Motherwell boss: Sam Nicholson strike should be late contender for Goal of the Season

Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell reckons Sam Nicholson's stunning strike should be in contention for goal of the season after his worldie lit up their 4-1 victory that also relegated Livingston.

The former Hearts winger rifled home an unstoppable strike from 30-yards, off the underside of the crossbar, either side of Theo Bair's brace for the Steelemen before Dan Casey wrapped up a comfortable victory at Fir Park and consigned The Lions to Championship football next season.

But Kettlewell believes it would be worthy of a late entry into the Premiership goal of the season, which will be announced tomorrow night at the PFA Scotland awards and includes Steelmen star Blair Spittal's stunner against Ross County in February.

He said: "It was a big game for both teams and to come out on the right side of it with four goals and a win is a big thing, but I think the most pleasing aspect is that the two goals in the middle are of supreme quality.

"Sam Nicholson's strike...sometimes I think they go a bit earlier with the goal of the season award because I think that would be sitting up in the top bracket. He's clever to turn into space and then he has the quality of strike as well.

"As team goals go, our third one is excellent. The finish, the cross, the advantage from the referee [David Munro]. He just let the game breathe in the middle of the park, which we can be critical of.This is one where I am fair. I was vocal last week on refereeing and I thought this was intelligent refereeing, just to let the game play. Full marks to the referee for that."

Theo Bair took his tally to 15 for the season with a brilliant brace, one from the penalty spot and one a fine header into the top corner from Georgie Gent's cross.

And Kettlewell