Jim Gannon hailed Chris Humphrey for overcoming personal tragedy to inspire Motherwell's 1-0 victory over Falkirk.

Humphrey's near-post corner set up Lukas Jutkiewicz to head the only goal in the 18th minute and consolidate Motherwell's place in the top six of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Humphrey was Motherwell's brightest player on his first start since he and his partner lost their unborn baby following complications with the pregnancy.

Motherwell manager Gannon hailed the contribution of the 22-year-old, a summer signing from Shrewsbury.

"He is an excellent young player," Gannon said. "For him and his partner to go through the trauma they have gone through in the last few weeks, we gave him a lot of time off to be together during such a difficult period.

"We have tried to work him back into the fold, we talked about giving him 15 minutes last week and 60-65 today.

"That was the only reason we took him off, we don't want to overwork him, we want to work him back into the fold. In both games he has really given us an extra dimension."

Gannon admitted there were plenty of lessons to be learned from a low-key second-half display on a windy afternoon at Fir Park.

"For 20-25 minutes we looked like a really good team and played some nice football and spread it across the pitch," he said. "For some reason the game seemed to deteriorate, whether it was the conditions or whether we took our foot off the gas.

"Credit to Falkirk, they showed the consistency in their play throughout the game and second half will probably feel a little bit disappointed they didn't get more out the game."

Motherwell substitute Jim O'Brien left the field on a stretcher in the closing stages following a challenge by Jackie McNamara but Gannon is optimistic the damage will not be too severe.

"I think he's okay," Gannon said. "When you see someone getting carried off on a stretcher you always fear the worse, but I think that was a precaution and it settled down a bit. He took a heavy knock on the ankle.

"Most of the pain is in the Achilles but unless you rupture it, that settles down quite quickly.

"Initially I thought it was a late challenge but having spoken to the players they said it was a genuine attempt to play the ball."

Falkirk manager Eddie May also felt his side should have taken something from the game as they went a fifth match without scoring.

Mark Stewart missed a glorious chance when he headed over with John Ruddy on the ground after Scott Arfield's 25-yard strike had bounced back out off the crossbar.

"We had good chances which we should be putting away at this level," May said. "Motherwell were the better team in the first half but from the second half, we should be getting something out the game.

"It's not for the lack of trying from Mark Stewart. He gives everything. Sometimes it goes for him, today it didn't."