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Dundee Utd 1, Motherwell 0
Match Date: Saturday, April 28 2001
Competition: Scottish Premier League
Attendance: 5,928
Motherwell Team:
Connolly, Ouefio, Kemble, Okoli, Hammell, Harvey, Chiba (Adams 63), Lasley,
Pearson (Elliott 81), Wood (Corrigan 58), Twaddle.
Subs not used: Woods, McFadden.
Yellow Cards: Kemble, Lasley
Red Card: Okoli
UNDERHILL AIDS UNITED RELEGATION BATTLE
Dundee United 1 Motherwell 0
ONCE AGAIN MOTHERWELL SUFFERED At the hands of a blundering official as the season peters out to a disappointing climax for the Fir Parkers. Just as Motherwell were coming more and more into the game the Whistler rather unjustly allowed Charlie Miller to stay on the park despite having more than an active role in a clash with James Okoli.
An early dive by Griffin was convincing enough to give the home side a free-kick some 20 yards out as Kemble came across to challenge. Stephen Pearson cleared upfield and it took a timely tackle from Lauchlan to stop Twaddle racing into the box.
An awful pass-back from Partridge put the home keeper under pressure with Gallacher unable to prevent the corner. Motherwell forced three in total but the final one from Twaddle was very weak and easily cleared. Oueifio and Hannah then clashed with the latter winning a soft free-kick. Miller sent it in but Okoli got there to hit well away. Kemble then tried to play out of defence and was tackled studs-first by Miller. Play was allowed to continue with Connolly, making his debut in the Motherwell goal, gathering well. Another soft free-kick to United, this time for a jump over Okoli by Hamilton, gave Griffin the chance to curl in but he was well over with the effort. A body-check by Lasley on Hannah then gave United perhaps their first merited free-kick but again Okoli was there to clear, with Kemble completing ahead of Hamilton. Motherwell's first real chance came on the quarter-hour when Chiba played a superb ball down the wing for Twaddle. He entered the box and seeing Gallacher off his line chipped the ball over his head but also inches past the far post. A slip from Hammel then gave United a corner. Hannah's weak pass was intercepted by Pearson and he made a great run from his own box to well inside the opposite half. Playing a one-two with Twaddle the return was only just beyond the young midfielder or he was clear on Gallacher. United returned upfield and Okoli was forced to knock a low cross from Lilley behind. Hannah had time and space on the edge of the box to head goalwards with the ball breaking fortunately for Connolly to gather. The home side were breaking with menace, though an error from Kemble gave Hamilton ample opportunity to speed upfield where his cross was knocked behind for a corner by Okoli. From the second Connolly did well to clutch the ball as Lilley hovered. A scything tackle from Lauchlan on Wood only carried a free-kick with the defender lucky not to see yellow. Seconds later Lilley did likewise to Oueifio though this time there wasn't even a stoppage in play. Lasley picked up possession for Motherwell and he made terrific ground to supply Chiba on the left. Showing great skill to cut into the box it took a vital interception from Lauchlan to stop the Moroccan testing Gallacher. Fans' favourite Okoli shows some terrific skill for a big defender and his pinpoint ball sent Twaddle racing wide. Unfortunately the winger's first touch was not so good and Hannah cleared. With nine minutes to go to the interval United took the lead. Buchan pounced on a loose ball as Chiba was dispossessed in midfield. With defenders backing off he hit the ball from 25 yards and with Connolly set to save the ball took a wicked swerve in mid-air to deceive the goalkeeper and end up in the back of the net. Shortly afterwards it could have been two as a Easton pass sent Lilley clear though Connolly did very well to get down and block. Miller should have been booked for a high tackle on Chiba but again only a free-kick was forthcoming. A bad ball inside then gave Easton the chance to break. His pass found Hamilton and the low cross was poorly controlled by Miller allowing Hammel to concede the corner. As the ball was swung in Partridge connected perfectly but Connolly pulled off an outstanding block to keep Motherwell well in contention at the break.
Half-time Dundee United 1 Motherwell 0
Just a couple of minutes into the second half saw another poor refereeing decision almost costing Motherwell dear. Another dangerous high tackle from Miller, this time on Okoli, was ignored giving Hamilton the chance to break but he hit a dipping shot over from 25 yards out. Kemble was then caught in possession by Hamilton and as the defender tried to win the ball back Hamilton's theatrical slump to the floor was all Underhill needed to book the Motherwell man. Motherwell were struggling to put anything together and it took another good save from Connolly to deny the home side. Miller set up Lilley and his low drive was parried down low by Connolly with Kemble completing the clearance. The game boiled over on 57 minutes and it was a major blunder by Underhill which all but handed the game to the home side. Okoli was late on Miller with the latter reacting angrily by pushing and lashing out at the big defender. Okoli took offence to this but his reactions were hardly over-the-top. Underhill, however, thought differently and he promptly issued a straight red whilst only booking Miller who was very fortunate indeed to stay on the park. At worst, a yellow for each would have surely been sufficient but if Okoli's reactions were deemed violent the Miller's retaliation should have carried the same punishment. Motherwell immediately replaced Wood with Corrigan to revamp the defence. A late clip by Oueifio on Hannah then carried a yellow but this was no surprise. Then Lasley saw yellow as Underhill seemed now to be booking any challenge a Motherwell player made. A minute later Chiba made way for Adams. Not noted for his long-range shooting is Stevie Hammel but he wasn't far away with a 30-yard effort. Lilley of United then made a dangerous run to the by-line and his cut-back was well shepherded behind by Lasley. The home side then took off Hamilton for Thompson. Impressing for Motherwell was young Stephen Pearson and he made another great break upfield. Taking the ball all the way from well inside his own half he took play to within 30 yards of the United goal. Spotting Twaddle racing away on the right Pearson played a superb pass to send the winger clear on Gallacher, but Twaddle pulled his effort wide of the far post. Miller then left play but rather than with a deserved red card he was substituted by Venetis. A poor kick-out by Connolly was snapped up by Lilley. He supplied Hannah but the cross was behind the goal. Stephen Pearson made way for Elliott and left the field of play to a rapturous round of applause from the travelling supporters from Lanarkshire. Thompson hadn't been on the field for long but his first challenge should have seen him pick up a yellow after leaving Adams writhing in agony. United then went close when Lauchlan had a free header at a corner but sent the ball wide. With time running out McCunnie was lucky to escape punishment following an elbow on Twaddle. The homesters made a completely unnecessary substitution with seconds left, taking Lilley off in place of Winters, and ran down the clock to ensure victory.
Full-time Dundee United 1 Motherwell 0
Match Report by Ricky Mullen