Stunning Slattery strike earns Well draw at Killie

Callum Slattery’s stunning stoppage-time free-kick ensured Motherwell snatched a crucial Scottish Premiership point at relegation rivals Kilmarnock.

The away side, who were fortunate to only be one down at the break, improved after the interval and eventually got the goal they merited when Slattery curled sensationally.

The point means Motherwell stay ninth.

But Stuart Kettlewell’s side now have more breathing space over bottom-of-the-table Dundee United, who are seven points behind the Fir Park club with a far worse goal difference.

Despite dropping a place, Kilmarnock also move further clear of United, who suffered a heavy defeat at 10th-placed Ross County on a day of drama in the relegation battle.

McInnes will rue his side’s missed first-half chances. After deservedly taking the lead through Robinson, who prodded in after Motherwell failed to clear their lines from a corner, Christian Doidge saw a close-range header palmed away by Liam Kelly.

Rory McKenzie also had a goal-bound effort thwarted by Calum Butcher – but the hosts’ attacking spark fizzled out after the interval.

It was instead Motherwell who piled on the pressure, but Kilmarnock keeper Sam Walker put in a fine second-half display to deny Jon Obika, James Furlong and Kevin van Veen.

With the clock ticking down, Walker was again in top form to prevent Stephen O’Donnell snatching an equaliser against his former club.

But the home keeper could do nothing about Slattery’s glorious free-kick, which sailed over the Kilmarnock wall high into the top-right corner, sparking wild scenes in the away end.

Player of the match – Sam Walker

Kettlewell’s changes turn game in Well’s favour – analysis

Three games, two wins, one draw and now seven points clear of the foot of the table. Not a bad start for Kettlewell.

Saturday’s match at Rugby Park was his first in permanent charge, having guided Motherwell to back-to-back home wins against St Mirren and Hearts in his two games as interim boss.

The trip to Ayrshire presented a different challenge in terms of the fact it was away from home. Going a goal down only heightened that challenge against a side with the best home form in the bottom six.

But Kettlewell’s second-half changes turned the game in favour of Motherwell, who showed the grit and determination the new Motherwell boss has instilled in them to get a vital point.

There is no doubt about it, that will feel like a defeat for Kilmarnock. A victory would have put McInnes’ men level on points with Motherwell in ninth, but now the complexion looks a lot different with the Ayrshire side dropping into the relegation play-off spot.

Kyle Vassell’s red card at Easter Road last weekend only added to Kilmarnock’s lack of striking options, and it showed on Saturday as they failed to kill the game during a dominant first half.

The Ayrshire side have a four-point cushion over bottom club United, but with a trip to Ibrox next up that gap could narrow pretty quickly.

What’s next?

Both sides are on the road next Saturday (15:00 GMT) as Kilmarnock travel to Rangers while Motherwell head north to face Ross County in another relegation six-pointer.

More to follow.