[tab:Match report]
Phil McGhee at Rugby Park
A well-organised Motherwell snatched a late winner to give Mark McGhee his first win in his second spell as ‘Well boss.
The game looked to be heading for a 0-0 stalemate with neither team able to put the goalkeepers under any sort of sustained pressure.
However, although Killie edged it in terms of possession, it was the Steelmen who picked up all three points when substitute Louis Moult poked past Jamie McDonald just three minutes from time.
The result builds on the encouraging performance at Pittodrie last week as the new Motherwell manager looks to make his mark on the squad.
And McGhee made three changes to that side who battled for a point in the Granite City. Keith Lasley missed out through injury and was replaced by Lionel Ainsworth. Strikers Louis Moult and Wes Fletcher also dropped to the bench, replaced by Scott McDonald and Theo Robinson.
Within a couple of minutes the front pair had combined, McDonald sending Robinson through who was flagged offside before firing his shot towards Jamie MacDonald.
However it was Killie, who had been on an impressive run of form with four wins and a draw from the previous seven games, that started the game the brighter of the two teams. Ex ‘Well man Kallum Higginbotham fired over and Josh Magennis headed wide as Gary Locke’s side looked to take a foothold in the game.
Motherwell looked dangerous on the counter, particularly via Marvin Johnson, but their most meaningful of the opening exchanges came after fifteen minutes when Conrad Balatoni had to take the ball of Pearson’s head after the midfielder had ghosted in at the back post to meet an Ainsworth cross.
Higginbotham had another effort sail over and Johnson came close with a cross-cum-shot that almost snuck under the bar with McDonald beaten.
A couple of long penetrating runs from Marvin Johnson raised the expectations of the 600+ ‘Well fans behind the goal but the Killie ‘keeper wasn’t tested until nine minutes from the break.
Robinson latched onto a defensive mix-up to set up McDonald at the edge of the box but his low tame shot was easily taken by his namesake.
Down the other end, Rory McKenzie fired a free-kick straight at Ripley who gathered comfortably to ensure it was level at the interval.
The Fir Parkers made a bright start to the second, with a Johnson cross cut out for a corner and McDonald having to save at the feet of Kennedy when the ball eventually came over. Then, two minutes later, another corner from Ainsworth found Robinson, but his downward header was well held by McDonald in the home goal.
Killie went on to carve out a couple of half chances, with a Magennis header that dropped wide after he out jumped Ripley, before the ‘Well stopper had to look smart to beat away a low Higginbotham strike. Kiltie also had a wayward shot after he picked up on Josh Law’s headed clearance.
The Ayrshire side looked to have run out of ideas and when McGhee introduced both Moult and Fletcher, in place of McDonald and Robinson, it gave ‘Well some spark.
They fired a warning shot across the bow when Johnson’s inviting cross from the left narrowly missed the former Wrexham striker, but that wasn’t repeated eight minutes later when Moult grabbed the winning goal.
A cross from the right by Law found Fletcher inside the area. He teed up Stephen Pearson for a shot but his effort cannoned off a defender, landed at Moult who toe poked it inside MacDonald’s left hand post from eight yards for his fourth league goal of the season.
Although ‘Well set out to defend their slender lead, it took two great saves from MacDonald, firstly to block Johnson’s angled drive before denying Moult a second goal in injury time and press his claim for a starting spot against Inverness next Saturday.
[tab:As it happened]
Ally Reilly at Rugby Park
Louis Moult’s late strike gives ‘Well maximum points. Was a scrappy game but great a very welcome 3 points to take back to Lanarkshire.
FULL TIME!!
92′ | 0-1
Obadeyi gets past Law but much to the Killie fan’s frustration, fires well wide of the post..
91′ | 0-1
Motherwell sub, Taylor on for Ainsworth
90′ | 0-1
Three minutes added on.
87′ | 0-1
Moult pokes home from close range to give ‘Well the lead!!
GGGGOOOAAALLLLLL!!!!
And a Killie change, Boyd on for Higginbotham
84′ | 0-0
Motherwell sub, McDonald off for Fletcher
79′ | 0-0
Inviting ball in from Johnson is just inches too high for Moult who was waiting with intent.
77′ | 0-0
Obadeyi’s shot is deflected into the path of Higginbotham but his volley goes wide of the post from 18 yards.
76′ | 0-0
Magennis booked for simulation. Didn’t look like he could have too many complaints to be honest.
73′ | 0-0
Cross in from Obadeyi is flicked on by Higginbotham and it finds the head of Magennis. Didn’t know much about it and it goes wide
71′ | 0-0
Kilmarnock sub, Obadeyi on for Kiltie
67′ | 0-0
Law’s defensive header falls at the feet of Kiltie who volleys first time. Flashes wide of the post.
67′ | 0-0
McKenzie enters the ref’s book for a trip on Ripley as he went to punt it.
65′ | 0-0
Higginbotham rifles a shot in from 25 yards but Ripley is equal to it and palms it away to safety.
63′ | 0-0
Deep ball into the box has RIpley racing off his line but he is just beaten to it by Magennis. Thankfully he heads wide.
62′ | 0-0
Motherwell sub, Robinson limps off for Moult
60′ | 0-0
Chalmers is booked for pulling back McKenzie as he was about to break away.
55′ | 0-0
Findlay booked for obstructing Robinson as he broke away. Bit of a stramash afterwards but it cools down.
52′ | 0-0
Deep corner into the box by Ainsworth is powerfully headed goalward by Robinson but MacDonald makes the save.
49′ | 0-0
Low ball in by Johnson is turned behind for a corner, after a bit of head tennis, MacDonald slides clear at the feet of Kennedy..
Grimshaw gets the ball rolling for the second half…
Teams are back out for round 2…
HT: Kilmarnock 0 – 0 Motherwell
45′ | 0-0
There will be two minutes added on.
44′ | 0-0
Killie work a set-piece free-kick to McKenzie who shoots from range. Thankfully it is straight at Ripley.
37′ | 0-0
McDonald gets the ball in a good area but is forced back and opts for the shot from range but it is an easy gather for MacDonald
35′ | 0-0
Ainsworth and McHattie both booked for a bit of handbags. Not that clear what actually happened
34′ | 0-0
Nice bit of play down the left by Johnson as he nutmegs O’Hara but his cross is too high and drifts out of play.
21′ | 0-0
From that corner, the ball lands nicely to Higginbotham but he can’t keep his effort down and it sails well over.
20′ | 0-0
McKenzie picks the ball up on the right hand side and drives at Chalmers. As he shoots, the full back gets a foot in. Corner.
15′ | 0-0
Ainsworth hooks in a ball to the back post which Balatoni does well to head wide for a corner under pressure from Pearson.
13′ | 0-0
Lung bursting run from Johnson wins ‘Well their first corner…..Balatoni heads it well clear though.
5′ | 0-0
O’Hara whips in a decent ball to Magennis but would never score from that position with a header. Wide of the post.
1′ | 0-0
Magennis nods the ball down to Higginbotham about 25 yards out. He tries an ambitious shot but fires well over the bar.
Slater and Higginbotham get the action underway. COYW!!!
Out come the teams, both sides accompanied by their Halloween mascots. Some good efforts out there! #KFCvMFC
Nice day through in Kilmarnock as the teams just go through their pre-match warmups. #KFCvMFC
[tab:Reaction]
Motherwell manager Mark McGhee:
“I’m still in that learning curve and to be winning while you’re doing that is a bonus.
“Given the process we’re going through, learning about the players, you know we changed the strikers today and played a different shape from the other two games.
“You can undermine yourself a bit when you’re playing about with it, but I thought it was terrific.
“We kept a great disciplined shape, made it very difficult for Kilmarnock and gave ourselves a platform to win the game.”
Kilmarnock manager Gary Locke:
“I thought we played really well in the game and, if we take our chances, we win the game comfortably.
“I thought we dominated the game, but Motherwell did look dangerous on the counter-attacks.
“But I’m really frustrated and disappointed because I certainly don’t think we got what we deserved from the game.
“But, when you get the chances, you’ve got to take them.”
[tab:Man-of-the-match]
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