Pascali's header brought Killie level before they stepped up a gear

By Keir Murray

Alexei Eremenko-inspired Kilmarnock virtually guaranteed a top-six finish in the Scottish Premier League with a superb performance against Motherwell.

John Sutton gave the Steelmen the lead, slotting Chris Humphrey's cross past keeper Anssi Jaakkola in 15 minutes.

But Killie stepped up a gear and levelled when Manuel Pascali headed home Eremenko's cross.

Jamie Hamill scored from the spot after Mike Tumilty harshly penalised Well then Liam Kelly headed a third.

The win lifts Kilmarnock into fourth place in the table, though Dundee United might leapfrog them if they win their game against Inverness later on Saturday.

Motherwell's Steven Saunders tried his luck after three minutes, pinging a shot wide of Jaakkola's left-hand post, and that was the sum of his contribution before, moments later, he went over on his left ankle and had to be stretchered off, Ross Forbes his replacement.

Eremenko deserves to be playing in front of larger crowds. The touch and range of the Killie playmaker, back from suspension, have been season highlights and an early 50-yard pass from left to right for Hamill was further proof of his talent.

The Steelmen took the lead thanks to a magnificent surge down the right wing by Humphrey. His low cross into the six-yard box was an invitation any good striker could not refuse - Sutton darted in front of Mohamadou Sissoko and stroked the ball past the Finnish keeper to round off a textbook goal.

With Killie stunned, Motherwell almost doubled their lead when Steve Jennings clipped a ball towards the goalscorer but Sutton's glancing header came back off the post.

The Rugby Park side did not panic, though, and in 23 minutes levelled with a goal just as pleasing on the eye as the opener.

Eremenko skipped past Jennings and floated a ball towards Pascali who rose high above Stephen Craigan to power a header beyond keeper Darren Randolph for his first goal in more than a year.

The Motherwell midfield was missing Keith Lasley because of suspension, but for the hosts Kelly was evidently enjoying his extended run in the team in that area.

A lay-off by Eremenko set him up 30 yards out and his well-struck shot fizzed a foot over the bar.

The pressure on the visitors' goal continued. Kelly nutmegged Gunning and crossed for Craig Bryson, who volleyed just wide of the post, then David Silva had a shot deflected wide before Mixu Paatelainen's side won a soft penalty.

Sutton gets ahead of Sissoko to give Well a 15th-minute lead

Referee Tumilty read Gunning's off-balance and half-hearted challenge for a high ball as a foul on Pascali and he pointed to the spot.

Hamill's low strike just inside the post was the third fine finish of the game and was the player's 10th goal of the season. The hapless Gunning was booked for questioning the penalty decision.

Killie's dominance continued after the break. Silva stung the palms of Randolph with a drive after switching on to his right foot and from the resulting corner the home side moved into a two-goal lead, with 51 minutes on the clock.

Eremenko swung in the corner from the left and Kelly found space to head powerfully beyond Randolph.

Motherwell manager Stuart McCall sent on Steve Jones for Jonathan Page to add some pace and width but it was from a central position that Well created their first chance of the second half.

Jennings played a one-two with Sutton and cracked a low shot that Jaakkola smothered.

As the Steelmen pushed forward, Randolph made two saves that kept his team in contention.

First he saved with his legs a powerful Hamill drive from 12 yards, then pounced to clutch a header by Bryson, the Killie captain having run 25 yards to match the run of, and meet the cross by, Hamill on the right.

In between, Bryson had cleared a Gunning header off the goal-line at the other end.

Confidence was coursing through the home side, spurned on by the imperious Eremenko.

Bryson was one such player who seemed to be inspired by the on-loan Finn.

In the final 10 minutes he curled a low shot with his right foot around Randolph that bounced off the post, then blasted a shot with his left boot wide of the target.

Randolph was called into action one more time, showing strength and good positional sense to parry a howitzer from Silva.

And to show he had maintained his alertness, Jaakkola tipped a fine Tom Hateley 25-yard free-kick over the bar.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version