Tawanda Maswanhise celebratesSNS

Tawanda Maswanhise has 18 goals in all competitions this season

At a glance

  • Motherwell comfortably coast past Livingston thanks to double from Tawanda Maswanhise

  • Jens Berthel Askou's side move to within two points of third-placed Celtic

  • Livingston fall further behind relegation rivals Kilmarnock

Sportscene highlights: Motherwell v Livingston

31/01/2026

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Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

Motherwell cruised to a completely dominant victory over Livingston to move two points behind third-placed Celtic in the Scottish Premiership courtesy of a Tawanda Maswanhise double.

The Zimbabwe international is now the league's top scorer with 13 goals after his double against lowly Livingston, who barely threw a punch all afternoon.

That said, it was the hosts in West Lothian who should have scored first. Connor McLennan was put clear through after a lovely move down the left, but Calum Ward made an important save.

With the game still only a few minutes old, Motherwell struck. A long cross from Elijah Just picked out Maswanhise in the box, and his header looped over a stranded Jerome Prior.

Livingston kept it to a one-goal deficit for a while. Paul McGinn had a header cleared off the line, Just hit the post when he should have scored, and Prior saved a venomous Maswanhise effort. He didn't get near the second.

This time, Callum Slattery played the on-form forward in and he opened his body to curl into the far corner. It's no surprise he's been linked with numerous clubs during this window.

Motherwell remain fourth, but are certainly on the coattails of Celtic and Rangers before they play tomorrow.

Livingston meanwhile, are now six adrift at the bottom, after Kilmarnock's thumping win over Aberdeen.

Analysis: Marauding Motherwell picture of composure as Livingston languish

There's been plenty of plaudits for this Motherwell side, and rightly so. As any fan or pundit will tell you, they are a joy to watch.

Today was another controlled victory to add to Jens Berthel Askou's portfolio. They were leagues above their opponents, cutting them to ribbons in attack and rarely looking flustered in defence - apart from the opening minute.

Perhaps that slight scare gave them the jolt they needed. Pre-match, Askou spoke about confidence without overconfidence, composure without relaxation. Following that blip, that's what he got.

Motherwell fans will be enjoying it while things last. It won't just be Maswanhise winning admirers. It'll be Just, Slattery and Ibrahim Said, as well as the manager himself.

When Just went off, Motherwell's tempo slowed. When Maswanhise went off, their goal threat diminished. But the game was won by then, and there's a busy schedule to come.

The attacking stats between Livingston and MotherwellSNS

Pre-match, David Martindale said his side are not thinking about the threat of regelation. "If you start worrying about league position, you play with fear and you don't play good football."

His side must be looking at the table when Martindale's back is turned, because they did not play good football for 89 minutes of this one.

Any chances after McLennan's early miss came from Motherwell getting a little too confident with the ball at the back, and having it pinched.

They tried to attack down the flanks, chucking in numerous crosses, but the quality of them was poor. They had just four shots to Motherwell's 14.

At the back, as it was against Aberdeen last week, Livingston's defending was non-existent at times. Failing to pick up runners, standing statuesque at set-pieces. Yes, they were up against a free-flowing Motherwell, but they looked unbelievably fragile.

The manager may want to deny the reality of the situation, but the outlook is bleak. Winless in 23 league matches, they're setting unwanted records and only heading one way.

What's next?

Livingston host Falkirk on Wednesday night, while Motherwell head to Dundee (both 19:45 GMT).

Player of the match

T. Maswanhise
9.21
9 R. Muirhead
4.30
28 J. Prior
4.08
25 M. Tait
3.67
30 J. Brenet
3.58
19 D. Finlayson
3.00
20 E. Danso
3.00
17 S. May
2.91
24 M. Sylla
2.90
3 Babacar Fati
2.80
11 C. McLennan
2.67
8 S. Pittman
2.62
5 R. McGowan
2.58
40 S. Lawal
2.50
15 L. Smith
2.25
29 J. Zimmerman
2.20
21 A. Tamm
2.00
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