Match ends, Motherwell 0, Kilmarnock 1.
MotherwellMotherwell0KilmarnockKilmarnock1
Kilmarnock narrowly beat Motherwell to go above the Steelmen into sixth place in the Scottish Premiership.
Killie's Kirk Broadfoot almost scored an own goal when his clearance hit the post before team-mate Stephen O'Donnell did find the net at the other end.
Tom Aldred's header after the break was scrambled clear by the visitors.
Curtis Main also threatened for the hosts as they ended a frustrating day in seventh position - three points behind their opponents.
With the sides level on points and goal difference before kick-off, their latest meeting was important in the continuing pursuit of a top-six finish.
Killie, surging under the continued momentum of the Steve Clarke effect, threatened first. A turn and shot from Kris Boyd flew narrowly wide.
But Motherwell would go closest in the early stages. A cross from Chris Cadden had the Kilmarnock defence on high alert with Broadfoot firing his clearance off his own post.
Motherwell had edged the early stages, but Kilmarnock had shown trademark resilience and it would be Clarke's side that would take the lead.
From 25 yards, O'Donnell fired a powerful, driven low shot into the bottom corner. It was a fantastic strike arrowed into the net beyond the outstretched hand of Trevor Carson in the Motherwell goal.
Before the first half was out Well tried to respond. Cadden broke in behind the Kilmarnock defence from the right-hand side but his effort went wide.
Aldred had a header parried on the line by Jamie MacDonald, the loose ball cleared by Kris Boyd as Motherwell started the second half determined to find the equaliser.
A fantastic tackle from Scott Boyd would keep Kilmarnock in front. Main looked poised to pull the trigger from close range, but the defender flew to the rescue for the visitors with a perfectly timed intervention.
Main linked up with Ryan Bowman and almost unlocked the Kilmarnock defence but his dinked effort to the back post went wide.
Motherwell would go close once more from a corner but Richard Tait was unable to make contact with the ball from close range.
And Stephen Robinson's side in the end paid the price for failing to find a cutting edge, with Kilmarnock showing great resilience once again under the stewardship of Clarke.
Post-match reaction
Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson: "It's probably the best we have played in terms of possession and our quality of play.
"I've been told we put 30 crosses into the box and 12 corners so you've got to be getting on the end of them, there's something that I'm looking at that I'm disappointed with.
"Our decision making in the final third should have been better at times, we had great opportunities to put people through and we chose the wrong option.
"Our deliveries at set plays at times were not good enough but there are a lot of things that I can be very, very pleased with and the emotion is obviously always dictated by the result but there's lots of good things we can take out of that."
Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke: "First half was pretty even. We maybe just shaded it, got the goal. Second half, Motherwell were a little bit more dominant. We looked a little bit jaded last 20 minutes.
"You have to say the character of the players at the moment is unbelievable. Dug in, got the result. It's nice to take three points back to Ayrshire.
"I thought the back three, the three central defenders were excellent, dealt with a lot. Jamie [MacDonald] was good, his handling was good - had to be because there were a lot of balls flying into our box.
"When they had to, the players put their body on the line, they blocked the ball, they got it away.
"It was a good strike [by Stephen O'Donnell]. I thought his positioning in the first half was good. He picked up a lot of ball in there. He drove forward with that one and it was a great finish right in the corner.
"We've taken another big step away from the bottom. We'll stay focused."
Line-ups
Motherwell
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1Carson
- 19Aldred
- 8McHugh
- 18Dunne
- 2Tait
- 7CaddenSubstituted forGrimshawat 81'minutes
- 15RoseSubstituted forBigirimanaat 71'minutes
- 11Frear
- 27TannerBooked at 72mins
- 9Main
- 23CiftciSubstituted forBowmanat 70'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Hendrie
- 4Grimshaw
- 5Bigirimana
- 12Bowman
- 13Griffiths
- 31Turnbull
- 34Maguire
Kilmarnock
Formation 4-4-2
- 1MacDonaldBooked at 90mins
- 2O'Donnell
- 5BroadfootBooked at 53mins
- 16Boyd
- 17Findlay
- 7McKenzie
- 24Mulumbu
- 12Taylor
- 11JonesSubstituted forBurkeat 87'minutes
- 25BrophyBooked at 29minsSubstituted forErwinat 58'minutes
- 9BoydSubstituted forWilsonat 70'minutes
Substitutes
- 10Kiltie
- 18Waters
- 20Wilson
- 22Erwin
- 26Simpson
- 29Burke
- 32Fasan
- Referee:
- Steven McLean
- Attendance:
- 5,322
Match Stats
Home TeamMotherwellAway TeamKilmarnock
- Possession
- Home56%
- Away44%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away4
- Corners
- Home12
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Motherwell 0, Kilmarnock 1.
Post update
Iain Wilson (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Curtis Main (Motherwell).
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Corner, Motherwell. Conceded by Greg Taylor.
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Youssouf Mulumbu (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Elliott Frear (Motherwell).
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Chris Burke (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Craig Tanner (Motherwell).
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Stephen O'Donnell (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Elliott Frear (Motherwell).
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Corner, Motherwell. Conceded by Chris Burke.
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Foul by Stephen O'Donnell (Kilmarnock).
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Elliott Frear (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Kilmarnock. Chris Burke replaces Jordan Jones because of an injury.
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Delay in match Jordan Jones (Kilmarnock) because of an injury.
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Corner, Motherwell. Conceded by Iain Wilson.
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Foul by Scott Boyd (Kilmarnock).
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Elliott Frear (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Rory McKenzie (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
