Motherwell striker James McFadden scored his 10th goal of the season to give his side a slender victory over Kilmarnock.

The Scotland international struck from the spot in the 35th minute.

The Ayrshire side's cause was hindered even further when defender Chris Innes was sent off early in the second half and Killie never recovered.

The opening half-hour of the match failed to produce any real chances of note and it was 30 minutes before either team managed a shot on target with Gordon Marshall holding a fierce drive from Keith Lasley.

Three minutes later, Killie had their first shot at goal but Francois Dubourdeau held Paul Di Giacomo's shot.

But it was Motherwell who took the lead in 33 minutes when McFadden netted from the penalty spot after Greg Shields felled David Clarkson as he bore in on goal.

James McFadden was on target

McFadden almost doubled his tally a minute before the break but Marshall pulled off a good save from his fierce 35-yard free kick.

Killie's hopes of an early breakthrough after the interval received a severe blow when Innes received his second yellow card for a foul on Clarkson.

A superb run by James Fowler in the 65th minute almost brought about an equaliser but Dubourdeau was quickly off his line to parry the ball away as Kris Boyd stooped to head.

Greg Shields wasted a good chance to equalise for the Rugby Park side in 75 minutes when the ball fell to him at the edge of the box but his effort flew high into the stand.

Fowler was denied by Dubourdeau 11 minutes from time when his shot at the end of a five-man Killie move was turned away for a corner by the Motherwell goalkeeper.

The home side pushed everyone forward in the search of a late equaliser but the visitors held out for a deserved win.

Kilmarnock: Marshall, Fowler, Shields, Innes, Dillon, Di Giacomo (Murray 62), Mahood, Fulton, McLaren (McSwegan 76), Dargo (McLaughlin 57), Boyd.

Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Hay.

Sent Off: Innes (52).

Booked: Innes, Dillon, McLaren, Fowler.

Motherwell: Dubourdeau, Corrigan, Kinniburgh, Partridge, Hammell (Cowan 80), Lasley (Fagan 86), Leitch, Adams, Pearson, Clarkson, McFadden.

Subs Not Used: Woods, Ramsey, Clarke.

Booked: Clarkson, McFadden.

Att: 6,882

Ref: J Underhill