Kiltie double helps Kilmarnock beat fellow-strugglers Motherwell

Report as Kilmarnock earn a narrow 3-2 win over Motherwell to move off bottom spot in the table; Greg Kiltie scored two with Tyreece John-Jules getting Kilmarnock's third; Alex Lowry and Seb Palmer-Houlden scored for the visitors

Greg Kiltie scored twice to lift Kilmarnock off the bottom of the Scottish Premiership with a 3-2 victory over Motherwell.

Kiltie struck first and last as Neil McCann's side inflicted a fifth consecutive defeat on the Steelmen, who join Killie in the bottom three, one point off bottom-placed Hibernian.

Motherwell had a dominant spell after recovering from Kiltie's second-minute opener and goals from Alex Lowry and Seb Palmer-Houlden turned the game on its head.

But Tyreece John-Jules soon equalised and Motherwell were cut open before Kiltie knocked home a 69th-minute winner.

Given their run, Motherwell fans would have feared the worst when their team gifted Kilmarnock a goal with little over 60 seconds on the clock.

Goalkeeper Alex Paulsen misplaced a short pass into central midfield and Kiltie ultimately converted after some desperate defending.

Worse almost followed several moments later when Well centre-back Martin Moorman lost possession midway inside his own half, but Joe Hugill dragged his shot wide.

But the visitors levelled in the 17th minute when Lukas Fadinger sent Emmanual Longelo down the left wing. Calum Ferrie made a great stop after Palmer-Houlden got on the end of the left-back's low cross but Lowry kept his composure to fire the rebound into the bottom corner.

Motherwell took control as Killie struggled to keep possession inside their own half. Maswanshise hit the post from 25 yards and scuffed a decent chance wide, and Ibrahim Said forced a good save from Ferrie.

Neil McCann brought on Jamie Brandon for on-loan Hearts right-back MJ Kamson-Kamara in the 33rd minute in a bid to deal with the twin threat of Longelo and Said. He was forced into another change two minutes later when the injured Bailey Rice went off for Aaron Tshibola.

The hosts improved towards the end of the half. Paulsen got down well to stop a John-Jules drive after Motherwell failed to deal with a long ball and the unmarked Tom Lowery volleyed well over.

Killie were grateful for a VAR intervention after referee Calum Scott sent George Stanger off for a high boot on Lowry. The punishment was downgraded to a yellow card after a trip to the monitor.

Motherwell were soon in front in the 56th minute after a low cross from Said. Palmer-Houlden was denied at close range by Ferrie but the ball ricocheted in off the centre-forward.