Still looking for the first win of the season, 'Well fans travelling to Kilmarnock were not too confident of gathering three points and sadly they were justified. A substantial injury list did not helped matters.
Brannan, Leitch, Twaddle, Kemble, Davies and Harvey were all casualties and after picking through the spelling mistakes on the official team sheet (Grog Strong, Stuart Elliott and Agne Ouefio) it was clear that only Benito Kemble had made it. Another change was the omission of Lee McCulloch who had caught a 'dead leg' in training.
We started with a 4-4-2 formation, Corrigan in right midfield.
After six minutes the Killie defence conceded a needless corner and from Spencer's cross the unmarked Elliott rose at the six yard line to head sweetly into the net. The five hundred 'Well fans at the other end rose to cheer the goal.
Within five minutes Spencer had two chances. The first was an attempted lob and the next found him clean through with just Marshall to beat. The goalie got a touch on the chip and Baker cleared off the line.
Dargo was booked after twenty minutes and McCoist forced the first save from Goram from close in.
In twenty six minutes McCoist whipped in a low cross from the left - it was not cut out and Dargo slotted it in from a few yards out. A bad goal and Killie got their spirits up. They should have gone ahead shortly after when their pressure resulted in a good shot from fifteen yards but it was deflected for a corner.
Hammell was booked just before the break - tugging.
Ramsay replaced Kemble at half time. Benito had earlier signalled to the bench that he was struggling.
We had two chances in the first ten minutes - Elliott almost put away a header and then Goodman nearly got the ball over Marshall but again the ball was touched away for a corner.
A glancing header from McCoist went wide. End to end stuff!
Twenty minutes into the half and Elliott got his second. A low cross from Spencer parried by Marshall to the on rushing winger and we were up 2-1. The shattered goalscorer indicated he was done in and was promptly replaced by Nicholas .
Ramsay and Wright challenged for the ball on the penalty spot and referee Clyde pointed to the spot. To describe it as a soft would be kind - it was never a penalty (and many Kilmarnock players would later commiserate with the 'Well players). Wright slotted the ball into the left hand corner.
Worse was to follow a couple of minutes later when Dindeleaux crashed a header in from a corner.
We never looked like recovering and the game petered out 3-2 Killie.
It's going to be a long, hard season for 'Well fans. Billy Davies (missing today because of dental problems) has continually refused to panic over our position and the result today does nothing to comfort him.
We came to Rugby Park and attacked; we played well and managed to get ourselves in front twice. There can be few excuses for losing - certainly the rearranged back four missed the presence of Kemble and we may have held on had he been present but there's no doubt that the decision by the ref to award the penalty was the crucial decision which affected the game.
Team: Goram; Corrigan, Kemble, Strong, Ouefio, Hammell; Townsley, Studs, Elliott; Spencer, Goodman
Kilmarnock 3 Motherwell 2
Attendance 6,533
19/8/00