Nick Blackman's first goal for Motherwell gave his side their first win of the season, a 1-0 victory at Kilmarnock in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.
The on-loan Blackburn striker, making his first start for the Fir Park club, turned home a Chris Humphrey cross from close range nine minutes before the interval. It proved sufficient to settle a game largely lacking in real goalmouth action.
Manuel Pascali was denied a last-minute equaliser by an excellent Darren Randolph save, leaving Kilmarnock still searching for their first points of the campaign.
Chances were at something of a premium in the opening stages, but the hosts carved the first of the game on nine minutes when James Dayton took possession on the right and made a good run to the byline, crossing for David Silva, only to see him head over the bar.
It was Motherwell who finally gave the game a much-needed goal nine minutes from the interval, Blackman breaking the deadlock by turning in a far-post cross from Humphrey which had been helped along the face of goal by strike partner Esteban Casagolda.
Craig Bryson immediately came close at the other end when he met a cross, only for Mark Reynolds to clear close to the line.
Randolph and James Fowler were both booked for a fracas as the players headed down the tunnel at the interval after tempers had frayed towards the end of the first half.
Neither side looked likely to score again until a late flurry from both sides in the closing minutes.
The hosts had two corners five minutes from time, but the second saw substitute Liam Kelly head wide from Dayton's delivery from the right, while Tom Hateley tried a late curling strike for Motherwell but saw it beaten to safety by the home goalkeeper.
Pascali almost rescued a point for Kilmarnock with a tremendous effort following a short corner routine in the 90th minute, but Randolph produced a superb reflex block to seal his side's win.
Source: PA
