'WELL SUNGLASSES
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4.45pm

Well what can I say?  I'm just back from Hampden (following a brief stop-off at the Electric) after watching Motherwell bravely going down 4-3 to Rangers in this afternoon's Scottish Cup Semi-final, and while I'm obviously disappointed at having been beaten I have nothing but praise for the team and the way they played this afternoon.

Firstly, I almost didn't make it to the game at all after missing the last flight home from London last night, however that's another story.  Sadly this meant I was unable to partake of any pre-match "refreshments" today, but upon boarding the train from Glasgow Central to Mount Florida the first thing that struck me was the number of 'Well fans who were there.  Walking up to the stadium, the singing from the Motherwell fans could clearly be heard from a good distance away, and upon entering the stadium the wall of noise that hit me was absolutely unbelievable. We must have had a good 6,500 fans at Hampden today, and they created a great atmosphere with no let-up in the signing for virtually the entire 90 mins.

We started the match with 4 at the back, with McFadden playing just behind the front two of Clarkson and Craig.  Dirk Lehmann and Keith Lasley both had to settle for a place on the bench.

In a similar vein to last week's game against Dundee, we quickly found ourselves a goal down before we'd even had time to settle.  Konterman launched a fierce shot from the edge of the box that beat Dubordeau, although perhaps the French goalkeeper might have done better with the effort.  Its possible that other teams might not have recovered after a start like that, but to Motherwell's great credit they took the game by the scruff of the neck and went on to dominate the remainder of the first half.  Peason, McFadden and Adams all had opportunities before we eventually equalised after 15 mins, when Clarkson crossed for Craig to score from close range.  Then after 27 mins a brilliant curling shot from McFadden put us into a deserved lead and sparked off scenes of wild celebration among the 'Well fans.  As half-time approached, Clarkson missed a wonderful opportunity to make it 3-1 when he sliced wide with the goal at his mercy.  I suppose the outcome of the match could have been a lot different had he scored, however Rangers went on to miss a golden chance of their own right before the interval when Mols fired wide.

After dominating much of the first-half, there was always going to be a spell of the game when we were going to be on the back foot, and unfortunately it came midway through the second 45mins when Rangers moved up a gear.  Sadly we were unable to hold on to our lead during this period, and the annoying thing is that two of the goal we conceded were easily preventable.  The Rangers equaliser came after 56 mins when Mols shot past Dubordeau from a tight angle, and shortly afterwards they went in front when a free-kick crossed into the box was headed home by Amoruso.  The award of the free-kick was nothing short of disgraceful as clearly no foul had been committed, however the Rangers defender still should not have been allowed a free header only a few yards from goal.  The killer fourth goal came when Thompson's cross was headed into his goal by Partridge, with Dubourdeau again looking none to clever, but we never gave up and pulled a consolation goal back in injury time through Derek Adams to make the final score 4-3 to Rangers.

There is no question in my mind that the better team lost today.  We played the better football, and had outstanding performances in all areas of the park.  I simply do not think that we could have played any better than we did, and although I'm still a bit miffed at a couple of the goals we lost I'm still immensely proud of the way the team performed.  Each and every Motherwell player gave it their all, and while I've often criticised our midfield this season I thought they in particular were outstanding today.  Stephen Pearson deservedly picked up the man of the match award, and completely outshone Barry Ferguson in the middle of the park.  Why on earth can't be play like that every week!

I can't finish without a minor grumble.  I thought the performance of referee Mike McCurry today was nothing short of disgraceful, with all the important decisions (including a good penalty shout) at key moments of the game going in the Glasgow side's favour.  I always try to leave any biased opinions to Ricky, but I have to say that today I simply didn't think we got a fair crack of the whip.

Oh well, I guess it just wasn't to be.  Tonight we should be proud of the performance of our team, who more than matched the side who cost many millions of pounds and look set to be crowned league champions this season.  We should also take comfort from the fact that if we play half as well as we did today in our remaining league matches, then there is no way we will go down.

Team (4-4-2): Dubourdeau, Corrigan, Vaughan, Partridge, Hammell (Cowan 75), Adams, Leitch (Lehmann 86), Pearson, McFadden, Clarkson, Craig (Offiong 68).
Subs not used: Woods, Lasley.

Booked: Vaughan, Adams, McFadden, Pearson, Offiong.

Attendance: 29,352

Terry Butcher's after-match comments were as follows:
"I'm proud of the way they went about their work. They can walk out of here with their heads held high and chests out because they have had a right go at Rangers and made them work all the way.  Clarkson is not 18 until September, he's a phenomenal talent and what a big heart he has got.  I thought Pearson was excellent, but Clarkson would have shaded him. His work-rate was phenomenal.

"We were very worried (after going being so early on). We let one in after 75 seconds last Saturday and this was a minute or so this Saturday.  But looking at the players before the game I didn't see any fear in them. We went a goal down and I feared the worst, but all of a sudden they started to pass the ball and gain confidence. It was quite bizarre but nice as well.

"It was incredible really. It was a great day for the club and we wanted to take something positive from the game. That was the minimum requirement and I think we have certainly done that.

"In that spell in the second half Rangers were very strong and dominant. Steven Thompson made a big difference when he came on and they just steamrollered us.  They got the goals that were necessary but having said that we still came back towards the end and these players don't give up - they just keep going all the time.  We can take a lot of positives from the game, although it is very disappointing to lose in a seven-goal thriller.  We can take a hell of a lot from the game. It was just disappointing to score three goals against Rangers and not get anything from it.

"If you looked at the way Rangers played in the second half you would say possibly not as they certainly had a go. But they had to have a go."

Man of the Match Stephen Pearson added:
"The boys put so much effort into it and, for the first hour, I thought we were absolutely magnificent.  The own goal to make it 4-2 was what killed it."

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