6.30pm

Today's result: Motherwell 0, Inverness CT 2.

A string of missed chances cost Motherwell dear as Inverness won 2-0 in a frustrating match at Fir Park this afternoon. We could and should have had the game tied up at half time, but the visitors grabbed two goals on the break after the interval for a scarcely deserved three points.

There was one change from the side which drew with Hearts last week, with a fit again Stevie Hammell replacing Paul Quinn at left-back.

Motherwell dominated the first half and McCormack had a decent opportunity as early as the first minute. Then just four minutes later, Hamilton passed up an even better chance when he was put clean through but somehow pulled his shot wide of target. Hamilton later went off injured to be replaced by Clarkson, but the substitute did little better when presented with a gilt-edged opportunity of his own. Clarkson missed a further chance before McDonald had an effort cleared off the line shortly before the interval.

The second half started off in a similar fashion, but then completely against the run of play Inverness took the lead after 64 minutes when Dargo ran through and slotted the ball behind Smith. The goal changed the pattern of the game although we still continued to create chances, most notably a couple of Foran headers and one from Clarkson which came back off the post. The smash and grab job was completed in the closing minutes with Dargo steering the ball home from close range to give Inverness a very unlikely three points.

I know this is stating the obvious, but you don't win games if you don't score goals. We had enough chances today, especially in the first half, to win two or three games, but sadly McDonald, Hamilton and Clarkson (when he came on) were all desperately disappointing. It seems that every time we come up against a strong, organised side like ICT or Kilmarnock we struggle, and that's exactly what happened in the second half today with TB seemingly unable to change our tactics once we'd gone behind. The defeat means we drop to eighth in the league and are just three points off 10th place.

Team (4-4-2): Graeme Smith, Corrigan, Craigan (Kinniburgh 70), McLean, Hammell, McCormack, Kerr, Fagan (McBride 74), Foran, Scott McDonald, Hamilton (Clarkson 33).
Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Paul Quinn, Coakley, Darren Lee Smith.

Booked: none.

Attendance: 4,103.

It seems Terry Butcher became embroiled in an angry exchange with some supporters behind the dug-out during the second half of today's game. He said afterwards:
"The fans were frustrated. I was just urging them to get behind the team. We need them to encourage the players especially on a day like today when we played some good football and created some very good chances. For the last three years we have done really well and lifted the club up towards the top of the table so everybody assumes we are a top-six side, assumes we should be in cup semi-finals and assumes we make profits. But it takes a lot of hard work so it does frustrate me that people criticise the team. Not so much me because I can take it but they can't criticise the players because they gave everything. They are young players and they need encouragement. The real Motherwell fans should get behind the team. You can't fault the players' effort. They played really well but just couldn't put the ball in the net. It's frustrating but we kept it going. This is a very young side but we created more chances than we did against Falkirk and we beat them 5-0."

Apparently Shaun Fagan stuck two fingers up to the crowd when he was substituted. Didn't see it myself, but TB added:
"I shook his hand as he came off. He had a very good game but I've not seen a gesture. If he gestured then we will look at that ourselves. But everybody is frustrated because we played so well."

Brian Kerr has been named in the Scotland Future Squad for the game against Poland at Rugby Park next Tuesday.