Today's result: Livingston 1, Motherwell 2.

A last minute goal settled this afternoon's encounter at Almondvale, but for once it was in our favour as Kevin McBride's strike deep into injury time gave us all three points and moved us back into the top six. We didn't play anywhere near as well as we did against Aberdeen on Boxing Day, and it was a bit of a struggle at times, but perhaps we were due a bit of luck for a change.

There was one enforced change to the starting eleven, with McBride replacing the suspended Alan McCormack.

Motherwell made the better start, and early efforts from O'Donnell and Foran were well saved by the Livi goalkeeper.  However the home side soon began to take a grip of the game, particularly in midfield, and were unlucky when a Snodgrass lob was touched onto the bar by the excellent Smith.  It was against the run of play when we took the lead after 30 minutes courtesy of a Livi defensive blunder.  A crazy backpass was intercepted by Richie Foran, and he ran half the length of the pitch before placing the ball beyond McKenzie in the Livi goal.  Our joy was short lived as the home side equalised soon afterwards. A corner wasn't properly cleared and Pinxten was given space in the box to head home from close range.  Livi ended the half on top, with Dalgleish missing a sitter shortly before the break although credit has to go to Smith for the save.

The second half turned out to be a real scrappy affair, with Livi offering virtually nothing in an attacking sense and Motherwell's only efforts repeatedly being deflected wide.  We forced a series of corner kicks but produced little from them, and it looked like we'd be forced to settle for a point until Kevin McBride stepped up to drill the ball home from the edge of the box in the dying seconds to send the 'Well fans wild!

It wasn't the best of performances today, but the three points are very welcome nonetheless.  The win sets us up nicely for next week's cup match at Love Street.

Team (4-4-2): Smith, Corrigan, McLean, Craigan, Hammell, McBride, Kerr, O'Donnell, Foran, McDonald, Hamilton (Clarkson 73)
Subs not used:

Scorers: Foran (30), McBride (90).

Booked: None.

Attendance: 4,431.

Terry Butcher's post-match comments were as follows:
"It was the first time we have scored a late winner since we played at Dunfermline in August.  We know how Paul Lambert and Livingston are feeling because we've been there many times ourselves and it's not pleasant.  But it was nice to have the shoe on the other foot and score in the last minute.  Halfway through the second half, I said to (Motherwell assistant manager) Maurice Malpas I would settle for a point.  We had a lot of good possession in the second half, but we were huffing and puffing and didn't look as if we would create anything."

"I could imagine all the Motherwell fans at home listening to the radio and hearing there was a goal at Almondvale.  They would have had their heads in their hands thinking 'Oh my God, there's another one in the back of our net'.  I think they would have been very surprised that it was us who won.  One-all would have been a fair result and I said that to Paul after the game."

Match winner Kevin McBride is setting his sights even higher than the top six.  Not sure if he's been at the New Year sherry already, but he said after the match that we should be aiming for a UEFA Cup spot:
"Hopefully, we can do better than top six and maybe even sneak a European spot.  It will be hard but we'll give it a go. It would be brilliant to play in Europe next season.  To play in the CIS Cup final in March was great, but to get into Europe would be even better."

At long last, Ricky's report of the Aberdeen game is finally available.  Sorry for the delay.

Happy New Year to all 'Well fans!