Motherwell 2, Birmingham City 1
| Match Date: Wednesday, July 24 2002 |
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| Competition: Pre-season Friendly | |
| Attendance: 2,293 | |
| Motherwell Team (4-4-2): |
Team: Woods, Ramsay, Corrigan, Partridge, Hammell, Lasley, Adams (Clarke 86),
Leitch, Pearson (Fagan 45), McFadden, Lehman.
Subs not used: Ewings, Kinniburgh, McDonald, Dempsie.
Motherwell scorers: Adams, McFadden.
Yellow Cards: None
FANTASTIC FADDY SEALS THIRD WIN
Motherwell 2 Birmingham City 1
A FANTASTIC SHOW BY JAMES McFADDEN Saw Motherwell see off their Premiership opponents in style. The visitors from the West Country had little answer to the trickery of the Motherwell striker whose reputation grows with each performance.
The lads from South of the Border began on the attack and it took a good block from Partridge to stop Johnson getting the cross in. The newly formed centre-half partnership of Partridge and Corrigan were still getting to know each other, leaving John to fire a free header wide. There were faint shouts for a penalty at the other end when Adams was bundled off the ball by former Celtic man Tebily though had it been awarded it would have been soft to say the least. Motherwell stayed in attack and only a smart header from Kenna stopped Lehmann connecting with the flick from McFadden. However, the Fir Parkers were not to be denied and took the lead shortly afterwards. McFadden gathered possession inside his own half and raced to the Birmingham penalty area despite the attentions of several defenders. Picking out Adams, he in turn had time to steady himself and pick a spot beyond Bennett to open the scoring.
It was almost a quick second when Pearson raced away and found McFadden, but this time Bennett got down to hold. Birmingham weren't behind for long, however, and gained a little fortune in scoring. Former Motherwell target Stern John eased himself clear in the box and although Woods got down well to parry the shot the ball fell for Devlin who turned and scored from close range. A slip from Woods a minute later almost gave Johnson a chance but the Motherwell keeper recovered to smother the ball. The Fir Parkers continued to look dangerous and again Pearson broke free on the left. Lehmann gathered the pass but was crowded out and although McFadden picked up Kenna charged the ball away. A spectacular save from Stevie Woods then kept Motherwell on level terms when he pulled out a marvellous save to deny John after the striker had curled in a shot from the edge of the box. Within a minute it was Bennett with a tip over for a corner after McFadden had sent a free kick in just under the bar as play swung upfield. The ball was cleared only as far as McFadden from the corner but just as he was about to strike Johnson made the interception. Birmingham had to defend again when McFadden's clever flick almost let in Lehmann, Hyde nipping in just in time.
Motherwell forced successive corners but the Midlanders went close themselves with Devlin sending in an angled drive not far past. A minute late, however, Motherwell regained the lead with some more clever McFadden decisiveness. Lehmann dispossessed Johnson and held the ball up until McFadden had made his run through. The striker made no mistake, guiding the ball beyond Bennett into the far corner. Birmingham tried to retaliate, Woods having to be sharp to pluck from the head of Hyde. They won a free kick when Kenna went down rather easily under a Hammel tackle, though Partridge cleared. John then held the ball up well for Johnson to curl a shot past the far post but the Motherwell survived. Still Motherwell looked more likely and McFadden's terrific run was only halted by a perfectly timed Hyde tackle. Referee Somers had the Birmingham players in anger when, despite a clear advantage, he pulled play back for an Adams tug on Hyde. Up rose Johnson but his header sailed wide. The visitors were forced into a substitution when Woodhouse went off to be replaced by Savage. What looked like a fair 50-50 challenge between Corrigan and Devlin went in the latter's' favour when he lost possession, and from the free kick near the corner flag and Woods held the drive from John. A minute or so later Johnson cut along the of the box before curling a fierce shot inches over, and just before the break it was Kenna who drove way over.
Half-Time Motherwell 2 Birmingham City 1
Motherwell made an immediate change, Sean Fagan replacing the injured Stephen Pearson. It was the Fir Parkers who were first out of the blocks with a Ramsay pass finding Lehmann, and although Bennett met the cross he dropped it into the path of McFadden. Normally clinical in front of goals McFadden somehow managed to drive the ball high over the bar from point-blank range. Hammel then sent in a dangerous cross which Tebily somehow managed to clear as Lehmann lurked. The Fir Par fans were angered soon after when more superb McFadden skill saw him send Lehmann clear, and although well on side the linesman decided otherwise. Birmingham then made a double change, Hyde and Eaden making way for Lazaridis and Hughes respectively. Stevie Woods was called into action when he made a comfortable save from Devlin, though a minute later Lazaridis laid the ball off for Hughes and he chipped narrowly past. Another visiting combination, this time involving Grainger and Tebily, ensured McFadden made no progress though the free kick came to nothing. Shortly afterwards, however, McFadden rose to meet Hammel's cross and only a brilliant save from Bennett kept Birmingham in touch. From the corner Martyn Corrigan looped a header over Bennett but also the bar. Birmingham's response was a Tebily header which failed to trouble Woods. Keeping the visitors in touch was Bennet and he again made an important save, plucking the ball from Lehmann.
Slack defending by Motherwell almost gave the equaliser away when, from a corner, Tebily somehow headed wide. Dougie Ramsay took play upfield and he did well to win a corner despite the attentions of Grainger, though this in turn was sliced away as Johnson nipped in. Birmingham came close from their next attack and it took a clearance almost on the line from Hammel to deny Savage. The previous match involving Birmingham had seen two sendings-off though this time Referee Somers chose to lecture Tebily after he had went through Lehmann. Somers again angered the Motherwell players and fans when McFadden, despite being fouled, wriggled clear only to be brought back for a foul. McFadden found space and saw his shot cleared almost on the line by Johnson. Down near the Motherwell area Adams and Kenna clashed and whilst it appeared the Fir Parker had been fouled the free kick went the way of Birmingham. John rose unchallenged but he headed weakly into Woods hands. A free kick conceded by Fagan saw Woods forced to punch for a corner. Partridge cleared and McFadden sent Lasley clear. Making his way to the edge of the box he slipped the ball inside only to find no one had accompanied him. Twice in quick succession Martyn Corrigan made vital clearances, stopping John and then making a triple block as Birmingham tried to draw level. Adams then made way for Clarke, and as time ran out again it was Corrigan who stopped Devlin in tracks. Motherwell held out comfortably and recorded a great win.
Full time Motherwell 2
Birmingham City 1
Match Report by Ricky
Mullen