[tab:Match report]
Phil McGhee Fir Park
Motherwell turned in a poor performance to lose 0-2 at home to Kilmarnock this afternoon.
Other than a positive opening fifteen minutes or so, it was a miserable afternoon for Mark McGhee’s men, who now drop to second bottom of the table.
In the end, two goals in a six-minute spell, from both Greg Kiltie and Craig Slater, secured the win for Lee McCulloch’s side.
‘Well boss Mark McGhee made just one change to the side that lost at home to Inverness seven days ago. Keith Lasley had been struggling with a back problem all week and was replaced in the starting eleven by Lionel Ainsworth.
‘Well started on the front foot and McDonald won an early free-kick that was eventually taken by Johnson, albeit it posed little threat to Jamie MacDonald’s goal.
The Fir Parkers forced a couple of corners, but despite delivery into a good area, there were no takers.
However, the visitors grew more and more into the game and Tope Obadeyi almost put his side ahead, robbing Morgaro Gomis on the edge of the area, but his low shot was straight at Ripley.
The on-loan Boro keeper made another good save, this time to deny Slater’s curling free kick to keep it all square.
Ripley was at it again ten minutes later, this time saving from Smith from a dead ball, conceding a corner kick in the process.
Motherwell were looking to hit on the counter and after winning a corner from a bursting Johnston run, McDonald found himself in space with his back to goal, but after teeing up Stephen McManus, the big defender’s shot was way off target.
Killie finished the half with a McKenzie shot that was comfortably saved by the on-loan Motherwell stopper.
McGhee made a chance at the break, introducing top-scorer Louis Moult in place of Lionel Ainsworth, and switching back to a regular 4-4-2 formation.
And the sub was in the thick of the action almost right away, flicking on a Hammell cross, but MacDonald was well placed to gather comfortably.
Minutes late it was McManus’ turn with a header, but sadly it was off target from Josh Law’s inviting delivery.
Then, from out of almost nowhere, Killie took the lead. A well-worked move across the pitch found Smith in spaceon the left. His delivery to the back post found Greg Kiltie and he made no mistake from close range, giving the Ayrshire side the lead.
It went from bad to worse as McCulloch’s men added a second just five minutes later. Picking up from a wide pass, Slater waltzed through the home defence and fired low past Ripley.
Motherwell had a chance for an instant reply, but sadly Marvin Johnson could only fire a low shot into the side netting.
Magennis and Slater came close to adding to the advantage, but both missed.
As the game moved towards it’s conclusion, Jamie MacDonald saved well at the feet of Moult and, in the last minute, the former Wrexham man hit the woodwork with a header to sum up a miserable day at the office for the Claret and Amber men.
[tab:As it happened]
Ally Reilly at Fir Park
FT: Motherwell 0 – 2 Kilmarnock
90′ | 0-2
Off the bar from Moult. His header from 6 yards hits the woodwork.
88′ | 0-2
Final Killie sub, Slater off for Robinson
85′ | 0-2
Killie sub, McKenzie off for Carrick.
MATCH ATTAX | Young ‘Well fans can vote now for their Man of the Match. Tweet their name, age, choice & #MatchAttaxMOTM.
71′ | 0-2
Killie sub, Frizzel on for Obadeyi.
67′ | 0-2
Motherwell sub, Gomis off for Dom Thomas.
63′ | 0-2
Good chance for an instant reply but Johnson fires into the sidenetting from 15 yards.
61′ | 0-2
Goal – Slater waltzes through the centre of the pitch and fires low past Ripley to make it 2-0 to Killie.
56′ | 0-1
Goal – Kiltie sticks Killie ahead, sliding home a cross that was fired into the box.
53′ | 0-0
Dicker is booked for barging Johnson off the ball. He complains, but with no real cause.
51′ | 0-0
Obadayi booked for barging Johnson off the ball inches outside the Killie box…….Law takes the free-kick and it flies wide.
49′ | 0-0
McManus goes close with a header from Law’s free-kick delivery. Just over the bar.
46′ | 0-0
The sub is straight into the action, flicking on Hammell’s cross but MacDonald gathers easily.
There has been a change, Moult is on for Ainsworth.
Both teams are back out for part 2….
HT: Motherwell 0 – 0 Kilmarnock
45′ | 0-0
Pearson booked for thwarting a Killie counter-attack by hauling down Kiltie
42′ | 0-0
McKenzie finds plenty of space on the left and fires away a low powerful shot which Ripley deals with comfortably.
36′ | 0-0
From that delivery the ball is worked into McDonald with his back to goal and he lays off McManus who clips it well wide.
36′ | 0-0
Johnson gets the better of Hodson and his cross take a deflection, looping just over the bar for a corner.
……he gets it up and over the wall but Ripley dives low to his left and makes the stop.
33′ | 0-0
Hammell booked for taking down Magennis, about 25 yards from goal. Smith to take the free-kick….
31′ | 0-0
Johnson wins Motherwell a corner…..Ainsworth puts it into the box but there is no takers, sadly.
….and it’s well saved by Ripley! Tipped over the bar for a corner, which is cleared by McManus.
16′ | 0-0
Obadeyi dispossesses Gomis and gets a shot on goal which Ripley blocks with his feet. Killie now with a free-kick 22 yards out….
…from that corner the ball just doesn’t fall for a ‘Well player and Balatoni finally clears from the feet of McManus.
11′ | 0-0
Ainsworth crosses at the second attempt and it is deflected wide for a corner.
9′ | 0-0
Magennis combines with Kiltie inside the box, The youngster gets a shot away but Hammell gets in the way and deflects for a corner
5′ | 0-0
After a bit of discussion Peason lays it off to Johnson but his shot hits the wall and Kille clear.
5′ | 0-0
McDonald goes down about 25 yards from goal and wins ‘Well a free-kick….
Kilmarnock get the game underway. COYW!!
Out come the teams, both sides in their usual colours at a very cold Fir Park. Bit of snow here but nothing too serious.
[tab:Reaction]
Motherwell manager Mark McGhee:
Kilmarnock interim Manager: Lee McCulloch
[tab:Man-of-the-match]
[poll id=”263″]