Referee Chris Graham was the centre of attention during a controversial second half as Motherwell and Kilmarnock shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw.

Motherwell led after a dreadful opening 45 minutes at Fir Park courtesy of Liam Gordon’s first goal for the club.

Kilmarnock offered little as an attacking threat but Graham turned away a strong penalty appeal for the visitors before they equalised through Liam Polworth.

Graham’s poor game was encapsulated by a baffling decision to send off Motherwell’s Dan Casey after 78 minutes for violent conduct despite VAR official David Dickinson instructing him to review his decision, although the Steelemen held on for a point to remain fourth in the table.

The game passed without any incident of note until the hosts broke the deadlock after 17 minutes through Gordon. Lennon Miller’s clipped cross found Casey at the back post and his header rebounded off the woodwork perfectly into the path of Gordon to smash home.

Kilmarnock have struggled to replicate the form that secured them European football last season and Gordon’s opener was the 14th first-half goal they have conceded in 18 league games – a clear cause for concern for Killie boss Derek McInnes.

The visitors failed to test Aston Oxborough until the half-hour mark when Kyle Vassell forced the Motherwell goalkeeper into a comfortable low stop.

Kilmarnock were furious after 62 minutes when they had a strong claim for a penalty waved away by referee Graham.

After Oxborough had saved from Vassell, Brad Lyons was poised to shoot from the rebound but Andy Halliday appeared to stand on his foot. Graham, however, inexplicably awarded the foul against the Killie midfielder to leave McInnes incensed.

Danny Armstong’s introduction after 70 minutes seemed to spark the visitors into life as Vassell forced Oxborough into a smart save but Kilmarnock equalised from the resulting corner.

Lyons worked the ball to Polworth and the former Motherwell man smashed home for his first goal in two years – his previous effort also came against the Steelmen at Fir Park.

The second half was infinitely better than the first and another major flashpoint arrived after 78 minutes when Casey was dismissed. Armstrong goaded the Motherwell defender into grabbing his shirt near his neck and Graham did not hesitate to brandish a red card, before bizarrely sticking by his original decision after being called over to the pitchside monitor.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Motherwell almost won it when captain Miller’s free-kick curled just past the post after 87 minutes, with Kilmarnock failing to press home their man advantage as the spoils were shared.