Motherwell 1-0 Falkirk

Motherwell bounced-back from last weekend’s defeat to Hibs with a narrow victory over Falkirk.

Lukas Jutkiewicz scored the only goal of the game on 18 minutes as the Steelmen returned to winning ways at Fir Park.

Jim Gannon made three changes to his side for the visit of the Bairns, handing Chris Humphrey his first league start of the season.

Stephen Craigan and Jamie Murphy also returned to the team, with John Sutton, Jim O’Brien and Steven Saunders dropping to the bench.

Both teams struggled to adapt to the playing conditions early on, with a strong wind making any fluent football near impossible, although it was the home wide who were first to threaten.

A corner from the right by Ross Forbes was only half cleared to the lurking Stevie Hammell, who sliced a half-volley wide from the edge of the area.

Falkirk replied with a similar effort from Danijel Marceta, which flew harmlessly wide of John Ruddy’s goal.

Marceta then turned provider for Carl Finnigan, who headed narrowly wide from 12 yards.

But it was Motherwell who took the lead against the run of play on 18 minutes when Jutkiewicz netted his first goal for the club with a near-post header from a Humphrey corner.

Two minutes later, Giles Coke had a chance to double ‘Well’s advantage when he met a Yassin Moutaouakil cross on the edge of his area. However, his shot lacked power and was comfortably gathered by Robert Olejnik.

The Steelmen were remained on top and another effort came and went, Humphrey finishing a multiple pass move with a shot from the edge of the box but his curler sailed high over the crossbar.

At the other end, Scott Arfield, Kjartan Finnbogason and Finnigan all had efforts from distance but none troubled Ruddy in the Motherwell goal.

Falkirk made a change at half-time, introducing Vitor Lima in place of the Sean Lynch and the substitute almost made an immediate impact when he thundered a 30-yard effort narrowly wide of the upright.

The Bairns went even closer to an equaliser on 68 minutes when Arfield struck the crossbar from the edge of the area. The ball dropped kindly for substitute Mark Stewart but he somehow headed over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

Finnegan then flashed a dangerous ball across the face of goal which just evaded the sliding Stewart at the far post.

Motherwell tried to regain control of the match but they struggled with possession in the final third and rarely threatened the visiting goal.

Jim O’Brien looked lively when he came on but the substitute had to be stretchered off after a late tackle by Jackie McNamara.

Falkirk thought they had snatched a point late on when Marceta's cross was held by Ruddy on the line but the Steelmen held on for a welcome three points.

Motherwell: Ruddy, Moutaouakil, Hammell, Reynolds, Craigan, Coke, Humphrey (Saunders 66), Jutkiewicz, Murphy, Hateley (O'Brien 70 (McHugh 90)), Forbes. Subs not used: Kosiorowski, Jennings, Sutton, Lasley.

Goals: Jutkiewicz (18)

Falkirk: Oljenik, Barr, Scobbie, McNamara, McLean, O’Brien, Finnigan (MacDonald 81), Arfield, Lynch (Lima 46), Marceta, Finnbogason (Stewart 62). Subs not used: Wagenaar, Twaddle, Mitchell, Robertson.

Booked: Lynch (14), McNamara (83)

Referee: Euan Norris

Attendance: 4,337