Match ends, Motherwell 0, Kilmarnock 1.
MotherwellMotherwell0KilmarnockKilmarnock1
Jordan Jones' spectacular cross-cum-shot hoisted Kilmarnock into third place in the Scottish Premiership after a bizarre win over 10-man Motherwell.
Motherwell lost Carl McHugh, Charles Dunne and Christian Mbulu to head injuries in the first 28 minutes.
Kilmarnock winger Jones then found Mark Gillespie's net from out wide for his first goal of the season.
Later, Curtis Main was sent off for an elbow on Stephen O'Donnell as the hosts struggled to get back into the game.
The striker was initially shown one yellow card by Steven McLean before then being immediately shown a second then a red.
The result means Kilmarnock are just a point behind second-placed Rangers, while Motherwell sit eight points clear of bottom-placed Dundee.
Tale of injury woe befalls Motherwell
It was a tale of injury woe for Motherwell in the first half that would lead to three of their players ending up in hospital.
First up, the head knock between Dunne and McHugh. A hush fell on Fir Park as it became apparent that Dunne was in need of attention as medics crowded around before he was carried off on a stretcher. Thankfully, he was conscious when he was taken to an ambulance.
Mbulu was one of the players who came off the bench, but his match only lasted a handful of minutes after he took a ball to the face which resulted in him losing vision in one eye. He too had to be replaced and joined his two team-mates in hospital. There was also a head injury for Main which required lengthy treatment.
When football broke out it was Kilmarnock who looked the more dangerous.
In a game of freakish injuries, the goal would also have a touch of the extraordinary about it. Jones curled a beautiful ball towards the back post. It looked more cross than a shot, but whatever the intention it nestled into the top corner as Kilmarnock took the lead.
Come the second half. Jones continued to look the most dangerous as he fired in another shot that skimmed off the top of the crossbar.
For Motherwell, Elliott Frear had a shot blocked in the latter stages of the first half, but overall the home side struggled to create. Main's red card in the second half was the final blow in a bad day for the home side.
Decisive derby up next? - analysis
The final match of 2018 for Motherwell is the Lanarkshire derby against Hamilton Academical, and it looks like being an even bigger occasion than normal.
Both sides are in desperate need of inspiration. Expect a busy January transfer window from Motherwell.
As for Kilmarnock, they continue to chunter along at the right end of the table in the fashion we have now become accustomed to under Steve Clarke. The only concern is will they need to fend off potential suitors for the likes of Jones come January?
'Jordan will tell you it was a shot' - reaction
Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke: "I'm pretty sure Jordan will tell you it was a shot. As soon as he hit it, [Kilmarnock assistant manager] Alex Dyer said to me 'that's a goal'. He was right.
"Jordan said he saw the goalkeeper a little off his line and curled it back post. Whether it was a cross or a shot is pretty irrelevant."
Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson: "The performance this week as opposed to last week - players putting their body on the line - I'll stick up for them all day long.
"Did we create enough? No. We know which area of the pitch we need to strengthen in January. We didn't get a lot at that top end of the pitch."
Line-ups
Motherwell
Formation 3-5-2
- 20Gillespie
- 5Aldred
- 4McHughSubstituted forBigirimanaat 17'minutes
- 18DunneSubstituted forMbuluat 16'minutesSubstituted forGrimshawat 28'minutesBooked at 84mins
- 2Tait
- 23Gorrin
- 8Campbell
- 11Frear
- 3Taylor-Sinclair
- 9MainBooked at 71mins
- 24JohnsonBooked at 61mins
Substitutes
- 13Ferguson
- 14Grimshaw
- 17Bigirimana
- 19Sammon
- 21Mbulu
- 35Scott
- 48McKinstry
Kilmarnock
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 26Bachmann
- 2O'Donnell
- 16Boyd
- 17Findlay
- 3Taylor
- 8Dicker
- 6Power
- 19StewartBooked at 45mins
- 27TshibolaSubstituted forBrophyat 65'minutes
- 11JonesSubstituted forNdjoliat 90'minutes
- 9BoydSubstituted forMcKenzieat 65'minutes
Substitutes
- 1MacDonald
- 7McKenzie
- 12Ndjoli
- 18Waters
- 22Millen
- 25Brophy
- 29Burke
- Referee:
- Steven McLean
- Attendance:
- 5,426
Match Stats
Home TeamMotherwellAway TeamKilmarnock
- Possession
- Home51%
- Away49%
- Shots
- Home6
- Away16
- Shots on Target
- Home0
- Away3
- Corners
- Home2
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home16
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Motherwell 0, Kilmarnock 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Eamonn Brophy (Kilmarnock) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Post update
Richard Tait (Motherwell) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Greg Stewart (Kilmarnock).
Post update
Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by Liam Grimshaw.
Substitution
Substitution, Kilmarnock. Mikael Ndjoli replaces Jordan Jones.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Aaron Taylor-Sinclair (Motherwell) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt missed. Gael Bigirimana (Motherwell) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Post update
Foul by Alex Rodriguez (Motherwell).
Post update
Alan Power (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Tom Aldred (Motherwell) header from very close range is close, but misses to the left following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Motherwell. Conceded by Greg Taylor.
Booking
Liam Grimshaw (Motherwell) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Jordan Jones (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Liam Grimshaw (Motherwell).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Rory McKenzie (Kilmarnock) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt missed. Eamonn Brophy (Kilmarnock) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Post update
Attempt missed. Stephen O'Donnell (Kilmarnock) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.
Post update
Attempt saved. Rory McKenzie (Kilmarnock) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
