[tab:Match report]
Alan Temple at Fir Park
Motherwell notched their second victory over Dundee United in seven days with a brave 2-1 win at Fir Park.
Jamie Murphy enlivened what had been a fairly low-key first half as he drove home a splendid effort from what seemed like an impossible angle.
The home side made it two when Chris Humphrey skinned Paul Dixon before firing in a low shot which deflected into the net off the unfortunate Sean Dillon, making it three goals in as many games for the in-form ‘Well flyer.
A nervy finish was ensured when Johnny Russell flicked home a near-post header from a Paul Dixon corner, but – despite some anxious moments, including a match-winning Darren Randolph save – McCall’s men held on manfully for three precious points.
Remarkably, trips to Fir Park now account for four of Dundee United’s six away defeats in domestic matters this season – with Peter Houston presumably sick of the sight of North Lanarkshire.
Stuart McCall has previously bemoaned his side’s lack of consistency, but the Steelmen’s Fir Park form going into this clash was exemplary, having won three consecutive home matches in the SPL.
In the quest to make it four on the trot McCall made three changes to the side which defeated Aberdeen at the weekend, with Ross Forbes and Stephen Craigan coming in for Steve Jones and Gavin Gunning. Stevie Saunders also made his return to first-team duty, replacing Stevie Hammell.
The Arabs were also coming into this vital encounter on the back of an impressive weekend result, having defeated the defending champions, Rangers, in their own back yard – a thoroughly impressive response to their Scottish Cup elimination at the hands of Motherwell last week.
Peter Houston made two changes to the side which triumphed at Ibrox, with Craig Conway coming in for Danny Swanson and Scott Severin starting in place of Barry Douglas – Severin’s first start since 23rd October, ironically a 2-1 defeat against Motherwell.
The opening stages could hardly have been more different from the blistering start made by ‘Well seven days previous, with both sides struggling for any sense of urgency or vibrancy. Indeed, it took 15 minutes for either side to notch anything approaching a shot on goal, with Johnny Russell firing straight into the arms of Darren Randolph from 18 yards.
That half-chance seemed to spark the home side into life and Jamie Murphy created a decent chance for John Sutton. The Scotland under-21 starlet sailed past Keith Watson before teeing up the ‘Well striker, but his point-blank effort was well blocked by the scrambling Sean Dillon.
Sutton’s chance was a forbearer for the Steelmen’s opener, and once again the electric Murphy was at the heart. The 21-year old latched onto a poor clearance following a Ross Forbes cross, and proceeded to burst past to United defenders and beat Dušan Perniš from an astoundingly acute angle – the in-form wide-man’s eleventh goal of a prolific campaign.
And Motherwell doubled their advantage with five minutes to go until the break – and it was a case of déjà vu all over again, with exactly the same goal scorers as first-half of the cup encounter a week ago – as Chris Humphrey added to Jamie Murphy’s opener.
The Jamaican-born winger took a stunning first touch from a long diagonal pass to absolutely skin the toiling Paul Dixon on the right-flank. He cut inside toward the United box and his low drilled effort cannoned over the despairing Perniš, via Sean Dillon.
It was an admittedly lucky finish, but the least the winger deserved from a scintillating run.
The Arabs were, once again, struggling to impose themselves at Fir Park, but they did register one decent effort, with Craig Conway lashing a free-kick wide from 25 yards. However, it looked as though big Darren Randolph had it covered.
Over the half-time interval the skies of North Lanarkshire endeavoured to open, ensuring testing conditions for the second period – and in the wind and rain Dundee United attempted to piece together a comeback.
Firstly, Johnny Russell looped a shot just wide from the edge of the box following some neat interplay down the left between Paul Dixon and Craig Conway. That was immediately followed by a Russell volley wide of goal from 20 yards, after Darren Randolph punched a cross straight to the United youngster.
With less than ten minutes played in the second half it was Scott Robertson’s turn to come close for the Arabs. The United captain latched on to a David Goodwillie pass, and his low drive was well parried by Darren Randolph, preserving the two-goal cushion.
The relentless wind and rain were making conditions fairly treacherous, with United keeper Perniš seemingly having the most trouble with the weather, misjudging several clearances and making one particularly comical fumble of a simple long ball.
As the half progressed there was a distinct lack of fluency – something which very much suited the home side.
Yet the whipping gusts aided the Arabs attempts to get back into the match as Paul Dixon’s ferocious corner kick caught the gale, producing a massively swerving in-swinging delivery which was flicked into the net by Johnny Russell.
Moments later the visitors were almost level as Danny Swanson latched on to an incisive through-ball before driving a decent low shot towards the far corner of the net, but Darren Randolph was on hand to parry wide superbly.
‘Well had to defend for their lives in the closing stages as the Arabs piled men forward, and Darren Randolph made a magnificent point-blank save to deny David Goodwillie in injury-time – and effectively secure the win for the hosts.
A third consecutive victory ensures that a top-six place is now tantalisingly close for ‘Well. If the Steelmen defeat Hearts this weekend or Inverness Caledonian Thistle are beaten at Rugby Park then Motherwell are guaranteed top-half football after the split. While even a point at Tynecastle would mean Terry Butcher’s men have to win all three of their remaining fixtures to deny McCall’s troops.
[tab:As it happened]
Graham Barnstaple at Fir Park
Full Time – 2-1 Well, seven points ahead of ICT in race for top six.
92mins – Randolph makes a stiunning point blank save to secure three points.
90mins – Two minutes being added on and Page on for Forbes.
87mins – We look as though we are dead on our feet but there is some determined , dogged play going on out there.
85mins – 5 to go and Well fans getting nervous as we struggle for any posession!
80mins – GOAL to United, Dixon’s corner headed in at the front post by Russell, Randolh then denies Swanson when he is clean through.
65mins – final change for United Conway off and replaced by Jon Daly.
62mins – Pernis makes an over flamboyant save from a Hateley free kick.
59mins – Another United change, with Swanson on for David Robertson, they are now playing with three up at all times.
55mins – Crowd is 3435, almost 5000 less than last week!
53mins – first chance of half to United, Scott Roertson’s low drive from 18 yards denied by fine diving save from Randolph.
50mins – Gavin Gunning has just appeared in the Director’s Box with his right arm in a sling.
49mins – United sub, Kenneth on for Keith Watson who didn’t look happy with the decision.
46mins – Second half underway, with the rain now sweeping across the ground.
Half time – 2-0 Well, not as scintillating as last week but it’ll do!!
41mins – If it stays as a Humphrey goal that is three in three games, he is on fire!!
41mins – GOAL – 2-0, Humphrey skins Dixon 35 yards out, races into the ox and his shot from 15 yards is deflected over a stranded Pernis.
27mins – That’s Murphy’s eleventh goal of the season, three behind John Sutton.
26mins – GOAL – Murphy skips past two defenders and then appears to run along the bye line before somehow squeezing in from tight angle.
22mins – Humphrey shot from edge of the box blocked, after United fail to deal with a corner .
16mins – first shot of the game, Russell out paces Cragian but his shot from 20 yards is easy for Randolph to gather.
1min – Maurice Ross is at left back with Steven Saunders at right back, Ross Forbes wide on the left, that’s the changes from Sat.
1min – Ref Stevie O’Reilly gets the match underway with United kicking off, and we are shooting into the South Stand.
[tab:Reaction]
Motherwell manager Stuart McCall:
“That result is outstanding as Dundee United are an excellent side. They’ve won six league games on the bounce, beating Rangers at Ibrox, and they have quality players.
“We had four regulars out and we had lads running on empty in the last 15-20 minutes. But we hung in there.
“A team as good as Dundee United are going to have spells in the game. You’ve got to accept that and you have to defend well when they do.
“And we did that ever so well. We got some great blocks in and big Daz made some great saves. We got home through grit, determination and desire.
“It’s disappointing to lose a goal from a set-piece but when you look at Garry Kenneth, Scott Severin and Jon Daly – they are a big, big side.”
Dundee Utd manager Peter Houston:
“You can’t afford to give a team like Motherwell a two goal start and that is exactly what happened today again. It was poor, poor defending at both goals.
“The first is from their first attack; they’ve never really been up the bar. A ball down the touchline, we try to be smart instead of clearing it, Forbes gets it to Murphy who does well to score.
“The second, Dixon rushes out to Humphrey, he flicks it round him. You ask players to get tight but not as tight as that. It then takes a wicked deflection over the keeper and we’re 2-0 down.
“The last hour we battered them and had enough chances to win the game. Pleased with the second half performance but once again we leave Fir Park with nothing.”
[tab:Man-of-the-match]
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