Killie stop rot, but Tangerines slip up in battle for Top 6
Medley (64)
Tommy Wright may still be waiting for his first win as Kilmarnock’s manager but at least his side have stopped the rot after losing eight consecutive matches.
They should have won but the draw at least lifts them one point clear of basement club Hamilton Accies and means they’re only one behind third-bottom Ross County.
However, United boss Mickey Mellon effectively conceded that the Tangerines’ hopes of a top-six finish in their first season back in the top flight have been dashed. The draw leaves them four points behind St Mirren with only two games left before the split.
“A team that wants to get to where we had the opportunity to go to had to be better in the second half,” he said.
“In one-v-ones and giving away set plays and defending corners...a team aspiring to get into the top six has to be better at that.
“It’s a damaging result.
“We’ve never spoken about exactly what we want to achieve.
We’ve never said top six and all the rest of it – we say continuous development of the group.”
Former Hearts and Rangers striker Kyle Lafferty made his first start for Kilmarnock and was soon in the thick of it, being spoken to by the referee after only seven minutes for a foul on Jeando Fuchs.
The Northern Ireland target man then came close to his first goal for the Ayrshire club in the 17th minute.
Marc Mcnulty would have claimed an unwanted assist with a sloppy pass-back which Lafferty latched on to before curling a 20-yarder against Benjamin Siegrist’s crossbar.
Galvanised by that escape, United broke the deadlock in their next attack. Ian Harkes supplied Adrian Sporle and the Argentinian’s angled drive from 15 yards took a deflection to send it spinning inside Doyle’s left-hand post.
Sporle lasted only 10 more minutes, though, before sustaining a hamstring injury which saw him replaced by Louis Appere.
Lafferty came close again in the 35th minute when his fierce freekick was pushed away at full stretch by Siegrist, who recovered in time to turn behind Mitch Pinnock’s attempt from the rebound.
David Munro refused to award the home side a penalty when Mark Reynolds collided with Greg Kiltie. The clash was probably unintentional but the official got it all wrong when he booked the midfielder for diving.
Siegrist saved his side again six minutes after the restart when he parried a venomous volley from Arsenal loanee Zech Medley.
United boss Mellon took off Fuchs before he was sent off after he escaped a second yellow card for bringing down Alan Power.
Killie finally scored the equaliser their pressure had merited when substitute Chris Burke’s corner was helped on by Lafferty and Medley forced the ball over the line.
United were reeling and Nicke Kabamba failed to convert a Kiltie cross although, in fairness, it was at an awkward height for the striker.
Kabamba was then rugby-tackled by United’s Mark Connolly, who escaped with a yellow card only because team-mate Mark Reynolds was closing in on the Englishman.
Munro was the centre of attention once again when he disallowed a goal by Lafferty from a well-rehearsed set-piece in the 72nd minute, seemingly for a foul on the ’keeper.
Scotland star Lawrence Shankland then almost snatched a goal on the break but Doyle got down well and saved low to his left.
The pressure from the hosts was relentless but United countered and Doyle made superb reflex saves to deny Mcnulty and Shankland at the death.
Motherwell manager Graham Alexander dodged questions about his red card but was more than happy to lavish praise on his team following a first win at Easter Road since 2013.
The former Scotland defender was shown a straight red card in injury-time by referee Alan Muir for an under the arm gesture.
But Alexander repeatedly refused to elaborate on his dismissal.
And after building on a battling midweek point at St Mirren, Alexander, whose team are now seven points clear of relegation trouble, is adamant they have now turned a corner.
The Well gaffer said: “Everything we worked for this week from last Saturday, the players have done absolutely everything that was required of them as professionals.
“The last two games have shown the spirit, the togetherness and the quality we have within the club.
“It’s all underpinned by their work ethic and togetherness. That was a brilliant performance and brilliant result. The midfield three were like dogs of war, getting all the scraps and doing all the dirty stuff.”
There was a lack of any urgency during the early exchanges, although the hosts did fashion a couple of half-chances.
Martin Boyle got in front of Jake Carroll at the back post but his connection on Lewis Stevenson’s cross went harmlessly wide.
Chris Cadden then sent a fizzing half-volley just beyond the top corner after meeting Jamie Murphy’s deep delivery.
The Steelmen grew into the game and threatened in the 22nd minute when Allan Campbell had a clear sight of goal inside the box.
But defender Darren Mcgregor made up the ground, sliding in to make the block and ensure goalkeeper Ofir Marciano was not needed.
But the visitors made their pressure count three minutes later when Roberts found the target.
The forward was slipped through by Tony Watt and the Englishman held off Mcgregor before squeezing a shot through Marciano’s legs.
Motherwell had their tails up after going ahead, while Hibs still struggled to find any rhythm as the minutes ticked towards the break.
The away team then stormed into a two-goal lead within seconds of the restart.
Goalscorer Roberts turned provider, setting up Cole inside the area and the former Manchester City kid drilled a low drive past Marciano from 16 yards.
Hibs boss Jack Ross had seen enough and immediately made three changes.
Stevenson, Murphy and Mcgregor were replaced by Alex Gogic, Kevin Nisbet and Ryan Porteous.
Joe Newell had a chance to at least test Motherwell goalkeeper Liam Kelly after Martin Boyle’s deep corner fell to him, but the playmaker lashed his effort into the side netting.
Motherwell boss Alexander made his intentions clear when he brought on Scotland defender Declan Gallagher for his first appearance in a month.
Hibs probably realised it was not going to be their day when Christian Doidge failed to score from two chances in quick succession.
Substitute Gallagher made a hash of trying to clear Boyle’s cross but was bailed out by Kelly, who blocked Doidge’s effort.
The ball spun up in the air before the Welshman then headed wide.
Asked if fit-again Gallagher’s 25th appearance of the season had activated a contract extension, Alexander replied: “He’s here until the summer.
“I’m not going to get into details of contracts.”