A hard fought win over Kilmarnock hoisted Motherwell to the 40 point mark and almost certainly removed the spectre of relegation or even the play-offs.
Blair Spittal’s goal within the first five minutes should have set the home side up for a comfortable win over a Killie side languishing second bottom of the league table. But in a drab first half noted for a lengthy VAR check and little cohesive play from either side, the Steelmen failed to get into their free flowing and passing game.
Despite creating a handful of good openings in the second half, it took until the final minutes for Kevin van Veen to grab his 21st league goal of the season and erase any fears of the Ayrshire side grabbing a point.
Stuart Kettlewell made one change from the side which earned a fabulous point at Celtic Park. And following that resounding performance it was a tactical change for the Steelmen as Harry Paton made way for Mikael Mandron to join Kevin van Veen in attack.
There was a terrific atmosphere prior to the kick-off especially from the 1800 Killie fans crammed in the Tommy McLean stand.
However, after a five minute delay while referee Kevin Clancy sorted out his faulty communication system, the away support behind fans behind Sam Walker’s goal were quickly silenced as ‘Well opened the scoring.
In a swift move upfield Sean Goss found the overlapping James Furlong. He picked out Spittal with his cut back and after taking a touch the former Ross County man slammed the ball across the ‘keeper and into the far corner of the net.
That was the perfect start against a nervous looking Killie and Spittal came close to a second when his shot was deflected wide of goal. From his corner Callum Slattery’s shot from the edge of the box took a similar touch from a defender before whizzing narrowly past Walker’s other post.
A clumsy challenge from Callum Butcher 24 yards in front of Liam Kelly gave the Ayrshire side its first glimpse of goal. With the ‘Well ‘keeper rooted to his line Danny Armstrong’s free kick clipped the outside of the Kelly’s right-hand post.
Another break at speed from the home side after 16 minutes finished with ‘Well claiming a second goal. However, Goss’ pass to Mandron found him in an offside position before his ball inside was convincingly hammered into the net by Van Veen.
To be fair the Dutch striker’s reaction suggested that his attempt would be disallowed although it took VAR four minutes to run its check.
That delay and a series of fouls from both sides made the first half a real stop – start affair with little goal mouth action as the first 50 minutes came to a close.
Before the break, though, van Veen had a chance to add to his impressive goal haul. Slattery held off a couple of challenges in the middle of the park before finding van Veen in the box but after side stepping Joe Wright his powerful drive was battered away by Walker.
The second half just had to be an improvement.
And the Fir Park men immediately looked to atone for that first half showing.
Another great ball from Slattery found van Veen racing to the left of the visitor’s box. With Wright in pursuit his cute backheeler set up Spittal who cut into the middle before hammering the ball off Walker’s legs when he should have finished off a sublime move with a second goal.
Ten minutes into the half and with his side needing to take something from the game, Derek McInnes made a double substitution. That gave Liam Polworth the opportunity to emulate his fantastic equaliser on his return to Fir Park in December.
It was van Veen, though, who came close to extending the home side’s lead. Fastening on to another long ball towards the visitor’s box the ‘Well striker cut inside Wright before his low shot was curling inside the ‘keeper’s left-hand post only for Walker at full stretch to push it wide.
A minute later Dan Casey, from just beyond the corner of the six-yard box, attempted to lob the ball over Walker but the Killie ‘keeper stood his ground to make an easy catch.
With 15 minutes remaining and only trailing by a single goal and feeling that his side still had the chance to grab an equaliser McInnes made another double substation to go with four players up front.
That put real pressure on the ‘Well defence for the first time, as the Killie fans behind Kelly’s goal urged the Ayrshire men to press forward in numbers.
With six minutes remaining Mandron made way for Stephen O’Donnell as Stuart Kettlewell decided to reinforce his defensive options and see out the game.
Ironically, three minutes from time, it was a ‘Well defender who came within a couple of inches of settling the game.
Spittal’s corner caused a bit of mayhem in the six-yard area and when the ball found its way to Paul McGinn, he stroked it goalwards only to watch the ball rebound off the post and along the line to a relieved Walker.
The killer second goal was only delayed a couple of minutes as van Veen finally found the net for the 25th time this season.
Yet again a long ball, this time direct from Kelly gave the Dutchman the chance to turn Taylor at the edge of the box. And this time van Veen didn’t pass up the chance as he calmly side footed the ball to Walker’s left and into the net for the seventh consecutive game.
