Motherwell 2 - 1 Kilmarnock
By Paul Marshall
September 12 2003
A last minute header from Stephen Pearson gave Motherwell their first points of the season against ten - man Kilmarnock at Fir Park.
It was a deserved 3 points for Terry Butcher's men, Kilmarnock arrived at Fir Park fresh from their 2 - 1 win over Partick Thistle last weekend but created a very little amount of chances.
Terry Butcher changed his line up for the third week running. 18 year old Paul Quinn made his first start of the new season replacing Steven Craigan who wasn't fully fit after being ill during the week. James McFadden returned from injury and Derek Adams has finished his two match ban.
Kilmarnock were without striker Danny Invincible and Gary Locke who were both injured. Ex Motherwell goalkeeper Francios Dubourdeau was on the bench for the Ayrshire side. It was clear Jim Jefferies had sent out his team playing for the draw, they offered very little in attack and tried to slow down Motherwell attacks with persistant fouling.
Motherwell came close to opening the scoring when a cross come shot from midfielder Stephen Pearson hit the crossbar after 25 minutes.
In the second half Motherwell produced some excellent football especially from Stephen Pearson who was by far the home side's beat player. However the first goal came from the usual suspect, James McFadden, the 20 year old just back from injury scored on his first start of the season with a penalty after 66 minutes. Kilmarnock defender James Fowler was shown a red card after keeping out a Keith Lasley shot with his arm on the goal line and referee Iain Fyfe didn't hesitate in sending him off and McFadden slotted home the resulting penalty kick.
Kilmarnock who had only one previous shot on goal equalised only 10 minutes later when Freddie Dindeleux headered home a Fulton cross to the delight of the small travelling support.
Motherwell were to have the last laugh though, the pressure finally paid off in injury time when Stephen Pearson got on the end of an Adams corner to header past Colin Meldrum and give Motherwell their first three points and climb into 8th place in the SPL.
Fans View - JAMMY
Motherwell - Marshall, Quinn, Corrigan, Partridge, Hammell, Lasley, Adams, Leitch, Pearson, McFadden ( Clarkson ), Burns( Craig ).
Kilmarnock - Meldrum, Fowler, Dindeleux, McLaughlin, Hay, Di Giacomo, Fulton, McDonald, Hardie, Boyd, McSwegan.
Attendance 5087
Referee Iain Fyfe
SPL Table
Rangers 9
Celtic 7
Dunfermline 7
Hearts 6
Dundee 6 <
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Hibernian 6
Livingston 4
Motherwell 3
Kilmarnock 3
Partick Thistle 1
Aberdeen 0
Dundee Utd 0