Motherwell have boosted their chances of avoiding a relegation playoff in the Scottish Premiership with a 3-1 win over Kilmarnock this evening.

The visitors were on the attack from the start as Paul Cairney saw his finish go just wide inside the opening couple of minutes, while another effort was saved a few moments later.

Kilmarnock continued to look the more likely going forward, but it was the home side who opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark when Scott McDonald jabbed the ball in from close range after a long-range strike from Lee Erwin had been parried away.

Motherwell doubled the advantage just over 10 minutes later as Steven Hammill pulled the ball back to Erwin, leaving him to slot it into the bottom corner from the middle of the box.

The hosts continued to press in the final minutes of the first half, but Craig Samson pulled off saves to deny both goalscorers adding their second of the night.

Kilmarnock were aggressive from the restart, and managed to get a goal back less than 10 minutes into the second half as Josh Magennis volleyed the ball home from a corner.

Motherwell responded, looking to re-establish their two-goal cushion, but Mark O'Brien saw his header from a free kick saved, while Conor Grant also failed to tap in from a set piece.

The home side continued to look the more likely as the second half progressed though, and they managed to put the win beyond doubt in the final minute when McDonald crossed the ball in for Lionel Ainsworth, leaving the winger to slice the ball into the bottom corner.

The result keeps Motherwell in 11th in the table, but cuts the gap to Ross County to three points, while Kilmarnock sit ninth.