Referee John Underhill was at the centre of controversy at Rugby Park while Ged Brannan could have marked his last game for Motherwell with the perfect leaving present.

Liverpool-born Brannan was the subject of a bid from Wigan on Thursday and he set up the victory from the penalty spot.

The game, however, will be remembered for two incidents in which the official was heavily involved.

First he failed to award Motherwell their spot-kick until the linesman set him straight and then he opted not to give the home side a clear penalty when Brannan brought down Craig Dargo.

The home fans were furious and their anger boiled over late in the game when Kevin Twaddle wrapped up the points and they took their frustration out on under-pressure manager Bobby Williamson.

He will be clearly furious with the official, who called off St Johnstone's midweek game against Celtic because of fog, and it appeared his view was hazy again.

It took just over 10 minutes for either side to test the opposition's goalkeeper when Killie keeper Gordon Marshall comfortably saved Stephen McMillan's right-foot free-kick from 20 yards.

Kilmarnock broke with purpose after Marshall's long clearance downfield but Peter Canero was unable to shake off the close attentions of McMillan.

If ever there was a game which needed a goal this was it, but after the opening quarter of an hour it did not look promising.

Williamson's men looked to be suffering the after-effects of losing a last-minute goal to Hibernian in midweek, although they carved out a good opportunity in the 19th minute.

Andy McLaren played a clever corner to Gus MacPherson on the edge of the box and he turned to fire a volley across the face of goal and Chris Innes came within inches of getting a telling touch to the ball.

Moments later a poor clearance by Frederic Dindeleux almost cost the home side but Scott Leitch was unable to hit the target from just outside the area.

Leitch became the first man to be shown the yellow card in the 27th minute for a reckless challenge on McLaren.

Moments later the former Reading player tested Andy Goram with a dipping long-range effort that the goalkeeper easily saved under his post.

The game finally sparked into life in the 29th minute when Motherwell were deservedly awarded a penalty in a bizarre incident.

Goalkeeper Marshall collided with Dindeleux as he attempted to clear the ball which left Lee McCulloch all on his own, but the Frenchman pulled the striker to the ground.

Initially Underhill failed to point to the spot but after a word with the linesman he gave the decision.

However, the official failed to punish Dindeleux and he was lucky to be still on the field when Brannan fired into the bottom corner.

Two minutes later Motherwell came close to doubling their lead when Lee McCulloch found Derek Townsley in the area but the tall midfielder headed just wide with Marshall stranded.

The home side understandably committed more men forward in search of the equaliser but that left gaps at the back which the visitors looked to exploit.

Kilmarnock looked shaky at the back for most of the first half and Marshall's poor kicking did not help matters.

Kilmarnock came out livelier as the heavens opened after the restart and a great defence-splitting pass from McLaren gave them hope.

The winger spotted Dargo's run down the right flank and found him in space but Motherwell defender Greg Strong made up the ground and made a saving block to deny him a shot on goal.

But the home fans were becoming increasingly restless, their groans intensified as more passes went astray and those that were directed at their own players went towards their own goal.

McLaren looked Kilmarnock's biggest threat and he sent Dargo clear again in the 59th minute after pulling away from Strong, but veteran Goram stood up well and made a vital block.

The crowd were baying for blood moments later when Townsley lunged at Martin Baker and Underhill was this time quick to brandish the yellow card under the nose of Williamson, who had come down from the stand.

McCulloch was playing with confidence and in the 68th minute he tried an adventurous long-range effort from Martyn Corrigan's pass which flew just past the upright.

The home side's frustration intensified in the 74th minute when they were denied a clear penalty.

Dargo took Dindeleux's clearance in his stride and skipped away from Brannan, who resorted to bringing the striker down in the area, but Underhill waved away the protests which incensed the angry fans.

Kilmarnock penned the visitors back and Goram had to save well from Dargo's point-blank header.

Motherwell, however, killed off the game in the 84th minute when substitute Twaddle raced clear and drew Marshall before firing home.

In the dying seconds McLaren found Dargo in the centre and he volleyed home to give his side a late consolation.

But the fans jeered their side and Williamson at the final whistle as Kilmarnock have not won at home since October and now their European hopes look dead and buried.

Teams:

Kilmarnock: Marshall, MacPherson, Dindeleux (Cocard 78), Baker, Innes, Mitchell, Holt, Canero (Wright 81), Hay (Fowler 74),Dargo, McLaren.

Subs Not Used: Stewart, McGowne.

Goals: Dargo 90.

Motherwell: Goram, Corrigan, Brannan, Strong, McMillan, Townsley, Oueifio, Adams (Lasley 87), Leitch (Hammell 56), Spencer (Twaddle 74), McCulloch.

Subs Not Used: Woods, Goodman.

Booked: Leitch, Townsley.

Goals: Brannan 29 pen, Twaddle 83.

Att: 6,018

Ref: John Underhill (Scotland).