An Owen Coyle brace inside eight minutes in the second half gave Motherwell a deserved win that provides them with a five-point cushion over the bottom two clubs.

Tommy Coyne set up the opener in the 61st minute when he chested the ball down for Coyle to rifle home and then in 69 minutes Eliphas Shivute set up the second with a pass to substitute Billy Davis.

When the cross slotted in behind the Dunfermline defence, Coyle pounced to drive home the clinching second.

After that Motherwell's confidence soared and they went on to produce the best football in a game which threatened to be marred by a series of serious injuries early on.

Stuart Petrie was stretchered off in 10 minutes after a tackle by John Philliben and 10 minutes later, Steve McMillen was carried off after a hefty tackle by Ivo Den Bieman.

Seven minutes later Scott McCulloch limped off as both managers began to reshuffle their sides.

The first half produced little constructive football with neither keeper seriously tested.

Ian Westwater did well to palm out a downward header by Coyne and then hold a Coyle freekick.

At the other end, the best effort came from substitute Alan Moore which Steve Woods held confidently.

The Coyle double encouraged Motherwell to step up the pace with Dunfermline's only threat coming from an Andy Tod header off a Den Bieman cross that struck the bar on its way over.

Three players were booked in the clash - Shivute and Philliben of Motherwell and Moore of Dunfermline.