ALL WELL AGAIN FOR STEELMEN

McGhee - pleased.

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee claims his team's football is beginning to flow again after they recovered from their European exit to beat Falkirk 3-2.

John Sutton headed the winner to lift the mood around Fir Park following the 3-0 aggregate defeat by Nancy in the UEFA Cup.

Although sloppy defending at both ends contributed to the excitement, Motherwell looked more like the side that sealed third place in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League last season as they produced a number of good passing moves.

Only three days had passed since Motherwell bowed out of Europe with a 2-0 home defeat but McGhee believes there is cause for optimism.

McGhee said: "I feel that, regardless of how anyone else saw the game on Thursday, I saw things that encouraged me.

"I thought a wee bit of our football was there again. I think the boys felt that as well and they took that into the game and they took it another step back towards what we know we can do.

"It's still not back completely but there was some good play.

"We didn't defend as well as we would have liked but we were trying to play again and that was very pleasing, and obviously earning the three points off the back of that was terrific.

"I think the Dundee United game we played very, very well and only drew but that was similar.

"I think our football was a bit better than Falkirk's so I think we edged it."

Falkirk manager John Hughes cursed his team's defending for the goals but was content with their attitude and work-rate.

Steve Lovell levelled Jamie Murphy's early opener midway through the first half, but Chris Porter rolled the ball home a minute later after Falkirk goalkeeper Robert Olejnik had let go to avoid carrying it out of the box.

Graham Barrett turned and finished early in the second period but Sutton was soon allowed a free header to score from Steven McGarry's cross.

"I don't want to take anything away from Motherwell, they put plenty in to win the match," Hughes said.

"But I have never seen a quality goal against us this season. Every one has been avoidable.

"We need to stop crosses and you want a centre-half to go and head it - you can't give anyone a cheap header."

However, Hughes refused to round on his goalkeeper.

"I feel for Bobby Olejnik, there is no criticism. It was a big test for him going out in the second half and he did okay," said Hughes.

"He lost a bad goal last week but if he stays in the team and he plays well, that's the making of him. Bobby has to have the mental toughness to say, 'I'm your man'.

"Bobby Olejnik is a great guy to work with. He should have held on to the ball, he would only have been booked.

"But it's not down to Bobby Olejnik why we lost the game, it's down to defending from the front and giving away goals that were avoidable."