Motherwell rounded off their pre-season preparations with a win at Partick Thistle.
Joe Efford’s strike in the 58th minute was enough in a comfortable win in the west end of Glasgow.
Graham Alexander started two of his summer recruits; Blair Spittal taking his place in midfield and Josh Morris making up a front three with Efford and Connor Shields, with Kevin van Veen nursing a knock from training.
There wasn’t much goal mouth action in the first half. Morris saw his shot fire into the side netting after 25 minutes and almost turned supplier ten minutes later when his free-kick from the right was spilled but Jake Carroll’s resulting header crashed back off the post.
Shields’ half-chance almost ended up breaking the deadlock. The striker didn’t make great contact with a bouncing cross into the box, but it was enough to deceived the Thistle defence who had to rely on Milne to sweep clear as the ball trickled towards goal.
The Steelmen came out for the second half with Ross Tierney replacing Morris and instantly created two good chances.
Shields saw his shot flash just wide of the post before Carroll headed Blair Spittal’s free-kick just over the bar.
‘Well finally took the lead in the 58th minute as Efford was slid in and kept his cool to fire past Mitchell.
From then Motherwell were largely comfortable and created a few chances which neither Shields nor Tierney could take.
A ball down the right-hand channel found Shields and after he drove to the byline, the forward man fired a cross into the danger area where Tierney looked to finish but his effort skewed over the bar.
Thistle would create little in the closing periods of the game and Motherwell remained in control of proceedings.
The game would finish 1-0 to Graham Alexander’s men as they now look towards their first competitive match of the campaign in the UEFA Europa Conference League as Irish side Sligo Rovers visit Lanarkshire.
