Michael Higdon netted a double as Motherwell returned to the top of the table after their dominant display ended Dunfermline’s unbeaten start to the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, yesterday.
The visitors completely outplayed Dunfermline during a first half in which Higdon and Jamie Murphy, via a deflection, both netted.
Chris Humphrey added a third before the Pars finally made a game of it in the final quarter after substitute David Graham’s shot deflected in off team-mate Joe Cardle.
Cardle gave the hosts the unlikely prospect of salvaging a point as he netted a deflected goal on the break in the final stages but Higdon grabbed his second within a minute to make it 4-2.
Tim Clancy made an assured debut at centre-back after completing his move from Kilmarnock and replacing Shaun Hutchinson, who had a hamstring injury.
Motherwell again bounced back from last weekend’s 3-0 defeat by Rangers, which was followed by a 4-0 cup win at Clyde, and they deserved their win thanks to a confident display of passing in midfield with Nicky Law at the hub of their moves.
At the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, Graeme Shinnie’s late winner against Kilmarnock lifted Inverness off the bottom of the league.
The full-back’s low strike in the 89th minute secured the points for the hosts, giving Inverness their first victory of the league campaign.
Inverness took the lead in the 26th minute when Gregory Tade powered home a close-range header before Dean Shiels levelled with a 25-yard curling shot nine minutes later.
Premier League
Dunfermline 2 - Motherwell 4
Inverness CT 2 - Kilmarnock 1
St Johnstone 3 - Dundee United 3
Standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Motherwell | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 13 |
| Rangers | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 10 |
| Celtic | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 9 |
| St Mirren | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 8 |
| Dunfermline | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 8 |
| Kilmarnock | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 6 |
| Dundee Utd | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 6 |
| Hearts | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| St Johnstone | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 5 |
| Aberdeen | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Inverness CT | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 4 |
| Hibernian | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 3 |
Premier League today
Hearts-Hibernian - 16.45
Rangers-Aberdeen - 16.00
St Mirren-Celtic - 13.45
First Division
Ayr 2 - Raith Rovers 1
Dundee 0 - Morton 1
Falkirk 1 - Ross County 1
Hamilton 1 - Livingston 1
Partick Thistle 2 - Queen of South 1
Second Division
Albion 1 - Brechin2
Arbroath 4 - Stirling 2
East Fife 0 - Dumbarton 6
Forfar 3 - Airdrie United 2
S’housemuir 3 - Cowdenbeath 1
Third Division
Alloa 2 - Peterhead 1
Annan Ath. 1 - Clyde 0
Elgin 2 - East Stirling 0
Montrose 0 - Stranraer 6
Queen’s Park 1 - Berwick 1