A second half Kevin van Veen penalty was enough to give Motherwell a deserved three points against ten-man Livingston at Fir Park.
The home side dominated most of the ball and the chances at a sub-soaked Fir Park, but it took a spot kick to separate the sides.
The visitors’ attempts to get back into things were made more difficult when substitute Dylan Bahamboula was ordered off for two quick-fire bookings near the end of the match.
‘Well boss Steven Hammell made just one change from the team that beat Aberdeen at Pittodrie seven days previous, with Ricki Lamie restored the starting eleven following a two-game ban in place of Bevis Mugabi. New loan signing Stuart McKinstry was named amongst the subs.
It was a largely quiet and uneventful first 45 in the Fir Park sunshine.
The first chance came on 20 minutes when Lamie got on the end of a Sean Goss free-kick from the right, but his diving header finished the wrong side of the post.
Shortly after, Spittal, who opened his Motherwell account the previous weekend, took on a shot from distance after some neat interplay between him and Kevin van Veen, but he dragged the effort wide of target.
Livi were happy to concede territory and let their hosts see much more of the ball in the opening exchanges had their solitary effort of the half on 37 minutes. Sean Kelly shaped up a free-kick, looking to get the better of his brother Liam in the Motherwell goal, but although his effort got up and over the wall, it landed a few yards wide of the right hand post.
Motherwell started the second half of the front foot and but for a last-ditch Fitzwater block, van Veen would’ve put his side in front after the Dutchman got on the end of a long Lamie pass into the channel.
‘Well continued to probe and O’Donnell had a curling effort from distance sail over before substitute Joe Efford had a snap-shot from just inside the area blocked and out for a corner.
It was from the resulting kick from the quadrant the Steelmen would grab the winning goal. Slattery’s back post effort was met by Goss, and his header down was handled by Christian Montano. Referee Nick Walsh took his time before pointing to the spot. Van Veen stepped up and drilled it high into the net.
It was Hammell’s men who continued to ask the questions and a well-worked throw-in between O’Donnell and sub Josh Morris presented an opening for Spittal, but the midfielder’s half volley spun wide of target. Seconds later, the claret and amber men were on the attack again and Efford had a run and shot that lacked any power to trouble Shamal George.
Livingston’s day went from bad to worse when substitute was sent off for two bookings in quick succession. The first a tactical foul on Spittal, before catching Goss with a late lunge just a few minutes later.
David Martindale’s side would rarely threaten Kelly’s goal. As the game neared its conclusion, sub Esmaël Gonçalves fired high over the bar from a half volley and Ayo Obileye sent a 35-yard free kick sailing over the crossbar.
Motherwell could’ve added a second in the dying seconds with a breakaway, but neither Efford, van Veen or Goss could convert from close range, but it remained 1-0, a result that puts Hammell’s men into third.
Motherwell: Kelly, McGinn, Lamie, Johansen, O’Donnell, Spittal (Maguire – 83), Goss, Slattery, Cornelius (Morris – 54), van Veen, Shields (Efford – 54)
Subs Not Used: Oxbrough, Mugabi, Johnson, Tierney, McKinstry, Mahon
Yellow Cards: Morris
Goals: Van Veen (68 – pen)
