McDonald at the forefront of relief effort

RICHARD GOUGH must be the only football manager who doesn't check to see where his team are in the table.

Well Richard, that late deflected goal from substitute Colin McMenamin, which somewhat fortuitously continued Livingston's three-game unbeaten run, also moved your team off the foot of the SPL for the first time this year.

Being thankful for small mercies seemed to be the theme of the day in West Lothian yesterday. Livingston clutched another point to their chest, and Motherwell came through their CiS Cup final warm-up without sustaining injury. However, Andy Davis - who was running an SPL line for the first-time since that penalty controversy at Tynecastle 11 days ago - will be particularly relieved that Scott McDonald chose to vent his post-match frustrations out on his namesake, referee Dougie.

Motherwell's effervescent little Australian striker had volleyed his side into the lead inside the first 20 minutes, but still felt wronged by the match officials. His wrath was first incurred by a first-half decision not to award a penalty for handball against Greg Strong with Davis in close attention.

"I understand he [Davis] has had a lot of pressure and I didn't think he deserved anymore, " McDonald said. "I turned round and saw him, then looked the other way.

"But the referee didn't have the best game he's ever had.

For the first one, the player had his hands up. At half time the referee said to me 'you might have a point'."

The old cliche about players playing for their final place had been dutifully aired leading up to the game, and Terry Butcher had enough concentration on that fixture to leave three elder statesmen on the sidelines. Gordon Marshall, Scott Leitch and Phil O'Donnell are all certain starters at Hampden if fit, and the pretexts for all three missing the game - the worst of which seemed to be flu symptoms - were flimsy to say the least.

Their absence offered an opportunity for youngsters Marc Fitzpatrick, Paul Quinn and Barry John Corr to stake a claim, but it was left to another veteran to make the early running. Martyn Corrigan fired two early warnings from midfield for the outstanding Roddy McKenzie, but soon this pressure was translated onto the scoresheet.

Strong - one of the 19 players made redundant when Motherwell entered administration - was weak with his clearance from Jim Paterson's clever chip, allowing McDonald to get his body in the way, latch onto the loose ball, and volley his 12th of the season.

With a Robert Snodgrass shimmy and shot which tested Corr the home side's only first half opening, the tannoy bizarrely exhorted the home fans to give all their support to 'Archie and the team' in the second period.

The temperature certainly did rise after the restart as if Livingston's players had been on the end of an Archie Knoxstyle rollicking and the unedifying sight of Motherwell substitute Richie Foran grappling with David McNamee in the vicinity of the conference and banqueting centre earned the protagonists a booking apiece.

Foran's mood was hardly helped when, with McDonald getting in his way, he sclaffed wide after Corr palmed out Steven Hammell's cross.

But Livingston eventually mounted some pressure and for once found luck smiling on them. McMenamin directed the ball goalward, only for Stephen Craigan to inadvertently redirect it beyond Corr.

At least Terry Butcher had a CiS Cup final to look forward to. "I could be blase and say I'm used to cup finals but as a manager I'm not, " he said.

"For a lot of the players it is the biggest game of their lives.

I'm just happy this game is out the way."

So, one suspects, is a certain Andy Davis.

Fair result? Not really.

Motherwell dominated for large sections of the game, and had at least three genuine opportunities to kill off the game.

Entertainment value? Not bad. For a chilly afternoon, on a dry pitch, much of Motherwell's passing was both direct and pretty on the eye.

Talking point: Livingston moved themselves off the bottom of the SPL table while Motherwell prepared for the CiS Cup semi-final. But it could all have been different had Rubio been ordered off for a challenge on McDonald.

Man of the match: Scott McDonald. The usual honourable mention to Martyn Corrigan, but the striker with dual Scottish and Australian nationality ran Livingston ragged.

Richard Gough: "I think Motherwell played really well and I didn't think we played as well as we have done. We were very fortunate."

FAST FOOTBALL

Terry Butcher: "Three points here would have been fantastic and that is why we are really disappointed with it."

McKenzie McNamee Rubio Strong Stanic Dair Vincze O'Brien Easton Horvath Snodgrass

Subs: McMenamin for Dair 55, McPake for Horvath 69, Dorado for McNamee 85.

Not used: Meldrum, Wilson, Hand, Lilley.

Booked: McNamee 63.

Corr Quinn Craigan Partridge Hammell McBride Corrigan Fitzpatrick Paterson McDonald Hamilton

Subs: Foran for Paterson 45, Clarkson for McDonald 77.

Not used: Ewings, Wright, Fagan, Kinniburgh, Higgins.

Booked: Foran 63, Hammell 84.

Referee: D McDonald.

Attendance: 4,609.