Liam Polworth returned to haunt former club Motherwell tonight after his wonder strike rescued an unlikely point for Kilmarnock.
The 28-year-old came on as a a half-time substitute at Fir Park with his team trailing to a Kevin van Veen strike.
It would get even worse for the Rugby Park men who had captain Alan Power sent-off then fell 2-0 behind to a goal from Callum Slattery.
But from nowhere, Killie conjured up a Christmas miracle as an own goal from Paul McGinn then Polworth's stunner deflated 'Well's cushion.
The 10 men saw out the closing stages to hold on for a valuable point and climb out of the Premiership relegation zone following Ross County's defeat at home to Rangers.
Kilmarnock made three changes to the side which started last weekend's 3-1 defeat at Hearts with Ben Chrisene, Jordan Jones and Christian Doidge replacing Kerr McInroy, Polworth and Rory McKenzie.
The Motherwell club shop would have done a roaring trade pre-match selling bobble hats and scarves on a cold evening in North Lanarkshire with the rain falling steady and ensuring a slick surface.
It was a big game under the Friday Night Lights for both teams given their respective positions in the table and that was evident from a tentative opening 15 minutes in which practically nothing happened.
But Motherwell turned up the heat and found Killie's rearguard action wilted in the spotlight.
Stuart McKinstry cut in from the left and unleashed a low shot which keeper Sam Walker turned wide a minute before the Steelmen took the lead.
Great work on the right-hand side saw Blair Spittal hit the byline and he cut the ball back for van Veen who fired home his 11th goal of the season.
For Killie's players, it was shaping up to be more of the same on the road – the uncomfortable feeling of another bout of travel sickness being endured.
Neon lights flashed every time the ball went into the box with Killie's defence unable to take control. From a corner in the 35th minute, Walker punched as far as McKinstry with his rasping drive flying into the suffering 1,000-strong travelling support behind the goal.
In the 39th minute, 'Well swarmed. Slattery fed Spittal who took aim and drove wide. A section of Killie fans booed, their displeasure at what was being served up echoing round a Fir Park now dried out after last week's flooding.
A minute before the break, a lovely reverse pass from McKinstry teed up Spittal whose effort was smothered by Ash Taylor's desperate sliding block. Further damage had been avoided.
There was a double change with the half-time cups of tea in the Killie dressing room at Tynecastle last week and McInnes carried out similar surgery in ML1 after a dreadful opening period.
Liam Donnelly and Bobby Wales were the fall guys with Polworth and McKenzie sent on to provide fresh energy and force a change in momentum.
There was almost an immediate dividend. Catching 'Well cold, Killie poured forward with McKenzie creating a great opportunity for Jones but his shot was straight at custodian Liam Kelly.
But what hope this generated appeared to be dashed on the hour mark as 'Well surged into a 2-0 advantage.
The dangerous van Veen's fierce strike was parried by Walker with Slattery quickest to react to the loose ball and fire a shot in off the post.
McInnes responded by bringing on Scott Robinson for Jones but things would go from bad to worse in the 68th minute when Power saw red for cleaning out McGinn.
Surely there was no way back now? Football, however, is a funny old game and five minutes later Killie would reduce the deficit in bizarre fashion.
'Well's defending under pressure left a lot to be desired and, from Danny Armstrong's cross, McGinn somehow managed to head the ball into his own net.
Incredibly, it was 2-2 in the 75th minute as Polworth let rip with a 25-yard howitzer which flew past Kelly into the top corner.
Killie's fans were euphoric and there was the amusing sight of watching a handful sprint down from the car park back into the away end having moments earlier decided they'd seen enough.
There were six minutes of injury time but Kilmarnock manned the barricades with 'Well becoming ever more frustrated after victory had slipped away.
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