Last updated on .From the section Scottish Premiership

Jordan Jones' spectacular cross-cum-shot hoisted Kilmarnock into third place in the Scottish Premiership after a bizarre win over 10-man Motherwell.

Motherwell lost Carl McHugh, Charles Dunne and Christian Mbulu to head injuries in the first 28 minutes.

Kilmarnock winger Jones then found Mark Gillespie's net from out wide for his first goal of the season.

Later, Curtis Main was sent off for an elbow on Stephen O'Donnell as the hosts struggled to get back into the game.

The striker was initially shown one yellow card by Steven McLean before then being immediately shown a second then a red.

The result means Kilmarnock are just a point behind second-placed Rangers, while Motherwell sit eight points clear of bottom-placed Dundee.

Tale of injury woe befalls Motherwell

It was a tale of injury woe for Motherwell in the first half that would lead to three of their players ending up in hospital.

First up, the head knock between Dunne and McHugh. A hush fell on Fir Park as it became apparent that Dunne was in need of attention as medics crowded around before he was carried off on a stretcher. Thankfully, he was conscious when he was taken to an ambulance.

Mbulu was one of the players who came off the bench, but his match only lasted a handful of minutes after he took a ball to the face which resulted in him losing vision in one eye. He too had to be replaced and joined his two team-mates in hospital. There was also a head injury for Main which required lengthy treatment.

When football broke out it was Kilmarnock who looked the more dangerous.

In a game of freakish injuries, the goal would also have a touch of the extraordinary about it. Jones curled a beautiful ball towards the back post. It looked more cross than a shot, but whatever the intention it nestled into the top corner as Kilmarnock took the lead.

Come the second half. Jones continued to look the most dangerous as he fired in another shot that skimmed off the top of the crossbar.

For Motherwell, Elliott Frear had a shot blocked in the latter stages of the first half, but overall the home side struggled to create. Main's red card in the second half was the final blow in a bad day for the home side.

Carl McHugh, far right, and Charles Dunne clashed heads before being taken to hospital

Decisive derby up next? - analysis

The final match of 2018 for Motherwell is the Lanarkshire derby against Hamilton Academical, and it looks like being an even bigger occasion than normal.

Both sides are in desperate need of inspiration. Expect a busy January transfer window from Motherwell.

As for Kilmarnock, they continue to chunter along at the right end of the table in the fashion we have now become accustomed to under Steve Clarke. The only concern is will they need to fend off potential suitors for the likes of Jones come January?

'Jordan will tell you it was a shot' - reaction

Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke: "I'm pretty sure Jordan will tell you it was a shot. As soon as he hit it, [Kilmarnock assistant manager] Alex Dyer said to me 'that's a goal'. He was right.

"Jordan said he saw the goalkeeper a little off his line and curled it back post. Whether it was a cross or a shot is pretty irrelevant."

Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson: "The performance this week as opposed to last week - players putting their body on the line - I'll stick up for them all day long.

"Did we create enough? No. We know which area of the pitch we need to strengthen in January. We didn't get a lot at that top end of the pitch."