Kilmarnock had been left pissed off by Motherwell as they had been held to a goalless draw at Rugby Park within the William Hill Premiership.
It was removed from a traditional however the Ayrshire aspect deserved all three factors as they dominated their opponents.
Kilmarnock had 16 photographs, 14 corners and a objective dominated out – appropriately – however they may not discover a well beyond a resolute Motherwell defence.
Derek McInnes’ males might have entered the highest six with a victory, however remained ninth with Motherwell holding on for a degree to consolidate their place in fifth.
Kilmarnock spurned a gilt-edged alternative to open the scoring after simply three minutes when Marley Watkins miscued from 10 yards from Fraser Murray’s intelligent cut-back.
The hosts continued their vivid begin and Corrie Ndaba’s drilled cross was nearly skewed into his personal internet by Liam Gordon.
From the ensuing nook, Aston Oxborough produced a outstanding reflex save to claw away Joe Wright’s goalbound effort earlier than Ewan Wilson hooked the ball off the road.
After weathering an early storm, Motherwell grew into the sport and Tony Watt compelled Robby McCrorie into a cushty low save within the twenty fourth minute after good work from Tawanda Maswanhise.
Killie thought that they had damaged the impasse simply three minutes later when Brad Lyons stabbed dwelling after a wonderful run from Murray however it was dominated offside after a VAR evaluate.
There was extra frustration for Kilmarnock minutes later when referee Don Robertson waved away their penalty appeals for handball in opposition to Kofi Balmer and the VAR officers agreed.
Kilmarnock had greater than 70 per cent possession within the first half they usually got here agonisingly near finally getting the objective their efficiency deserved on the stroke of half-time when Lyons’ header rebounded off the bar.
It was an uneventful begin to the second half however Killie went shut once more after 54 minutes when Wright flashed a header extensive from a nook earlier than McCrorie once more denied Motherwell striker Watt’s low effort.
There was a definite lack of high quality from both aspect all through the sport however the second half was particularly abject with Motherwell clearly lacking the guile of their talisman Lennon Miller.
Kilmarnock continued to push for the opener because the second half progressed and Oxborough made one other good save to disclaim Watkins from shut vary after 75 minutes.
Motherwell launched new signing Kai Andrews for the latter levels and he appeared to burst into the field within the eighty fifth minute with the ball invitingly falling to Watt however he dragged his shot nicely extensive.
And simply minutes later, one other substitute wasted an opportunity to develop into the hero when Bruce Anderson fired extensive on the flip contained in the field earlier than Killie nearly received it in stoppage time.
Bobby Wales’ wonderful cut-back discovered Jack Burroughs eight yards out with the objective gaping however Dan Casey made an excellent block to earn his aspect a hard-fought level.
The managers
Kilmarnock’s Derek McInnes:
“Draws should feel like losses at home and it felt like that tonight. It was one-way traffic and we completely grabbed hold of the game. Everything that we worked on was there but you need to find a way to score.
“Motherwell defended nicely, we obtained a objective disallowed and hit the bar. It is onerous to be crucial when the one facet lacking was the ultimate half however we’ve got to verify they’re successful performances.
“We need to score more goals when we dominate games like that to get to where we want to be as a team. You aren’t always going to dominate games like that but when you do, you need to take your chances.
“The previous few video games have felt like missed alternatives for us as a result of we might have moved into the highest six tonight.
“I thought we should have had a penalty. Balmer’s hand was out and away from his body so I’m surprised that it wasn’t looked at.
“I by no means noticed it on the time however after I obtained to my telephone, I had about 10 messages. My analyst confirmed the replay to me and I assumed it was.”
Motherwell’s Stuart Kettlewell:
“It was [an uncomfortable watch] in some ways. If I am brutally sincere, Kilmarnock had been the higher aspect, created the higher possibilities and had higher management within the recreation.
“I felt that we never got started and we let them come onto us. They got too many balls into our box and we relied on our goalkeeper too much tonight.
“He was sensational and also you want that within the league however we have performed lots higher and misplaced this season. It was our second clear sheet on the bounce and we’re solely three factors off third.”
