Last updated on .From the section Scottish League Cup

Motherwell's Danny Johnson settled the tie with his first-half goal

Danny Johnson is "going to score goals" said manager Stephen Robinson after the striker's effort put Motherwell into the last eight of the League Cup.

Livingston left Johnson unmarked in the box and the former Gateshead striker converted to score the tie's only goal.

Johnson earlier hit a post as last season's finalists took a step closer to a Hampden return.

"He's come up with the reputation of goals and he's proved now he can do it at a higher level," said Robinson.

Despite the tight scoreline, dominant Motherwell were worth their place in the quarter-finals.

Both sides did hit the woodwork, with Steven Lawless' 25-yard volley for Livingston rattling the crossbar, and Allan Campbell joining Johnson in hitting a post.

After reaching both cup finals last season, Robinson's men continued their fine cup form, and just one game stands between them and another trip to the national stadium.

Motherwell click after slow start

This was a day for starting afresh for Motherwell after what manager Robinson said were two poor results rather than poor performances in the league so far this season.

And he got his good result in West Lothian, although when Lawless cracked the bar within a minute, there must have been a few nerves among the Motherwell fans.

And those would likely have been heightened with Livingston player-manager Kenny Miller troubled goalkeeper Trevor Carson from distance again before the visitors settled and took control.

Curtis Main and Johnson appear to be clicking as a strike partnership, and when into the mix you add a tricky winger eager to cause mischief such as Elliott Frear was, it spells problems for defences.

Former Gateshead striker Johnson had already smashed a post before he swept home what proved to be the only goal after patient and precise play by Main.

His low cut-back was met by Johnson's left boot and from that point on it looked like a Motherwell win was on the cards.

Former Rangers goalkeeper Liam Kelly twice made crucial saves from Richard Tait and Main, then in the second half Motherwell were inches from a second goal when Campbell struck the foot of a post.

Livingston player-manager Kenny Miller hopes to sign an attacking player next week

'Hartley catches the eye' - analysis

While Motherwell looked a much more fluid unit in attack, it was the all-round performance of Peter Hartley at the back that caught the eye. It was a captain's display and, on a couple of occasions, you could hear Hartley's booming instructions above everything else.

Hartley had to be substituted midway through the second half and Motherwell didn't look quite so solid without him. You can see why the move to give the captaincy to him could prove a brilliant decision.

'Pitch difficult to play on' - reaction

Livingston player-manager Kenny Miller: "I don't think anyone could say we weren't competitive. It's just that final little bit of cuteness and cleverness.

"We'll probably have one player in early next week. We want to improve at the top end of the pitch."

Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson: "Being diplomatic, the pitch is very, very difficult to play on. There's people standing on the ball but that's as good as we've been going forward for a lot of weeks now.

"We didn't use the pitch as an excuse before the game and we're not going to make it any kind of headline afterwards. We won the game and we won it well."