6.15pm

Today's result: Motherwell 1, Dunfermline 0.

An injury time goal from Jim Hamilton gave Motherwell a narrow win over ten man Dunfermline in a poor match at Fir Park this afternoon. The Pars packed their defence after the sending off, and with Motherwell looking devoid of any creativity they looked set to hang on for a point. However, Hamilton's last-gasp strike moved us up into 3rd place in the league.

There were a few enforced changes in personnel this afternoon, with Gordon Marshall, Scott Leitch and Scott McDonald missing out through injury. In came Graeme Smith, Brian Kerr and David Clarkson, with new loan signing Andy Smith (see below) starting the match on the bench.

There was little between the teams early on, with Motherwell's best effort a long range shot from Kerr. Then in the 23rd minute the whole complexion of the game changed when the Pars' Scott Wilson was dismissed for apparently headbutting Alan McCormack following a challenge by the Motherwell midfielder. It was all Motherwell after this, with Clarkson heading against the bar as Dunfermline desperately tried to hang on until half time.

The onus was on Motherwell to take the game to the visitors after the break, but despite all our pressure we very rarely looked like scoring. Our tactics seemed to consist of lumping high balls to the back post, which were easily dealt with by the Dunfermline rearguard. TB threw on new signing Smith, Richie Foran and even Shaun Fagan(?) in an attempt to break the deadlock, but there was no cutting edge about our play and the visitors seemed very content to sit back and hold on for a point. Then finally, deep into injury time, Jim Hamilton fired home following a scramble in the box to give Motherwell a narrow, but deserved win.

It's difficult to comprehend that this was the same team who couldn't stop scoring against Celtic last weekend. Sadly we offered next to nothing upfront without Scott McDonald, with his replacement Clarkson doing little to stake his claim for a first team place. Andy Smith didn't exactly impress when he came on, but sadly he was still a major improvement on our other two substitutes. As far as our other debutante, Graeme Smith, is concerned, it was impossible to make any judgments on him as he had absolutely nothing to do all day.

Oh well, it might have been a poor game and we certainly didn't play well at all, but at least we got the three points.

Team (4-4-2): Graeme Smith, Paul Quinn, Craigan, Kinniburgh, Hammell, Kerr (Fagan 85), McCormack, O'Donnell, Paterson (Foran 62), Clarkson (Andy Smith 60), Hamilton.
Subs Not Used: Keogh, Fitzpatrick, Calder, Darren Lee Smith.

Booked: McCormack.

Attendance: 4,649.

Preston striker Andy Smith (24) has signed on loan until January. The Northern Ireland internationalist made his debut in the second half today.