’Well start campaign with win at Caley

Motherwell started the Scottish Premiership season in impressive fashion with a 1-0 victory at Inverness Caley Thistle on Saturday.Wes Fletcher’s fourth minutes strike settled a contest which ’Well would have won by a greater margin if Scott McDonald had scored a 33rd minute penalty saved by Caley keeper Owain Fon Williams.’Well boss Ian Baraclough said: “To get a clean sheet and three points away from home against a club that did very well last year, I couldn’t ask for any more really.“I’m greedy because I thought we could have won by more. I don’t think Inverness had a strike on target.“Scott is disappointed (to miss the penalty) but the keeper guessed the right way.”McDonald was involved in the first piece of action after a minute when he was hacked down by Caley captain Gary Warren, who was booked.But the ’Well fans were cheering just three minutes later when new signing Wes Fletcher tapped home the rebound after Stephen Pearson’s initial attempt had been saved by keeper Williams.’Well – looking superior in terms of sharpness and creativity – nearly went two up on 20 minutes when Fletcher turned brilliantly before sending a shot just past the post.The dominant Fir Parkers then earned a glorious chance to go two up when the pacy Marvin Johnson was brought down in the box by Devine at the expense of a penalty. But McDonald’s side footer was saved by Williams to his left.Caleybrought on new signing Andrea Mutombo for Nat Wedderburn in a bid to halt Motherwell’s dominance and the Congolese ace was Caley’s best performer by far.Caley suffered a major blow when Warren went off injured after a challenge with Pearson, who was substituted for Jack Leitch at half-time.’Well continued to create chances in the second half, with Johnson’s 51st minute shot from 20 yards being turned round the post before McDonald’s cross resulted in a goalmouth scramble which Caley managed to clear.The final action came on 86 minutes when Josh Law and sub Louis Moult both had shots saved,

On target...Wes Fletcher scored his first competitive Motherwell goal at Caley

h Wes Fletcher’s fourth minutes strike settled a contest which ’Well would have won by a greater margin if Scott McDonald had scored a 33rd minute penalty saved by Caley keeper Owain Fon Williams.

’Well boss Ian Baraclough said: “To get a clean sheet and three points away from home against a club that did very well last year, I couldn’t ask for any more really.

“I’m greedy because I thought we could have won by more. I don’t think Inverness had a strike on target.

“Scott is disappointed (to miss the penalty) but the keeper guessed the right way.”

McDonald was involved in the first piece of action after a minute when he was hacked down by Caley captain Gary Warren, who was booked.

But the ’Well fans were cheering just three minutes later when new signing Wes Fletcher tapped home the rebound after Stephen Pearson’s initial attempt had been saved by keeper Williams.

’Well – looking superior in terms of sharpness and creativity – nearly went two up on 20 minutes when Fletcher turned brilliantly before sending a shot just past the post.

The dominant Fir Parkers then earned a glorious chance to go two up when the pacy Marvin Johnson was brought down in the box by Devine at the expense of a penalty. But McDonald’s side footer was saved by Williams to his left.

Caleybrought on new signing Andrea Mutombo for Nat Wedderburn in a bid to halt Motherwell’s dominance and the Congolese ace was Caley’s best performer by far.

Caley suffered a major blow when Warren went off injured after a challenge with Pearson, who was substituted for Jack Leitch at half-time.

’Well continued to create chances in the second half, with Johnson’s 51st minute shot from 20 yards being turned round the post before McDonald’s cross resulted in a goalmouth scramble which Caley managed to clear.

The final action came on 86 minutes when Josh Law and sub Louis Moult both had shots saved, on a day which saw ’Well’s debutant keeper Connor Ripley deal competently with everything on the rare occasions that Caley threatened.

Inverness: Williams, Raven, Warren (Polworth 42), Meekings (Horner 45), Lopez, Draper, Devine, Wedderburn (Mutombo 35), Tansey, Williams, Christie.

Motherwell: Ripley, Hammell, Laing, McManus, Pearson (Leitch 45), Fletcher (Moult 66), Johnson, Lasley, Chalmers, Law, McDonald (Clarkson 83).

Attendance: 3307.

Referee: Crawford Allan.