MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: Motherwell 0 Kilmarnock 1 – Stephen O’Donnell climbs out of sick bed to fire Steve Clarke’s men into the Premiership’s top six
O’Donnell’s first-half strike was a thing of beauty – and the Steve Clarke bandwagon carries on relentlessly
STEPHEN O’DONNELL climbed out of his sick bed to fire Killie into the top six.
By full-time it was the Motherwell players feeling far worse.
O’Donnell’s first half strike was a thing of beauty – and the Steve Clarke bandwagon carries on relentlessly.
It’s now just one defeat in 12 games for Killie who are brimming with confidence and belief.
The Verdict
MOTHERWELL:
Trevor Carson: 6
Richard Tait: 7
Chris Cadden: 6
Carl McHugh: 6
Curtis Main: 6
Elliott Frear: 7
Andy Rose: 6
Charles Dunne: 6
Tom Aldred: 7
Nadir Ciftci: 5
Craig Tanner: 6
Subs: Ryan Bowman (Ciftci, 69) 3; Gael Bigirimana (Rose, 70) 3; Liam Grimshaw (Cadden, 81) 2.
KILMARNOCK:
Jamie MacDonald: 6
Stephen O’Donnell: 8
Kirk Broadfoot: 7
Rory McKenzie: 6
Kris Boyd: 6
Jordan Jones: 6
Greg Taylor: 6
Scott Boyd: 7
Stuart Findlay: 7
Youssouf Mulumbu: 7
Eamonn Brophy: 6
Subs: Lee Erwin (Brophy, 58) 4; Iain Wilson (K Boyd, 69) 3; Chris Burke (Jones, 87) 1.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Stephen O’Donnell is one of the best full-backs in the top flight and he proved it again at Fir Park with a strong performance capped off by a stunning strike.
The ex-Celtic youth was tireless up and down the right flank.
First and foremost his defensive work was virtually flawless, sound with his tackling and reading of the game. But then he popped up with a first half winner which gave Carson no chance.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE: Steven McLean had Kris Boyd on his case big time first half for not awarding Killie a corner.
For several minutes the SunSport columnist was screaming the whistler’s name but was rubber-eared.
But it wasn’t the only time he had players on his case with some poor decision making. McLean’s having a mediocre season.
The yellow card came out only three times, for Killie’s Broadfoot, Brophy and MacDonald.
MEN IN THE DUGOUT: For many, Steve Clarke was the man who should’ve got the Scotland job and not Alex McLeish.
It’s very easy to see why because the job he’s done for the Rugby Park club in four months is incredible. Now 10 wins in 18 games and only three defeats.
For Stephen Robinson it was a bitterly disappointing result but he can still take plenty out of the game. All his committed side lacked was a killer touch.
It was an appealing fixture and there was certainly no surprise at there being a sizeable away support, over 1,000 Killie fans enjoying their day in Lanarkshire.
They are flying under Clarke.
But then Well’s form going into this was decent too – just one defeat in seven post-winter break games, winning four.
Billed as a battle for the top six – with the Steelmen just in it ahead of Killie on goal difference – you sensed there wasn’t going to be a great deal between the teams.
And that’s exactly how it panned out.
Killie were sharp out of the traps, Eamonn Brophy firing a first minute left foot shot at Trevor Carson from 18 yards.
Moments later top scorer Kris Boyd was inches away from netting a superb effort, his right foot curling shot inside the box really worrying Carson who dived full stretch high to his left and was relieved to see the ball drop past the far post.
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Well eventually settled and Killie No1 Jamie MacDonald was almost caught out at his near post by an in-swinging Craig Tanner corner; the keeper flapping at it and unconvincingly pushing the ball out before it was eventually cleared.
Overlapping left-back Elliott Frear was a threat all afternoon for Well – good pace, consistent delivery – and from one cross to the near post Tanner darted in and volleyed narrowly wide.
Nadir Ciftci shot wide in the 10th minute as Well pinned back Killie.
MacDonald easily saved a Curtis Main header after 15 minutes as the visitors came under sustained pressure.
They then enjoyed a huge escape as Kirk Broadfoot turned a teasing Chris Cadden cross against his post at close range.
Well were on their game but they needed to score and they were up against a solid Killie defence.
Jordan Jones provided some respite for Killie with a 26th minute header from a Broadfoot cross which Carson held comfortably.
And they stunned Well with a magnificent 35th minute opener.
A blunder from Main – a slack cross-field pass – was capitalised by O’Donnell who ventured to within 30-yards of the home goal and produced a brilliant right foot shot which fizzed low past Carson and into the corner.
It was a fantastic effort by the impressive right-back.
To be fair to Well they came back at Killie within a few minutes – Cadden bursting clear of Stuart Findlay from a neat Ciftci flick but when in the box badly screwing a right foot shot well wide of the far post.
It was a big chance to level before the break.
Three minutes into the second half Tom Aldred – a powerful presence in the Well defence – had a header from a Frear corner pushed out by MacDonald.
Both teams were organised and creative. But each defensive was also effective meaning clear-cut chances were at a premium.
But it was still a good game to watch, capable players in either team producing moments of real ability.
O’Donnell showed ambition again in the 64th minute by going on a mazy run before firing high and wide from distance with his left foot.
Seconds later at the other Main – sprinting into the box from a mighty Carson clearance – flashed a right foot shot just past the near post.
Well threw everything at a stubborn Killie defence for a frantic last 20 minutes, forcing corner after corner – but couldn’t create a gilt-edged opportunity.
Man in the mask Ryan Bowman – back following a fractured eye socket suffered in training – was thrown on by Well boss Stephen Robinson for added power.
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He combined well with Main in the 78th minute before the latter clipped a curling shot just wide of the far post.
You couldn’t fault Well’s all-out effort for an equaliser.
But then you also had to give massive credit to a Killie defence which secured another BIG result.