Kilmarnock had to settle for a point in a game where they will feel they did more than enough to take all three.
Derek McInnes’ side had the ball in the back of the net only for VAR to rule it out while Brad Lyons twice his the post in a game they dominated.
Even at the death they were still pushing for a winner as they pushed everyone forward. Jack Burroughs had a shot blocked just past the post by Dan Casey as the hosts kept up the pressure without getting their reward.
For those who enjoy such things, Killie had 492 passes – their most in a match this season. They got 44 crosses into the box, got 18 shots away but could not do enough to get the only stat that mattered, much to the frustration of McInnes.
The point lifts them up to ninth in the table but the frustration will be that it could and should have been more.
McInnes rang the changes after the defeat to Ross County with five players coming in with a rare start afforded to Kyle Magennis. He got the performance he wanted if not the points.
It seemed to give them an early spring in their step as they pushed to take control of the game.
They might have had something to show for their early endeavour when Fraser Murray cut the ball back for Marley Watkins, however the striker miscued his effort from close range.
Next up, Liam Gordon was forced to turn a menacing cross behind. From the resultant corner, Joe Wright volleyed an effort that Motherwell goalkeeper Aston Oxborough pushed away before Ewan Wilson hooked it off the line.
Encouraged, Kilmarnock kept at it with the ball in the back of the net. VAR popped up to ruin their fun after Murray had teed up Brad Lyons whose effort with the outside of his right boot was high into the net. Replays showed he was fractionally offside.
He was denied just a minute later by the woodwork as he crashed an effort off the crossbar and repeated the same trick at the close of the opening period as he got not he end of Murray’s corner.
They might have paid for their profligacy. Tony Watt forced a save from Robby McCrorie after Jack Vale had cut the ball into his path just inside the box.
Killie’s intensity dropped but they almost got the breakthrough deep into the second period. Bobby Wales picked out Marley Watkins but after spinning to get his shot away, Oxborough was its equal.
Again, though, Motherwell could have nocked it. Watt dragged an effort wide of the mark before Stephen O’Donnell ought to have burst the net after Watt had slipped the ball into his path. The Scotland internationalist screwed his effort inches wide.
In added time, Rugby Park thought it had its winner as Burroughs effort was blocked.
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