By Paul Marshall
January 11 2004

Motherwell cruised into the last 16 of the Scottish Cup with a 3 - 0 win over First Division St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.



Motherwell started with the same eleven which beat Dundee United last Saturday while St Johnstone Boss Billy Stark made three changes, bringing in Mark Baxter, Paul Bernard and handed a debut to Jamie McQuilken who was freed by Aberdeen earlier in the week.



Alex Burns nearly opened his account for the season after twenty minutes, the veteran hitman got past two defenders on the edge of the Penalyt area but his effort was wide of Craig Nelson's right-hand post.



However the massive travelling support didn't have long to wait for a goal. Just 3 minutes after Burns had his chance David Clarkson pounced on a poor clearance by McLaughlin, the youngster noticed Nelson off his line and lobbed him from the edge of the area.



Motherwell doubled their lead in the 32nd minute. Lasley controlled a Burns cross on his chest but sliced his shot which Clarkson picked up and sent the ball flying past Nelson.



Billy Stark threw on striker Keigan Parker in a desperate bid to stay in the match but Motherwell remained the more dangerous.



Burns who had worked hard all day like Jason Dair deserved a goal and was unlucky not to connect on to a Clarkson cross with a diving header.



Terry Butcher decided fresh legs were needed and gave new signing Scott McDonald his chance up front. The Austrailian didn't disapoint, he took advantage of some poor defending to score his first goal in Motherwell colours.


St Johnstone:


Nelson,

Baxter, Maxwell,

Robertson,

Mcquilken,

McLaughlin (Taylor 64),

Donnelly (Hay 74),

Reilly,

Bernard,

Paatelainen (Parker 46),

MacDonald.



Motherwell:


Marshall,

Corrigan,

Craigan,

Quinn,

Hammell,

Lasley (Fagan 90),

Leitch,

Dair,

Adams (O'Donnell 80),

Burns,

Clarkson (Mcdonald 74).



Attendance: 4,090

Referee: K Toner



The Fourth Round draw was made straight after the match. Motherwell fans were not only delighted to draw Queen of the South but to finally get a home tie in the Cup,

Scottish Cup fourth-round draw

Clyde v Dunfermline Athletic

Falkirk v Aberdeen or Dundee

Hearts v Celtic

Kilmarnock v Rangers

Motherwell v Queen of the South

Partick Thistle v Hamilton Academical

Spartans v Livingston

St Mirren v Inverness Caledonian Thistle

The ties will be played on the weekend of 7 and 8 February.