Innes Cameron scored his first league goal of the season as Kilmarnock edged out Motherwell 1-0 at Rugby Park.
The striker, who came on to replace injured skipper Kyle Vassell early in the match, blasted David Watson’s cutback high into the roof of the net to give Killie the lead just after half-time.
The home side spurned numerous chances to extend their lead but the one goal proved enough as they moved back up to fourth in the cinch Premiership with their third straight home win.
Motherwell also came close through Paul McGinn but they fell to their sixth defeat in seven games to remain just a point clear of the relegation play-off positions.
Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes made just one change from his side’s surprise defeat to St Johnstone in midweek, bringing in Robbie Deas for Liam Polworth.
Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell, meanwhile, made four changes after his side’s loss to Aberdeen on Wednesday. Calum Butcher, Shane Blaney, Theo Bair and Mika Biereth all came into the starting line up.
It was the visitors who had the first chance of the match after two minutes as Dan Casey whipped in a dangerous inswinging cross but Theo Bair could only divert his header over the bar.
The hosts had their first opportunity in the 10th minute when Danny Armstrong sent a low right footed effort across goal and just wide of the far post.
Kilmarnock suffered an early blow when captain Vassell had to leave the field in the 16th minute, as Cameron was introduced.
In a scrappy first half which lacked quality, the next opportunity of note did not arrive until the 37th minute. Matty Kennedy whipped in an outstanding corner and Brad Lyons met it with a near-post header but Motherwell goalkeeper Liam Kelly made an outstanding reflex save to force it wide.
Stuart Findlay saw his volley deflect over from the resulting corner as the hosts finally began to exert some pressure.
Armstrong then sent a free kick narrowly over the bar in the 44th minute before Mika Biereth hooked a volley over the bar for the visitors as the match finally kicked into life going into the break.
Killie had been the better side as the first half ended and they took this momentum into the second period, taking the lead within five minutes of the restart.
A flowing move down the left led to Marley Watkins having a shot that was spilled by Well stopper Kelly. The Scotland goalkeeper did block Watson’s rebound but the youngster showed good composure to square to Cameron who rifled the ball into the roof of the net from eight yards out.
Watkins had two golden chances in quick succession for the hosts, first dragging the ball wide when one-on-one with Kelly from a tight angle and then failing to get a clean contact when played through by the impressive Deas.
Motherwell then had their best chance of the match just before the hour mark as McGinn drove through a wide open Killie defence but he could only shoot tamely at Will Dennis when he found himself through on goal.
Kilmarnock still looked more likely to score next, however, with Cameron heading straight at Kelly and Deas lashing a half-volley wide.
Kilmarnock’s failure to add a second led to a few nerves for their supporters but the visitors failed to create any more chances in the closing stages as the Rugby Park side held on relatively comfortably.
'It's a shame' - Alonso confirms Leverkusen's Boniface out with thigh injury
Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso confirmed that Victor Boniface will be sidelined for some time after picking up a thigh injury on international duty with Nigeria.
Boniface, who has scored eight goals in 15 appearances in all competitions this season, was replaced late on in the Super Eagles' 2-1 defeat to Rwanda on Monday.
It is another blow for Leverkusen, who have managed 17 points from 10 games so far this season, the worst start to a league campaign in 12 years by a defending champion.
Only Omar Marmoush and Harry Kane (both 11) have scored more goals in the league than Boniface this term (six).
Alonso revealed that the 23-year-old will miss Saturday's Bundesliga encounter against Heidenheim and their Champions League tie against RB Salzburg next week.
"We will have to see how long he will be out. It is a shame," Alonso told a press conference.
"He has a thigh injury. For tomorrow, for Salzburg and maybe a bit longer. We will have to wait and see.
"It is too early to say but we hope he can still play this year. We have to see with the recovery and improvement but it is not a matter of six or eight weeks."
Leverkusen have dropped points in six Bundesliga games already this season (D5, L1), as often as they did during the entirety of their 2023-24 title-winning campaign (D6).
They come into this weekend's fixture against Heidenheim on a three-game winless run in the Bundesliga (D3), the first time they have gone this long without a victory since between April and May 2023 (five games).
Leverkusen sit fourth in the Bundesliga, already nine points behind leaders Bayern Munich as the busy festive schedule kickstarts on Saturday.
Alonso's side have eight games in just under a month, including a DFB-Pokal round of 16 clash with Bayern at the start of December.
"Eight games in four weeks. It is nothing new for us," Alonso said. "An intense phase is coming up for us and it starts tomorrow.
"We have clear goals for the Bundesliga, the Champions League and the German Cup."
Object thrown at City striker 'Bunny' Shaw in Champions League win over Hammarby sparks UEFA investigation
UEFA has opened an investigation after Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw was hit by an object during their Women’s Champions League win against Swedish side Hammarby on Thursday.
The towering Jamaican striker scored both goals in City’s 2-1 win at the Stockholm Arena to see her side through to the quarterfinal stage.
Her animated celebration in front of the home fans after her first goal saw the 27-year-old being booked, with replays also showing an object seemingly thrown her way from the stands.
“Proceedings have been opened against Hammarby IF for throwing of objects (Article 16(2)(b) of the Disciplinary Regulations),” UEFA said in a statement.
“Manchester City player Khadija Shaw received a yellow card following her goal presentation for unsporting conduct,” the statement added.
Following the game, City captain Alex Greenwood chided match broadcaster DAZN for failing to mention the incident in a social media post.
The post on X, external said Shaw “antagonised” the home fans and received “stick” from them.
Greenwood replied, "Correction. Travel to Stockholm, score a big goal. Celebrates her goal. Gets objects thrown at her.”
Girona handed huge injury boosts ahead of Espanyol clash
Michel says Girona are in better physical shape ahead of their home clash against Espanyol after being handed numerous injury boosts.
Last season's surprise package, Girona, have had a mixed start to the campaign and sit 10th in the table but registered back-to-back league wins before the international break.
They have struggled with injuries to key players this season, but Viktor Tsygankov, Jhon Solis, Arnaut Danjuma, Yaser Asprilla, Ladislav Krejci, Ivan Martin, and Alejandro Frances are all available for the game.
Michel hopes that having a wider group of players available will help them to extend their winning run.
"We are better physically. Only Yangel Herrera, [Gabriel] Misehouy, Portu and Abel Ruiz are out, and the rest are in the squad" Michel told reporters.
"Each case will be different in terms of giving us minutes, but they are ready to help us.
"Now we have replacements in each position, and it gives me peace of mind. We need everyone ready and in the next two to three weeks, we will be ready to play at 100%."
Michel said Herrera, who has scored twice and registered one assist in LaLiga this term, was not expected to return until the new year.
"He is a player who makes the difference in terms of duels, arrivals into the opponent's area and possession. He is vital, but we will not have him until 2025," he added.
Girona have 18 points after 13 games and will face an Espanyol side sitting in the relegation zone. The visitors are yet to win away this season, losing five of six games on the road, but Michel has won just one of his four LaLiga matches against Espanyol (D2 L1).
The Girona head coach said Manolo Gonzalez's team cannot be taken lightly despite their underwhelming performances in away games.
Espanyol are yet to win away this season, losing five of six games on the road.
"We faced each other in pre-season and we drew. It will be difficult since they are a very good team in transition with players like [Javi] Puado or Jofre [Carreras] with speed and depth," Michel said.
"It's always a different game. It's a derby, and it's good to play them. There is a rivalry that must be sporting and, for our people and the players, it is a different game."
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
