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Motherwell 4, St Johnstone 0
Match Date: Saturday, October 14 2000
Competition: Premier League
Attendance: 4,400
Motherwell Team:
Woods, Corrigan, Kemble, Strong, Hammell, Townsley, Brannan (McLean),
Adams, Elliott, Spencer (Goodman), McCulloch (Nicholas).
Subs not used: Connolly, Ramsay.
Motherwell scorers: Dods o.g. (20), McCulloch (26), Brannan (64), Elliott (71).
FOUR-STAR WELL SLAM SAD SAINTS
Motherwell 4 Saint Johnstone 0
MOTHERWELL AT LAST KICK-STARTED Their season with a comprehensive win over a poor visiting side. There was rarely any doubt about the final outcome as Motherwell at last turned possession into goals.
The game's first chance fell in the first minute to Motherwell, Stuart Elliott firing in a cross which Derek Townsley shot past the far post. Saint Johnstone hit back and after Hartley had been allowed to continue despite tugging Stevie Hammel his cross was knocked behind by Strong ahead of Sylla. The inswinger was met by Dodds but Brannan was on hand to clear. A lack of communication between Woods and Strong almost allowed McBride's cross to sneak through, Strong eventually belting out for a throw. Seconds later Sylla picked the ball up and shot well past. Visiting Keeper Main was called upon to make a fantastic save when Elliott met Townsley's cross at the near post. Main didn't look too clever when he swiped at the ball as it came in from the resultant corner with Kemble's header cleared from almost on the line by Dodds. Former Tannadice man Main then had to rush from his goals to boot clear inches ahead of the alert Elliott who almost connected with Townsley's accurate ball. Kane did manage to relieve the pressure somewhat when he burst forward but the 20-yard shot was well past. John Spencer then passed up a great chance when he mis-kicked in front of an open goal following great play by Brannan and Elliott. Motherwell had to defend a dangerous free-kick by Hartley, the ball looping towards the back post for Dasovic but Kemble cleared. A minute later, however, Motherwell took a deserved lead through an unlikely source. Stuart Elliott went rushing through the middle but as he made the box Sylla slid in to divert the ball to the right. There was Dodds and his miscue ran straight into the unguarded net. It was almost two soon after when McBride was punished for a push on McCulloch. The cross came in from Brannan and all it needed was to connect with anything, instead it ran harmlessly behind. McBride tried to make amends with a shot from 20 yards but it was wild. The play swung towards the visiting goal again with Martyn Corrigan unlucky to see an angled drive deflected over for a corner. The second goal was merely delayed a few seconds and it came from the corner. The ball was partially cleared high in the air and with almost everyone watching Lee McCulloch nipped in just a couple of yards from the line to send an over-head kick in off Elliott and into the net. Main took a knock in the melee and required lengthy treatment before continuing. Kernaghan then got away with a climb on McCulloch inside the box though a moment later Kane should certainly have seen yellow for a bad kick at Elliott. The Northern Irish International was then inches away from connecting with a superb long ball by Strong only for Dodds to kick out of play. Saint Johnstone forced a corner when Hammel had to stop McBride's cross from reaching Kane but normal service was soon restored when McCulloch had a shot which, for the visitors, thankfully deflected and trickled to Main. Referee Toner then produced a harsh yellow card for Stuart Elliott as he attempted to block a Main clearance. John Spencer then blocked a Dodds pass but the shot went wide of the post. The visitors had a rare chance to pull a goal back when Hartley's cross was deflected onto McBride but despite being in space some 15 yards out he drove wildly over. Derek Townsley was having a good game and his cross almost found Spencer, Kernaghan nipping in to partially clear. The ball fell to Corrigan and his fierce drive flew over. Just before the break Adams caught Sylla late and the visitors gained a free-kick on the right. Bollan strode up and his low grounder was easily held by Woods. Saint Johnstone won another free-kick when Corrigan and Dasovic clashed but the take was poor allowing Spencer to race up the field. He ran the full length of the pitch and then crossed but Kernaghan had ran back to beat Elliott to the ball, this proving to be the last action of an extended first-half.
Half-Time Motherwell 2 Saint Johnstone 0
Saint Johnstone made a double-substitution at the beginning of the second half by taking off Lovenkrands and McBride and replacing them with Parker and Evers. A good combination between Spencer and McCulloch gave Townsley a chance to shoot but Main made a good save. The visitors made an understandable increase in effort at the beginning of the half without troubling Woods in the Home goal. They forced two quick corners but these were easily dealt with by the Motherwell rearguard. A blatant dive by Parker out on the left was ignored by Referee Tollan who was clearly intent on upsetting both sets of supporters. Spencer looked set to bear down on goal when Adams sent him clear but to the rage of the Motherwell fans the East Stand side linesman raised a flag which was woefully incorrect. Sylla made ground on the left to fire in a cross which Woods, under pressure, did well to take. Hartley then forced Hammel to concede a corner and whilst Kernaghan rose unchallenged the headed well wide. Parker then burst forward and his cross-cum-shot was well palmed away by Woods with Sylla sending the ball past the far post. Kane then escaped a card when he again fouled McCulloch rather late. Brannan dinked the ball to the far-post where McCulloch's side-footer forced Main to make a terrific save. However, from the corner Ged Brannan ran in all alone to nod home for the third Motherwell goal. It could have been four when Townsley robbed Sylla to send Spencer through but again the Linesman incorrectly raised a late flag. Saint Johnstone came out of defence for a rare attack but Connolly's over-head kick sailed past. Motherwell then replaced John Spencer with Don Goodman. Visiting keeper Main then had to make a good stop as Townsley connected with Brannan's return header. Sylla and Adams then collided out wide and amazingly the Motherwell defender saw yellow when it reality it appeared no worse than accidental. Motherwell then put the game way beyond the visitors with a goal gifted by Main. Don Goodman passed wide to Elliott and as Main came out he made no challenge whatsoever allowing Elliott to knick the ball past and roll it into the unguarded net from the angle. From the kick-off Saint Johnstone attacked but Sylla's shot was more suited to that of the Blind Date host and Woods gathered easily. Manager Davies then gave Jamie McLen, a loan signing from Newcastle, a run out bringing him on for Ged Brannan. A third Motherwell player was then booked, and given a certain few meaty challenges by Kane which had gone unpunished the yellow brandished to Kemble for his tackle on Hartley was at best unfair. Kane connected with the free-kick and his shot was deflected past for a corner. A minute later Lee McCulloch hobbled off injured to be replaced by Stevie Nicholas. And seconds after that Motherwell were reduced to ten men. There was no arguing that Kemble deserved a yellow as he checked Parker's progress through the middle but given the soft yellow minutes earlier there was sympathy for the defender. Lachlan came on for Sylla, and the free-kick was then driven in by Kane. The ball looked goal-bound until Woods made a terrific tip over. An error by Dodds then almost gave Nicholas a chance to run clear but good covering by Kernaghan stopped the danger. McLen then sent Elliott clear and it was again a late, late and completely wrong flag by the linesman which denied a fifth. With a couple of minutes left Dasovic drove well past, whilst Adams then had the last say with a shot which and were deservedly applauded off the park.
Full-Time Motherwell 4 Saint Johnstone 0
Match Report by Ricky Mullen (rmullen@motherwell.co.uk)