VAR IS LYONS TAMER

Brad's celly is cut short as offside denies Killie winner

- STUART KETTLEWELL

STUART KETTLEWELL has just embarked on a lengthy road trip.

As the manager and his Motherwell players headed out of Ayrshire after the first of a four-game away run, they could have replaced their team coach with a getaway car.

Kilmarnock didn't lose but must have finished up feeling they had been robbed. Derek McInnes' side had to settle for a point having dominated for long spells.

Killie hammered against the door in the first-half with Brad Lyons hitting the bar after having a strike ruled out by VAR for offside.

Joe Wright and Marley Watkins were also denied by keeper Aston Oxborough as the home side couldn't turn their pressure into a victory.

McInnes is on the lookout for attacking provisions with injuries to Kyle Vassell and Innes Cameron, who both missed out. That killer touch proved elusive here as the Steelmen got through it.

Motherwell did have some fleeting looks through Tony Watt and sub Stephen O'Donnell but in the main it was a rearguard action summed up by the brilliant injury-time block that thwarted Killie sub Jack Burroughs.

It takes all types of talents to get points and the Steelmen dug deep to get their draw. But it felt at full-time like one that got away for McInnes' men.

Killie had a golden chance inside the opening seconds. Fraser Murray was released free down the right flank. The winger's intelligent pullback was right into the path of Marley Watkins but the striker choked his attempted finish.