Cole at the double for Steelmen as

MOTHERWELL 3

Cole (31 pen, 59), Long (69) LIVINGSTON 1

Motherwell remain in ninth place, behind Dundee United on goal difference, after this hard-earned victory over last weekend’s Betfred Cup finalists.

The Lions made four changes from the side which lost

1-0 to Rangers in midweek, but whichever way Davie Martindale shakes it up at the moment, the results stubbornly refuse to come.

It’s now six games without a win for them, with five of them ending in defeat. Their top-six finish seems secure but their campaign is in danger of petering out.

As for Motherwell, they may not be mathematically safe from relegation yet but, with just half-a-dozen fixtures remaining, it would take a collapse of Devon Loch proportions for them to end up in the danger zone.

“Once we scored a third we were reasonably safe but that was only because of the way we approached the game,” said home manager Graham Alexander.

“I’m delighted for the players. “I don’t think there is a secret to Devante Cole’s scoring streak other than he’s a really good player.

“We have a way of treating people and I think he’s responded well. I don’t know how he’s been treated in the past, I can’t really put my finger on that.

“We put him in good areas and we try to keep round pegs in round holes and Cole’s a good striker.

“The challenge we’ve had is consistency – we’re capable of picking up really good results but it’s not been over a prolonged period.

“This is the first time for over a year we’ve gone three games undefeated and that needs addressing.”

There was a minute’s applause before the kick-off to mark the death this week of

former Motherwell, Liverpool and Scotland forward, and Sunday Post columnist,

Ian St John

In only the second minute, Jordan Roberts was one-onone with Robby Mccrorie who saved with his legs. Then, seconds later, the keeper dived to his left to beat away a rasping drive from Stephen O’donnell.

Watt had claims for a penalty 60 seconds later when he went down following a clumsy challenge from Aaron TaylorSinclair, but referee Colin Steven was unimpressed. Watt struggled on for another 20 minutes before being replaced.

Livingston started with two up front. Scott Robinson, who stormed straight up the tunnel after being substituted in the home defeat by Rangers in midweek, was not even on the bench so Davie Martindale gave Matej Poplatnik a first start of 2021 alongside Julien Serrano, who has mostly been used as a left-back this season.

Unfortunately for Poplatnik, the Slovenian’s first notable contribution was to needlessly barge Robbie Crawford off the ball inside the 18-yard box.

Mr Steven had no option but to point to the spot and, as Mccrorie guessed left, Cole drove the ball straight down the middle for his seventh goal of the campaign.

Poplatnik, in fairness, did come close to equalising before the break when Jon Guthrie helped on a throw-in and the striker’s diving header was sneaking inside the near post until Liam Kelly clawed it away at the last second.

Then, on the stroke of halftime, Josh Mullin whipped in a free-kick which beat the goalkeeper but struck the top of his crossbar.

Martindale introduced Alan Forrest and Scott Pittman after the break but it was the home side who struck again through Cole on the hour, the target man firing home on the turn after Livi had failed to clear their lines at a free-kick

However, the Steelmen had defended poorly when put under pressure and more ballwatching allowed Livi to pull one back immediately, with Jack Fitzwater stopping to head home after Guthrie had helped on Mullin’s free-kick.