7.40pm

Yesterday's result: Falkirk 1, Motherwell 0.

We suffered our first away defeat of the campaign yesterday in what was easily our worst display of the season, and sadly reminiscent of the Malpas era.  Simply put, too many of our players had off days, particularly in midfield where the likes of Lasley, Fitzpatrick and Hughes never really got going.  That said, it was a game we need not have lost, indeed we were undoubtedly the better team in the first half, with Porter passing up two excellent opportunities including one which rebounded off the post.  The home side came into things more in the second half without threatening too often, and the game seemed destined to end as a drab 0-0 draw until Latapy's free kick into the box evaded the 'Well defence and Graeme Smith to end up in the back of the net.  Not for the first time, a decent Motherwell travelling support was let down, although at least the other results went our way.

Ricky's full report of the game is available here.

Mark McGhee's post-match comments were as follows:
"It was definitely disappointing not to score, not scoring has cost us the game.  I was also disappointed generally with the game, it wasn't the greatest game and not one I expected.  But we definitely missed chances and for 20 minutes in the second half I thought we were going to go on and win the game.  It was a poor goal to lose and not a good day."

Of Latapy's winner, he added: 
"One of our defenders might be a little bit culpable because he could have probably headed it.  We've seen it before, it's not the first goal that's been scored from an angled free-kick that ends up going in the far corner of the side netting. It happens."

The reserves drew 1-1 with their Hearts counterparts last midweek, with Archdeacon on target from the penalty spot for Motherwell's second string.  Team:
Meldrum, Corrigan, McLean, Kinniburgh, Nixon, Connolly (Maguire 71), Mensing, D. Murphy (Forbes 85), J. Murphy, Archdeacon, D. Smith 
Subs not used: Coutts, Murray, Gupwell 

One of today's papers reports that Mark McGhee is prepared to allow Simon Mensing to go out on loan after failing to impress.

Phil O'Donnell will be out for three weeks with the groin strain he sustained against Aberdeen.