[tab:Match report]
Motherwell completed a hat-trick of home victories with a fine 2-0 win over Kilmarnock this afternoon.
Ryan Bowman made one and scored one as Stephen Robinson’s side took full advantage of three consecutive games at Fir Park.
The former Gateshead striker took a full year to net his first goal at Fir Park but he followed up his effort against Hearts last time out with an emphatic finish.
And Louis Moult converted in the 88th minute after Iain Wilson had fouled Bowman as he looked set to convert Chris Cadden’s cross.
Fir Park boss Robinson named two changes to the starting line-up, replacing the injured Elliott Frear with Allan Campbell, who put in a superb performance, and Peter Hartley stepped in to make his debut in place of Ben Heneghan – who completed a deadline day move to Sheffield United.
The visitors included former Steelmen Lee Erwin and Dom Thomas in their starting line-up and the latter created the best chance of a disappointing first half when he set up Eamonn Brophy 12-yards out. Trevor Carson got across his goal brilliantly to save.
Gordon Greer later looped a deflected header on to Carson’s bar but opportunities were somewhat scarce for Lee McCulloch’s men.
Moult had several shots from outside the area saved and sliced well wide from closer with his left foot following Bowman’s cutback.
Substitute Kirk Broadfoot handed Moult the first of a series of second-half chances with a blatant pull on Bowman, but Jamie MacDonald tipped the striker’s free-kick, which was destined for the top corner, over the bar.
Moult then guided a volley inches wide and saw a left-footed drive saved impressively on the line by MacDonald, both chances created by Richard Tait, operating at left wing-back.
Gael Bigirimana had injected some guile and urgency to the Motherwell midfield after coming on in the 59th minute and his vision and perfect pace of pass played in Bowman, who took the ball on the 18-yard line and placed a left-footed shot high inside MacDonald’s near post. It was the striker’s fourth goal of the season, doubling his tally from last term already.
Killie came into the game in the latter stages but could not seriously trouble Carson and Moult ended their comeback hopes with his fifth goal of the campaign from the penalty spot.
[tab:As it happened]
Lewis Irons at Fir Park
FT | 2-0
Bowman and Moult score as the Steelmen record their third consecutive home win – which has included two clean sheets. #COYW
’90+1 | 2-0
Yellow card for Hammell, who brought down Jones on the break
’88 | 2-0
Moult converts from the spot! High in to the top right corner. 2-0!
Penalty for Motherwell! Bowman is brought down by Wilson…
’83 | 1-0
Yellow card for Grimshaw, who slides in but catches the man. No complaints
’82 | 1-0
Bigirimana beats two men on the edge of the Killie box but is tripped – nothing in it says the referee!
’79 | 1-0
Carson palms away a drilled cross and it falls kindly for Jones who tries to fire in to the empty net, but Kipré is there to block
’76 | 1-0
Moult goes for goal from distance, but his dipping effort is held by MacDonald
’76 | 1-0
Immediate impact from Grimshaw, who slides through Bowman but his effort is blocked by a sliding challenge
’75 | 1-0
Final substitution for the ‘Well: Hartley is replaced by the returning Liam Grimshaw
’71 | 1-0
Final change for Killie: Frizzell replaces Brophy
’65 | 1-0
Goal for the Steelmen!!! Bowman opens the scoring with a superb effort past MacDonald. #COYW
’61 | 0-0
What a save from MacDonald. Moult is denied by the stopper who somehow got down to his low effort from just inside the box.
’60 | 0-0
So close! The ball drops to Moult unmarked in the box, but his side footed volley is inches wide of the far post.
’58 | 0-0
Second sub for the Steelmen: Bigirimana is introduced to the action in place of Rose
’57 | 0-0
What an effort from Moult! He curls it towards the top corner but it’s tipped over the bar
’56 | 0-0
Free kick to Motherwell right on the edge of the box…
’52 | 0-0
Kilmarnock make their second change – replacing Burke with Jones
’51 | 0-0
Erwin doesn’t get enough on his header at the back post
We’re back underway!
Well make a change too, replacing Dunne with Hammell
Half time substitute for Killie: Greer is replaced by Broadfoot
HT | 0-0
A fairly quiet first half here in Lanarkshire with Motherwell enjoying more of the ball but failing to find the breakthrough so far
’41 | 0-0
Bowman cuts back for Moult but his effort slices well wide and Motherwell win a corner, but the cross doesn’t beat the first man
’40 | 0-0
The ball breaks kindly for McHugh but the skipper sends his effort from the edge of the box well over the bar
’37 | 0-0
Moult works the ball on to his right foot and sends in a low shot from outside the box, but MacDonald saves
’36 | 0-0
Greer’s header from a corner comes back off the cross bar, but Bowman is there to hook it clear
’34 | 0-0
Cadden bursts in to the box with ease but he slips as he tries to lift in the cross
’31 | 0-0
Moult receives the ball from Tait and tries to curl one from the corner of the box, but MacDonald saves comfortably
’24 | 0-0
Kipré gets a yellow card for a foul on Taylor
… the resulting set piece is cleared only as far as Campbell, who sends a speculative effort over the bar from outside the box
’22 | 0-0
Moult sends in another great cross but it is turned behind for a corner…
’15 | 0-0
McHugh goes for goal again from distance, but the ball flies narrowly over the bar
’10 | 0-0
Thomas cuts back for Brophy, but Carson denies the Killie man with a brilliant save!
‘5 | 0-0
Campbell wins the ball high up the park, feeds in Moult who crosses for Bowman, but his header is just wide. Good ‘Well move!
‘2 | 0-0
A good flick on from Bowman nearly releases Moult, but Killie do well to steer it away.
‘1 | 0-0
Carl McHugh has an early effort from distance, but MacDonald matches it.
We’re underway at Fir Park… #COYW
[tab:Reaction]
Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson:
Kilmarnock manager Lee McCulloch
[tab:Man-of-the-match]
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