Motherwell are still in the hunt for a place in the Uefa Cup group phase after a 1-0 defeat at Nancy.
Smith saves penalty as Berenguer header proves the difference
Motherwell are still in the hunt for a place in the Uefa Cup group phase after a 1-0 defeat away by Nancy.
Pascal Berenguer's excellent diving header three minutes before half-time secured Nancy the advantage in the first-round tie.
The result could have been worse for Motherwell, but keeper Graeme Smith saved Issiar Dia's penalty after Mark Reynolds brought down Julien Feret.
Mark McGhee's side struggled to create any clear-cut chances, but will go into the second leg at Fir Park optimistic of overcoming their French opponents.
Under pressure
Nancy immediately put Well under pressure and Reynolds was fortunate to escape punishment for catching Helder with a high boot as the Brazilian was about to burst into the box.
The hosts appealed for Slovakian referee Vladimir Hrinak to give a penalty but the incident happened a yard outside the box.
After Keith Lasley was booked for catching Julien Feret with a trailing arm on the halfway line, Smith got down well to save Monsef Zerka's header from the consequent free-kick.
Stephen Hughes was almost sent clear on a rare Motherwell attack after good aerial play by Sutton but Gennaro Bracigliano was quickly off his line to smother the danger.
The visitors continued to give the ball away and were grateful for Craigan's intervention as Zerka headed towards goal from 10 yards.
For all their possession, Nancy were not cutting Motherwell open but their dominance eventually told. Jean Calve whipped in a cross from the right and Berenguer got in front of Lasley to head into the far corner.
Motherwell won their first corner two minutes into the second half but Mark Fitzpatrick and Bob Malcolm were soon called into making important headers in their own box.
David Clarkson's low cross from the right side of the box was cut out after Motherwell's best move so far but they were still being forced back.
Paul Quinn made a vital headed clearance and Smith's plan to launch a counter-attack after catching the subsequent corner were foiled by the fact that all his team-mates were inside his box.
Motherwell did break in the 61st minute and Clarkson had a strong appeal for a penalty rejected when Nancy sub Dia appeared to brush his legs as he cut inside following Fitzpatrick's through ball.
Smith to the rescue
Nancy created a good chance after Marc-Antoine Fortune turned Reynolds and the ball was moved on to Dia, but his first touch narrowed his angle and Smith blocked. Smith soon got down well to stop Feret's drive and Craigan scrambled the ball clear as Well hung on.
Smith again saved his side by pushing Berenguer's first-time strike from 30 yards on to the bar.
Reynolds overhit a cross as Motherwell broke in numbers and the defender soon gave away a 72nd-minute penalty with a clumsy challenge on Feret.
However, Smith rescued Well once more with a brilliant one-handed save from Dia's low penalty to his right.
Clarkson was far too high with Motherwell's first shot at goal after initially hesitating when the ball fell to him 25 yards out.
The game had opened up completely and Well sub Jamie Murphy showed some bright touches going forward but Nancy looked more likely to get a However, Smith's performance has given Motherwell hope.
