MOTHERWELL are staying up. They are not a great side by any stretch of even the wildest of imaginations but they will be in the Premiership next season and the only thing which matters for the moment.

This win meant they bettered Hamilton’s result and so what has been a wretched campaign, which included Mark McGhee being sacked, the Fir Park men won’t be in the dreaded play-off for the second time in three years.

Stephen Robinson was asked to keep Motherwell up and after 12 games in charge and more than a few sleepless nights he’s done just that.

“It's relief more than anything else," said the Northern Irishman. "I'm buzzing inside but it's pure relief. I carry the weight of everybody around this club when you have the honour of leading them and you are aware of the consequences if you don't stay up. There's a lot of pressure with that but the boys handled it well - the boys stood up to be counted over the past two games.

"I wasn't aware of what was going on at Dingwall until half-time - but you hear what fans are saying to you. But I was focussed on us doing our job and we took care of it.

"I don't want to celebrate being in a relegation dogfight. I came in here when we were second bottom. This was the first time we've won back-to-back games this season and now the challenge is to go and win three at Inverness. I've told them to enjoy staying up but we've got to aim higher. I know it's difficult and we probably have the lowest budget in the league but the hard work for me really starts now."

It was, erm, a fairly decent start for the home side.

The game began slightly late and so Hamilton were a goal behind before kick-off, and then Motherwell scored within a minute of their game beginning.

Scott McDonald took the ball down the left wing, passed to Elliot Frear who forced a corner. Frear took the set-piece, a rehearsed low cross which found Carl McHugh, and the midfielder guided the ball home with his left foot.

Kilmarnock’s response, if you could call it that, was a shot from Dean Hawkshaw which never had goal written all over it. But the away side did draw level on 17 minutes and fans of Keith Lasley, the Motherwell captain, should look away now.

Kilmarnock left winger Jordan Jones was getting some joy down the left hand side. One of his runs resulted into a low cross into the box which Lasley tried to clear, but he got everything wrong and put the ball right to Adam Frizzell who produced a fine finish in fairness.

We then had back-to-back saves by both keepers midway through the half.

Firstly Motherwell’s less than solid defence allowed Greg Taylor a clear run in on Russell Griffiths who did really well to get out his goal, cut down the angle and prevent a goal. Within seconds, a long ball found Louis Moult unmarked and with time to compose himself but Jamie MacDonald in Kilmarnock’s goal got his hands to the striker’s shot.

Jones was having a fine match. Every time he got the ball it felt he could make something happen. A great run and decent shot, saved by Griffiths, on 33 minutes was typical of his night’s work.

Motherwell manager Robinson made a change, apparently tactical, on 37 minutes when took off young David Ferguson who was on a booking and getting tortured by Jones, with Lionel Ainsworth coming on.

It would be no exaggeration to say Robinson got his switch 100 per cent.

The substitute’s first touch almost brought a goal, his cross having to be pawed away by MacDonald from under his own crossbar.

However, it had been Kilmarnock who were the better team and came within a few inches of a half-time lead when Grey Taylor’s excellent curling effort rattled the bar.

The half began with Clay being booked for a dive. Referees get a lot of stick but Nick Walsh got this one absolutely correct. But on 52 minutes he made a big mistake.

Taylor won the ball fairly off Frear to concede a corner. It was never a free-kick and never in a million years did the Kilmarnock man deserve a booking. However, that is what was given and from close to the touchline, Ainsworth sent a curling shot into the opposite corner. It came from a bad decision but it was some finish.

It should have been 3-1 within minutes when Cadden’s cross into the six yard box managed to curl behind Moult who had an open goal.

Kilmarnock’s Frizzell wasn’t far away from a goal on 70 minutes, his keepy-uppy impressive, the shot a fraction too high.

And then came the sweetest of moment for Motherwell with 12 minutes remaining. Ainsworth nicked the ball from Rory McKenzie and played it to Moult who didn’t even have to look up to know Frear was free and found his team-mate with a superb pass.

Frear needed one touch to get around MacDonald and finish the job. Cue much relief and celebration.

Lee McCulloch, the Kilmarnock interim manager, who still doesn't know what is going to happen to him said: "We were absolutely brilliant in the first-half. We weren't as good after that and we're been done by a set-piece and a breakaway. Motherwell wanted it more than us. We looked a little bit lacklustre."

Motherwell: Griffiths; Ferguson (Ainsoworth 37) (Livingstone 90), Heneghan, McHugh, Hammell; Cadden, Lasley, Clay, Frear; McDonald, Moult (Bowman 84)

Substitutes: Pain, Bowman, Jules, McFadden, Campbell, Livingstone

Kilmarnock: MacDonald; Taylor, Ajer, Wilson (Graham 77), Smith; Frizzel, Dicker, Hawkshaw Roberts (56); Kiltie (McKenzie 65), Jones; Sammon

Substitutes not used: Lyle, Cameron, Graham, Queen, Osborne, McKenzie

Referee: Nick Walsh