Motherwell had been warned in midweek
that their "inadequate" pitch had to improve and a
sizeable square in front of the dugouts was cordoned off
during the warm-up following work to flatten and
strengthen the ground.
The club received some positive
pre-match feedback from the SPL's pitch experts,
although the worst affected area of the sandy surface
cut up as the match progressed.
Motherwell lost Jim O'Brien to
illness before the game but replacement Chris Humphrey
made a lively start as the hosts forced a number of
set-pieces.
Murphy caused problems with his pace
and Manuel Pascali was forced into a risky shoulder
charge on the striker after misjudging Keith Lasley's
searching ball, but Iain Brines dismissed penalty
claims.
Two low crosses from Stevie Hammell
caused concern in the Kilmarnock defence before being
cleared and Cammy Bell comfortably held three long-range
efforts from Well striker Lukas Jutkiewicz.
Kilmarnock emerged as an attacking
force in the 26th minute when John Ruddy pushed wide
Craig Bryson's 25-yard volley and then touched over
Kevin Kyle's back-post header from Iain Flannigan's
corner.
Motherwell quickly regained control
despite suffering a blow when Jutkiewicz suffered a
recurrence of the knee injury that kept him out of the
previous weekend's victory over Hibernian, with Giles
Coke coming on to fill his role just behind Murphy, who
soon missed a great chance.
Pascali again lost a long ball, this
time from Stephen Craigan, to leave Murphy clear on goal
but Bell dived to his left to push away the youngster's
low measured effort.
James Fowler replaced Conor Sammon at
half-time as Kilmarnock matched Motherwell's 4-5-1
formation and both teams proceeded to cancel each other
out.
Kilmarnock created the first opening
of a tight start to the second half when Kyle laid the
ball off for Bryson to shoot just over from 20 yards.
The visitors were looking far more
comfortable but they were undone after Fowler was
harshly penalised for a challenge on Coke on the left
edge of the box.
Hateley swung in the free-kick and
Murphy ran away from his marker to glance a header
inside the far post.
Motherwell almost made it two when
Coke broke down the left and fired a low shot across
goal but Bell parried before Fowler cleared as John
Sutton ran in.
Killie brought on Mehdi Taouil and
Danny Invincibile as they threw men forward in a bid to
extend their seven-match unbeaten run but Motherwell
continued to look the more dangerous team.
