It was difficult to work out who had the easier task before kick-off. Both experienced managers taking charge of their new teams for the first time, both have been around the block, both have short-term deals and both were in charge of teams completely shot of confidence and points.
Fast forward a couple of hours and there can be no doubt that Craig Brown has a more enviable challenge than Jimmy Calderwood.
Motherwell had not won for eight games, since October, and were in serious danger of getting sucked into a relegation battle. But make no mistake, Calderwood has inherited a far more difficult job. Quite simply, his new Kilmarnock side are in freefall.
Motherwell deserved their win, were quicker and slicker than Kilmarnock and, although Brown claimed the win flattered his side, you suspect he was trying to be kind to a shell-shocked former Aberdeen manager in the home dugout.
A double from Jim O’Brien and a strike from the excellent on-loan Everton striker, Kukas Jutkiewicz, was the least they deserved and it is clear the Fir Park squad have a new lease of life under 69-year-old Brown and his assistant, Archie Knox.
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One of the players deemed surplus to requirements by Brown’s predecessor, Jim Gannon, was Giles Coke, and the midfield player was instrumental as Motherwell cruised to victory. “The new manager and Archie have come in and lifted the place,” he said.
Brown tried to play down the victory, but he was fooling no one. He said: “I thought at half-time, the game was destined to be a draw. It was a very even game and I suppose we were fortunate to get the goal and go on to win the game.
“The score maybe flattered us a bit. But we had gone eight games without a win and to win 3-0 away from home in this league is exceptional.”
Poor Calderwood has an enormous task on his hands if he is to save a desperate Rugby Park outfit, especially as he can’t bring in any players to the cash-strapped club unless he shifts a few on. And on Saturday’s evidence, who is going to buy any of his lot? “You can’t really do a lot tactically if you only have the players for a day before the game,” he said, “but there’s no point feeling sorry for ourselves. The players don’t need me bawling at them, though if it happens a second or third time, I might.”
Kilmarnock (4-4-2): C Bell 7 — J Hamill 6, S Ford 5, F Wright 6, G Hay 5 — D Invincibile 4 (sub: G Skelton, 76min 2), C Bryson 6, J Fowler 5 (sub: M Pascali, 69 2), M Taouil 7 — K Kyle 5, M Burchill 5 (sub: D Fernandez, 67 2). Substitutes not used: L Robinson, G Owens, L Kelly, I Flannigan. Booked: Hamill, Kyle.
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Motherwell (4-4-2): J Ruddy 7 — T Hateley 6, M Reynolds 6, S Craigan 7, S Hammell 6 — J O’Brien 8 (sub: M Fitzpatrick, 77 3), G Coke 8 (sub: C Humphrey, 59 6), K Lasley 7, R Forbes 6 — J Sutton 6, L Jutkiewicz 8 (sub: R McHugh, 85). Substitutes not used: M Fraser, S Jennings, J Murphy, S Saunders. Booked: O’Brien.
Referee: C Thomson. Attendance: 5,354.