Killie's Discipline Again Fails Them Against Motherwell

Kilmarnock 0 Motherwell 1

A first half penalty, and second half red-card let Killie's cup ambitions end early again this season. Why does this always seem to happen against Motherwell ? Three sent off in Aug, Ngonge at Fir Park last season. Motherwell seem to just bring the worst out of us! A welcome 3 points on Weds PM would go a long way to curing this cup "hang-over"!

Killie have now been knock-out both cups this season without conceding a goal from open play............. UUUUUUGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

James McFadden scored his 10th goal of the season to give his side a 1-0 win over Killlie.

The Scotland international struck from the spot in the 35th minute after Greg Shields fouled David Clarkson in the area.

Killie defender Peter Canero was out injured with Paul Di Giacomo replacing him in the starting line-up. Motherwell's Dirk Lehmann was also missing with teenager Clarkson on from the start.

Andy McLaren was an early threat to the visitors defence but his cross from the right in the fifth minute was ahead of the Killie attack.

McFadden then had the home defence in a tangle but Shields cleared the danger.

McLaren set up another chance for the home side in 20 minutes but his cross was just too high for Kris Boyd at the back post.

As the tackles started flying in Chris Innes and Clarkson for Motherwell were yellow-carded.

Di Giacomo then had the visitors defence on the back foot with a pacy run but he over-ran the ball and David Partridge cleared up.

It was 30 minutes before either team managed a shot on target with Gordon Marshall holding a fierce drive from Keith Lasley.

Three minutes later, Killie had their first shot at goal but Francois Dubourdeau held Di Giacomo's shot.

But it was Motherwell who took the lead in 33 minutes when McFadden netted from the penalty spot after Shields felled Clarkson as he strode in on goal.

The yellow card tally reached four just before the break when Shaun Dillon and McFadden were booked by referee John Underhill.

Killie's hopes of an early breakthrough after the interval received a severe blow when Chris Innes received his second yellow card for a foul on Clarkson.

A superb run by James Fowler in the 65th minute almost brought about an equaliser but Dubourdeau was quickly off his line to parry the ball away as Kris Boyd stooped to head.

Greg Shields wasted a good chance to equalise for the Rugby Park side in 75 minutes when the ball fell to him at the edge of the box but his effort flew high into the stand.

Fowler was denied by Dubourdeau 11 minutes from time when his shot at the end of a five-man Killie move was turned away for a corner by the Motherwell goalkeeper.

The home side pushed everyone forward in the search of a late equaliser but the visitors held out for the win.

Kilmarnock: Marshall, Fowler , Shields, Innes , Dillon , Di Giacomo (62 mins Murray), Mahood, Fulton, McLaren  ( 76 mins McSwegan), Dargo ( 57 mins McLaughlin), & Boyd

Attendance: 6,882

(Photo from SNS & used with permission)