Motherwell 1, Dundee 2
| Match Date: Saturday, April 12 2003 |
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| Competition: Scottish Premier League | |
| Attendance: 4,693 | |
| Motherwell Team (4-4-2): |
Dubourdeau, Cowan, Corrigan, Partridge, Hammell, Lasley
(Clarkson 55), Adams, Leitch, McFadden, Craig, Lehmann (Offiong 67).
Subs Not Used: Woods, McDonald, Kinniburgh.
Motherwell scorer: McFadden (77).
Yellow Cards: None!
TOO LITTLE TOO LATE KEEPS WELL BOTTOM
A POOR FIRST HALF BY THE FIR PARKERS Gave Dundee a running start from which Motherwell failed to recover. Despite dominating the second half the two goals were too much to pull back though a superb performance from the visiting keeper helped the three points go north.
James McFadden was first on the attack and his cross almost played in Keith Lasley only for a last-ditch tackle from Mair stopped him. However, the visitors immediately made Motherwell pay and it was careless play which presented them with the opening. Scott Leitch conceded possession allowing Burchill to send Milne wide. He returned the ball for Burchill who met the ball unchallenged to nod home after just 75 seconds. Motherwell thought they should have had a penalty when Smith clumsily sent Craig flying what appeared to be just inside the box. Referee Underhill decided it was a free kick on the 18-yard line which was poorly taken by Adams. McFadden then forced a corner though it was cleared by Wilkie. The near-side linesman then infuriated the Motherwell support when, despite being well off-side, he failed to flag for Mair and it took a tremendous tackle from Corrigan to stop him going clear. Hernandez was fortunate not to be booked when he tugged away at the jersey of Craig. It should have seen Motherwell level as, from the free kick, Lehmann somehow blazed over from 6 yards out after Cowan had found him in space. Rae then escaped a booking when he seemed desperate to obtain the shirt of Derek Adams. Only the width of the crossbar denied the Fir Parkers a leveller when Craig, who'd done well to gather Corrigan's' cross, drove a brilliant shot which smashed off the cross bar and went over.
Dundee then won a corner which Adams failed to cut out allowing Hernandez a chance but he blazed over. Play returned to the Dundee box and Cowan saw his back-post cross drift inches over with Speroni beaten. Burchill then went on an unchallenged run to the edge of the box but his shot was well gathered by Dubordeau. There was a clash between Smith and Adams which saw the former push Adams in the face though Referee Speroni decided to ignore. Caballero and Burchill then combined but Dubordeau was on hand to gather. However, the French keeper was beaten for the second time shortly afterwards. Caballero found Milne who looked to be in a suspicious position but he ran on to slot the ball beyond Dubordeau. Nemsadze saw his shot saved by the Frenchman shortly afterwards before Motherwell tested Speroni. McFadden played a one-two with Lasley but the shot was held. Hammel then had to be alert with a great stop on Burchill who looked set to meet the ball from Caballero. Another poor decision from the Linesman allowed Hernandez to race clear when way offside and he was only denied from delivering a dangerous cross by Hammel. The corner was met by Hernandez whose free header went past. Just before the break Lasley met a partially cleared corner but his mis-hit shot drifted past.
Half-time Motherwell 0 Dundee 2
Dundee had an early opportunity when Lehmann had fouled Smith and shortly afterwards it was Motherwell who went close. McFadden went on a trademark mazy run which took a well-timed interception from Wilkie to deny him. The visitors made a change by taking off Burchill and replacing him with Novo. His first contribution was to drag Lehmann down near the box but Referee Underhill ignored the obvious foul. Motherwell made a change of their own by taking off Lasley and replacing him with David Clarkson. The Fir Parkers were denied by a brilliant piece of goalkeeping from pulling a goal back. Craig did superbly to not only control the long ball from Corrigan but then send in a fierce shot which Speroni managed to tip over the bar. Motherwell were then denied a penalty when Lehmann was clearly tugged by Rae inside the box. Motherwell were upping the pace considerably and Craig was then denied by a desperate block from Wilkie. There was then another unbelievable save from Speroni when McFadden twisted and turned before unleashing a bullet which was turned wide. Dundee managed to break forward and should have finished the game. Rae played Novo who was virtually clear with support but he delayed long enough to allow Corrigan to make a saving tackle and clear on the edge of the box. Motherwell were playing with four in attack and Craig shot for goals only to see his effort blocked though he did have other options.
Martyn Corrigan then made a run which saw his final shot go not too far past. Smith was very fortunate to only see yellow when his wild and reckless tackle had Craig in some distress. And shortly afterwards Rae was at last booked after a series of tugs and niggly fouls, the yellow card coming after he'd pulled down Clarkson. The free kick was wasted and Dundee then had an opportunity when Corrigan was adjudged to have fouled Caballero. However, the free kick landed on the top of the net. Motherwell then took off Lehmann, bringing on Richard Offiong in his place. McFadden was then sent flying by Nemsadze but there was no booking for the late challenge. Nemsadze himself had a chance shortly afterwards but saw his shot go past the post. Novo then fired in a shot which Dubordeau did well to block and gather at the second attempt. Motherwell resumed the attack and Clarkson raced to the by line before his deep cross was met by Craig whose header fell the wrong side of the post. Clarkson then looked well on side when sent clear by Craig but the linesman again enraged the home support by flagging incorrectly. However, Motherwell did pull a goal back with some 13 minutes left to go. Clarkson crossed deep for Craig whose header was met by McFadden. The Fir Park striker beat Speroni before knocking home from just a couple of yards out. Caballero should have been the next visitor in the book when his lunge on Cowan had the Motherwell man writhing in agony. A scramble in the visitors box then almost led to an equaliser, Craig driving the ball inches past. There should have been a free kick right on the edge of the box when McFadden saw himself sandwiched between Wilkie and Smith, however the Referee waved play on. And only a vital piece of defending from Smith stopped Motherwell drawing level. Offiong ran onto Corrigan's long ball and lobbing Speroni saw Smith race back to clear from almost on the line. With time running out the visitors almost grabbed a third on the break, Wilkie heading a cross wide. Dundee held on to secure a top six place for themselves.
Full-Time Motherwell 1 Dundee 2
Match Report by Ricky Mullen