Greg Kiltie scored the winning goal for Kilmarnock against MotherwellImage source, SNS
Image caption,

Greg Kiltie scored the winning goal for Kilmarnock against Motherwell

At a glance

  • Kiltie scores in first minute and doubles tally in second half

  • Lowry & Palmer-Houlden goal had Motherwell in front but John-Jules levelled

  • Kilmarnock off bottom spot and on same points as Motherwell

Watch Kilmarnock v Motherwell highlights

17/10/26

ByCharlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

Kilmarnock inflicted a fifth Scottish Premiership defeat in a row on Motherwell in a five-goal thriller at Rugby Park to lift Neil McCann's side off the bottom of the table.

The game began with the worst possible start for struggling Motherwell, who were a goal down after a minute in Ayrshire.

A poor pass from goalkeeper Alex Paulsen was pounced on by the hosts as Tyreece John-Jules teed up Greg Kiltie, who smashed his strike into the bottom corner.

Motherwell were level after 17 minutes, though, courtesy of Alex Lowry. Emmanuel Longelo's cross found Seb Palmer-Houlden in the box, his shot was saved by Calum Ferrie, but Lowry raced in to fire home at the second attempt.

After a hectic start to the second half, Kilmarnock looked to have been reduced to 10 men when George Stanger was shown a straight red after a challenge on Lowry. But, after a look at the monitor, referee Calum Scott reduced it to a booking.

Motherwell took the lead for the first time when Palmer-Houlden turned in Ibrahim Said's cross from close range, but that lead was short-lived. John-Jules levelled just two minutes later when his left-footed strike found the bottom corner.

Kiltie fired the hosts back in front when he latched on to the cross from Jamie Brandon and fired low into the far corner and that proved enough to take the points.

The win not only moves Kilmarnock off bottom spot, but it puts them level on points with Saturday's 10th-placed opponents.

Graphic showing possession, shots, shots on target, xG and number of goals, with Kilmarnock leading in possession (51.8%), shots (16 to 15) and goals (3 to 2), and Motherwell ahead on shots on target (7 to 6) and xG (3 to 1.5)

Kilmarnock analysis: McCann's men reap rewards

Neil McCann couldn't have dreamed of a better start - and end - to this game

Before the match, he praised the performance last week in their 3-1 defeat to Rangers but stressed he didn't want to just be a team that put in good performances. He wanted results and that's exactly what he got this time.

Kilmarnock had to contend with scoring early, then being pegged back, then finding themselves behind, and finally seeing out the game when Kiltie scored what turned out to be the winning goal.

Their attacking display was impressive: they vastly outperformed their expected goals (xG) of 1.51, had 16 shots throughout the game, six of which were on target, and created three big chances.

Crucially, they're off the bottom of the table thanks to their win and Hibernian's defeat by Falkirk.

Even though McCann stressed before the game it was too early to be talking about league position, that has got to be a weight off his shoulders.

Motherwell analysis: Visitors punished for sloppy defending

Motherwell statImage source, SNS

Alfred Johansson said he wanted to see a Motherwell side that played with "a lot of aggression in the press" and were "brave and fearless to play forward on the ball".

But what he saw in the opening minute at Rugby Park was perhaps a bit too brave.

It was pretty much the worst possible start for the Motherwell manager, who found themselves 1-0 down inside the first minute.

There were positive moments, and flashes of the Motherwell side we were used to seeing last season and at the start of this term - they generated an xG of 2.44, had 15 shots (seven on target) and Tawanda Maswanhise hit the crossbar.

But, they were sloppy at the back and in possession. In fact, they saw less of the ball than their opponents, completed fewer passes and had lower passing accuracy.

What's worse, it's their joint longest losing streak since a spell from January-February 2025, when they also lost five games in a row.

Johansson needs to find a way to stop the rot, and fast, as last season's runners-up Hearts come to town next weekend.

What they said

Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann: "At times we had to dig in because Motherwell are a dangerous side but I'm pleased we're off the back of a home win.

"I thought we were up and running a few weeks ago. It's tightened things up [in the table] but I'm not getting too carried away.

"All I'm interested in is what kind of performances we're putting in and I think now it's group of players who believe they're capable of winning games."

Motherwell manager Alfred Johansson: "Even if we created more chances to score, we can't rely on scoring three goals away from home to take points and victories.

"We conceded goals in a way that was unacceptable and it's something we need to improve. It's basics that we're failing and that's not enough."

Player of the match

Number: 11 G. Kiltie
Average rating 8.45
Number: 11 G. Kiltie
Average Rating: 8.45
Number: 2 J. Brandon
Average Rating: 7.63
Number: 18 T. Lowery
Average Rating: 7.50
Number: 10 T. John-Jules
Average Rating: 7.50
Number: 12 C. Ferrie
Average Rating: 7.38
Number: 36 A. Tshibola
Average Rating: 7.38
Number: 21 M. Schjønning-Larsen
Average Rating: 7.21
Number: 4 C. McCarthy
Average Rating: 7.21
Number: 8 E. Ring
Average Rating: 7.10
Number: 9 J. Hugill
Average Rating: 7.05
Number: 14 G. Stanger
Average Rating: 6.90
Number: 29 D. Daniëls
Average Rating: 6.81
Number: 27 I. Owen
Average Rating: 6.81
Number: 49 B. Rice
Average Rating: 6.00
Number: 3 M. Kamson-Kamara
Average Rating: 5.42

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.

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