The Killie manager admitted that they were fortunate to be ahead at the break. Motherwell started well and had the lead following Sutton’s goal. Given the patchwork nature of the team few expected us to be in control of the game but Humphrey’s pace produced the chance and our in-form striker was able to add to his tally.
We lost the second following a corner but as the break approached it looked likely that the teams would be level. The penalty goal that followed changed the game but only because the Motherwell players did not deliver the reaction that the travelling fans expected.
Minutes after the resumption we lost the third goal and the heads dropped. We were lucky not to lose another three in the last half hour as Kilmarnock squandered a number of golden chances. Randolph produced some fine stops but he admitted in the dressing room that his error contributed to the third goal.
McCall was right to point out that the loss of Lasley, Hammell, Saunders and Jeffers was a massive blow and that many of the referees decisions added to our problems but he was worried at our lack of belief. He also pointed out that all our goals were lost from set pieces.
He then let rip at the players’ inability to make a fight of it and the poor decision making. “We had a three on one running into the box but didn’t even get a shot away”, he said, shaking his head in frustration.
To make matters worse it seems that Saunders’ ankle injury will keep him out of the forthcoming cup replay. Hammell’s hamstring tweak in Friday’s training session might put him in the same boat.
The only good news to come from the weekend action is that Inverness lost and our top six hopes are still alive and as a bonus, we have ten days to regroup before our next match. Whether games against the top five will prove to be an embarrassment remains to be seen!