Kilmarnock 1-3 Motherwell: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Ladbrokes’ post-match review of Kilmarnock 1-3 Motherwell in the Premiership on Saturday, 22 November 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Motherwell started strongly, taking the lead in the 16th minute when Tawanda Maswanhise scored with an assist from Ebiye Longelo, setting a dominant tone early on. They doubled their advantage in the 26th minute as Maswanhise struck again, this time unassisted, while yellow cards for Johnny Koutroumbis at 21' and Callum Hendry at 45+2' highlighted their aggressive approach. Kilmarnock struggled to respond in the first half, with Tom Lowery picking up a yellow card at 3' before being replaced by Brad Lyons at half-time.

The second half saw Kilmarnock pull one back in the 49th minute through Scott Tiffoney, assisted by Bruce Anderson, injecting some hope into their performance. Motherwell made a triple substitution at 63', with Liam Gordon replacing Ebiye Longelo, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos coming on for Callum Hendry, and Ewan Just for Callum Slattery, which helped them regain control. They sealed the win with a penalty converted by Stamatelopoulos in the 68th minute, despite further yellow cards for Slattery at 57', Stamatelopoulos at 80', and Gordon at 81', while Kilmarnock's late changes failed to turn the tide.

Motherwell's 59% possession dominance allowed them to control the game's rhythm, limiting Kilmarnock's opportunities despite the home side's 41% share, which reflected their struggle to build sustained attacks. Both teams earned three corners each, suggesting evenly matched set-piece threats, but Kilmarnock's 56 successful dribbles outpaced Motherwell's 41, indicating better individual flair that helped them create their lone goal. The disciplinary stats showed Motherwell picking up five yellow cards compared to Kilmarnock's one, pointing to a more fractious display that could have cost them without their clinical finishing, while no red cards kept the contest at full strength.

Motherwell converted their sole penalty, which proved decisive in extending their lead, and both sides recorded one assist apiece, underscoring limited creative output overall. Each team used all five substitutions, with Motherwell's triple change at 63'—Liam Gordon on for Ebiye Longelo, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos replacing Callum Hendry, and Ewan Just coming in for Callum Slattery—bolstering their attack and leading to the penalty goal, whereas Kilmarnock's adjustments, including Brad Lyons replacing Tom Lowery at 46' and later swaps like Tyrell John-Jules for Bruce Anderson at 70', offered brief momentum but couldn't overturn the deficit.

The match's early turning point came in the 16th minute when Tawanda Maswanhise opened the scoring for Motherwell with a well-assisted finish from Ebiye Longelo, quickly followed by his second unassisted goal in the 26th minute to establish a commanding lead. Kilmarnock responded after the break with Scott Tiffoney's strike in the 49th minute, assisted by Bruce Anderson, which briefly shifted momentum and suggested a potential comeback. However, Motherwell's penalty in the 68th minute, confidently taken by Apostolos Stamatelopoulos after their triple substitution five minutes earlier, proved decisive in restoring their two-goal cushion and securing the victory despite accumulating yellow cards throughout.

The impact of substitutions was evident, particularly Motherwell's changes at 63' that injected fresh energy leading to the penalty, while Kilmarnock's half-time switch of Brad Lyons for the cautioned Tom Lowery helped spark their goal but couldn't prevent late yellows for Motherwell from adding tension without altering the outcome.

Kilmarnock deployed a 3-4-3 formation that emphasised width and forward pressure, with standout roles in the midfield where Tom Lowery anchored early play before his yellow card and substitution, partnering effectively with players like Gary Kiltie who contributed to attacking transitions until his replacement by Marley Watkins at 71'.

Motherwell set up in a 4-2-3-1 shape that focused on midfield control and quick counters, with key partnerships in the attacking third where Tawanda Maswanhise shone as a central figure, supported by Ebiye Longelo's assists before his substitution for Liam Gordon at 63', allowing for solid defensive organisation alongside dynamic forward runs.

Tawanda Maswanhise earned Man of the Match honours for his brace in the 16th and 26th minutes, driving Motherwell's early dominance with clinical finishing and constant threat, even before his substitution for Tom Sparrow at 77'—his performance was pivotal in securing the points despite the team's disciplinary issues.

Recent Premiership matches:

• Loss: 1-3 vs Motherwell (H)
• Loss: 0-4 vs Celtic (A)
• Loss: 1-3 vs Falkirk (A)
• Loss: 0-1 vs Aberdeen (H)
• Loss: 1-3 vs Rangers (A)

Recent Premiership matches:

• Win: 3-1 vs Kilmarnock (A)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Aberdeen (A)
• Win: 2-0 vs Dundee United (H)
• Win: 2-1 vs Livingston (A)
• Loss: 1-2 vs Falkirk (H)

Kilmarnock sit in 10th place with 10 points after three straight losses, including this 1-3 defeat to Motherwell, leaving them desperate to halt the slide and rebuild momentum if they’re to climb the table. Their next challenge comes against Dundee United, who are seventh with 14 points, in a home fixture on 29 November at 17:45 that offers a chance to exploit any vulnerabilities in the visitors’ setup and secure vital points for punters eyeing a turnaround.

Motherwell hold sixth position with 18 points, buoyed by this 3-1 win over Kilmarnock that extends their unbeaten run and positions them well for a push towards the top half. They face a stern test next against third-placed Hibernian, who have 21 points, in an away match on 25 November at 19:45 where maintaining their form could yield attractive odds for those backing an upset.

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Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.