Goals from Laing and Ainsworth ended a horrible two month run as we upset the bookies’ odds and beat Inverness. McDonald and Pearson were credited as the inspiration for the turnaround but everyone wearing the strip contributed and there were good performances from all positions.
No new injuries have been reported and we can expect few changes to the staring eleven. Ramsden’s late red card will force at least one alteration in defence. A recall for Straker looks likely at left back. Law played on the other flank of the back four, will he keep the position?
The manager relayed Sutton’s disappointment at his deployment on the bench but it’s difficult to see anything other than the same attacking formation start the game.
Kilmarnock have become draw specialists of late with four stalemates in their last five outings. The sequence was broken only by a 90th minute goal from Clingan when they enjoyed a 3-2 win over Dundee United. They have a clutch of players missing with Connolly, Hammill and Ngoo suffering long term injuries.
Gary Locke was given charge of the Rugby Park side a month ago and he’ll be keen to keep his four game unbeaten run alive. There has been only one previous meeting between the teams this season and Kilmarnock came out on top with a deserved 2-0 win. Our opponents will face a different side this time. From the Motherwell team that played in August only Lasley, Law and McManus started for us last week such has been the influx of new faces.
John Beaton will be in charge on a pitch that hardly suits silky soccer so we can expect effort and determination to be the factors that decide the outcome. It might be that Motherwell’s need of the points and the fillip from the win over Inverness will give us the edge for a narrow win – 1-0.
Remember Killie’s last visit to Fir Park?