Alan Cochrane @ Rugby Park

A bright opening spell played at a high tempo, initially promised much, but it was Motherwell who made the best chances and eventually scored three second half goals to make sure Jimmy Calderwood's first game in charge did not have a happy ending.

Killie played some neat football, but they played it in the first 70% of the field, and Ruddy in the Motherwell goal was seldom troubled. Kyle had a header straight at the keeper, Invincibile headed over and Taouil had a shot narrowly wide, but the real threats were coming at the other end.

Sutton headed over, Wright had a last gasp tackle on the same player, and Bell< who had a good game and made no mistakes, had to dive to turn a Jutkiewicz shot round the post. If the Killie support hoped that the interval would bring a change of fortune, it wasn't long before they were disabused.

In 54 minutes, Jim O'Brien took a pass at the end of a sweeping Motherwell move, and drilled his shot across Bell and into the net. In 69 minutes he got his second when he ghosted in at the back post to tuck away Coke's cross, and 12 minutes from the end Jutkiewicz wrapped it up with a tidy left foot shot to make Motherwell 3-0 winners.

It was a disappointed Jimmy Calderwood that I spoke to after the game, because he had high expectations, but despite training hard yesterday and opening brightly today, it was Motherwell that got the vital opening goal and it was their confidence that got the massive lift. But he is convinced they will all pull together, and despite the next games coming up quickly, he is looking forward to the challenge.

So a poor start to Jimmy Calderwood's time in charge, but after only one day with the players, which would hardly be time to introduce themselves, miracles were never likely, and there is a chance to strike back quickly, with a cup tie against Falkirk only 48 hours away.

Kilmarnock: Bell, Hay, Fowler (Pascali), Wright, Ford, Bryson, Taouil, Invincibile (Skelton), Kyle, Hamill, Burchill (Fernandez)

Motherwell: Ruddy, Hammell, Reynolds, Craigan, Coke, Jutkiewicz (McHugh), Sutton, Lasley, O'Brien (Fitzpatrick), Hateley, Forbes (Humphrey)

Referee: Craig Thomson