[tab:Match report]
Kris Jack at Rugby Park
Motherwell stay top of the league after a battling 0-0 draw away to Kilmarnock at Rugby Park this afternoon.
A share of the spoils was perhaps the correct result, as an end to end game failed to muster up a goal for either team. The glorious sunshine from last week’s win over Inverness followed the ‘Well to Ayrshire but the slick passing and overlapping play from seven days previous was stifled by the heat and Kilmarnock’s stubborn backline.
The loss of Michael Higdon to a thigh injury, meant only a fourth league start for Bob McHugh, in an otherwise unchanged team from the league opener.
Killie kicked off towards the Claret and Amber travelling support and had a penalty shout turned down early on. Dayton’s jink in to the box was ended abruptly as he ran in to Lasley. No penalty was referee Salmond’s decision much to the chagrin of the home support but he probably got it correct.
Kilmarnock started the game the stronger, with Dayton their brightest player in the first half. After being brought down on the edge of the box by Hammell, his powerful free kick was deflected over Randolph’s bar for a corner. Harkins then pulled a shot wide from distance as the home side threatened to take full control.
Motherwell hauled themselves back in to the game and applied a decent amount of pressure on the home side. Just like last week, Law was the one making most inroads, linking up well in attack with Hammell and Murphy. This combo of players almost resulted in the opening goal, as Hammell fed Law, whose cross was a stretch too far for Murphy in the middle.
A sloppy pass from McKeown allowed McHugh a run at goal, but his effort was put out for a corner. Hammell swung in four corners back to back, the final one headed over by Shaun Hutchinson. The big defenders Killie namesake, Ben, then set up McKeown in the box, but was blocked out by ‘Well’s Hutchinson. Indeed the big number 15 won the battle of the Hutchinson’s , giving the former Celtic striker little change throughout the ninety minutes
Motherwell continued to threaten and Law once again looked lively as he hit the byline, but his cross was softly volleyed in to the arms of Bell in the Killie goal; the Killie stopper would later make two stunning stops to keep his team in it.
His opposite number Randolph was next in line to be tested, as Dayton ran 50 yards unchallenged, only to see his low shot palmed to safety by the Republic of Ireland keeper. Dayton then blazed over the bar when a Ben Hutchinson knockdown landed at his feet. However, his volley was wild and landed amongst the travelling fans.
McHugh began to find himself in the game, and after winning a high ball, he was put through on Bell by Murphy. His shot would have taken the net off, had Bell not stretched a fantastic hand towards it.
The Scotland goalie made an even better save at the beginning of the second half.
A Hateley throw in found Jennings, who travelled to the edge of the box, before unleashing an arrowed drive to the top left corner. Bell’s diving save denied the game a belter of a goal, worthy of winning the match. Conversely, an unusually poor kick out from Randolph left Kelly with an open net, but his effort form 30 yards sailed over.
Soon after, the jinky Law should have wrapped the game up. A long ball up the left from Hammell sent him clear through on Bell. With McHugh square, the midfielder dinked Bell only to be denied by a great recovering tackle from Kroca. This was to be the chance of the match, as the game descended in to a midfield battle with Motherwell not creating in roads and Kilmarnock restricted to long range efforts.
Silva and Heffernan came on for Killie, with Silva providing some glimpses of flair, bringing out some routine saves from Randolph. One thunderbolt from the sub was heroically blocked by Hutchinson, taking a hefty stoat in the face for his troubles.
As the clocked ticked towards the finish, McHugh was unlucky to be called for offside from Murphy’s intelligent pass and Humphrey shot wide after cutting in from the right as the heat began to take its toll on both sides.
Silva had another effort after a bout of pinball outside the box, which was again comfortably held by Randolph. Some half chances came for both teams as the game petered out, but neither side could find a winner.
Top of the SPL for the second week in a row, despite the draw, it’s Motherwell’s league to throw away!
[tab:As it happened]
Graham Barnstaple at Rugby Park
Full time: 0-0 decent result, four points from first two games seems okay to me.
90mins – Into three minutes of stoppage time
79mins – SIlva shot saved low at front post by Randolph
74mins – Final Killie change – Dean Shiels on for Liam Kelly
71mins – Hutchinson getting treatment for a head knock (or is it his face??) after blocking a shot at close range.
66mins – Bell forced to turn a Hateley free over for a corner.
65mins – Law sent clear by Hammell, as he is about to shoot the ball is taken off his toe by Kroca, McHugh was also in middle for a tap in
61mins – Crowd this afternoon is 4867
60mins – Only one winner of the Hutchinson v Hutchinson battle this afternoon….
59mins – Two changes for Killie on come Silva and Heffernan and off go Harkins and Hutchinson
47mins – Poor clearance from Randolph lands at feet of Kelly but he sends ball high over the open goal from about thirty yards out.
46mins – Swerving Jennings shot looks to be heading to the top corner until Bell somehow gets a fingertip to deflect wide.
Half Time – Back refreshed in Press Box after a Killie Pie – they look after you here….
Half time – 0-0, decent half overall after a poor opening 10 minutes for Well.
44mins – Murphy and McHugh combine with the latter’s effort turned over by Bell in the Killie goal.
40mins -Hutchinson winning the battle against Hutchinson!! – You decide!!
32mins – Game has been more even since the opening 10 minutes, as we close to 10 minutes to half time. Killie fans around us getting a bit frustrated.
29mins – Killie come close, long run from Dayton ends with an 18 yard shot saved well by Randolph low to his left.
15mins – Liam Kelly shot palmed clear by Randolph, stinging shot well saved.
14mins – Fourth Hammell corner picks out Hutchinson who heads just over, got the Well fans at the other end excited for some reason!!
10mins – Law cross into corridor of uncertainty is just missed by Murphy and cleared for a corner.
10mins – First ten minutes has been all Killie, with a half shout for a penalty and a Dayton free deflected over to show for their efforts.
1min – Game underway with Killie kicking off in bright sunshine in front of a noisy travelling support.
[tab:Reaction]
Motherwell manager Stuart McCall:
“I think for a 0-0 it was a really entertaining game. You always want to win the game, but it was a well-earned point.
“It was a great effort from both sides and I think a draw was a fair result. I think overall we were pleased with the way we played.
“It was a roasting day, great summer football for the fans, but I felt for the players in the last 10 minutes.”
Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels:
“It was a fantastic performance from my players and Motherwell’s players.The priority is to win, but what a fantastic game it was.
“I’ve seen five games this season, and they’ve all been highly entertaining. Teams are playing with guile and craft and intelligence. You don’t get that in England.
“When they talk about SPL reconstruction: why would you want to reconstruct that?”
[tab:Man-of-the-match]
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