It wasn�t pretty, but a gutsy Motherwell performance was enough to see off relegation threatened Livingston at Fir Park. Despite the free flowing, goal-scoring start to the campaign, it took a twenty-first minute Richie Foran header to separate the sides in a very un-tidy game of football.

�Well lined up identical to the side that managed a two-each draw at Pittodrie a fortnight ago and it was the home side who should have taken the lead early on. A long ball over the top sent McDonald away. Holding off defender Pinxten, the Aussie striker done well to create himself the chance but his shot was deflected of the base of the post from a tight angle. However, it was only delaying the inevitable as the Steelmen took the lead shortly after. Good work by Kinniburgh seen the ball arrive at the feet of captain Phil O�Donnell out on the right. The veteran midfielder took one touch to control before whipping in an excellent cross for Foran to bullet home from five yards. �Well could and should have gone further ahead but a close range header by Foran and a poor finish by Clarkson after being sent through one-on-one with McKenzie meant the scores stayed at one nil at half-time.

The second half was controlled by the away side and a double substitution and slight tactical switch at half time seemed to breath new life into the SPL�s basement boys. Former �Well defender Greg Strong was the first to threaten for the Almondvale side, but his header was dealt with comfortably by Graham Smith. Graham Barratt also had a good chance but his effort fell wide of Smith�s goal. The Dossers response was a stinging effort from twenty-five yards from Brian Kerr, which needed the touch over from McKenzie. Substitute Jim Hamilton also seen a good effort sail wide after unleashing a drive from a David Clarkson back-heel. Livingston can count themselves slightly unlucky not to take a point and only the cross bar denied them an equaliser from a Tierney set-piece and Greg Strong should have brought the game level, but his header dropped inches wide of the post in the dying seconds.

�Well gaffer Terry Butcher told the official Motherwell site: �It was difficult as Livingston played really well, they change their system and created chances and probably deserved to take something from the game in the second half. Having said that we had chances to make it three nil before half time, we could�ve had the game over and done with.

�Getting that second goal was the key and we couldn�t get it and then we were hanging on, the players themselves are disappointed as they can play a lot better than that. It may seem to everyone else that they were content to hold on to 1-0 and get the three points but we couldn�t get the ball and when we did we couldn�t keep it.

�Full credit to Livingston who are fighting and scrapping for their manager but I would imagine he will be pleased with his players. But the difference is and we�ve said this to the players that we had a goal to protect and this gives you something to hold on to and we just about did.�

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