4.30pm

Today's result: Motherwell 2, Dundee Utd 2.

Motherwell twice failed to hold on to a lead that would have taken us four points clear of Dundee Utd in the race for 3rd place.  And with Keith Lasley missing an absolute sitter with the final kick of the ball, I can't help but think we might just have blown our chance of European football next season.

We lined up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Clarkson and Malcolm returning from suspension and Ross McCormack strangely handed a wide midfield berth.

With a swirling wind and rutted pitch, there was never any question of silky soccer being the order of the day.  It was the visitors who started the match brightly, and they had already passed up several decent opportunities before Motherwell look the lead against the run of play.  Porter headed home Hughes' flick from close range after 17 mins to give us a rather undeserved lead.  There was precious little goalmouth action in the remainder of the half, but United found themselves going in at the break on level terms when Craigan headed past his own goalkeeper in the final minute when it seemed there was little danger.

We were back in front shortly after the restart when Porter headed home unmarked from a McCormack free kick, and we then proceeded to have our best spell of the game.  Our final pass let us down time and time again, but at least we were restricting United to very few chances.  However, with four minutes left, our inability to defend set pieces came back to haunt us yet again when Wilkie headed home from a corner with the 'Well defence all over the place.  Then in the dying seconds, Clarkson put Lasley through but the midfielder could only blaze the ball wide when it looked easier to score (and to make matters worse, I had a quid on Porter first scorer / Motherwell to win 3-2 at 80-1).

I suppose that given we didn't play well at all today, we should be reasonably happy with a point, especially when it keeps Dundee Utd below us in the table.  However, the manner of the two goals we lost today was very hard to take, as both looked completely avoidable.  It now looks like we're going to have to go to Easter Road on the final day of the season needing a result, and given our record at that particular venue it's not a prospect that fills me with any confidence.

Still, give me this over fighting relegation at this stage of the season any day.  And I should have learned by now that Motherwell NEVER do things the easy way.

Team (4-4-2): Graeme Smith, Quinn, Craigan, Reynolds, Hammell, Clarkson, Hughes (Fitzpatrick 46), Malcolm, Lappin (Brian McLean 88), Porter, McCormack (Lasley 84). 
Subs Not Used: Daniels, McGarry, Darren Smith, Murphy.

Motherwell scorer: Porter (17, 50).

Booked: Quinn, Porter.

Attendance: 5,027.

Speaking after the game, Mark McGhee blasted the "shambolic" defending that saw his side twice throw away the lead:
"It was bordering on shambolic at times, it was a poor, poor game. Steven Hammell at times looked like a poor player, simply because he couldn't get the ball under control on that surface.  We didn't lose the game but it feels like we lost the game because of the poor, poor defending at the second goal.  We weren't on the front foot. I have said to Graeme Smith and questioned what he had in his mind. Whether he was waiting for a shot or whether he was thinking 'can I help my back four by coming for the ball?'  There might be too many people in his way but was he set to come and catch it? We all had to be a bit more aggressive in our defending.

"We have still got Hibs to play, which is really important, it kept Dundee United behind us.  It might be that we have to go to Easter Road and beat them, but that's fine, the prize is worth having to do that.  I'm happy with the result, just a little bit bewildered by the performance."

If Rangers reach the UEFA Cup final, then the SPL season will be extended to May 22 to accommodate their outstanding fixtures against St Mirren and ourselves, meaning we'd be rounding off the campaign with a trip Easter Road on a Thursday night.

Full details available here.

Well done to Hamilton Accies for clinching the First Division title last weekend.  It's been far too long since we had a derby match in the SPL.

It seems that Chris McCart will leave the club at the end of the season to take over at Celtic's head of youth development.

Almost a decade after he played his last game for Motherwell, Dougie Arnott is finally set to be rewarded with a testimonial which will include a golf day and a match against an Old Firm Select.  Details available from www.dougie-arnott.com.

A midweek newspaper report claimed that Ross McCormack's agent has held signing talks with both Bristol City and Watford.  The article also stated "Motherwell have put their best offer on the table and that would put McCormack among their highest earners if he was to commit, but that seems unlikely."

The reserves were held to a 1-1 draw by their Rangers counterparts at Almondvale on Tuesday, April 15, with Mark Archdeacon on target for the 'Well second eleven.  Team:
Daniels, Fallon, Lappin, Nixon, Gupwell, Lasley (Meechan 45, Fitzpatrick (Archdeacon 70), McGarry, Smith, Maguire (Forbes 56), Murphy.
Subs Not Used: Coutts, Wilson.

Then last Tuesday, the reserves drew 0-0 with Aberdeen at Brechin.  Team:
Coutts, Murray, Wilson, Gupwell, Nixon, McPake, Meechan, Forbes, Archdeacon (Hutchinson 80mins), Murphy (McHugh 78mins), Maguire (Slane 66).
Subs Not Used: Hyslop