By Paul Marshall
August 16 2003

Motherwell arrived at the City Stadium minus their top player James McFadden and the performance highlighted this. The 20 year old missed the match because of a groin injury and will also have to pull out of the Scotland squad to Face Norway. Livingston won courtesy of a Derek Lilley goal. Over a thousand Motherwell fans had made the short trip to the Livingston taking up the home side's generosity by reducing the prices, however they were to be left disapointed for the second week running with another defeat.


Terry Butcher made a couple of changes to the side which lost 3 - 0 to Dundee last Saturday bringing in 18 year old forward Wright and Keith Lasley returned from injury. Steven Craig and Kevin McDonald dropped out of the first eleven.


Motherwell fans thought Stevie Hammell had put the Steelmen in front after 20 minutes when it appeared Alan Main had taken the ball over the line after saving from the defender but Referee Craig Thompson waved play on. We rarely threatened the Livingston goal but went close again just before half time when a Stevie Hammell free kick from the edge of the box cannoned off the crossbar and went out for a goal kick.




Motherwell corner


Livingston nearly opened the scoring early in the second half when Motherwell keeper Gordon Marshall produced the same mistake which led to Dundee's opener last week, the 39 year old failed to hold on to a weak shot from David McNamee and Livi midfielder Barry Wilson pounced on the loose ball but he failed to fire home from 6 yards out.


Livingston manager Marcimo Maximo threw on former Dundee United striker Derek Lilley with 15 minutes remaining and proved to be a masterstroke. Lilley scored with 78 minutes on the clock to give Livi all 3 points, Fernando Pasquinelli who had terrorised David Partridge all day fired in a great cross for Lilley to score to sicken the travelling support.



Fans View - angie

We were definitely worth at least a point today especially in the second half " KEEP THE FAITH " it will turn round soon !



Livingston - Main, McNamee, Rubio, Andrews, McAllister, McGovern (Lilley 70), Makel, O'Brien, Whitmore (Kerr 62), Wilson, Pasquinelli.


Motherwell - Marshall, Corrigan, Craigan, Partridge, Hammell, Wright (Craig 88), Leitch, Pearson, Lasley, Burns, Clarkson.


Attendance - 5,316


Referee - C Thomson


League Table


Rangers 6

Celtic 4

Livingston 4

Dundee 3

Hearts 3

Hibernian 3

Kilmarnock 3

Dunfermline 1

Partick Thistle 1

Aberdeen 0

Motherwell 0

Dundee Utd 0