Motherwell picked up their first win in seven matches against Kilmarnock to give them an ideal boost ahead of their Europa League tie against Levante.

The visitors opened the scoring when Jamie Murphy dribbled his way to goal, shooting from 14 yards.

Killie equalised on the half-hour when Gary Harkins met a Liam Kelly pass, his first-time strike hitting home.

Jamie Murphy met a Michael Higdon pass and rounded Kilmarnock keeper Cammy Bell to regain the advantage.

Killie's first real chance fell the way of Rory Boulding. Neat play from Gary Harkins on the edge of the box created the opening and, as the ball broke to the striker, his shot was deflected over the bar.

Motherwell's best early opportunity fell to Michael Higdon after nine minutes when he fired a volley from 22 yards just wide of Cammy Bell's goal.

Three minutes later the visitors made the breakthrough.

Lee Johnson was caught in possession and Jamie Murphy took full advantage, eluding two defenders and slotting a right-foot shot from 16 yards into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

Another Killie mistake, this time by skipper Manuel Pascali, almost allowed Motherwell to increase their lead as his miscued header landed at the feet of Michael Higdon, however the 'Well striker pulled his left-foot effort wide.

After Rory Boulding also shot wide, Kilmarnock found the equaliser on the half-hour mark.

Harkins, who was at the heart of most of their attacks, finished off a neat move, shooting past Randolph.

In the 36th minute Motherwell went back in front as the game flowed from end to end. A quick break from the visitors caught the Killie defence flat footed on the half-way line.

Higdon slipped a neat pass through to release Murphy a couple of yards inside the Killie half, and the former Scotland Under-21 striker ran straight towards Bell's goal, rounded the keeper and knocked it into the empty net to claim his and Motherwell's second.

Killie made a double substitution nine minutes after the interval.

Lee Johnson was replaced by Danny Raachi in the midfield while new Spanish signing Borja Perez came on for Matthew Kennedy.

Murphy, having scored twice in the first half, came close to adding a third in the 55th minute. Slack defending by Killie allowed Henrik Ojamaa the chance to set up Murphy but his right-foot effort flew over.

A few minutes later the roles were reversed. This time Murphy found Ojamaa inside the box and the Estonian international sent a curling effort inches wide of Bell's left hand post.

Raachi almost pulled Killie level in the 62nd minute but he found Randolph in top form . The big 'keeper diving to his right to parry Raachi's 25-yard strike.

Killie pushed for the equaliser but they were being hit on the break by Motherwell.

The speedy Ojamaa was at the heart of most of those counters and came close on a few occasions.

Higdon met a Murphy cross full on the volley from 15 yards but his effort flew over the bar.

With two minutes left to play substitute Fraser Kerr almost added a third for the visitors.

Kerr showed neat skills to get past two defenders before firing in a shot from 12 yards which Bell somehow managed to superbly turn over the top.

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (6)

Kilmarnock

  • 01 Bell
  • 02 Tesselaar
  • 04 Fowler
  • 05 O'Leary (Dayton - 76' )
  • 06 Nelson Booked
  • 08 Kelly Booked
  • 11 Harkins
  • 18 Johnson (Racchi - 54' )
  • 29 Pascali
  • 33 Kennedy (Perez - 54' )
  • 16 Boulding

Substitutes

  • 17 Letheren
  • 26 Pursehouse
  • 07 Racchi
  • 10 Dayton
  • 28 Winchester
  • 15 Perez
  • 24 McKenzie

Motherwell

  • 01 Randolph
  • 05 Hutchinson Booked
  • 15 Ramsden (Cummins - 44' )
  • 26 Francis-Angol
  • 04 Law (Hetherington - 68' )
  • 06 Hateley
  • 07 Humphrey (Kerr - 70' )
  • 14 Lasley
  • 08 Ojamaa
  • 09 Higdon Booked
  • 11 Murphy

Substitutes

  • 12 Hollis
  • 19 Kerr
  • 30 Cummins
  • 18 Carswell
  • 27 Hetherington
  • 16 McHugh
  • 29 Erwin
Ref: Finnie
Att: 4,969

Match Stats

Shots

8 12

On target

6 3

Corners

3 5

Fouls

7 14

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:24 Full time

Full Time The referee blows for the end of the match.

90:00 +2:32

Free kick awarded for a foul by Danny Racchi on Henrik Ojamaa. Tom Hateley restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +1:46 Booking

Booking Caution for Michael Nelson.

89:29

Free kick awarded for a foul by Michael Higdon on Michael Nelson. Free kick taken by Cameron Bell.

87:48

Fraser Kerr takes a shot. Save by Cameron Bell. Tom Hateley takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, clearance by Manuel Pascali.

86:40

Jamie Murphy is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Cameron Bell restarts play with the free kick.

85:40

Free kick taken by Manuel Pascali.

85:40 Booking

Booking Shaun Hutchinson goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.

85:31

Foul by Shaun Hutchinson on Gary Harkins, free kick awarded.

83:00

Effort on goal by Michael Higdon from inside the box misses to the right of the target.

81:56

Shot on goal by Henrik Ojamaa from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target. Corner taken by Tom Hateley from the right by-line played to the near post, save made by Cameron Bell.

78:55

Keith Lasley challenges James Dayton unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Liam Kelly.

78:55

Free kick awarded for a foul by Keith Lasley on James Dayton. Liam Kelly crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel.

77:33

The offside flag is raised against Rory Boulding. Darren Randolph restarts play with the free kick.

77:05

Shot from deep inside the area by Henrik Ojamaa clears the bar.

75:17 Substitution

Substitution James Dayton replaces Ryan O'Leary.

73:41

Unfair challenge on Adam Cummins by Rory Boulding results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Darren Randolph.

72:09

Corner taken right-footed by Danny Racchi from the right by-line to the near post, Gary Harkins takes a shot. Comfortable save by Darren Randolph.

68:48

Manuel Pascali restarts play with the free kick.

68:48 Substitution

Substitution Fraser Kerr comes on in place of Chris Humphrey.

68:48

Michael Nelson fouled by Michael Higdon, the ref awards a free kick.

67:08 Substitution

Substitution Steven Hetherington replaces Nicky Law.

63:56

The ball is swung over by Liam Kelly.

61:28

Danny Racchi takes a shot. Brilliant save by Darren Randolph.

59:45

Borja Perez takes a shot. Save made by Darren Randolph.

59:14

Unfair challenge on Liam Kelly by Nicky Law results in a free kick. Liam Kelly restarts play with the free kick.

56:34

Corner taken right-footed by Liam Kelly, clearance by Jamie Murphy.

55:30

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Tom Hateley.

54:28

Shot on goal by Jamie Murphy from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

52:57

Cameron Bell takes the free kick.

52:57 Substitution

Substitution Matthew Kennedy goes off and Borja Perez comes on.

52:57 Substitution

Substitution Danny Racchi on for Lee Johnson.

52:57

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ryan O'Leary by Henrik Ojamaa.

46:03

The referee blows for offside against Jeroen Tesselaar. Darren Randolph takes the indirect free kick.

45:01

The second half has started.

45:00 +1:04 Half time

Half Time The first half comes to an end.

45:00 +0:30

Nicky Law has a header from close in and clears the crossbar.

43:58

Rory Boulding concedes a free kick for a foul on Zaine Francis-Angol. Darren Randolph restarts play with the free kick.

43:20

Michael Nelson takes the indirect free kick.

43:20 Substitution

Substitution Adam Cummins is brought on as a substitute for Simon Ramsden.

43:20

Michael Higdon gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Michael Nelson.

40:04

Gary Harkins takes a shot. Save by Darren Randolph.

39:04

Unfair challenge on Henrik Ojamaa by Liam Kelly results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Nicky Law.

36:04

Assist on the goal came from Michael Higdon.

36:04 Goal scored

Goal - Jamie Murphy - Kilmarnock 1 - 2 Motherwell Jamie Murphy grabs a goal from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. Kilmarnock 1-2 Motherwell.

35:32

Foul by Shaun Hutchinson on Gary Harkins, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Liam Kelly.

33:40

Free kick awarded for a foul by Simon Ramsden on Rory Boulding. Shot comes in from Liam Kelly from the free kick.

32:34

Keith Lasley fouled by Liam Kelly, the ref awards a free kick. Tom Hateley crosses the ball in from the free kick.

29:58 Goal scored

Goal - Gary Harkins - Kilmarnock 1 - 1 Motherwell Gary Harkins finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Kilmarnock 1-1 Motherwell.

29:30

Henrik Ojamaa concedes a free kick for a foul on Ryan O'Leary. Cameron Bell takes the free kick.

27:33

Effort from the edge of the area by Rory Boulding goes wide of the right-hand post.

27:11

Michael Higdon concedes a free kick for a foul on Manuel Pascali. Indirect free kick taken by Manuel Pascali.

25:21

Simon Ramsden restarts play with the free kick.

25:21 Booking

Booking The referee shows Liam Kelly a yellow card.

25:02

Foul by Liam Kelly on Keith Lasley, free kick awarded.

24:02

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jeroen Tesselaar by Chris Humphrey. Free kick taken by Manuel Pascali.

22:32

Manuel Pascali restarts play with the free kick.

22:32 Booking

Booking The referee books Michael Higdon for unsporting behaviour.

22:27

Michael Higdon challenges Gary Harkins unfairly and gives away a free kick.

21:16

The official flags Rory Boulding offside. Simon Ramsden restarts play with the free kick.

19:56

Foul by Zaine Francis-Angol on Rory Boulding, free kick awarded. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Liam Kelly from right wing, Darren Randolph makes a comfortable save.

19:07

Chris Humphrey has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand post.

17:13

The assistant referee flags for offside against Michael Higdon. Free kick taken by Cameron Bell.

15:52

Close range shot by Michael Higdon goes wide of the right-hand upright.

11:16 Goal scored

Goal - Jamie Murphy - Kilmarnock 0 - 1 Motherwell Jamie Murphy scores a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Kilmarnock 0-1 Motherwell.

9:23

Michael Higdon has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box which goes wide right of the target.

6:07

Rory Boulding takes a shot. Zaine Francis-Angol gets a block in. Corner taken by Lee Johnson.

4:21

Zaine Francis-Angol fouled by Manuel Pascali, the ref awards a free kick. Tom Hateley crosses the ball in from the free kick, Manuel Pascali manages to make a clearance.

1:17

Corner taken by Tom Hateley from the right by-line played to the near post. Tom Hateley takes the outswinging corner, Headed effort on goal by Shaun Hutchinson from just inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

0:29

The official flags Rory Boulding offside. Darren Randolph takes the indirect free kick.

0:00

The referee gets the match started.

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