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[tab:Match report]

 Kris Jack at Pittodrie

For the second time this season, Motherwell lost a goal in the dying seconds to deny them a win at Pittodrie as Aberdeen came from behind to earn a Scottish Cup replay.

Jamie Murphy’s 80th minute wonder strike was the match’s only real moment of quality, but was not enough to see ‘Well through to the next round of the Cup, as Niall McGinn stooped to head home a 90th minute leveller.

It was another late blow for the Steelmen, but it does set up an enticing replay at Fir Park in ten days time.

Stuart McCall was forced to make three changes to the side, with Lee Hollis making his first start of the season, standing in for the suspended Darren Randolph. Shaun Hutchinson missed out through injury and was replaced in defence by Fraser Kerr and with Stevie Hammell back to fitness, the veteran gained his starting spot ahead of Zaine Francis-Angol, as the only other change.

A large band of Motherwell supporters had made the trek north for the game and were in fine voice throughout the game, which was bereft of many clear cut chances for either side.

Indeed, the best of the first half chances came in the opening minutes, where Hollis earned his corn with two decent saves. The first came after a ball was whipped in by Johnny Hayes from the right hand side and poked goalwards by Rory Fallon from six yards. Somehow the former Airdrie keeper kept the ball out before it was cleared to safety.

A few moments later, Johnny Hayes battled with Adam Cummins to hit a dangerous bouncing strike from distance, which looked to have dipped awkwardly in front of Hollis but, somehow, he managed to turn it round his right hand post.

Fresh from his scintillating strike in midweek, Chris Humphrey tried his luck from distance again, but looked on in vain as Jamie Langfield got a finger tip to his drive from 25 yards. Magennis then tried a similar strike for the hosts, but it was a much easier take for Hollis.

The one time Aberdeen managed to get in behind the ‘Well back line, Johnny Hayes fired just over the bar from 16 yards, shaking off Cummins in the process.

Henrik Ojamaa was as bustling as ever and almost created the opening goal, when he robbed Russell Anderson who had dallied on the ball in the box. The Estonian stole the ball and teed up Jamie Murphy, who dragged his shot from 18 yards narrowly wide of Langfield’s upright.

A Tom Hateley free-kick just before the end of the half dropped on to the top of the net from the wing, as the opening period ended goalless.

The second half took a while to get going, with the first chance for either side coming after Keith Lasley was fouled right on the edge of the Aberdeen box. However, Hateley’s free kick had the power and dip but was just off target.

The game devolved in to a bit of a turgid midfield battle with both sides trading possession without creating much in the way of goalmouth action. A dig from 20 yards from Stevie Hammell was deflected wide as Motherwell looked to turn the screw and moments later they got the goal they were looking for in spectacular fashion.

A ball up the right channel saw Ojamaa outmuscle Reynolds to lay the ball off to Michael Higdon. The big striker helped in on to Murphy, who went past his man and cut inside, take a few touches to compose himself and unleashed an unstoppable drive, high beyond Langfield and in to the top corner.

Murphy and his teammates celebrated his strike in front of the large travelling crowd, having given ‘Well a stunning lead.

However, almost inevitably with the last kick of the ball, the Dons forced a replay to keep their own Cup dreams alive. Andy Considine surged up the left wing and put in an inch perfect cross for man of the moment Niall McGinn to stoop and head home from eight yards, with Hollis at full stretch.

The home fans heaved a sigh of relief as Willie Collum blew for full time  a few moments after the restart, as the game finished honours even between Aberdeen and Motherwell at Pittodrie for the second time this season.

[tab:As it happened]

Alan Burrows at Pittodrie

FT: Aberdeen 1 – 1 Motherwell. For the second time, Aberdeen net late to save a draw. Unreal.

90mins: Can you believe it, Aberdeen have scored late again. McGinn allowed the freedom of the box to head home. Unreal!

GOAL Aberdeen! Niall McGinn…

88mins: Dons sub. Anderson goes off and is replaced by striker Cammy Smith. Dons are gonna go for it in the last few minutes.

86mins: Header from Shaughnessy is on target but Hollis is in the right place to pluck it out there air.

83mins: Few ‘Well fans with their tops off over in the South Stand. Mental… I’ve got four layers on and it’s baltic.

81mins: Crowd: 6061

80mins: A great counter attack from Motherwell. Murphy cuts in from the left hand side and curls a belter high into the top corner.

GOOOOALLLLLLLLL Jamie Murphy!

76mins: Cross from Hammell forces Langfield to tip round for a corner. Think that might have been dropping out anyway.

74mins: Motherwell follow that with a shot from Hammell the spins out for a goal kick. Home fans not happy as Collum points for a corner.

74mins: A cross from Hateley finds Cummins who was up from a previous corner. Youngster heads into the ground and the chance is gone.

70mins: Dons are on top again. Vernon shot from about 35 yards trundles harmlessly wide right enough.

68mins: A shot from Russell Anderson from the edge of the box actually ends up out for a shy, further up the pitch. Not easy to do that.

67mins: Free-kick from Hateley from the edge of the box curls over the bar. Langfield at full stretch but it was always going over.

63mins: Sloppy play from Higdon. Robbed by Reynolds, the former ‘Well man strides forward but his shot is blocked. ‘Well need to up it.

59mins: Aberdeen have turned it up a notch in the last few minutes. ‘Well need to match them in every battle across the pitch.

57mins: A cross in towards the near post. Kerr slices it out for a corner via the outside of the post. Close one there…

55mins: Scrappy stuff in this half so far. Both teams guilty of being poor in possession, Few silly fouls too…

51mins: If it’s possible, I think it has got even colder since the end of the first half. Summer football anyone?

49mins: Think we’re back – nothing much has happened to be honest. Still 0-0 – Dons on the attack.

47mins: We’re struggling for a signal now for some reason. Stick with us…

46mins: We’re back underway – WiFi goes… Stick with us whilst we try and get it sorted…

Half Time: It’s all-square at Pittodrie. 0-0

45mins: Free-kick for Aberdeen in a dangerous area. Again looked like quite a soft one but a real chance for the Dons.

44mins: Game has crashed a bit as a contest. Scrappy from both sides – minute or so to the break.

43mins: Shout of the match so far. From a Dons throw. “Into his feet Josh; right down the line”. How does that work? #lowthrow #confused

40mins: Michael Higdon wins a free-kick from the ref for a climb. That’s not a miss-print folks. It actually happened. Real JFK moment!

34mins: Never fear pop fans, they are back. The White Stripes would be proud of their efforts. Never seen anything like this, ever.

33mins: In a bizarre twist of events, it looks like a whole brass band is currently getting moved by the Police. Yes, you read that right.

30mins: Ojamaa robs Reynolds at the edge of the area. He cuts it back for Murphy but his shot bounces wide of Langfield’s post.

29mins: Whilst everyone enjoys the music, Hayes has half a chance on the edge of the box but fires his shot over the bar. Still 0-0.

29mins: Aberdeen fan has a tuba at the back of the stand would you believe…. Belting out 7 Nation Army which both fans are enjoying.

28mins: Dons on top again at the minute. Bit of pressure on the Steelmen defence.

27mins: Magennis has another effort there but it catches the wind and almost hits the golf course behind the Richard Donald Stand.

26mins: It’s eventually rolled to Magennis but his effort is blocked by the charging ‘Well wall. Good defending there.

26mins: Aberdeen get a free-kick just outside the box. Looked like a coming together of players – not sure who that was again. Chance here.

24mins: Andrew Considine follows that with another long effort that goes five or six yards wide. Hollis able to watch it past.

23mins: Magennis hits a low dig from about thirty yards that doesn’t give Lee Hollis much bother; the keeper clutching it easily.

23mins: Willie Collum a little whistle-happy at the moment. Few calls for both teams look questionable in truth. A little scrappy at times.

20mins: Ojamaa gets in another effort, a header this time, but it bounces harmlessly back to Langfield. Bit better from the visitors.

19mins: Oooohhhhhh, Motherwell go close. Another stinging effort from Humphrey forces Langfield to tip over. Close one there…

18mins: Heavy challenge from Shaughessy on Murphy gives the Steelmen a free-kick. Youngster gets booked for his trouble.

12mins: Dons have started the game the better here. Not really sticking for the Steelmen up top. Giving it away too much.

11mins:Offft, almost an Aberdeen goal. Hayes is allowed to run far too long. His shot is turned around (just) by Hollis. Still 0-0.

8mins: It’s pretty end to end stuff here… Being played like a Cup tie. Dons having marginally more of it at the moment.

7mins: Good football from Motherwell there. Ball eventually breaks to Murphy but Shaughnessy tackles it off the striker for a goal kick.

5mins: Ball finally at the Aberdeen box. Higdon tees up Lasley but his long-range effort hits Ojamaa and spins out for a goal kick.

3mins: Aberdeen fans not happy with the referee after he awards a goal kick when it looked like a corner. Hard to tell from here…

1min: Corner lands at Shaughnessy but it’s somehow cleared. Ball back in – Hollis makes a great save from Magennis. Whirlwind start here.

1min: Aberdeen roar into the attack. A ball across the face is knocked behind for a corner.

1min: Motherwell kick-off.

[tab:Reaction]

Motherwell manager Stuart McCall:

“It’s the second time we’ve been up here and lost a goal in the last minute, but if you’d said to me after three or four minutes that we’d get a draw, I’d have taken it right then.

“The first five or 10 minutes were an onslaught, and how we survived it I don’t know. There was a bit of good goalkeeping, some good fortune, and some good defending.

“As much as Aberdeen have injuries, they still put out a very strong and experienced side, and we had two of our own young lads at centre-back – Fraser Kerr and Adam Cummins got stronger as the game went on.

“We grew into the game, and I thought second half we were more prominent. It was a terrific goal from Jamie, and the lads are a bit gutted in the dressing room, but we’re still in the hat and overall I think it was a fair result.”

Aberdeen manager Craig Brown:

“I thought Motherwell should have been relieved not to be 3-0 down in the opening 10 minutes. We should have been ahead, but the usual quality of determination was apparent at the end.

“We’re a very good second half team because the team is very fit and their attitude is superb. With these qualities, I think we can go away from home and do even better.”

“We lost a goal which came out of nothing,” added Brown. “It was a superb goal from Jamie Murphy, and I’m not surprised by it because I know what he can do.

“You’re always concerned when you lose a goal as late as that. I thought it would have been an injustice had we lost the game, and in the early part of the game we had to commend Lee Hollis, the Motherwell goalkeeper.”

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

[poll id=”126″]

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Steelmen captain Keith Lasley reckons tomorrow’s William Hill Scottish Cup clash at Pittodrie is too close to call.

The two sides are almost identically matches with six wins, six draws and four defeats from sixteen Scottish Premier League matches.

Even when the two teams met back in September it was difficult to separate with the match ending in a thrilling 3-3 draw.

And veteran Lasley hopes Motherwell’s form on the road continues when the teams lock horns again tomorrow.

[pullquote]The SPL has shown that teams are so evenly matched; it’s all about what happens on the day and Saturday will be no different.[/pullquote]

He said: “The SPL has shown that teams are so evenly matched; it’s all about what happens on the day and Saturday will be no different.

“Away from home both performances and results have been good and we go there on a good run of form which I’m sure Aberdeen will be wary of.

“We also know that although they had a disappointing result the other night, if you take that away they have been doing well themselves.

“Once you get on a run, home or away, you feel confident of winning it and away from home right now, for whatever reason, we certainly seem to be playing better and getting results.

“The wins that we’ve had at St Johnstone,  Inverness and Dundee United have been against teams that were on good runs so that gives us confidence going into the Aberdeen game.”

-WATCH THE FULL PRESS CONFERENCE ONLY ON MFC TV-

‘Well boss Stuart McCall says his squad will go into tomorrow’s match at Pittodrie full of confidence after a recent good run of away form.

The Fir Parkers have won every match on the road since the 4th Round draw was made but that record will be tested to the max against a rejuvenated Dons side.

Craig Brown’s side are within touching distance of the top of the table and have improved dramatically in recent months.

The previous encounter ended 3-3 with the home side scoring twice late on to nab a draw. McCall is certain his side is eager to put that right.

[pullquote]We’re going in full of confidence although it is a tough tie for both of us.[/pullquote]

He told the gathered press at the weekly Press Conference: “We have a tough draw; when it came out we thought it wasn’t the best but likewise Aberdeen probably thought that too.

“The last three times we’ve played at Pittodrie we’ve won twice 2-1 and really threw it away when we were 3-1 up and played really well. Having said that, that would take something away from Aberdeen as they came back and fought hard to make it three each.

“We’re going in full of confidence although it is a tough tie for both of us. If you ask Aberdeen fans they’ll probably say they’re having a good season yet if you ask Motherwell fans, they’ll say we’re having an iffy season even though we are level with them, almost have the same goal difference and they have a far bigger squad.

“I read Craig (Brown) in the papers saying they have eight or nine injuries although half of them will probably play. If we had that we’d be playing the Under 17s so that is why myself and a lot of people see Aberdeen as the closest challengers to Celtic and reaffirms how tough it will be.”

-WATCH THE FULL PRESS CONFERENCE ONLY ON MFC TV-

Chris Humphrey’s spectacular strike in the 2-1 win against Dundee United has made the short list for Sky Sports News Goal of the Week. 

The Jamaican International winger smashed home the second goal of the match, firing it high past Radosław Cierzniak in the home goal.

To vote for Chris, either press the red button on your remote whilst watching Sky Sports News or text VOTE E to 84408 (Text costs 25p – Network costs may vary).

Willie Collum will take charge of Saturday’s William Hill Scottish Cup 4th Round clash with Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

Regarded as one of Scotland’s best officials, it will be Willie’s second Motherwell game of the current campaign.

His other match was the 1-0 defeat at Tynecastle in October when Danny Grainger’s long range effort separated the sides.

He’ll be a familiar face to most ‘Well fans having officiated at the top level for many years now, including two Motherwell matches last term.

The most recent was the 0-0 draw with Rangers at Ibrox in early May, Rangers last SPL fixture at their own ground. The other match was Motherwell’s Cup defeat at home to Hibs; Colin Calderwood’s men progressing through to the Quarter Final of the Scottish Communities League Cup on penalty kicks.

He did handle the abandoned Friday Night Football experiment when Motherwell took on Hibs but Steven McLean handled the re-arranged fixture.

The season previous to last, he handled three matches.

He was in charge of the Co-operative Insurance Cup Quarter Final clash with Dundee United at Fir Park; Alan Gow’s late goal booking ‘Well’s spot in the Semi Final. He was the man in the middle for the Semi Final too as Rangers scraped past a brave ‘Well side 2-1; Keith Lasley grabbed the goal for the Fir Parkers.

He also took charge of the 3-3 draw with Hearts at Tynecastle in late April as ‘Well roared back from 3-0 down to secure a point.

Incredibly, Motherwell have never won a league game with Collum in charge. The only victories recorded whilst the Bellshill based whistler has been the man in the middle was the then CIS Cup win against Raith Rovers at the start of the 2007/08 season,  a Scottish Cup success at Inverurie the following season and the aforementioned win over Dundee Utd last October.

His overall record in charge of the Steelmen reads three wins, nine defeats and four draws from sixteen matches. In those games, Motherwell have scored 23 and conceded 30. 33 players have gone into the book, 15 wearing claret and amber, while three players have been dismissed – Ian Murray of Hibs at Easter Road a few years back, Jerard Aafjes at Falkirk four seasons ago and Paul Dixon at the end of 2009/10.

Martin Cryans and Willie Conquer will run the lines with Iain Brines on fourth official duties.

Steelmen goalkeeping coach Gordon Marshall was left disappointed after Darren Randolph’s two-match was upheld at a tribunal this morning.

The Republic of Ireland International was offered a two game ban by the Scottish FA’s compliance offer after a clash with Hearts’ Callum Paterson; an offer the club and player rejected.

However, after a lengthy hearing this morning the three-person committee upheld the ban and he will now miss matches against Aberdeen on Saturday and Ross County the following week.

Marshall maintains the 25-year old was protecting himself and was left frustrated that he will be without his first choice goalkeeper for the next fortnight.

[pullquote]I feel for Darren as he is not like that at all and he’s being doing very well indeed.[/pullquote]

“I am disappointed the ban has been upheld as I think it is harsh on him (Darren),” he told MFC TV.

“In my opinion, he is only protecting himself and with his momentum he can’t get out the way. The two players collide but thankfully Callum Paterson has not been injured; probably a bit frightened more than anything else.

“I feel for Darren as he is not like that at all and he’s being doing very well indeed. But, we move on now. Lee Hollis has got an opportunity to play in the next two matches. He has been very patient at the club and he now has the chance to show what he can do.”

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW ONLY ON MFC TV-

Following a Fast Track Tribunal with the Judicial Panel this morning, Darren Randolph’s suspension has been upheld and he will now miss the next two matches.

The hearing, which lasted for almost 90 minutes, heard contributions from the player himself, alongside goalkeeping coach Gordon Marshall.

However, the three-person panel upheld the initial offer of a suspension and the Republic of Ireland International will now miss games against Aberdeen (Scottish Cup) and Ross County (SPL).

More to follow…

Motherwell FC today notified the Scottish FA of the clubs’ intent to contest the fixed two-match suspension offered to Darren Randolph by the Compliance Officer.

The club lodged the official appeal before 3pm today and the matter will now be referred to the Judicial Panel with a Fast Track Tribunal convened tomorrow (Thursday, 29th November).

The club will make no further public comment on the matter until that process is complete.

Today’s Under 20s match with Inverness CT has been postponed by the match official who was not satisfied the pitch was playable.

Despite protests from both clubs who were happy with the conditions, referee Graeme Stewart forced the cancellation sighting a firm pitch.

No date has, as yet, been set for the rearranged match.