Ten-man Kilmarnock retained fourth place in the Premier Division with this
comfortable win at rain-lashed Rugby Park and added to Motherwell's relegation
problems in the process.
Killie survived the 75th minute sending-off of defender Gus MacPherson for an
off-the-ball incident with John Hendry to punish a disappointing Motherwell side
now ahead of second-bottom Aberdeen on goal difference only.
Once again Killie's hero as they stretched their undefeated run to six matches
was striker Paul Wright, who set up the victory with two cracking first-half
goals.
He gave his team the perfect start with an opportunist strike in the eighth
minute.
When Mark Riley's freekick was only partially cleared by Rob Newman, Wright
pounced to shoot the ball low into the corner of the net.
But the visitors took advantage of some slack Killie defensive play in the
24th minute to snatch a shock equaliser.
Hendry's mis-hit shot found Owen Coyle in the clear and when goalkeeper
Dragoje Lekovic advanced, Coyle scrambled the ball over the line.
Minutes earlier Brian Martin had almost put through his own goal when his
attempted 40-yard backpass flew just wide.
Killie were soon back in control, though, and it was that man Wright who
struck again with a superb goal.
Jim Lauchlan's freekick from the centre circle was controlled by the Killie
striker on the edge of the box, he turned his marker and cracked in a powerful
shot off the underside of the crossbar.
It was no more than Kilmarnock deserved at that stage, but there was plenty
more to come.
With less than a minute of the first half remaining, Ally Mitchell pounced
with another excellent strike.
He picked up the loose ball on the centre line, ran at a retreating Motherwell
defence and fired into the corner of the net from 15 yards.
The Ayrshire side should have gone on to add to their total as they dominated
the second half, but when they reached the penalty area, they could not hit the
target.
That was the case until two minutes from time, when substitute Mark Roberts,
who had replaced Alex Burke three minutes earlier, scored with a speculative
shot from 18 yards that deceived goalkeeper Stephen Woods.
Teams
Kilmarnock: Lekovic, MacPherson, Kerr, Lauchlan, Montgomerie,
Reilly, Mitchell, Holt, Wright (Nevin 83), Vareille (Henry 78),
Burke (Roberts 85).
Sent Off: MacPherson (75).
Goals: Wright 8, 33, Mitchell 44, Roberts 88.
Motherwell: Woods, May, McMillan, Newman, Martin,
Philliben (Weir 60), Hendry, Davies, Coyne,
McSkimming (Shivute 56), Coyle.
Subs Not Used: Christie.
Booked: McMillan, Philliben, Weir, Coyne.
Goals: Coyle 24.
Att: 8,724
Ref: M McCurry (Glasgow).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook