Motherwell clinched a valuable three points to move further clear of relegation danger after coming from behind to beat Falkirk.

Scott McDonald cancelled out Patrick Cregg's second-half opener by taking advantage of a Tom Scobbie error.

Substitute Darren Smith condemned the hosts to their fifth straight defeat just minutes after coming on by notching the winner with a simple tap-in.

Motherwell had the first real chance of the match after 10 minutes when David Clarkson dispossessed debutant Brian Allison in his own half.

However, instead of feeding team-mate McDonald who appeared to be in a better position, Clarkson tried an ambitious lob of goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel which got mis-hit, the ball going straight into the goalkeeper's arms.

Manager John Hughes was not helped by an injury to experienced defender Kenny Milne after 31 minutes, with the player being replaced by Marc Twaddle in defence.

The brave Motherwell supporters who made the journey tried their best to inject some urgency to their team's play but, in truth, the players on the park gave them very little to shout about in the bitterly cold conditions.

The best chance of the first half fell to Falkirk striker Carl Finnigan but he failed to make proper contact with a header from six yards from Alan Gow's venomous cross in the 42nd minute.

Gow was coming off a goal for Scotland B in midweek.

Despite the lack of quality on offer in the first period, no changes were made at the break.

And Bairns manager John Hughes' decision to show faith in the same XI was vindicated just one minute after the restart when Paddy Cregg broke the deadlock.

Twaddle did well to get to the goal-line before cutting the ball back to Gow 10 yards from goal.

The Rangers-bound marksman took a touch before teeing up Cregg with a square ball and he calmly found the corner of the goal.

Falkirk looked more likely to add a second and Steven Thomson fired a left-footed effort just wide in the 63rd minute, latching onto Latapy's defence-splitting pass.

However, the hosts saw their good work come undone in the 65th minute when Tom Scobbie's attempted clearance landed straight at McDonald's feet and the striker smashed the ball low into the net.

In an incredible turnaround, Motherwell then took the lead in the 67th minute.

McDonald's shot rebounded off the post and substitute Darren Smith, with virtually his first touch, prodded the ball into the empty net.

Carl Finnigan had a chance to level the game after Motherwell goalkeeper Smith fumbled a long ball but the striker's looping shot, with his back to goal, missed the target.

Cedric Uras was sacrificed in defence for Pedro Moutinho but to no avail as Motherwell held out for the win.

Teams:

Falkirk Schmeichel, Holden, Uras (Moutinho 80), Allison,Milne (Twaddle 30), Cregg, Scobbie, Latapy, Thomson, Finnigan,Gow.

Subs Not Used: Lambers, Ross, Lima, Craig, O'Donnell.

Booked: Cregg, Uras, Holden.

Goals: Cregg 47.

Motherwell Graeme Smith, Corrigan, Murphy, Craigan, Reynolds,McGarry (Darren Lee Smith 65), Kerr, Fitzpatrick, Paterson,McDonald, Clarkson (McCormack 90).

Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Keegan, Quinn, Molloy, Vadocz.

Booked: McDonald, McGarry.

Goals: McDonald 66, Darren Lee Smith 67.

Att: 4,478

Ref: C Thomas (Scotland).