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“We challenged the boys to put in a different sort of performance. They did that.”

Stephen Robinson reacts to the win over Livingston.

Motherwell picked up a hard-fought three points on the road as Livingston were put to the sword.

First half goals from Callum Lang and Tony Watt secured a brilliant win for the visitors in difficult conditions in West Lothian.

Stephen Robinson made two changes from the side which started the 4-0 win over Ross County last weekend.

Aaron Chapman came in from the start in place of the injured Trevor Carson, with Lang replacing Christopher Long in attack.

In total, eight academy players made up the matchday 20 for the Steelmen, including a first appearance on the bench for 18-year-old defender Matthew McDonald.

Livingston is a formidable place to go but in treacherous windy conditions, the visitors immediately set about getting control of the match.

After settling in and absorbing the early pressure, the breakthrough would come in the 22nd minute.

Lang was slipped in behind down the left with 35 yards to make up on goal.

Arriving in the box, he was forced to check back and with reinforcements arriving on both sides, he cooly placed the ball past the goalkeeper and into the net.

Motherwell looked settled and assured and would go in at the interval two goals to the good.

Winning a free-kick dead on the edge of the area, just to the right of the arc, Mark O’Hara sized up the opportunity.

The stand-in defender sent a rocket through the wall which Stryjek did well to parry. But Watt was alive to get to the rebound and stab home from close range.

The second half was low on chances, as both sides absorbed pressure from either.

Tiffoney came closest with a head wide from the penalty spot from the hosts, while the Steelmen didn’t trouble the home ‘keeper save for Watt’s late stinging effort from distance, which was turned away.

Motherwell: Chapman, O’Donnell, O’Hara, Gallagher, McGinley, Maguire, Campbell, Polworth, Lang (Long), Cole (White), Watt.

Subs not used: Archer, Devine, Hussain, Johnston, McDonald, Cornelius, Hastie.

Stephen Robinson discusses the loss of Trevor Carson, the influx of young talent in the team and the weekend visit to West Lothian.

Motherwell travel to West Lothian to take on Livingston next in the Scottish Premiership.

Here are the storylines going into Saturday’s match.

A difficult place to visit

Since Livingston’s return to the top flight in 2018, Almondvale has not been a happy hunting ground for the Steelmen.

The first visit in August 2018 brought a 1-0 win in the League Cup, thanks to Danny Johnson’s goal.

But since then, Livi have won twice, with a 0-0 draw sandwiched in between.

Their home form points to why. In 2020 to date, they are unbeaten in nine of their 12 home matches.

Change between the posts

Injury to Trevor Carson means manager Stephen Robinson has a decision to make for the trip along the M8.

Aaron Chapman proved himself to be an able deputy when he stepped in against Ross County on Saturday, helping to keep the team’s clean sheet.

Competition has arrived in the form of Jordan Archer, the Scotland international ‘keeper who signed on Wednesday after spending last season with promotion-winning Fulham.

A chance to climb

Both sides are currently locked on 11 points in the Premiership table, with Motherwell ahead on goal difference and having played two games fewer.

Saturday’s encounter provides an opportunity for both sides to potentially break into the top six.

With fifth-placed Kilmarnock on 14 points and sixth-placed Dundee United on 13, a win for either side could propel them into the top half.

A live stream is available of Livingston v Motherwell on Saturday.

The Scottish Premiership match can be watched in two ways, depending on where you are in the world.

Fans based in the UK and Republic of Ireland can purchase a pay-per-view match pass from Livingston FC for £20 at ppv.livingstonfc.co.uk.

If you’re outside of the UK/Ireland, you can watch by taking out a monthly subscription for £15 which covers all of our Premiership matches at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

The game will also be shown in full again on BBC Alba at 6pm on Saturday.

Jordan Archer has joined on a short-term deal until the January window.

The 27-year-old Scotland international goalkeeper has been drafted in following a knee injury to Trevor Carson which will keep the Northern Irishman out of action for several months.

“We’ve moved quickly after learning that Trevor would be out for a prolonged period,” said manager Stephen Robinson of the move, which is subject to international clearance.

“To be able to bring in a ‘keeper of Jordan’s quality is fortunate and he will challenge Aaron Chapman for the jersey.

“Jordan has been capped by Scotland and played games in the Championship and League One in England. He arrives with a strong pedigree.

“We had a decision whether to bring someone else in or bring back PJ Morrison from his loan at Falkirk.

“Given that PJ is likely to play for them this weekend and stake a claim for a regular spot, we felt it was best for his development to remain there.”

Archer came through the ranks at Tottenham Hotspur, spending four years at White Hart Lane.

Although he never tasted first-team football, he enjoyed five separate spells out on loan, gaining experience from the Southern Football League to the Championship.

It was whilst with his last loan club, Millwall, where he impressed enough to earn a permanent move following the expiry of his contract at Spurs.

He was the new number one at the New Den, earning the Player of the Year vote in his debut season.

The Lions were promoted back to the Championship in his second season, and it was around that time the Londoner received his first call into the Scotland squad under boss Gordon Strachan, owing to his Clydebank-born grandparents.

He made his full international debut against Peru in May 2018, on the same day future team-mate Stephen O’Donnell also made his first outing in dark blue, together with then ‘Well player Chris Cadden. That added to his 23 caps gained at Under 19, Under 20 and Under 21 level for the national team.

Archer left Millwall last summer and had short spells with League One side Oxford and Premiership-bound Fulham before Covid-19 paused the season.

“I’m glad to be here, and I’m ready if called upon,” said the goalkeeper.

“It’s an opportunity for me to try and play games. It’s my first time playing club football in Scotland, and I am looking forward to the new challenge.”

Trevor Carson will spend time on the sidelines with a knee issue.

The goalkeeper requires an operation on the injury sustained during Saturday’s win over Ross County.

It will not become clear how long the Northern Irishman will require to spend out of action until after the procedure takes place.

However, it is expected he will be absent for a minimum of three months.

“It is a blow to lose Trevor,” said manager Stephen Robinson. “He has done so well since he’s got back into the side and also getting back into the national team.

“We will support him through his recovery and hope that he makes a quick and full return to fitness.

“We brought in Aaron Chapman as cover previously, and we are evaluating whether we now need to bring in another goalkeeper to cover Trevor’s absence.”

Carson, 32, has made 76 appearances for Motherwell since joining the club in the summer of 2017.

The Northern Ireland international goalkeeper previously recovered from deep vein thrombosis, which ruled him out for the bulk of the 2018/19 season.

Allan Campbell and Barry Maguire are in the Scotland squad for their European Under 21 Championship qualifying double header.

The national side are at home to Croatia and then away to Greece, as they push to qualify for next year’s competition.

The young Scots are a point behind group leaders Czech Republic, with a game in hand, as they look to make the finals for the first time since 1996.

We head to Livingston for our next Scottish Premiership match.

A month-long absence from action came to an end emphatically, with a 4-0 victory over Ross County.

A pay-per-view match pass is available from Livingston FC for £20 at ppv.livingstonfc.co.uk.

Tale of the tape

The last encounter between the pair came earlier this campaign, with a 2-2 draw at Fir Park.

Motherwell were pegged back twice, with David Turnbull and Allan Campbell’s goals being cancelled out by Lyndon Dykes and Alan Forrest.

Livingston are unbeaten in their last three at home against the Steelmen, picking up two wins and one draw.

Form guide

Livi have won two of their last five league matches, claiming victories at home to St Johnstone and away to Dundee United.

Defeats in that sequence have came at Celtic and Rangers, and in a 3-1 home loss to Kilmarnock.

“We haven’t played for a month. We’ve got injuries. But everything went our way today.”

Stephen Robinson reacts to the 4-0 win over Ross County.