More disappointment for Livingston. They travelled to Fir Park and came away with nothing as third-placed Motherwell continued their surge under their new manager and cruised to a 3-0 win.
Two second half strikes, one from the penalty spot, earned the points as Livingston once again failed to find the goals they need to break free from bottom spot in the 12-strong William Hill Premiership.
In fact, they rarely troubled Ward in the home goal, only a second-half shot from Susoho causing any concern, and Motherwell continue to progress with their fourth clean sheet in a row.
Earlier, Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou freshened his side up with O’Donnell, Gordon, Koutroumbis, Just, Charles-Cook, Watt and Stamatelopoulos all coming in and Longelo, Welsh, Sparrow, Priestman, Slattery, Hendry and Said on the bench.
Livingston boss David Martindale named an unchanged line-up from the narrow defeat by Aberdeen with Hamilton, McGowan, Muirhead, Carey, Winter, Bokila, Shinnie, Sylla and Brenet on the bench.
It was the home side who showed first with a darting raid down the left which was mopped up by Finlayson and a drive from just outside the box by Maswanhise which was comfortably grabbed by Prior.
Their press made it tough for The Lions to break forward and Motherwell burst forward again, O’Donnell sending two crosses into the Livi box, but the visitors broke and May won the first corner of the match out on the Motherwell right.
He took it short and the ball found its way to Smith but he was forced out to the corner flag on the other side of the pitch and the danger was averted.
Seconds later Motherwell were on the charge down the left but, with Charles-Cook and Stamatelopoulis involved, but the danger was cleared.
Both sides grafted for an opening and O’Donnell raced on to a ball on the right and his cross was headed clear by the Livingston defence.
Susoho was felled by Just at half-way and the free-kick eventually found its way to Yengi but he was off-balance when he pulled the trigger and the ball trundled wide of the Fir Park side’s right-hand post. The Lions had started to claw their way back into the game.
However, Motherwell struck. A right foot shot from just inside the box broke the deadlock after 17 minutes when a cut-back to Elliot Watt was clinically dispatched into the net despite Prior getting his right hand to the ball.
It was Watt’s second goal for The Steelmen and they pushed forward looking for a second, with lively Maswanhise pulling the strings.
Livingston were not completely out of the picture and Smith picked up a ball near the Motherwell box and fired for goal. The ball flew past the post and then Pittman had a glimpse of goal but a timely tackle prevented a clean shot.
The ball was sent for a long throw and Motherwell goalkeeper Ward had to dive to his right to send the incoming ball out for a corner. May swung the ball into the danger area but it was cleared.
At the other end, Prior had to save from Just as the home side continued to dominate.
Gordon tried a snap shot at the Livingston end but the ball flew over and it was Martindale’s men who were on the back foot as half time approached.
Pitman earned a booking before the break for a tackle minutes after Charles-Cook was yellow carded for a foul of Susoho.
Stamatelopoulos then had a chance from a floated ball from a free-kick on the Livingston left by Watt. The ball found the striker but he headed over from a good position. A major disappointment for home fans.
Livingston broke and May tried to engineer a move near the Motherwell penalty area but was blocked and Smith twisted and turned on the right hand side of the area but his effort was snuffed out. Into injury time and the home side pressed again, forcing a free-kick but nothing came of it and Well entered the dressing-room with a narrow lead.
The question was could Livingston, who had failed to pose a real threat in the first half, find a way to unlock the home side in the second against a side they have struggled against previously.
It was, however, much of the same, as The Steelmen powered forward and a Watt free-kick into the box from the right found Stamatelopoulos who nodded it towards goal only to see it cleared by a Livi defender.
Pittman received a heavy knock trying to defend the free-kick and received lengthy treatment from the medical staff before resuming then Livi came close, Ward denying Susoho with a quality stop following a corner.
Both sides had been wasteful with balls into the respective boxes, leading to a scrappy spell, but Well forced a corner. Watt delivered and Yengi cleared. Seconds later Montano had his name taken and then disaster as Smith tripped Motherwell player Koutroumbis at the edge of the box. The referee pointed to the penalty spot. Stamatelopoulos grabbed the ball, placed it on the spot and caressed the ball cooly home after Prior dived the wrong way. Time 60 minutes.
Cue changes by Martindale with Brenet coming on with Bokila with May and Montano departing. Benet made a charge down the right wing but his floated ball was comfortably handled by Ward.
Muirhead and Sylla were made ready as the clock ticked down but it was Well who threatened and Hendry had a massive chance, heading wide from six yards from a position between two defenders. The forward’s reaction spoke volumes.
Both sides made more changes but it was Motherwell who pressed next, Wilson clearing after a good move down the right involving Maswanhise. At the other end Yengi flattened Gordon with a goal-bound shot which went for a corner. The ball was spilled by Ward with Wilson in close proximity, but the referee awarded a free-kick against the Livingston defender.
Then, Slattery broke down the right and fed Maswanhise. His effort was blocked and Livingston countered, pressuring the Motherwell rearguard, but it was the home side who struck, Slattery, Charles-Cook and Longelo combining for goal No 3. Time 87 minutes.
A slick move and an easy finish for substitute Longelo. VAR made a check but the goal stood and Prior had to produce a quality stop late on as Motherwell looked for a fourth.
PICTURE: Teti Yengi, second-half shot felled Motherwell player. Picture Nigel Duncan
