Saturday's result: Motherwell 3, Inverness CT 2.

After our recent desperate run of results, this was much more like it.  The scoreline is actually a bit misleading as we were streets ahead of ICT in every department, in fact I'd go as far to say that there were glimpses of last season's form in some of our play.  Just goes to show the difference it makes when we can field close to our first choice starting eleven.

Chris Porter had us ahead within 8 minutes when he headed home Hammell's cross, and the 'Well striker doubled our advantage when he nodded a Quinn cross past the the visiting goalkeeper.  Inverness had hardly been seen as an attacking force during the first half, but we still managed to gift them a goal on the stroke of half time to bring them right back into the match, with Graeme Smith looking none too clever when he failed to claim a cross ball, allowing Toakley to head home.

Motherwell continued to have the upper hand after the break, and Porter completed his hat trick when he nodded home unchallenged on 78 mins, just as the Motherwell fans gave former captain Phil O'Donnell a standing ovation to mark the moment he so tragically collapsed and died one year ago.  Stephen Craigan ensured there would be a nervous few minutes at the end when he conceded a penalty which was converted by Rooney at the second attempt, but we held on for a deserved three points.

There's no doubt that the unexpected return of both Craigan and especially Clarkson made a huge impact, but Stephen Hughes also had his best game in ages, perhaps aided by having Kimpl play in an unusual defensive midfield role.  Even the much maligned Jim O'Brien did ok in his first start for the club.  Hopefully we can produce a similar performance at Love Street on Saturday in another big game for the club.

Team (4-4-2): Graeme Smith, Quinn, Craigan, Klimpl, Reynolds, Hammell, O'Brien (Darren Smith 73), Hughes, Fitzpatrick, Clarkson (McHugh 88), Porter. 
Subs Not Used: Nielsen, Malcolm, Sutton, Lasley, Saunders.

Motherwell scorer: Porter (8, 39, 78).

Booked: none.

Attendance: 4,521.

Mark McGhee's post-match comments were as follows:
"We had more or less our full squad to choose from today. If we'd have lost at home against the bottom team we'd have been worried.  I think today's performance and result supports my arguments over the past few weeks.  I picked the team today rather than it picking itself. With competition for places everyone has upped their game." 

Hat-trick hero Chris Porter has denied tabloid reports that he's signed a pre-contract with Nottingham Forest, and says he would be happy for Motherwell to reject any offers for him in January.

Mark McGhee is hoping to extend the loan deal of Slovakian international Maros Klimpl from Danish side FC Midtjylland until the end of the season at least.

Motherwell are being linked with Linfield goalkeeper Alan Mannus after Stephen Craigan reportedly tipped off the Fir Park coaching staff about his international team-mate.  The 26-year-old is available on a free transfer when his Linfield contract expires at the end of the season, although several Coca-Cola Championship sides are also believed to be interested.

The news comes on the day Faroese 'keeper Gunnar Neilsen returned to Blackburn Rovers following his short loan spell with the club. 

Seemingly our small ticket allocation for the Inverurie cup game sold out on Saturday morning, while it appears as though our allocation for the St Mirren game on Saturday (the last ever game at Love Street) is selling out quickly. 

Finally, in memory of the legend that is Phil O'Donnell, check out this short video tribute from Yabba's Turd.