Kilmarnock 1 Motherwell 2: The game that had everything offers up little for Lee Clark's men

A lot has changed since that sun-drenched day here back on May 22. Many have gone, even more have come in, and the apprehension about the season ahead has already shown signs of returning for the Kilmarnock support as a result of a hit and miss campaign in the Betfred Cup that has them out already.

It’s therefore understandable that in their first game of the Ladbrokes Premiership campaign yesterday against Motherwell, the blood pressure and heart rate of your average Rugby Park season ticket holder must have been off the chart as their team went down 2-1 during a frantic 90 minutes. Even if their team wasn't entirely to blame.

It only took 10 of them for Lee Clark, their manager, to be sent to the stand for alleged foul and abusive language, while goals from Lionel Ainsworth and Marvin Johnson – the second coming just 27 seconds into the second half – did little to placate the restless natives watching on, who in fairness were directing their anger at everyone bar their own players and coaching staff, prior to a late rally. And that was before their team was denied what appeared a stonewall penalty with the game back within reach after substitute Martin Smith had pulled a goal back.

“Apparently [I was sent to the stand] for foul and abusive language. I don’t know if it was for directing it at an official which I certainly didn’t,” said Clark, who also revealed the club have turned down a bid - thought to be around £100,000 - from Charlton Athletic for Northern Irish forward Josh Magennis. “It wasn’t the only strange decision of the afternoon was it?

“I’ve seen the footage [of the penalty incident] a couple of times over and it could be a great opportunity for a penalty. What it certainly isn’t is a foul against Souley. It’s a double whammy because we think we should have a pen and also then there’s a foul given against my striker.

“It’s another strange one to add to the list.”

The feeling that something memorable was in the offing tingled the senses before a ball had even been kicked. The artificial playing surface had been shortened and narrowed by around eight yards each way, a decision that Clark explained afterwards was made after that Falkirk game to help his players adapt to the style of play he is looking for.

Initially, it appeared to work against them as his men looked jittery, particularly in defence. That point was proven on 40 minutes when a give-and-go pass between Ainsworth and Scott McDonald unlocked the Kilmarnock defence to send the former clean through on goal before his exquisite chip looped over Jamie MacDonald and into the net.

By the time Johnson bulleted home Chris Cadden’s cross from eight yards second after the restart, Clark was forced into a rethink from the stand. Substitute Kris Boyd tested Craig Samson almost immediately after coming on, only for the Kilmarnock manager to then lose Dean Hawkshaw due to a bad head knock with Carl McHugh, who also had to be taken off.

While Clark's team were brighter than what their Betfred Cup form suggested, in the end it took until 81 minutes for them to make a fist of this game. Boyd’s pass out wide to Greg Taylor saw the young full-back bend in a terrific in-swinging cross that Smith did well to glance home.

A few hairy moments soon followed for a Motherwell side that really should have been out of sight by this stage, but the biggest heart-stopping flashpoint occurred with just two minutes left as centre-half Ben Heneghan appeared to haul Souleymane Coulibaly to the ground. Much to the ire of the apoplectic crowd, referee Craig Thomson awarded a free-kick to Motherwell and that, indeed, was that.

“I was delighted,” said McGhee. “Goals change games and it was important we got the first goal. We did and then you are optimistic.”