St Johnstone 0, Motherwell 2
| Match Date: Saturday, March 9 2002 |
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| Competition: Scottish Premier League | |
| Attendance: 3,282 | |
| Motherwell Team (3-5-2): |
Woods, Ready, Deloumeaux, Strong, Corrigan, McFadden (Pearson 82), Lasley,
Martinez, Hammell, Ferrere (Elliott 75), Lehmann.
Subs not used: Brown, Adams, Soloy.
Motherwell scorers: McFadden (9 pen), Lehmann (62).
Yellow Card: Corrigan..
CRUISE CONTROL WELL EASE TO SAFETY
Saint Johnstone 0 Motherwell 2
DESPITE PLAYING BELOW PAR Motherwell were way too good for a first division-bound Saint Johnstone team at McDairmid on Saturday. The home side offered little in resistance to a Fir Park team who confidently strolled to only their second away win of the season.
Saint Johnstone showed firstly with a low shot from Hartley drifting well wide following a cross from Parker. From Woods' kick an error from Murray almost allowed McFadden in but the home player recovered well to shadow the ball through to Cuthbert. The Perth men attacked again and after Doloumeux had blocked Lynch's cross for a corner Hammel did well to prevent Hartley getting in a cross an gaining a goal-kick in the process. Motherwell pushed forward with Corrigan firing in a 25-yard shot which was deflected wide for a corner, this after some good passing play from the Fir Parkers. McFadden took the ball from the corner-kick and was promptly up-ended by a rash Lynch challenge to give away the penalty. McFadden himself strode up and confidently slotted home to put the visitors ahead. The sublime ponytail was then brought down again by Lynch shortly afterwards and Motherwell should have doubled the lead. Hammel curled the ball to the back post but Ferrere, in isolation, could only head wide. Motherwell were beginning to dominate and McCluskey had to be sharp to deny Lehmann as he was ready to pounce on McFadden's ball in. Ferrere was then sent flying by a lunge from Hartley giving away the free kick. Hammel sent in a lovely ball which only needed a touch but it ran through to Cuthbert. Motherwell had a scare when Woods could only touch on a cross from Lynch but as the ball ran through there were no takers and it went out for a throw. David Ferrere held his hands on his head again when he passed up another opportunity to score with a header, nodding Corrigan's cross wide. Corrigan was then rather unfairly booked when he and Forsyth chased a loose ball and although it looked 50-50 Referee McDonald booked Corrigan despite winning the ball. Roberto Martinez was restored to the line-up and he brought down Lovenkrands as the winger looked to bear down on Woods. From the free kick McCluskey's header was easily gathered. A mis-placed pass from Parker was then pounced upon by McFadden but he found Cuthbert equal to his 18-yard shot. Referee McDonald then called it wrong again when McFadden, clearly being tugged by Forsyth, was penalised giving Saint Johnstone the free kick 20 yards out. However, Ready headed well downfield. Hartley was lucky to escape a booking when he sent Ferrere flailing some 35 yards out, though from the free kick Saint Johnstone regained possession with Lovenkrands crossing for McCluskey, the header saved easily. Motherwell then lost possession again in a good position near the home corner flag allowing Saint Johnstone to break. The ball fell for Forsyth but he drove way over. A slip from Ready then gave Jones a sniff at goals though to Ready's credit he immediately recovered to block with Woods and the Deloumeaux completing the clearance. A rash tackle from McCluskey on Lehmann again failed to produce a yellow and a second or two later Hartley then lunged at Lasley with once more a free kick being the only punishment. Lynch stretched out a leg to divert the ball for a corner as McFadden hovered. The move broke down and Saint Johnstone attacked, Parker nutmegging Ready and his dangerous, low cross swept behind by Strong. From the corner Forsyth headed well wide of the target. Motherwell had a solid claim for a second penalty denied when Lasley was tripped by Forsyth inside the box, play being waved on. Just near the interval Motherwell were awarded a free kick when Parker brought down McFadden. The ball fell to Strong and he volleyed over.
Half-Time Saint Johnstone 0 Motherwell 1
Saint Johnstone were first to threaten at the start of the second, Ready bringing down Parker to concede a free kick some 25 yards out. Lehmann blocked and sent McFadden scurrying away. With options available McFadden chose to go alone and his poor shot was gathered by Cuthbert. Some desperate defending kept the score to one when firstly Forsyth blocked Ferrere then Lehmann was beaten by Cuthbert to the loose ball. A vicious 25-yard shot from Corrigan was then deflected behind with Hammel free at the back post. In total four successive corners were conceded before Ready was eventually given offside to relieve the pressure. A terrific run from McFadden saw Lasley set up but the midfielder dragged his shot well wide. The closest the home side came to scoring was just before the hour mark when Parker twisted and turned to fire in a shot which hit the side netting though Woods had it well covered. McCluskey was at last booked soon afterwards when he was late on Martinez. The Spaniard recovered and from McFadden's lay-off sent in a superb low shot which Cuthbert did well to parry round the post. Martinez laid the corner off for McFadden and fooling Forsyth he clipped a cross to the back post where Lehmann ran in unchallenged to nod home for number two. Right from kick-off Motherwell broke upfield with McFadden though his pass to Ferrere was only just intercepted by McCluskey. A shocking tackle from Murray on Lasley was swiftly booked by Referee McDonald though reds have been issued for less. Soon afterwards Lasley was again the brunt of some brutal challenges, this time McBride, though for some reason McDonald chose not to book. Ferrere stepped up but he drove wide. The hat trick of bookings for Saint Johnstone came though when Forsyth was carded for lunging at Corrigan. The home side then made a double substitution, McBride and Murray making way for the curiously named Panther and Maher respectively. Some more slick passing from Motherwell almost added a third; Ferrere slipping the ball in for Lasley but Cuthbert was alert. A clever one-two between Lehmann and Corrigan resulted in a low cross falling just behind Ferrere and although Hammel was on to it he hit the side netting. Motherwell were well on top and Ready sent Lehmann clear. The German hesitated slightly before seeing his shot blocked well by Cuthbert for the corner. Eric Deloumeaux then had to be sharp to block Parker's cross for a corner at the other end which Jones headed way past. Motherwell then made a change, Ferrere making way for Stuart Elliott. Another slick one-two between Lehmann and McFadden almost gave the latter a clear shot, Weir blocking and Elliott flagged a close off-side. Jones was almost away when Ready tripped conceding the free kick 25 yards out on the left. Hartley curled in only for Ready to nod behind, Woods taking the corner easily. McFadden then made way for Pearson as Motherwell shuffled again. Panther conceded a free kick sending Lasley flying, though Hammel curled the ball over. The home side then created perhaps their best chance in the match when McCluskey's low cross was dragged wide by Jones near the penalty spot. It was still mostly Motherwell as the game headed to its conclusion and Lehmann saw a low shot well held by Cuthbert. Time ran out on the home side and the require just one more draw to take the drop to Division One, whilst Motherwell require exactly the same to mathematically ensure safety.
Full-time Saint Johnstone 0 Motherwell 2
Match Report by Ricky Mullen