Motherwell became the first team outside of the Old Firm to defeat Kilmarnock at Rugby Park since the opening day of last season when their nine men bravely held on for three precious points in the Bank of Scotland Premier League.

Richie Foran fired the visitors ahead in the 15th minute from close range following good work from Scott McDonald, who then teed up Jim Paterson five minutes later for the left-back's shot to be deflected past Graeme Smith in Kilmarnock's goal.

Steven Naismith gave Killie hope with a stunning 39th-minute strike from 25 yards and although Paterson was sent off on 56, the Steelmen held on for a vital victory in their fight against relegation.

Young centre-half Mark Reynolds was outstanding at the heart of the Motherwell defence as Killie, who also drew their last home game against St Mirren, failed to use their extra man to punish the Maurice Malpas' outfit.

With seconds remaining, Garry Hay and David Clarkson were sent off for squaring up to each other as Killie ended the game with 10 men and Motherwell with nine.

Jim Jefferies' side suffered an early blow when Paul Di Giacomo had to be replaced by Gary Wales in the fourth minute after the former suffered a facial injury when he was caught accidentally in the face by Stephen Craigan's boot as the Motherwell defender cleared his lines.

It was Wales' first action at any level of football since he picked up a hamstring injury in the CIS Cup game against Motherwell at the start of November.

But he showed few signs of lingering rust, pouncing on a rare mistake by Reynolds in the ninth minute and forcing a smart save from Graeme Smith, who had been recalled in place of the injured Colin Meldrum in Motherwell's goal.

Foran produced the visitors' first effort a minute later, a rising volley from the edge of the box after the Killie defence failed to deal with a clever chip from Brian Kerr.

In the 15th minute Foran made no mistake when he fired Malpas' side ahead from close range after fine work from Scott McDonald on the goalline, the Australia striker outmuscling Hay before producing an inviting cross which the Irishman could not fail to convert.

Five minutes later the visitors doubled their lead following a slick passing move which ended with McDonald teeing up Paterson, whose shot was deflected past hapless Kilmarnock goalkeeper Graeme Smith.

Inevitably, Killie poured forward in search of a way back into the game but they struggled to find a chink in Motherwell's previously porous defence.

The visitors remained dangerous on the counter-attack too and, with Killie defender Grant Murray receiving treatment for a facial injury, Calum Elliot broke clear following a Killie corner in search of a third for the Steelmen.

Fortunately for Jefferies' side, midfielder Danny Invincibile was alert to the threat and the Australian blocked the shot from the Well striker - recalled at the expense of Clarkson - with a terrific sliding tackle.

Within seconds Killie went up the other end and Naismith, who had barely touched the ball to that point, got his side back into the game with a wonderful 25-yard strike in the 39th minute which swerved in the air and beat Smith.

After a quiet opening to the second period the game erupted into life in the 56th minute when Paterson, booked in the first half for a crude challenge on Invincibile, was shown a second yellow card by referee Brian Winter for delaying the taking of a throw-in.

Malpas reacted by bringing on former Celtic reserve midfielder Kevin McBride in place of on-loan Hearts forward Elliot, with Marc Fitzpatrick moving into the left-back berth Paterson had vacated.

The Steelmen reorganised themselves impressively and Killie's only moment of inspiration in the 10 minutes following Paterson's dismissal was a cushioned header from Colin Nish into Allan Johnston's path which the former Scotland midfielder dragged wide.

In the 76th minute Killie carved out their best chance of the half, Nish's flicked header finding Gordon Greer but the right-back screwed his effort horribly wide of the Motherwell goal.

Johnston wasted his second opening of the half with six minutes left, blasting over with uncharacteristic clumsiness from the edge of the box after being set up by Naismith.

It was Killie's last chance to salvage anything from the match as Motherwell became the first non-Old Firm side to win at Rugby Park since George Burley's Hearts at the start of last season.

And the game ended in chaos when Hay was sent off in time added on for raising his hands at Clarkson, who was then also sent off for reacting at the Killie captain.

Teams

Kilmarnock Smith, Grant Murray, Greer,Frazer Wright (Ford 72), Hay, Naismith, Fowler, Johnston,Invincibile (Stephen Murray 73), Nish, Di Giacomo (Wales 4).

Subs Not Used: Combe, Dodds, Adams, Campbell.

Sent Off: Hay (90).

Booked: Grant Murray.

Goals: Naismith 38.

Motherwell Graeme Smith, Corrigan, Craigan, Reynolds,Paterson, Kerr, Darren Lee Smith (McGarry 67), Fitzpatrick,Foran, McDonald (Clarkson 80), Elliot (McBride 60).

Subs Not Used: Martin, Kinniburgh, Quinn, Connolly.

Sent Off: Paterson (56), Clarkson (90).

Booked: Paterson, Foran, McDonald.

Goals: Foran 15, Paterson 20.

Att: 5,576

Ref: B Winter (Scotland).