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[tab:Match report]

Gavin McCafferty at Dens Park

10-man Motherwell crashed to a desperately disappointing 4-1 defeat at Dens Park this afternoon.

The Tayside club were helped by early goals from Alex Harris and Greg Stewart before John Sutton pulled one back for the visitors, only for Gary Irvine to restore the home team’s two-goal advantage.

Ian Baraclough’s Motherwell had Henrik Ojamaa sent-off for an elbow on Kevin Thomson just before half-time and they lost a further goal in 71 minutes when Marc O’Brien turned the ball into his own net.

The Steelmen made two changes to the side that were beaten by Aberdeen last Sunday. Luke Watt and Fraser Kerr dropped out, replaced by the returning Stuart Carswell and Dom Thomas, making his full debut.

Dundee boss Paul Harteley made one change to the home line up with new signing Kosta Gadzhalov replacing the injured James McPake in defence.

With ‘Well confidence fragile, the manager’s message before the game would have been to keep it tight in the early exchanges. It would be despair on the bench then when Dundee went ahead after just three minutes when on-loan Hibernian man Harris saw his shot deflect off Stephen McManus and past Dan Twardzik.

Inside eight minutes it was 2-0 as ‘Well’s defensive woes continued. The backline was too square, after after David Clarkson flicked the ball on to Stewart, the striker headed in his own rebound after shooting against the bar.

The Dark Blues looked by far the more comfortable but it was the Steelmen who hit back with a 19th-minute goal which made it 2-1.

A run down the right by Josh Law ended with a cross to the near post, which Sutton calmly knocked past the diving Scott Bain in the Dundee goal.

Dundee continued to push and newboy Gadzhalov almost got amongst the goals after meeting a Thomson corner with a downwards header, but ‘Well just about managed to sweep It clear.
The visitors then had Twardzik to thank for a stunning double save, firstly from David Clarkson and then Harris.

Incredibly though, from the resulting corner, the former Dee’s keeper gifted Irvine a third goal. Stewart’s corner looked easy enough for the Czech stopper, but he dropped it and Irvine could not believe his luck, being in the right place to lash the ball high into the net from point-blank range.

Things got even worse in 44 minutes when Estonian Henrik Ojamaa was shown a straight red card by referee Stephen Finnie for lashing out at Thomson. Television replays showed that contact was fairly minimal, but in the modern game, it would be difficult, and churlish, to argue with the decision.

Things stayed much the same after the break with the home team making clever use of the extra man, and Clarkson almost extended their lead in the 51st minute, only to see his dipping shot from outside the penalty area go inches wide of the target.

Shortly after, Paul McGowan laid the ball into the path of Stewart, whose curling shot was not far wide of Twardzik’s right-hand post.

Stewart then released Harris down the left in another swift attack but substitute Luka Tankulic could not connect with his cross.

Dundee rounded things off with a fortuitous fourth goal when Tankulic’s shot prompted a collision between O’Brien and Twardzik, and before they could do anything it was 4-1 to the hosts.

It would sum up the absolutely miserable afternoon on Tayside. The Claret and Amber men will need to improve 100% and quickly.

[tab:As it happened]

 Ally Reilly at Dens Park

FT: Dundee 4 – 1 Motherwell #DFCvMFC

91mins: Harris jinks into the box and Josh Law does well to deflect his shot off target for a corner #DFCvMFC

3 minutes added on

89mins: Dundee have been camped in the ‘Well half. McGowan tries his luck from range but its just over #DFCvMFC

82mins: Carswell is booked for a late tackle on McGowan #DFCvMFC

76mins: Motherwell sub, Cadden on for Sutton #DFCvMFC

75mins: O’Brien is booked for a rash tackle on Tankulic #DFCvMFC

69mins: Goal – 4-1.An absolutely calamitous moment in the ‘Well defence as O’Brien and Twardzik colllide and the ball trickles into the net

65mins: Sutton is booked for a clumsy tackle on Davidson #DFCvMFC

59mins: Motherwell subs, Erwin and MacLean on for Ainsworth and Thomas #DFCvMFC

53mins: Dundee subs, Dyer, Harkins and Tankulic on for Thompson, Irvine and McAlister #DFCvMFC

53mins: Dundee work a short corner to Stewart who fires just past from the edge of the box #DFCvMFC

50mins: Clarkson attempts a volley from 25 yards and it’s inches away from the top corner. Still 3-1 #DFCvMFC

Second half is underway. 10 man ‘Well with it all to do…. #DFCvMFC

HT: Dundee 3 – 1 Motherwell #DFCvMFC

44mins: Red card! Ojamma is sent marching for a tackle on Thomson #DFCvMFC

36mins: Ojamaa showed a good turn of pace to burst past the Dundee defence then looked to be pushed to the ground but ref waves play on

33mins: Goal! Irvine makes it 3-1, firing home from a corner #DFCvMFC

29mins: Reid bursts down the line and wins a corner…O’Brien flicks it on and Dundee sweep it clear #DFCvMFC

25mins: Almost a carbon copy of the ‘Well goal there but this time Gadzhalov got there in front of Sutton to block Law’s cross #DFCvMFC

20mins: More good play from Thomas down the left and it’s another good ball in to Sutton but he can’t trouble Bain #DFCvMFC

19mins: Sutton pulls a goal back after good play down the right wing from Law and Ojamaa. 2-1 now #DFCvMFC

GOAL!

13mins: ‘Well win a corner which Thomas swings in. It is headed out to Lasley but he volleys well wide #DFCvMFC

9mins: It’s very nearly 3 as Twardizk has to pull off a superb diving save to deny Stewart #DFCvMFC

7mins: Goal – It’s 2-0 already as Stewart breaks clear and fires in off the bar #DFCvMFC

5mins: Great footwork from Thomas to get free on the left and he delivers a great low cross which nobody can take advantage of #DFCvMFC

3mins: Goal! – Harris opens the scoring with the first attack of the game. Took a massive deflection off of McManus to wrong foot Twardzik

McGowan and Stewart get the game underway #DFCvMFC

The teams are out the tunnel. Moments away from kick-off in Dundee #DFCvMFC

[tab:Reaction]

Motherwell  manager Ian Baraclough:

“We talk from the start of the week and building up to match day about having a good start, getting a foothold in the game, making it difficult for your opponents, being on the front foot – and after eight minutes you’re 2-0 down.

“But it’s not acceptable that mistakes keep happening. It’s no coincidence that we are where we are and it’s not just in my time since I’ve come here. It’s been happening for a good part of the season as well.

“I’ve just said to the players there you’ve got to be responsible for not only your own game, but for other people’s as well and you have stay as a group together and demand the best from each other.

“It’s an easy thing to say you’d like to change a load (of players), but the fact is we haven’t got big pots of money to go and overhaul and the players that are in the dressing room at the moment are the ones that have got to dig themselves out.”

Dundee manager Paul Hartley:

“I’m really pleased for the players. There were some good goals from the boys.

“We’ve got a 14-point gap over the two teams at the bottom and we want to make that gap as big as possible.

“It’s a good lead for us and then we just have to look at the other teams above us like St Johnstone who we’re four points behind.

“We got off to a really positive start. We said that to the players beforehand, that we had to take the game to Motherwell.

“I thought we done that and young Alex Harris played a big part in our result today. We scored some good goals and, to be honest, I was disappointed that we didn’t score more goals.

“We had enough of the ball especially in the second-half to do so but we’ve got to be happy with the result at the end of the day.”

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

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Ian Baraclough has urged his side to bounce back from consecutive defeats and edge closer to Dundee in the table.

The Steelmen currently sit four points behind Partick Thistle and five behind Saturday’s opponents, making the game at Dens Park vital.

Paul Hartley’s side will also be desperate for the points to try and halt a run of just one win in nine games, so something has to give in the City of Discovery.

[pullquote]We want to get as close as we can to the teams in and around us, which makes Saturday’s match very important.[/pullquote]

Former Scunthorpe and Sligo boss Baraclough told the broadcast media at today’s pre-match news conference: “Obviously the last two results have been disappointing, but we will now aim and bounce back.

“We want to get as close as we can to the teams in and around us, which makes Saturday’s match very important.

“By taking points off them, not only would it hopefully drag us a little further away from the bottom and into that pack in the middle.

“We go there with excitement, looking forward to playing on a big, open pitch, which we’ll aim to use to its maximum.”

Under 20s Defender Morgyn Neill has joined League One side Ayr United on loan until the end of the season.

Although the eighteen-year old has yet to make his top team debut, he has appeared on the substitutes bench on several occasions.

Neill, who has been a virtual ever-present for Jonatan Johansson’s Under 20s this season, joins the Honest Men with a view to getting vital first-team experience.

‘Well boss Ian Baraclough said: “Morgyn has played the first half of the season with the Under 20s, but what he really needs now is competitive, week-to-week, first-team football.

“This is a big opportunity for him at a good club with a good manager. We will be monitoring his progress regularly to see how he develops.”

New Ayr boss Ian McCall told their official website: “I am delighted to have secured Morgyn until the end of the season.

“We need centre backs and he is a hungry, strong and aggressive.”

Referee for Saturday’s SPFL Premiership clash with Dundee at Dens Park is Stephen Finnie.

It will be Stephen’s first ‘Well match of the 2014/15 campaign after officiating the Fir Parkers twice last term.

The first was at Rugby Park back in November 2013 when second-half goals from John Sutton and Henri Anier handed ‘Well a much needed three points.

The other was back last February and it was a thriller – a 4-3 victory over Partick Thistle at Fir Park. Goals from John Sutton, Keith Lasley, Lionel Ainsworth and Stephen McManus eventually handed the Steelmen all three points, despite Thistle leading twice.

He handled two matches the previous (2012/13) season too.

The first was also at Rugby Park as a Jamie Murphy double secured all three points in a 2-1 win.

The other was the rearranged match against Dundee United at Fir Park last February. Johnny Russell scored the game’s only goal in a 1-0 win for the Terrors.

Prior to that match at Rugby Park last season, Stephen had almost gone two years without a ‘Well fixture; you have to go all the way back to the Steelmen’s narrow defeat to Celtic in Glasgow the day before Stuart McCall took up the hot seat at the club in December 2010.

In the same season, he was also the man in the middle as ‘Well crashed 4-1 at Ibrox. Nick Blackman had actually put the Fir Parkers ahead but second half strikes from Steven Naismith, Steve Davies, Kenny Miller and Vladimir Weiss gave the home side a comfortable victory.

In actual fact, since taking matches in the top-flight of Scottish football, Stephen has only ever officiated nine Motherwell games.

Other than those Old Firm defeats, there was a 3-1 home win over Hearts in March of 2010 (Goals from Mark Reynolds, John Sutton and Jim O’Brien), a 1-0 defeat at Tannadice in October 2007 (Darren Dods heading home the games’ only goal) and a 2-0 win over Dunfermline in March 2007 courtesy of a Scott McDonald brace.

In those nine matches, he has dished out 42 cautions, 14 of which flashed at a player wearing Claret and Amber. Only one player has been sent for an early bath and that was Scott Brown for a second bookable offence in that match at Parkhead in 2010.

Stephen will be ably assisted on the day by Alasdair Ross and Andy Milne with Gavin Duncan assigned as fourth official.

Motherwell FC is pleased to confirm the appeal to overturn Stephen McManus’ red card has been successful.

The former Scotland International was shown a straight card against Aberdeen after match referee Willie Collum adjudged the defender to have handled a Jonny Hayes shot on the line.

Television replays proved conclusively that the match official had made an error and after a hearing of the Judicial Panel at a Fast Track Tribunal hearing at Hampden Park this morning, the card was rescinded

McManus said: “I was bitterly disappointed and frustrated to be red carded last week, but I do also accept that mistakes happen and are part of the game.

“I am obviously pleased the red card has been rescinded and I very much look forward to Saturday’s game against Dundee.”

General Manager Alan Burrows added: “I would like to thank the Compliance Officer, Tony McGlennan, for arranging the hearing so swiftly along with the members of the panel who sat and considered our appeal.

“It’s a satisfying conclusion and a good example of how the improved disciplinary procedure can work to ensure a fair and transparent outcome.”

Every month this season, Cash Converters will be giving you the opportunity to present your Motherwell Player of the Month with his trophy.

The Steelmen picked up seven points from twelve during December so who will you choose? All you need to do is vote for the Well player you think has been the stand-out performer for December and you could be chosen at random to congratulate our star man in person and win a pennant signed by the individual himself.

To cast your vote, simply visit our Cash Converters SPL Facebook page by CLICKING HERE.

Competition closes at midnight on Sunday 11th January.

The player of the month presentation will take place on the week commencing 12th January.

Motherwell FC can today confirm the loan extension of Derby County defender Mark O’Brien until the end of the season.

The 22-year old has played fourteen times since his arrival from Pride Park back in August.

He will now spend the remaining five months of the 2014/15 campaign at Fir Park, attempting to help the Steelmen climb the table.

[pullquote]He’s a strong, aggressive centre half who gives absolutely everything for the cause. He attacks the ball well in both boxes and we feel he can help up us over the next few weeks and months.[/pullquote]

Speaking to motherwellfc.co.uk, ‘Well boss Ian Baraclough said: “I am pleased that we have been able to extend Mark’s loan until the end of the season.

“He’s a strong, aggressive centre half who gives absolutely everything for the cause. He attacks the ball well in both boxes and we feel he can help up us over the next few weeks and months.

‘We want to add competition for places and alongside Stephen McManus, Fraser Kerr and Adam Cummins.

“January is likely to be a busy month. We’ve got to move some players on and get a more fresh faces in. I expect my phone will be very busy indeed.”

Motherwell Football Club can confirm that it has today (Monday) formally submitted an appeal to the Scottish FA in relation to Stephen McManus’ red card in yesterday’s SPFL Premiership match against Aberdeen at Fir Park.

The former Scotland International defender was shown a straight red card by the match official, Willie Collum, in the closing stages after being erroneously penalised for ‘handball’ as he blocked a Jonny Hayes shot on the line.

The club strongly believes this to be a case of wrongful dismissal and have therefore submitted an appeal this morning.

Manager Ian Baraclough said: “Stephen cannot get out the way of it, the shot has been struck with such velocity. He has not put his hand out, but the ball has hit him at the top of the arm, in line with the shoulder.

“To be sent off for that, and subsequently miss games further down the line for us, would be a travesty.

“To be fair, Willie has had to make a split-second decision. He doesn’t get the benefit of a replay and, at times, referees get it wrong and you have to accept that.

“We’re all human beings and we all make mistakes. It’s no different to me as a manager making a wrong decision or a player taking the wrong option; it’s part of the game.

“There were plenty of cameras at the match that show quite clearly what happened, so I would expect the appeal panel to look favourably on this one.

General Manager Alan Burrows added: “Our Football Administrator Karen Paterson has already submitted a Player Reference for Fast Tracking proceeding to the Compliance Officer, and will follow that with the evidence from our broadcast partners.

“We have already had feedback from the Association to confirm the hearing date of this Thursday, 8th January. We hope for and expect a positive outcome.”

 Extended highlights from Fir Park as an Adam Rooney double gives Aberdeen a 2-0 win over Motherwell

Action pictures from this afternoon’s 0-2 SPFL Premiership defeat to Aberdeen at Fir Park.

Snaps courtesy of SNSPix.

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