Dundee 1, Motherwell 1
| Match Date: Saturday, December 14 2002 |
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| Competition: Scottish Premier League | |
| Attendance: 5,527 | |
| Motherwell Team (4-4-2): |
Dubourdeau, Quinn, Kinniburgh, Corrigan, Hammell,
Adams, Leitch, Fagan, McFadden, Ferguson (Clarkson 75), Lehmann.
Subs not used: Woods, Ramsey, Sengewald, McDonald.
Motherwell scorer: Lehmann (25).
Yellow Cards: Fagan, Hammell.
POINT PROVEN
Dundee 1 Motherwell 1
MOTHERWELL CONTINUED THEIR REVIVAL With a hard-earned point at a venue where they are usually hard to come by. Some superb defensive work kept the experienced home forwards at bay as the Fir Parkers thoroughly earned their share of the spoils.
The Fir Parkers made the brightest start. Quinn pounced on a loose ball to send Lehmann up the wing. In turn he supplied McFadden but the low cross was deflected behind by Smith though the corner was held by Speroni. Shortly afterwards Wilkie only just recovered as McFadden hovered with only the goalkeeper to beat. Dundee attacked with a terrific block by Quinn denying Sara the opportunity. Motherwell swept away upfield though the end product from Lehmann didn't trouble the home goalie. Quinn was then forced to concede a corner but, competently dealt with, Motherwell almost got the breakthrough themselves. A brilliant ball from McFadden opened up the home defence but a poor first touch from Ferguson allowed Speroni time and the shot was comfortably blocked away. More stout defending, this time from Leitch, prevented Robb getting in a shot. Dundee were awarded a soft foul when Caballero went flying to the ground, as Hammel appeared to win the ball. Hammel was then beaten out wide by Novo who produced a terrific save from Dubordeau who tipped round the post. Motherwell were next to threaten with Ferguson, latching onto Lehmann's flick, forcing a good stop from Speroni. Much of the early talk was of the appearance of David Hannah in the Motherwell support though when asked if signing his large smile and "no comment" expression rather gave it away. Back on the field Hammel was having a torrid time against Novo. The former Raith man again beat the Motherwell defender though Kinniburgh was on hand to clear. Caballero returned the low cross but Dubordeau made a great save.
There should have been a free kick to Motherwell just outside the box when Hernandez clattered into Ferguson but Referee McCurry incredibly waved play on. Ferguson recovered but his attempted cross from McFadden's great pass left a lot to be desired. Motherwell were on the up and it was McFadden, onto Fagan's pass, who forced a brilliant block from Speroni. Then Hernandez cleared in the nick of time as McFadden looked set to pounce. Dundee's response was a shot from Hutchinson which Dubordeau held easily. The opening goal came shortly afterwards and Motherwell thoroughly deserved it. McFadden's deflected effort fell to Ferguson and as his shot trundled towards the far corner Lehmann made no mistake to put Motherwell ahead. Dundee thought they had a great chance to level when Sara went clear in the box but he had clearly handled and although a free kick was awarded there was no card for his dishonesty. Sublime skill from McFadden wouldn't have failed to impress the watching Newcastle United Scout as he breezed past three defenders, Speroni plucking the dangerous cross ahead of Lehmann. The home fans squealed for a penalty when a cross appeared to strike Quinn on the arm. The ball bounced about but Hammel swept it away. Hernandez then lost possession and it looked as if Adams had the chance to break until Referee McCurry rescued Dundee by awarding a rather dubious foul. Dubordeau punched the ball well clear as the free kick came in. A body check on McFadden by Hernandez somehow failed to stop play and it only came to a halt when a rash Mair challenge on Lehmann was penalised though there was still no sign of a card, despite Sara's show of dissent. The home side drew level 10 minutes before the interval. Hammel, clearly struggling with Novo, was again beaten out wide and the cross was met by Sara who, with space in the box, produced an overhead kick to leave Dubordeau helpless. A slip from Corrigan then almost let in Novo though the Motherwell man recovered well to force a goal kick. Good work from McFadden then forced a corner as Hernandez knocked behind. However, losing a boot, Hernandez was somehow allowed to take over a minute to put it back on and lace it up with play halted when he really should have left the field. Brilliant covering from Leitch then denied Novo as the winger raced into the box. Despite the time given to Hernandez there was just one minutes stoppage time, which went without incident.
Half-Time Dundee 1 Motherwell 1
François Dubordeau was busy early on in the half when he first had to hold a dangerous cross from Novo then his poor kick out gave Caballero a chance though again he recovered well to save. Motherwell survived the early pressure and came close themselves when, following a foul on McFadden, the curling free kick from Adams was only inches past the far post with Speroni struggling. A cross from Caballero was then hooked clear to Hernandez and although McFadden appeared to beat him fairly a free kick was taken. Stealing a good 15 yards Hernandez was able to send in a deeper ball though Leitch cleared this effectively. A flick from Lehmann then gave Ferguson a chance to trouble Speroni but his shot was high and wide. Dundee then gained a free kick when Referee McCurry appeared to react to a crowd roar as Leitch dispossessed Caballero. Shortly after Caballero had headed a Novo cross well over the home side made a change, Rae replacing Robb. It took a great clearance from Corrigan to rescue Hammel after Novo had beaten him out wide, then Leitch did well to deflect a volley from Sara over the bar. There should have been a booking for Rae when, only just minutes on the pitch, he clattered into Lehmann. Referee McCurry decided that, despite being surrounded by three defenders, Fagan had the advantage though he still managed to force a save from Speroni. Another soft free kick came when Caballero, not for the first time, dramatically fell to the ground as he was tackled by Hammel, though went met by the amazingly recovered Caballero the header was well wide.
The frustration of Ferguson was evident when, after going wide, he had three Motherwell attackers at the back post in plenty of space but he was muscled out by Wilkie after delaying with his ball. Adams then had a chance to pick attackers out but his poor cross was too deep. Wilkie became the first booking of the match when he left Fagan writhing in agony. Motherwell then replaced Ferguson with Clarkson. Despite deliberately tripping McFadden there was no yellow for Smith. Dundee thought they had taken the lead when Novo went wide and crossed for Hernandez. His header was goal-bound until Leitch popped up on the line to head away for Motherwell. Another home chance came when Milne and Brady swapped places. McFadden was receiving rough treatment though again there was no card, this time for Hernandez. The free kick fell to Lehmann but his snapshot was wide. Dubordeau then came to Motherwell's rescue when he made a superb tip over from Sara's header. The corner came in and with Caballero's shot being blocked again the home side screamed penalty though it looked as it Hammel had definitely not handled. After Caballero had brought down Clarkson the free kick went wide to McFadden. His low cross found only Mair on the penalty spot when all it needed was a touch. Shaun Fagan found himself booked for apparent unsporting behaviour shortly afterwards. Then Hammel, really struggling against Novo, was left trailing as the winger raced away. The eventual corner was met by Wilkie and it was Dubordeau with a superb save to stop him. A superb tackle by Hammel on Novo was somehow met by a yellow card from Referee McCurry, and a cry of disbelief from the Motherwell support. Fagan sent a 25-yard shot over the bar. Fagan again troubled Dundee but despite being sent flying by Hernandez only a free kick was awarded. McFadden was then brought down by Wilkie near the box but play continued for a short spell until full time came.
Full-Time Dundee 1 Motherwell 1
Match Report by Ricky Mullen