Kilmarnock substitute Colin Nish headed an injury-time winner to move his side up to fifth place in the Bank of Scotland Premier League after they had been outplayed by Motherwell.

Well played some neat football at times and Killie keeper Graeme Smith made several good saves, especially in the first quarter.

The visitors did not come out their shell until the final 20 minutes but even then Nish's near-post header from a corner which won the contest came against the run of play.

Well manager Maurice Malpas kept faith with Celtic-bound striker Scott McDonald following his double in the win over Dunfermline.

And McDonald had the first sight of goal in the fifth minute after Jim Paterson's attempted cross sat up for him on the edge of the box.

The Australian's powerful looping effort was touched past the post by Smith and the Killie keeper saved well from a 12-yard strike by Mark Reynolds from the resulting corner.

Smith then came off his line to thwart Krisztian Vadocz as the Hungary midfielder burst into the box to try to force home Paterson's cross.

The impressive Vadocz then found Paterson in space on the left wing and the former Dundee United midfielder's powerful strike was parried by Smith before being cleared.

Well continued to have the better of the play and Paul Keegan's shot on the turn bounced just wide after the Irishman had controlled McDonald's driven cross.

Garry Hay limped off in the 28th minute with Gary Locke coming on and Peter Leven moving to left wing-back in Killie's 3-4-1-2 system.

Leven cleared Paterson's dangerous cross after the wide man's trademark stepover momentarily livened up proceedings, but goalmouth action grew increasingly scarce as the half progressed.

Rocco Quinn, who had been playing just off Kilmarnock's front pair Gary Wales and Steven Naismith, was replaced by winger Willie Gibson at the interval.

Motherwell continued to probe but Keegan's first touch let him down at McDonald's cutback after Martyn Corrigan's ball had sent the Aussie to the byline.

Home keeper Graeme Smith was replaced by Colin Meldrum in the 58th minute after failing to shake off the effects of a first-half collision with Naismith.

Well full-back Danny Murphy curled a 25-yard free-kick well over despite Brian Kerr's run outside the Killie wall being left unchecked.

The home side were controlling the game but the killer pass was proving elusive.

Naismith almost found it at the other end with a great through ball for Wales but Murphy rescued the hosts with a superb last-ditch challenge.

The Killie keeper then saved brilliantly from McDonald's side-footed effort after Darren Smith's near-post cross.

Killie came out of their shell and Meldrum caught Gibson's powerful effort which bounced just in front of him, before Stephen Craigan blocked the Killie sub's shot after a good run into the box.

Keegan headed over from Kerr's corner and McDonald shot well wide following a positive run, while Simon Ford could not get enough power in his header to beat Meldrum from Gibson's free-kick.

Murphy's clever free-kick into the box gave McDonald a chance but the ball spun wide and he earned himself a booking in his appeals for a corner.

Locke's shot was tipped over for an injury-time corner and Nish headed home Leven's cross at the near post for an unlikely win for the visitors.

Teams:

Motherwell (0) 0 Kilmarnock (0) 1

Motherwell Graeme Smith (Meldrum 56), Corrigan, Craigan,Reynolds, Murphy, Darren Smith, Kerr, Vadocz,Paterson (Molloy 74), McDonald, Keegan (Clarkson 80).

Subs Not Used: McGarry, McBride, Quinn, Fitzpatrick.

Booked: McDonald.

Kilmarnock Smith, Ford, Greer, Frazer Wright, Sylla,Quinn (Gibson 46), Fowler, Leven, Hay (Locke 28),Wales (Nish 67), Naismith.

Subs Not Used: Harpur, Di Giacomo, Campbell, Koudou.

Booked: Leven.

Goals: Nish 90.

Att: 3,784

Ref: K Clarke (Scotland).