Kilmarnock 0 - 1 Motherwell: Blackman boosts Motherwell ahead of their return tie with Odense

Kilmarnock 0Motherwell 1Blackman 37Referee: M TumiltyAttendance: 5,399

Nick Blackman's first goal for Motherwell, which gave his side their maiden league win of the new season at the expense of Kilmarnock, also gave Craig Brown's side an injection of confidence ahead of their finely-poised Europa League play-off second leg against Odense on Thursday.

The on-loan Blackburn striker, making his first start, turned home a Chris Humphrey cross from close range nine minutes before the interval. That proved sufficient to settle a game largely lacking goalmouth action. Manuel Pascali was denied a last-minute equaliser by an excellent Darren Randolph save, leaving Kilmarnock still searching for their first points of the campaign.

Brown had one eye on Europe as he made four changes to his Motherwell side. Captain Stephen Craigan dropped to the bench along with Keith Lasley and Jamie Murphy, while striker John Sutton was left out of the squad altogether ahead of Thursday's match. The quartet were replaced in the starting line-up by Blackman, Esteban Casagolda, Marc Fitzpatrick and Jonathan Page.

New Kilmarnock defender Mohamadou Sissoko was handed a debut, replacing the benched Liam Kelly as the only change to the Rugby Park side for Mixu Paatelainen's first home game.

The hosts created the first of the game on nine minutes when James Dayton took possession on the right and made a good run to the byline, crossing for David Silva, who headed over.

While the opening quarter was lively and featured some useful wing play from Dayton and Humphrey, it lacked any dangerous penalty-box incursions.

It was Motherwell who finally gave the game a much-needed goal nine minutes from the interval, Blackman breaking the deadlock by turning in a far-post cross from Humphrey which had been helped along the face of goal by strike partner Casagolda.

Randolph and James Fowler were both booked for a fracas as the players headed down the tunnel at the interval after tempers had frayed towards the end of the first half.

Kilmarnock replaced Fowler with forward Conor Sammon just after the hour in pursuit of an equaliser, and it coincided with their best spell of pressure, including Dayton worrying the visiting defence with a swinging effort at the right-hand post in a busy box.

The hosts again came close when Hamill dispossessed Saunders and crossed from the left for Sammon, but Randolph smothered the ball before Invincibile could race in to bundle home.

Pascali almost rescued a point for Kilmarnock with a tremendous effort following a short corner routine in the 90th minute, but Randolph produced a superb reflex block to seal his side's win.

Kilmarnock: Bell, Hamill, Wright, Sissoko, Gordon, Pascali, Fowler (Sammon 63), Bryson (Kelly 83), Dayton, Invincibile, Silva. Subs not used: Letheren, Hay, Old, Owens, Gavin Brown.

Motherwell: Randolph, Page (Craigan 67), Saunders, Reynolds, Hammell, Humphrey (Murphy 78), Hateley, Jennings, Fitzpatrick, Blackman, Casagolda (McHugh 61). Subs not used: Hollis, Lasley, Forbes, Hutchinson.