaliser, though, was only delayed another six minutes. A good cross field move found Ainsworth and although his low drive was on target, Pearson ghosted in to prod the ball into the corner of the net to make it 1-1.
‘Well looked the more likely to add a second and a couple of decent shots from Scott McDonald and Keith Lasley produced saves from Samson before the break.
The second half was fairly even until 57 minutes when ‘Well made their first change, John Sutton replacing Grant and after that Baraclough’s boys dominated the play.
Within two minutes of his arrival Sutton’s pass inside the centre circle found McDonald who released Erwin. And when McDonald collected the ball at the edge of the box a wonderful goal looked on the cards until his rising shot skimmed off the top of the cross bar.
Erwin then set off on a solo run from his own half only to curl his finishing shot wide of goal.
At that stage ‘Well were a constant threat on the Killie goal and Ainsworth’s fierce drive forced Samson into a fine diving save.
Samson was kept busy with saves from Erwin and McDonald as the Fir Park men pressed for the winner.
Motherwell and the tireless Erwin were finally rewarded 14 minutes from time when he jinked inside his marker at the edge of the box before steering a left foot shot low into the corner of the goal.
The ‘Well defence stood solid in the closing minutes as Killie chased a hopeful equaliser but in the end Motherwell comfortably played out the game for another convincing win, to make it three in five games and build momentum ahead of two massive games against Saints and Partick Thistle before the league split.
[tab:As it happened]
Ally Reilly at Rugby Park
Great scenes in the Kilmarnock sunshine as the players take the applause from the hugely vocal ‘Well support. Superb again!!
FT | 1-2 | #KFCvMFC
FULL TIME!!
90′ | 1-2 | #KFCvMFC
There will be 3 minutes added on.
89′ | 1-2 | #KFCvMFC
Motherwell sub, Erwin off for Ramsden. Big man has been superb in the second half!
87′ | 1-2 | #KFCvMFC
Erwin gathers in McDonald’s corner and hits it on the spin but it flies just over!
81′ | 1-2 | #KFCvMFC
Motherwell sub, Ainsworth off for Carswell.
77′ | 1-2 | #KFCvMFC
Double Killie sub, Eremenko and Kiltie on for Johnston and Cairney
77′ | 1-2 | #KFCvMFC
Erwin twists and turns in the box and fires past Samson. 2-1 to ‘Well!!!!
GGGOOOAALLLLL!!!!
75′ | 1-1 | #KFCvMFC
Another save from Samson! This time he has to tip away McDonald’s long range shot from distance. All Motherwell.
74′ | 1-1 | #KFCvMFC
Great pressure from ‘Well. From a corner, Ainsworth finds plenty of space but his goalbound shot is blocked by Barbour.
71′ | 1-1 | #KFCvMFC
Terrible dive from Obadeyi in the box and is rightly booked.
65′ | 1-1 | #KFCvMFC
Erwin shoots from 25 yards. It’s a tough one for Samson as it bounces of him but he deals with it well.
68′ | 1-1 | #KFCvMFC
Kilmarnock sub, Miller off for Eccleston.
66′ | 1-1 | #KFCvMFC
Samson to the rescue again for Killie, this time diving low to deny Ainsworth from distance.
65′ | 1-1 | #KFCvMFC
O’Hara is booked for hauling down McDonald on the half-way line
63′ | 1-1 | #KFCvMFC
Erwin does great and cuts inside but with other options, opts to shoot and curls it wide of the post. Great chance!
61′ | 1-1 | #KFCvMFC
Laing booked for winning a header. Ref says he barged into Miller but very harsh indeed.
59′ | 1-1 | #KFCvMFC
What a save from Samson!! McDonald’s shot from 18 yards looked certain for the net but he somehow got a hand to it :O
57′ | 1-1 | #KFCvMFC
Motherwell sub, Grant off for Sutton.
51′ | 1-1 | #KFCvMFC
Johnston skips past Straker and McManus has to cover and concede a corner. From the delivery, ‘Well clear.
48′ | 1-1 | #KFCvMFC
Killie clear the delivery with ease.
48′ | 1-1 | #KFCvMFC
Erwin does well to force a corner for ‘Well.
45′ | 1-1 | #KFCvMFC
Grant and Lasley get the second half underway.
45′ | 1-1 | #KFCvMFC
Teams are back out for the second half
HT’ | 1-1 | #KFCvMFC
First half ends Kilmarnock 1 – 1 Motherwell
GGGOOOAALLL!!!
38′ | 1-1 | #KFCvMFC
GGGOOOLLL!!! Ainsworth’s goalbound strike is diverted into the net by PEARSON!! 1-1!!
31′ | 1-0 | #KFCvMFC
McManus has the ball in the net but ref says there was a foul in the process.
30′ | 1-0 | #KFCvMFC
Now Law is booked for a more clear-cut tackle on Obadeyi
26mins: Ref plays advantage then books Pearson for a challenge on O’Hara. Not convinced there was much contact there.
24′ | 1-0 | #KFCvMFC
Pearson nods the ball back to Ainsworth who strikes it first time from 20 yards. Samson gathers at the second attempt
22′ | 1-0 | #KFCvMFC
Great play by Erwin as he lobs Syme to get though on goal. His first-time volley is scuffed well wide, though.
20′ | 1-0 | #KFCvMFC
‘Well break up the field and Erwin wins a corner. Nothing comes of Grant’s ball into the box.
17′ | 1-0 | #KFCvMFC
Goal! Syme gets on the end of Cairney’s free-kick to make it 1-0 to Killie.
13′ | 0-0 | #KFCvMFC
Magennis gathers the ball 18 yards out and gets a shot away. Straight at Long who beats it to safety.
7′ | 0-0 | #KFCvMFC
Killie win a corner of their own and from the cross, Syme fires just past the post
5′ | 0-0 | #KFCvMFC
Chance! Grant’s low shot is deflected just wide. From the corner, his delivery goes untaken.
1′ | 0-0 | #KFCvMFC
Barbour swings a ball into the box which Long punches clear under pressure from Miller. Ref says free-kick, anyway.
Kick-Off | 0-0 | #KFCvMFC
Cairney and Miller get the game underway. COYW!!
[tab:Reaction]
Motherwell manager Ian Baraclough:
“There are seven games still to play and, after today, we’re three points better off against St Mirren.
“There is now a seven-point gap and we play them on Tuesday, which is a massive game for both clubs. However, until it’s mathematically impossible for teams to catch us, we won’t be ruling anyone out.
“Others can get dragged in quite easily if we keep picking up three points. We’ll get ourselves out of it.”
Kilmarnock manager Gary Locke:
“I’m disappointed because I thought we started well and deservedly went in front. But you have to give Motherwell credit because I thought they came back well in the second half.
“We had a couple of young centre-halves in today in Lee Ashcroft and David Syme and I’d like to have seen them get us up the pitch a little bit more.
“But I’m not going to be too critical. David was making his full debut and acquitted himself well. Lee isn’t the oldest either so I tend to look at the positives.
“But we are a young team lacking in experience and that showed in the second half. I think the top six will be really difficult now but we need to make sure we bounce back against Aberdeen next week.”
[tab:Man-of-the-match]
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