Motherwell goalkeeper Francois Dubourdeau was left red-faced after giving away a late penalty to hand Kilmarnock all three points.

A tedious game seemed to be heading for a draw until the 79th minute when the Frenchman foolishly struck out at Killie striker Craig Dargo in the six-yard box and was shown the red card by referee John Rowbotham.

Kilmarnock striker Kris Boyd stepped up to send substitute goalkeeper Stevie Woods the wrong way and avenge Saturday's Cup defeat at the hands of the same opponents.

With both sides showing several changes from their weekend cup clash, the supporters who braved the cold hoped for more entertainment than the two sides had provided on Saturday.

But they were to be disappointed as the opening half started poorly and the game slowly deteriorated.

In a nervy start, the visitors had the first shot in the fourth minute but midfielder Scott Leitch's 20-yard free-kick went well wide.

Motherwell's 17-year-old striker David Clarkson showed some confident touches in the early stages and in the eighth minute he got on the end of a Keith Lasley cross but headed weakly straight at Chris Meldrum from close range.

At the other end, Kris Boyd's unconvincing snap-shot from 30 yards was tame and trundled harmlessly through to Motherwell goalkeeper Francois Dubourdeau.

In the 20th minute Boyd played a deft defence-splitting pass to the on-rushing Craig Dargo but he lacked the pace to beat Dubourdeau and the goalkeeper gathered comfortably.

Motherwell midfielder Derek Adams then collected a Steven Craig pass at the edge of the box but his low drive went wide.

In the 35th minute there was a brief break from the monotony when Garry Hay drew a fine save from Dubourdeau with a sizzling shot from 25 yards.

The war of attrition continued in the second half with both sides guilty of depending on sheer effort rather than guile.

Kilmarnock midfielder Stevie Fulton, normally the most assured of passers, was having an off-night.

Both goalkeepers were virtually redundant and in the 56th minute Motherwell youngster David Cowan ballooned the ball high into the stands from 30 yards.

Moments later, Lasley came closer with his left-foot shot but even his effort from 25 yards was well wide.

At the other end, Dargo pounced on slack play by the Motherwell defence which left him clean through on goal but the little striker seemed surprised, over-ran the ball and Dubourdeau gathered easily.

In the 66th minute Lasley again had an shot from outside the box which Meldrum covered easily.

The game came alive in the 79th minute when Kilmarnock were awarded a penalty after Dubourdeau was sent off for striking Dargo in the six-yard box.

Substitute goalkeeper Woods went on for Steven Craig and faced the penalty but his first touch was to pick the ball out the net after Boyd sent him the wrong way from the spot.

Teams:

Kilmarnock: Meldrum, Shields, Dindeleux, McLaughlin, Fowler, Fulton, Mahood, Dargo (Di Giacomo 89), Hay, Boyd, McDonald.

Subs Not Used: Stewart, Murray, Canning, Dillon.

Goals: Boyd 81 pen.

Motherwell: Dubourdeau, Corrigan, Kinniburgh, Partridge, Cowan, Lasley, Adams (Fagan 62), Leitch, Pearson, Craig (Woods 80), Clarkson.

Subs Not Used: Ramsey, Clarke, McDonald.

Sent Off: Dubourdeau (80).

Booked: Kinniburgh.

Att: 4,457

Ref: J Rowbotham (Scotland).