McGhee’s men beat Bairns in Sunday thriller

Oct 9 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

MOTHERWELL recorded back-to-back league wins for the first time this season after John Sutton’s 55th-minute strike was enough to see off a spirited Falkirk side on Sunday.

The hosts attacked from the start, with Robert Olejnik forced to save from Jamie Murphy before Steven McGarry headed wide.

Motherwell took the lead in 12 minutes when veteran Jackie McNamara misjudged a long Keith Lasley ball, allowing Murphy time to pick his spot past Olejnik.

Falkirk grabbed the equaliser in the 21st minute.

A simple ball was nodded on by Michael Higdon, with a slight deflection off Stephen Craigan, and Steve Lovell clinically slid the ball underneath Graeme Smith.

Less than a minute later, Quinn’s long ball seemed to be easily dealt with by Olejnik but the keeper was sliding out of the box with the ball in his grasp and he dropped it, giving Chris Porter a gift for his first goal of the season.

Motherwell could have tied things up before half-time but Olejnik saved a McGarry shot before Lee Bullen cleared a Porter effort off the line.

Falkirk brought themselves level again three minutes into the second half when Graham Barrett found space in the box to shoot high past Smith.

But Motherwell sealed the points when Steven McGarry’s cross was headed home by unmarked Sutton.

Motherwell: G. Smith, Quinn, Craigan, Reynolds, Hammell, Lasley, Hughes, McGarry (Fitzpatrick, 70), Murphy (Clarkson, 77), Porter, Sutton. Subs (not used): Nielsen, Malcolm, O’Brien, D. Smith, Connolly.