Kilmarnock 2-1 Motherwell: Derek McInnes lauds hosts' belief after first win
- Published
Daniel Armstrong scored his first Scottish Premiership goal for Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock's 2-1 Scottish Premiership victory over Motherwell was "two goals going on three or four," said boss Derek McInnes, after his side earned their first league win of the season.
Two goals in five pulsating second-half minutes turned the game in the hosts' favour after Kevin van Veen had smartly prodded Motherwell ahead early on.
After missing a spree of chances, Daniel Armstrong and Ash Taylor struck to haul up Kilmarnock to ninth place.
"Players kept believing," McInnes said.
"We looked a very good team today first half. We need to nullify little moments of slackness that cause ourselves problems.
"I was delighted we managed to get three points and a couple of goals, it was two going on three or four, and delighted for the supporters."
Motherwell, denied a third straight win under Steven Hammell, drop a place to fourth, with Aberdeen and St Mirren joining them on nine points from their opening five matches.
For an age, it seemed victory would elude Kilmarnock, that their glut of attacks and opportunities would not be rewarded with a goal.
They were shell-shocked when Van Veen struck, the Dutch striker steaming on to a sublime Blair Spittal through-ball and flicking his fourth of the season past Sam Walker.
But thereafter, they rallied. Kyle Lafferty squandered two glorious chances after debutant Ben Chrisene smashed one off the underside of the bar.
Their finishing was abject, underlined in the second half when Liam Polworth galloped through the heart of the Motherwell defence and slid Oli Shaw clean through on goal. The striker opened up his body, and ballooned over the top.
Then came the breakthrough; a goal their slick build-up play deserved. Substitute Fraser Murray swung a teasing ball in from the left, and although Armstrong's initial header was blocked, he leapt to his feet and forced home the rebound.
Motherwell might have hit back immediately but now they, too, were afflicted by wastefulness. Van Veen scurried forward, Motherwell's three attackers facing only two in the Kilmarnock defence, but after playing in Ross Tierney, Walker produced a fine stop low to his left.
Kilmarnock rallied again. They won a free-kick wide on the right, and Polworth's deep ball found Ash Taylor - all 6ft 5ins - inexplicably unmarked. The giant defender clinically guided home his header.
Murray had two chances to kill it in the dying minutes but was denied by the flying Liam Kelly, before volleying acrobatically over from a corner.
Man of the match - Daniel Armstrong
A constant menace to the Motherwell defence whose persistence, attitude and quality were rewarded with the equaliser
Kilmarnock find their claws - analysis
This has been a trying return to life in the top flight for McInnes and his team. They have faced each of the Glasgow juggernauts, and failed to score against Ross County a week ago.
Their only goal, courtesy, again, of Taylor, came late on the opening day against Dundee United.
That toothlessness has hurt Kilmarnock, but here, they showed their prowess. From profligate in the first half, to prolific in the second.
Motherwell will be irked at how they let such a commanding a position slip. While Kilmarnock grew before the break, they seldom looked flustered, and retained a threat of their own.
They seemed incapable of stemming the tide as, slowly but surely, the hosts took charge and a goal became inevitable.
What they said
Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: "Everything we asked the players to do, they tried to do.
"We just needed to convert good play into wins. 'Okay' doesn't get the job done.."
Motherwell manager Steven Hammell: "The goals we conceded, at this level, especially the second one, was such a cheap way to lose the match.
"Going forward we have to be so much better than that. We had the chance to make it 2-0 and had another big chance at 1-1 and didn't make the most of them."
What's next?
Kilmarnock travel to Hearts in the League Cup last 16 on Wednesday night (19:45 BST).
Motherwell host second-tier Inverness Caledonian Thistle at the same time.