Match ends, Motherwell 0, Kilmarnock 2.
MotherwellMotherwell0KilmarnockKilmarnock2
Kilmarnock leapfrogged Motherwell with an impressive victory to leave the Fir Park side stuck in the relegation play-off spot.
Outstanding second-half goals from Greg Kiltie and Craig Slater, both their fourth of the season, secured the win for the managerless Ayrshiremen.
Josh Magennis came close to adding a third for Killie while the hosts' Louis Moult hit the crossbar in added time.
Motherwell have now gone six league games without a win.
Lee McCulloch is unbeaten in his two games in temporary charge of the Rugby Park club since Gary Locke resigned last month.
They are now 10th, a point ahead of Well and 13 clear of bottom side Dundee United, with Motherwell seeking to avoid a second successive relegation play-off.
The match began amidst a slight snow shower but the players were not affected as the opening exchanges provided sufficient excitement, with Killie having the better first-half chances.
There was an early scare for the home side as Kiltie's shot from just inside the area took a wicked deflection off a defender and flew just wide.
Tope Obadeyi then dispossessed Morgaro Gomis, cut in from the right and fired a left-foot shot that Motherwell goalkeeper Connor Ripley managed to parry clear.
Ripley, celebrating his 23rd birthday, was in good form as he made two outstanding saves from Killie free-kicks.
He firstly palmed a Slater strike over the top and later superbly turned away Stevie Smith's left-foot curler from 25 yards.
Marvin Johnson came close for the home side when his cross from the left deflected off Conrad Balatoni and looped on to the roof of the net.
Killie made the breakthrough after the break with a terrific team goal from a sweeping move.
Gary Dicker and Slater exchanged passes in midfield before the latter spotted Smith advancing down the left. Smith steadied himself before whipping a pin-point cross for Kiltie to make the perfect connection six yards out with a volley that gave Ripley no chance.
The visitors doubled their lead when Slater showed his class with a driving run from midfield before shooting low past Ripley for a terrific solo goal.
Johnson came close to pulling a goal back for the home side but could only send his shot from close range into the side netting.
At the other end, Magennis stretched to touch a Kiltie cross just wide.
And, when Moult's effort hit the crossbar, it summed up Motherwell's afternoon.
Line-ups
Motherwell
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Ripley
- 18Law
- 16Kennedy
- 6McManusBooked at 70mins
- 3HammellBooked at 33mins
- 7AinsworthSubstituted forMoultat 45'minutes
- 26Cadden
- 8PearsonBooked at 45mins
- 11Johnson
- 17GomisSubstituted forThomasat 68'minutes
- 77McDonald
Substitutes
- 5Laing
- 13Samson
- 14Lasley
- 15Chalmers
- 20Moult
- 23Thomas
- 24McFadden
Kilmarnock
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 21MacDonald
- 27Hodson
- 26Balatoni
- 5Findlay
- 3Smith
- 29DickerBooked at 53mins
- 19SlaterSubstituted forRobinsonat 89'minutes
- 7McKenzieSubstituted forCarrickat 86'minutes
- 23Kiltie
- 16ObadeyiBooked at 51minsSubstituted forFrizzellat 72'minutes
- 28Magennis
Substitutes
- 8Robinson
- 9Boyd
- 13Brennan
- 14O'Hara
- 18Ashcroft
- 20Carrick
- 39Frizzell
- Referee:
- Andrew Dallas
- Attendance:
- 3,764
Match Stats
Home TeamMotherwellAway TeamKilmarnock
- Possession
- Home52%
- Away48%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away9
- Corners
- Home10
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Motherwell 0, Kilmarnock 2.
Post update
Louis Moult (Motherwell) hits the bar with a header from very close range.
Post update
Attempt missed. Gary Dicker (Kilmarnock) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Substitution
Substitution, Kilmarnock. Scott Robinson replaces Craig Slater.
Post update
Foul by Chris Cadden (Motherwell).
Post update
Craig Slater (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Kilmarnock. Dale Carrick replaces Rory McKenzie.
Post update
Foul by Chris Cadden (Motherwell).
Post update
Craig Slater (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Dom Thomas (Motherwell) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom left corner.
Post update
Corner, Motherwell. Conceded by Stuart Findlay.
Post update
Attempt missed. Rory McKenzie (Kilmarnock) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
Post update
Attempt saved. Craig Slater (Kilmarnock) left footed shot from long range on the right is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Post update
Foul by Scott McDonald (Motherwell).
Post update
Stuart Findlay (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Dom Thomas (Motherwell) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Scott McDonald (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Craig Slater (Kilmarnock).
Post update
Stephen McManus (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
