Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson said Conor Sammon had started to prove his doubters wrong after the striker scored twice against Queen of the South.

Sammon bagged his first goals since signing on loan from Hearts as the Steelmen won 2-0 in the League Cup group stage fixture.

The Irish forward linked up well with Ryan Bowman, who set up Sammon's second before going off injured.

Robinson said: "The two forwards combined really, really well - people told me they couldn't play together but that's another myth dispelled.

"Conor Sammon was superb and the goals will do wonders for his confidence. People questioned why I brought him here and he's still finding his fitness and sharpness but he's already proved that he'll score goals."

Motherwell goalkeeper Trevor Carson was forced into action early on, making three saves before Sammon's 12th-minute opener.

The Northern Irish stopper dashed hopes of a comeback from the Championship outfit late on with a one-handed stop from Gary Harkins' header.

Robinson, whose side will top Group G if they win at Clyde on Saturday, said: "Trevor Carson made one world-class save in the second half. I've watched it back again and it was out of this world but you need that - that's why we've got him.

"We should have won by more but it's in our own hands now."

Despite the loss, Queens still have a good chance to qualify as one of the four best runners-up.

Manager Gary Naysmith said: "At 2-0 down we were in a sticky situation - we wanted to get back in the game but we knew if they got another one or two our goal difference goes down to five and it maybe doesn't get us through.

"But we will be very unlucky to go out with nine points plus seven (goals). We deserve to be in the next round but we will just have to sit and wait."