Motherwell gifted Kilmarnock a Christmas bonus when they allowed the 10-man Ayrshire side to recover from two goals down to hit a quick double and claim a share of the points.
One ahead at the break thanks to Kevin van Veen’s 8th league goal of the season, Callum Slattery’s second on the hour had the Fir Park men side comfortably in control. When Alan Power was sent off with 23 minutes remaining ‘Steven Hammell’s men looked on course for their first home league win since August.
However, Paul McGinn’s own goal and Liam Polworth’s stunning equaliser presented Kilmarnock with a point that should have been beyond them.
McGinn returned from injury to find himself partnering Ricki Lamie at the centre of the defence.
It was a pretty untidy opening 20 minutes as both team scrapped to get a foothold on the game.
The first threat on either ‘keeper found Sam Walker parrying Stuart McKinstry’s firmly struck angled drive narrowly beyond his far post.
The Killie defence remained under pressure from the resultant corner and McKinstry’s cut back found Stephen O’Donnell scooping the towards goal only to be blocked by Joe Wright.
It was third time lucky after 22 minutes. This time Blair Spittal provided the cut back and Van Veen from eight yards prodded ball high past Walker to open the scoring.
That sparked a renewed confidence in the Steelmen and some crisp passing opened up the visitors defence on a number of occasions before the interval.
Firstly, McKinstry won the ball in the Killie half before playing in Van Veen on the edge of the box but on his weaker left foot his shot was blocked by former team mate Liam Donnelly.
Then seven minutes from the break Spittal passed up the first of two great openings. Callum Slattery with a quick change of feet on the half-way line evaded his marker before sliding a terrific pass into Spittal but after working his way to the edge of his box his effort was blocked.
The former Ross County midfielder had the final chance of the half. This time McKinstry had wonderful vision and a reverse pass to open up the Killie defence but although Spittal was completely unmarked he could only fire his effort straight at the ‘keeper.
Motherwell’s domination should have produced more goals and they were almost punished for their poor finishing as the Rugby Park men squandered their first chance within two minutes of the restart.
A sweeping move upfield ended with the ball being played across the box to the unmarked Jordan Jones but his weak shot was easily held by Liam Kelly.
A minute later ‘Well might have been two ahead when Wright came close to diverting Shields’ fierce drive across the six-yard box past his own ‘keeper.
Derek McInnes’ men looked more determined and threatening in the opening spell of the second half until they conceded a crucial second goal.
Just short of the hour mark Referee John Beaton infuriated the Fir Park fans when he booked Matthew Penny after a tussle with Alan Power.
Within a minute the jeers had turned to cheers as ‘Well doubled their lead. Van Veen won the race to a loose ball 40 yards from goal and advanced towards the box before curling a low effort which Walker at full length beat away to his left.
As Slattery and Shields raced towards the loose ball, the former pushed his team-mate out of the way before twisting and directing the ball back across goal and into the net off the far post.
The Ayrshire side’s task became even more difficult after 67 when Power was shown a straight red card after lunging into a tackle with McGinn.
Five minutes later, though, Kilmarnock were back in the game when Danny Armstrong whipped in a cross which glanced off McGinn’s head to send the ball high beyond Kelly’s reach.
Worse was to follow for ‘Well as ten man Killie grabbed a sensational equaliser two minutes later. And to make matters worse for the home side it came from a former Steelman.
When Liam Polworth collected the ball fully 35 yards from Kelly’s goal, there appeared to be little threat until the former Ross County man unleashed a phenomenal drive which screeched into the keeper’s top left corner to level the scores with 15 minutes remaining.
Suddenly, the Kilmarnock fans in the Tommy McLean stand were in full voice and anticipating a winning goal from their depleted side.
Despite pressing Killie deep into their own half for the final ten minutes, ‘Well couldn’t find a winner as their dismal home form continued.
