Motherwell manager Mark McGhee heaps praise on Stephen Pearson and Keith Lasley

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee praised his old heads as his side clinched fifth place in the Premiership table with a 3-1 victory over Ross County at Global Energy Stadium.

Experienced pair Stephen Pearson and Keith Lasley both scored in the opening 16 minutes and the former netted again deep in stoppage time.

County made a go of things in the second half and substitute Liam Boyce headed home from close range to make it 2-1 but they could not find a leveller.

McGhee said: We should have got the third goal earlier to put it beyond doubt. We missed good opportunities but over the piece deserved to win the game.

The older lads provided the goals and they were terrific. We don't need any lessons like tonight to tell us how important they are to us and how important they've been for us.''

On Lasley, McGhee joked: Keith Lasley might be 56 before he gets his next goal. But I thought he was terrific, setting the tempo and tone. He had a great game.''

County boss Jim McIntyre was disappointed with the start his side made.

He said: We got off to a really sloppy start. We handed Motherwell the initiative by being really careless, giving away needless corners and possession of the ball which gave them a lot of play in our half and they punished us.

For the second goal we switch off for the set play again and they score from the second phase of that. We have a mountain to climb right away and that obviously kills the confidence levels, we were hanging on a lot of that first half.''

McIntyre was pleased with the effort of his players gave after the break, though, adding: The players gave it everything. They created four or five chances as good as we've created this season, but they only criticism is we failed to take them.''