Motherwell 2-0 Kilmarnock

Motherwell got the better of visitors Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership.

Gordon Greer's header came back off the Motherwell crossbar midway through the first half.

Killie keeper Jamie MacDonald twice denied Louis Moult after the break before Ryan Bowman fired the hosts into the lead.

And, after Bowman had been fouled in the box, Moult converted a penalty to seal the points and make it three wins in a row for Well.

They move on to nine points after five league games while Kilmarnock have one point along with bottom side Dundee and Partick Thistle, who have the best goal difference of the three.

Stephen Robinson's side enjoyed a lively start at Fir Park with captain Carl McHugh testing MacDonald from 25 yards and Bowman glancing a header wide from Moult's cross.

Eamonn Brophy, who was making his first start for Kilmarnock, came close to finding the breakthrough after a sweeping move.

He started it in midfield, releasing Dom Thomas wide on the left. The former Motherwell man manufactured the perfect cross for Brophy to meet first time with his right foot from 10 yards and only the quick reaction of Trevor Carson parrying his effort prevented the visitors going in front.

Bowman got his fourth goal of the season

Well defender Cedric Kipre was booked for a hefty challenge on Greg Taylor just in front of the dugouts that sparked an argument between the two technical areas, Robinson berating Killie assistant Peter Leven for his reaction to what they had witnessed.

Moult had a shot saved by MacDonald and then Killie hit the woodwork.

A Thomas corner from the right was met at the back post by Greer and his effort took a slight deflection off the head of Peter Hartley before rebounding back off the bar.

And, just before the whistle, Bowman cut back to Moult only for the normally reliable hitman to slice his shot wide from 10 yards.

Moult continued to be the focal point for Well and he came close on three occasions around the hour mark. First he tried his luck from a free-kick 22 yards out and his right-foot curling effort was tipped over by MacDonald.

The striker then sent a volley from 12 yards wide after he latched on to a slack Killie clearance, before bringing out another fine one-handed save from MacDonald at his right-hand post with a low shot.

But Motherwell's pressure paid off. Substitute Gael Bigirimana slipped a pass through the centre of the visitors' defence, which Bowman latched on to before lofting over the advancing keeper into the net.

Two minutes from the end Moult, with his fifth goal of the season, wrapped up the points for the Lanarkshire side from the spot. The penalty was given after Iain Wilson had fouled Bowman, who was trying to get on the end of a cross.

Louis Moult's penalty doubled Motherwell's lead against Kilmarnock

Post-match reaction

Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson: "I'm not surprised by the spirit and character of the team - that's why we wanted to sign boys who wanted to play here. We've got a very good group of boys.

"First half I thought we dominated the game but made bad decisions at times when we were in possession of the ball.

"We possibly went too long, too early. Second half, we changed it completely. We bought that extra pass and dominated the game."

Kilmarnock manager Lee McCulloch: "First half, we were okay. We passed the ball pretty well, looked solid in our shape. I was happy at half-time.

"Second half, I thought we got bullied a little bit. Motherwell played well - probably the better team for the first 25 minutes of the second half and I think that's what won them the game. There was no real aggression in our team and it was disappointing, especially second half.

"But that's the way football goes. It's not about shape, it's not about tactics sometimes. Sometimes it's just about winning your 50-50s, winning your headers and I thought Motherwell did that better than us today.

"I'm not worried at all. We should've had a better start, yes, but we haven't. With the players we've got, certainly on paper, we're a force but it's just getting them gelling together that the problem's been."