Tawanda Maswanhise volleys home Tom Sparrow's crossImage source, SNS
Image caption,

Tawanda Maswanhise scored his 16th Motherwell goal of the season just 47 seconds after Kilmarnock's Tom Lowery was sent off

At a glance

  • Just and Maswanhise score for Motherwell in first half, either side of Kilmarnock midfielder Lowery being sent off

  • Said and Fadinger add further gloss to scoreline in second half

  • Motherwell unbeaten in past nine home matches without conceding a goal

  • Kilmarnock winless in 17 and remain in relegation play-off spot

Watch Sportscene highlights

24/01/2026

Motherwell maintained their superb home record and deepened Kilmarnock's relegation fears as the hosts strolled to a comfortable Scottish Premiership win.

Elijah Just and Tawanda Maswanhise both struck in the first half, with the second goal coming just 47 seconds after Kilmarnock midfielder Tom Lowery was sent off for a second bookable offence.

It was a double blow for Neil McCann's side, who applied themselves well in a frustrating first half.

They thought they had gone in front when Liam Polworth skipped round Calum Ward and tapped home, but it was chalked off for offside after a VAR review, and Tyreece John-Jules hit the bar with a powerful header.

After the break, Motherwell totally dominated and went three to the good when Ibrahim Said fired past visiting goalkeeper Kelle Roos from close range.

Lukas Fadinger made it four in the closing stages, finding the bottom corner after some intricate passing on the edge of the Kilmarnock box.

It could have been a larger margin of victory in truth as Motherwell's incredible form in front of their own fans continued.

They are unbeaten in their past nine home matches without conceding a single goal and are within four points of Rangers and Celtic, who play Dundee and Hearts, respectively, on Sunday.

Kilmarnock are without a win in 17 matches and remain in the relegation play-off spot, three points above bottom club Livingston and five adrift of St Mirren in 10th having played a game more.

Analysis: Motherwell turn it on as McCann criticises officials

Much has been made this season of the fine football played by Jens Berthel Askou's Motherwell, and they delivered some of their best stuff under the Danish manager after a testing opening period.

It would be easy to focus on Just and Fadinger after two virtuoso displays, especially given they both scored fine goals, but this was the definition of a team performance.

Paul McGinn and Stephen O'Donnell - full-backs by trade - continued to shine in the heart of defence, while the men deployed as the full-backs - Tom Sparrow and Emmanuel Longelo - were both a constant threat down the flanks with their direct running and pinpoint crossing.

Callum Slattery teed up Just to fire home the opener and created four chances in total, while Maswanhise volleyed home superbly to make it two as his fine season goes from strength to strength.

New striker Eythor Bjorgolfsson also got in on the act, grabbing an assist by setting up Fadinger after magnificent footwork from Oscar Priestman.

Match stats from Motherwell's 4-0 win over KilmarnockImage source, SNS

Neil McCann has not shied away from the scale of the task facing him since succeeding Stuart Kettlewell as Kilmarnock manager earlier this month and he would have been heartened by the way his team started against such tough opposition.

Forward duo Marcus Dackers and John-Jules made a nuisance of themselves and thought they had hit the front when Polworth raced on to John-Jules' flick and found the back of the net.

However, VAR showed he was inches offside and after Just found the top corner, it felt like everything went against the visitors.

McCann bemoaned the lack of leniency referee Nick Walsh showed for Lowery's second yellow card and criticised the way Motherwell were able to take the subsequent free-kick quickly as he tried to get instructions to his players. The hosts took full advantage as Maswanhise swept home.

The Rugby Park boss tried to pick up bowed heads at full-time and he must restore some belief quickly if they are to escape their current predicament.

What they said

Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou: "We started bright and then we switched off for a second and the ball was in the back of the net. We were lucky to be saved by a sharp offside.

"After that disallowed goal we really stepped on the pedal and didn't look back. I'm really impressed with the tempo and quality on a pitch you wouldn't expect us to."

Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann: "I felt we were the better side in the first part of the game. The offside goal was not what killed us today, but it's so marginal. It looks like guesswork.

"What has hurt us is the red card. I'm told the first one is reckless. I can't see anything reckless whatsoever. It's such a poor decision, because it puts a combative midfielder on a tightrope. I thought the second one was soft as well.

"When we go down to 10 men against a side with their tails up, it's going to be difficult. What I will say is I don't see a dressing room that chucked it today. They fought."

Media caption,

'It's an appalling decision' - McCann

What's next?

Motherwell are away to bottom club Livingston next Saturday (15:00), while Kilmarnock travel to Aberdeen at the same time.

Player of the match

Number: 2 S. O'Donnell
Average rating 9.31
Number: 2 S. O'Donnell
Average Rating: 9.31
Number: 8 C. Slattery
Average Rating: 9.05
Number: 45 E. Longelo
Average Rating: 9.00
Number: 25 O. Priestman
Average Rating: 9.00
Number: 18 T. Maswanhise
Average Rating: 8.95
Number: 12 L. Fadinger
Average Rating: 8.95
Number: 16 P. McGinn
Average Rating: 8.94
Number: 90 I. Said
Average Rating: 8.89
Number: 21 E. Just
Average Rating: 8.86
Number: 7 T. Sparrow
Average Rating: 8.75
Number: 13 C. Ward
Average Rating: 8.09
Number: 42 R. McColm
Average Rating: 7.95
Number: 15 E. Björgólfs­son
Average Rating: 7.50
Number: 22 J. Koutroumbis
Average Rating: 7.41
Number: 9 A. Stamatelopoulos
Average Rating: 7.27
Number: 28 L. Ross
Average Rating: 6.94

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.