Article body analysed
Football
Livingston
vs Motherwell. Scottish Premiership.
3: 00pm, Saturday 31st January 2026.
Tony Macaroni Arena.
Report as Motherwell move within two points of Celtic thanks to Tawanda Maswanhise's first-half double; Motherwell have won four of their last five matches Saturday 31 January 2026 18: 56, UK Tawanda Maswanhise's first-half double helped move Motherwell to within two points of Celtic as they won 2-0 to deepen Livingston's relegation troubles. The in-demand Zimbabwe international was clinical with two efforts from close range in a one-sided first half. Motherwell comfortably saw the game out to move within touching distance of Celtic, who host Falkirk on Sunday. Livingston's predicament at the bottom of the Premiership worsened after this defeat left David Martindale's side six points adrift of Kilmarnock. The hosts actually had a great chance to go ahead inside two minutes but Connor Mc Lennan saw his effort brilliantly saved by Motherwell goalkeeper Calum Ward. Stevie May did brilliantly to break free before Scott Pittman flicked a pass to the winger and despite only having the 'keeper to beat, Ward managed to force Mc Lennan's shot behind for a corner. And Livingston were punished for failing to make the most of that opportunity after the visitors stormed ahead in the fifth minute.
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After patient build-up play, Elijah Just swung in a cross from the right and Maswanhise looped a clever header over Jerome Prior into the far corner. Motherwell had their tails up and captain Paul Mc Ginn had a header from a corner cleared off the line by May before then having another effort from a set-piece pushed away by Prior. But the Steelmen kept coming and after Just struck post with a drive when he probably should have played in Maswanhise, the away team doubled their lead in the 28th minute. Callum Slattery found Maswanhise with a penetrating forward pass and the forward opened his body before curling a right-footed shot into the net. Maswanhise could easily have wrapped up a hat-trick before the break but was wasteful with two further chances. After latching on to a long ball, the forward fired a harmless shot well over the crossbar. Livingston goalkeeper Prior then kept out a Maswanhise effort at his near post. After being booed off at the break by the disgruntled Livingston support, the home team improved in the second half. The West Lothian outfit gained territory with their press but still struggled to create any clear-cut openings. After Maswanhise hit a tame shot at Prior at the other end, Lions midfielder Pittman was then just out of reach from a Mc Lennan delivery across the six-yard box. Ward then got a lucky break when he was caught on the ball by Robbie Muirhead but the Motherwell goalkeeper pounced on the loose ball before the striker had the chance to slot home. There was no further drama for Motherwell as they made it four wins from five league outings. Super 6 have made a millionaire already this season, but could you be the next big winner? Enter the next round for free.
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