Neil McCann feared the worst when Genseric Kusunga crumpled to the ground

But McCann allayed fears over the defender's health after his side's 2-1 defeat at Fir Park with the Angolan thought to be suffering from a chest knock.

Kusunga received about 10 minutes of medical attention after crumpling to the ground just before the second half of the Ladbrokes Premiership was due to start, and was taken off on a stretcher while holding an oxygen mask to his face.

The 30-year-old earlier had treatment after netting a 23rd-minute opener from close range.

'He seems okay,' said McCann, who also lost Sofien Moussa to a calf injury.

'It's not great when you see a player just sitting down. I went over to see him myself and he looked absolutely sparkled. He had chest pains, he was struggling to breathe.

'I think it was maybe a result of an impact he got at the goal when he took one on the chest. The doctor seems satisfied that it's not anything sinister.

'I was thinking it was something more sinister than that but he seems to be okay.

'It was almost like a boxer, his eyes seemed gone. But he's with us, he seems to be back lucid again and is feeling okay.'

Ryan Bowman cancelled out Kusunga's goal five minutes later with a near identical strike as he nodded home from close range after Charles Dunne had headed a corner back across goal.

Cedric Kipre headed his first Motherwell goal seven minutes into the second half and the hosts held on under some sustained late pressure, although they had Mark O'Hara to thank for volleying over from six yards.

McCann said: 'Particularly the second half, we were really really good at times. We played football absolutely the way I want to play it. We stretched Motherwell and caused them loads of problems and they had to change things a couple of times to try and stop us.

'We made so many chances and didn't take them. It's been - not even the story of our season - but against Motherwell in particular, we have outplayed them and come away with nothing. And I know the reason why, we just haven't taken our chances.''

Motherwell consolidated seventh place and guaranteed their top-flight status in the process.

'It would have taken a minor miracle for us to go down but obviously I can sleep a wee bit easier,' manager Stephen Robinson said. 'We have to make sure we continue in the next three games to solidify seventh.'

Robinson eased concerns over Bowman's fitness after the striker was substituted not long after scoring.

'He's fine,' he said. 'It's a kick that swelled up a bit. We took him off as a precaution.'

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