CRAIG HAS BIT OF TIME TO KIL; PREMIER LEAGUE.

Byline: SCOTT McDERMOTT reports

KILMARNOCK 1

MOTHERWELL 0

CRAIG BRYSON grabbed a dramatic late winner to keep Killie third in the SPL and sink 10-man Motherwell.

The young midfielder scored the vital goal for the second game on the trot after Well had Paul Quinn sent off in 64 minutes.

Bryson was the hero last time out for Jim Jefferies' side when his strike earned a 2-1 victory against Hearts. And with just a minute left at Rugby Park yesterday he calmly slotted home a volley from six yards out.

The former Clyde star has been a revelation and he admitted he has made a big effort to score regularly this season. Asked if it was easy netting winners every week he said: "I wish it was! It's a nice habit to get in to. Seriously, it's excellent to get another goal because it was such a tight match.

"When it's that late you start to think it will finish 0-0 but we kept trying and thankfully got the winner. I said at the start of the season I wanted to get more goals from midfield.

"Manuel Pascali has been a big help because with him behind me I can get forward more and we've a good partnership. I just hope it continues because we've had a great start to the campaign."

Both gaffers agreed Quinn's red card transformed a game that was heading for a draw.

The Well defender tripped David Fernandez who was clean through on goal and was ordered off for a professional foul.

Mark McGhee opted for an attacking line-up. As well as a front two of Chris Porter and John Sutton, strikers David Clarkson and Jamie Murphy were deployed out wide.

Killie lost Simon Ford, who pulled a hamstring, in just 15 minutes and their best chance fell to Bryson who latched on to a Connor Sammon cross but his shot was saved by Graeme Smith. Well were clearly the better side in the first half and almost took a lead in to the interval.

Murphy - who tormented Killie down the left - delivered a cross that beat Alan Combe but Sutton could only cushion his header over from six yards.

Then Murphy raced past stand-in left-back Jamie Hamill but his fierce drive was parried for a corner by Combe.

Sutton wasted a golden chance to open the scoring in 49 minutes.

Murphy again teed him up but the striker was denied by Combe before sub James Fowler cleared the danger.

Killie had barely threatened before the game turned on its head.

Sammon put Fernandez in the clear and as Quinn made a desperate attempt to get the ball he tripped the Spaniard on the edge of the box.

Despite the presence of two more Well players Fernandez did have a run-in on goal and Quinn was rightly sent packing.

That prompted an immediate reshape of McGhee's back four and suddenly it was the home side who were on top.

Killie had plenty of the ball but failed to make it count until 89 minutes when they got the stroke of luck they needed.

Hamill's shot was deflected and when the ball looped to the back post Bryson fired it home.

Killie gaffer Jefferies said: "It was a really close match and Motherwell showed why they finished third last season.

"The red card changed the course of the game because they were not as much of a threat to us with 10 men.

"Players like Bryson are always capable of coming up with a goal and it was vital for us.

"He's tenacious and doesn't need to prove to anyone now that he can play in the SPL, he has adapted to it brilliantly."

REF WATCH

ALAN MUIR got the big decision spot on because Fernandez had a clear run at goal when Quinn brought him down. But after a couple of flare-ups he bookedfour players rather than just have a word. A bit too fussy. Rating: 6/10.

CAPTION(S):

The Bryson hoover: Craig Bryson sucks up the points for Killie with his last-gasp winner