Kilmarnock were unable to turn a dominant display into three points as they were made to rue their wastefulness in front of goal in a 0-0 home draw with Motherwell.
Despite having 70 per cent of the possession, 18 shots at goal and forcing 15 corners, the hosts couldn’t break the deadlock and pick up a win that would have taken them level on points with sixth-placed St Mirren.
As it is, the goalless draw does see them jump a place into ninth – but they remain just two points above the relegation play-off zone.
Killie boss Derek McInnes made five changes to the side that produced an abject display in their 1-0 loss to Ross County on Sunday, most notably handing a first start in 16 months for midfielder Kyle Magennis. The 26-year-old had featured six times off the bench since his return in December from a year-long injury.
The hosts did their best to get their fans off their feet early doors with a bright start but they were unable to make it count. Marley Watkins fluffed his line just two minutes in when Fraser Murray was sent clear down the right flank and teed up the former Wales international but he failed to get the proper connection and the ball trundled harmlessly wide from close range.
Centurion Joe Wright almost marked his milestone 100th appearance in style on nine minutes but saw his volley brilliantly palmed away by Aston Oxborough as Killie searched for an early opener.
While the game settled down after the fast start, Killie still were on the front foot and looked the more threatening. Murray was next to go close as his curling effort across goal from the edge of the box flew narrowly wide midway through the half.
Having offered nothing, Motherwell went close to taking the lead with their first attempt of the game when a rare foray into the Killie box led to Tony Watt testing Robby McCrorie with the former Rangers keeper at full stretch to deny the striker. The home side promptly went straight up the other end and had the ball in the net – only for it to be ruled offside following a VAR check.
Murray continued to be a pest to the Well defence and he breezed beyond a couple of defenders before teeing up Brad Lyons, who deftly found the top corner with the outside of his boot. The flag didn’t go up, but Andrew Dallas on VAR notified whistler Don Robertson that the goal should be rescinded.
The remainder of the first half was played virtually entirely in the Motherwell half but Killie couldn’t find a breakthrough. Lyons thought he had done just that in injury-time but the Northern Ireland international was denied a first goal of the season, not by VAR on this occasion but the bar after seeing his header from a Murray corner clatter back off the woodwork.
They started the second half in much the same fashion as they searched desperately for the goal their play deserved. Wright was the latest to go close with a thundering header wide from a delivery into the box.
While the hosts weren’t quite as dominant after the interval, they were still in near complete control. After a darting run down the left flank, the ball eventually fell to Watkins but he was thwarted by Oxborough who came charging from his goal to deny the striker.
The chances kept coming. And they kept being squandered. Top scorer Bruce Anderson came off the bench was was presented with a glorious opportunity at the back post but hooked his strike wide in the closing moments.
And the home side nearly came away empty-handed when former Killie man Stephen O’Donnell was inches away from finding the far corner during a rare Well attack two minutes from time.
Killie thought they’d bagged an injury-time winner when wonderful play down the right flank led to Wales splitting the defence to find Watkins, with the veteran then teeing up Jack Burroughs who looked set to fire home, only to see his strike deflected wide as the home side were forced to settle for a share of the spoils.
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