David Clarkson's double sealed earned Motherwell a 3-1 victory over Inverness to move Well four points clear of Dundee United in third place.

Motherwell took a seventh-minute lead when Ross McCormack sent a crossfield pass to Clarkson and he lashed his effort into the roof of the net.

The Fir Park side doubled their lead less than three minutes later - McCormack laid the ball back for Stevie Hammell, and he crossed to the far post where Chris Porter sent a powerful downward header across the line.

Don Cowie soon reduced the deficit for the Highland visitors when the ball broke to him 20 yards out and he sent an unstoppable shot high into the net.

Clarkson then made it 3-1 with a sweetly-struck volley just before the interval.

There were no further goals after the break, although Porter and Grant Munro, twice, hit the bar.