Ross McCormack's first-half miss cost Motherwell a vital three points in their bid to qualify for next season's UEFA Cup as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Falkirk.

The former Rangers striker scooped his side's best opportunity over the bar in the last action of the opening period and neither side could find a way to break the deadlock.

Falkirk keeper Robert Olejnik's first-half save, tipping David Clarkson's header on to the post was as close as either team came to a breakthrough and in the end both had to settle for a draw.

Motherwell began in determined mood and almost made a nervous Falkirk rearguard pay for their indecision after only a minute.

Kenny Milne made the first of a series of mistakes with a slack header and then compounded his error by bringing McCormack down on the edge of the area.

Steve Hammell's curling free-kick had the beating of Olejnik but swerved just wide and whistled past the Austrian's top left-hand corner.

The swirling wind appeared to be causing Falkirk more problems than their visitors and Tam Scobbie was almost made to pay for a dreadful attempt at a clearance in the eighth minute.

Clarkson rose highest to meet the looping ball but Olejnik touched his header on to the post and wide for a fruitless corner.

Milne became the game's first booking a minute later when he chopped down McCormack during an uncomfortable opening spell for the home outfit.

However, Falkirk finally threatened the Motherwell goal in the 24th minute as full-back Gerard Aafjes found space on the right but, when his low cross spun up off Patrick Cregg, Paul Quinn intervened to allow keeper Graeme Smith to grab the loose ball.

Olejnik was caused all sorts of problems by the conditions and was forced to punch under pressure on a number of occasions as Motherwell threw corners in on top of the home keeper.

And the youngster found himself in trouble again in the 27th minute as he came and failed to get a long through ball over the top of the Falkirk defence.

McCormack got there first but his touch took him too wide and his attempt to find the supporting Keith Lasley was well dealt with by the head of the covering Scott Arfield.

Olejnik had to look smart five minutes from the interval as he sprang from his line to grab Clarkson's poked pass from the feet of Lasley.

There was nothing the home keeper could do in the last attack of the half when Porter knocked down Stephen Hughes' cross but McCormack scooped his effort over from barely seven yards out.

Falkirk could not have suffered as abject a display in the second 45 minutes and almost enjoyed a perfect start to the half.

Moutinho seized on a loose ball 25 yards out but Motherwell keeper Graeme Smith lunged to his right to turn the Portuguese striker's drive past his right-hand post.

The near-thing gave the home side an impetus they had not enjoyed during the opening period and they at least carried a greater threat going forward.

Only Marc Fitzpatrick's challenge prevented Arfield from being sent clear by Graham Barrett's perceptive pass.

Moutinho stung the gloves of Smith with another drive following a neat nutmeg 25 yards out and the Portuguese marksman again threatened after turning on the apex of the six-yard box.

Smith saved twice from Finnigan in the dying stages, flinging himself to his left to block and header and advancing to stop a drive from just inside the area.

But despite their late efforts, Falkirk had to make do with a point, which did neither side any favours.