Derek McInnes was pleased his Kilmarnock side overcame "a lot of drama" as they grabbed a valuable Scottish Premiership win over 10-man Motherwell, whose top-six hopes are out of their hands.

The match turned on a four-minute spell in the first half when Fraser Murray put Kilmarnock in front, before Kofi Balmer was controversially sent off for a challenge on the goalscorer.

Joe Wright deftly headed in Danny Armstrong's corner eight minutes into the second half to bolster Kilmarnock's advantage, which they comfortably held on to.

"Sometimes Scottish football just needs you to be efficient," McInnes said. "Don't make mistakes.

"I thought we were the better team when they had 11 men, and I thought we were professional and efficient when they went down to 10 men.

"There was a lot of drama but we stayed professional and stayed calm."

Kilmarnock nudge up to ninth ahead of Ross County on goal difference, still one point from the relegation play-off spot but nine clear of bottom side St Johnstone.

The defeat means a victory for Hearts over Dundee United on Sunday would end Motherwell's chances of a top-six finish, before the Tynecastle side visit Fir Park next week.

At 2-0 down, Motherwell briefly thought they were down to nine men as Dominic Thompson was sent to the dressing room after a tangle off the ball with Danny Armstrong.

However, he was called back when referee Matthew MacDermid overturned his decision following an on-field review.

McInnes felt that incident merited a red card more than Balmer's challenge, though he did point out the Motherwell defender's actions "didn't look good" as he caught Murray around the knee.

The centre-back cleared the ball and caught Murray as he followed through, and VAR Andrew Dallas clearly felt there was enough force to deem it serious foul play.

However Motherwell manager Michael Wimmer told BBC Scotland he could not understand the decision.

"Kofi wants to pass the ball, this is one movement, one swing," he said. "He has to clear the ball, so he has to swing.

"There's no movement, he's standing. For me, it's not a red card."

This was a valuable victory for Kilmarnock and Derek McInnes, who made five changes to his team in response to the 5-1 hammering by St Mirren last week - a fourth defeat in five games which set alarm bells ringing.

Such was the tension created after that loss, a smattering of fans held up a banner as the teams emerged at Rugby Park which read: 'Relegation Pending'.

But after a scrappy start it was Kilmarnock who got the crucial breakthrough.

They won the ball on the edge of the Motherwell box, Bobby Wales lashed a low shot which was tipped on to a post by Ellery Balcombe, and when the visitors panicked, they pounced.

Armstrong laid it across goal, and goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe parried the ball to Murray, who slotted home.

The red card for Balmer was a gift, but one Kilmarnock gleefully accepted as they pressed home their advantage.

The only disappointment is they did not score more goals, and that Dundee below them also registered a victory in the battle to avoid the drop.

The return of Stuart Findlay to the defence and captain and striker Kyle Vassell to the bench are big boosts for McInnes for the run in.

It is hard to analyse Motherwell's performance given the early red card which hurt their chances of a comeback.

However, a flat and messy opening 20 minutes will have done little to give fans belief they would have mounted a comeback, along with the fact they have won just once all season after conceding first.

Although they could still make the top six, in truth they have never looked like a team who deserve to be in the top half, given they have won three times since Christmas.

Wimmer is responsible for two of those after coming in and quickly implementing a high-energy and disciplined style which earned victories against Dundee and Rangers.

But those early signs of promise have evaporated and Motherwell look more like the team who toiled badly in the closing weeks of Stuart Kettlewell's tenure as they struggle to keep the ball.

With so many players out of contract in the summer, and highly-rated teenager Lennon Miller the subject of interest from bigger clubs, there is a danger their season starts to drift.

Given they are only four points clear of the relegation play-off spot, they cannot afford to lose their focus.