Callum Slattery fired a stunning 90th minute free kick past Kilmarnock’s Sam Walker to seal a point in the relegation scrap.
Stuart Kettlewell took charge of Motherwell for the first time as manager, having won his last two games as interim manager.
Kilmarnock, meanwhile, came into this with one win in their last three, and only two goals scored in that time. Robinson and Doidge came in up top, replacing Jones and the suspended Kyle Vassell.
The hosts got off to a positive start. The capitalised on Motherwell’s poor ball retention, but struggled in the final third.
Killie got the goal their performance deserved after 18 minutes. A Danny Armstrong corner was headed goalward by Joe Wright. Liam Kelly saved the effort, but Scott Robinson prodded in the rebound.
The goal spurned Kilmarnock onwards, as they sought to open a six-point gap over bottom side Dundee United. A few chances fell the way of the hosts, but they couldn’t take them.
At the other end, Sam Walker had little to do except claim crosses and corner deliveries. Killie finished the first half with ten men, after Doidge came off with blood on his face.
Doidge returned to the pitch with a patched-up nose. The striker raced one-on-one with Kelly early in the second half, but Casey was able to thwart the striker.
Then, the tides turned. Substitutes made the difference for Kettlewell’s men. Motherwell forced save after save out of Sam Walker, leading to a very nervy atmosphere. As the match reached the 90-minute mark, a Liam Kelly free kick was cleared by the Kilmarnock defence. Motherwell won it back and Rory McKenzie went in late for a challenge, fouling the Motherwell player.
Man of the Match Sam Walker could do nothing about Slattery’s strike as it found the top corner, condemning Kilmarnock to a draw and sending them into the relegation zone.
Fortunately, Dundee United losing 4-0 in Dingwall helps Killie move four points clear of the bottom of the league.
Last week’s red card did lead to a lot of boos from the Killie fans, as they wanted every high Motherwell challenge to be red carded. However, referee Alan Muir did struggle with consistency. Some Motherwell fouls were not given in the opposite direction, and vice versa. It took the shine off of linesman Douglas Ross, for once, though.
Kilmarnock travel to Ibrox to face Rangers next Saturday, hoping to end a year without a league win away from home.
Motherwell, meanwhile, travel to Dingwall to face in form Ross County in another crucial game at the bottom of the league.
Line-ups:
Kilmarnock: Walker, Mayo, Wright, Taylor, Chambers (Alebiosu 84’), Armstrong, Polworth, Power (Lyons 84’), McKenzie, Doidge, Robinson (Wales 84’) Unused subs: Hemming, Stokes, Alston, Jones, Murray, McInroy
Motherwell: Kelly, Johnston (O’Donnell 79’), McGinn, Casey, Furlong (Mugabi 90+1’), Butcher, Cornelius (Slattery 65’), Goss (Aitchison 79’), Spittal, Obika, van Veen
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