Motherwell 6, Hearts 1
| Match Date: Wednesday, December 4 2002 |
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| Competition: Scottish Premier League | |
| Attendance: 4,114. | |
| Motherwell Team (3-5-2): |
Dubourdeau, Sengewald (Ferguson 85), Kinniburgh,
Partridge, Corrigan, Adams, Leitch, Pearson, Hammell, McFadden, Lehmann.
Subs not used: Woods, McDonald, Quinn, Clarkson.
Motherwell scorers: Pearson (15), McFadden(19 pen, 26), Adams (36), Corrigan (66), Ferguson (90).
Yellow Card: Sengewald
SIX OF THE BEST AS WELL CRUSH HEARTS
Motherwell 6 Hearts 1
MOTHERWELL ENDED ONE OF THE WORST PERIODS IN The club's History when they swept Hearts aside in a superb display of attacking football. Indeed, it could have been more as the Fir Parkers threatened to score on each attack upfield as their good play of recent weeks got it's reward.
The game began with the visitors attacking and they could have snuck an early lead. McCann got in a low shot which was deflected for a corner and as this came in Dubordeau produced a great save to deny Kirk. However, Motherwell got over this early scare and began to do some serious attacking of their own. A quickly taken free kick from McFadden had Pearson running wide and he crossed low for Lehmann. The big German missed his kick almost right in front of goal with the ball running to Adams but he shot over. More good Motherwell pressure had Hearts on the back foot; a good old-fashioned stramash had the visiting defence in all sorts of problems though just as Pearson threatened Webster hooked the ball clear. Hearts came away with the ball with Dunn finding De Vries but his tame shot was easily held. Less than a minute later Kirk took advantage of a flick from De Vries to shoot from the edge of the box but again Dubordeau held well. It was a temporary respite for the visitors and Motherwell's adventurous play saw them take the lead on 14 minutes. Had Dunn connected with McFadden on the half way line it could have been red but the Motherwell man evaded the desperate lunge. Racing to the edge of the box his cutback was met by Pearson and although he connected poorly the midfielder quickly turned to slot home. A minute later Hammel was left in agony after Oueifio clattered him and the visitor was lucky to escape a booking.
Motherwell doubled their advantage moments later from the spot. McFadden waltzed into the box and a rash trip from McKenna left Referee Dougall with no choice but to point for a penalty. Up stepped McFadden and his well-struck spot-kick left McKenzie with no chance. Hearts tried to hit back and were awarded a free kick when De Vries went down out wide. Lehmann headed well clear for the throw and ended the danger. Valois then set up Kirk and although he dragged his shot wide the Referee pointed to the corner flag. Leitch partially cleared and it was De Vries who trundled a shot well past. Motherwell incredibly trebled their lead in terrific fashion. Pearson sent a long ball from left to right where McFadden beat away the attentions of Severin to slot home from a tight angle. It was all Motherwell and Pearson then set up Corrigan who sliced a shot wide from the edge of the box. Hearts broke upfield and as De Vries looked to sneak in good mopping up from Lehmann cleared the problem. Severin then fired in a shot from 25 yards but Dubordeau produced a competent save to deny him.
More great play from Pearson had the visiting defence in trouble again and his through ball fell just the wrong side of Adams in the clear. McFadden was then sent sprawling by McKenna and although the free kick was cleared it wasn't for long. Pearson got on to the end of McFadden's pass to set up Adams and his header bounced past McKenzie to put Motherwell four goals ahead, still 10 minutes from half time. The visiting response was a shot from Severin which took a deflection off Leitch though Dubordeau held well. Hearts then made a change taking Oueifio off to replace him with Knox. They could have pulled a goal back when, despite being well offside, Kirk was allowed to continue but slipped the ball past the far post. Motherwell resumed on the attack and after Pearson was body-checked by Simmons the free kick from Adams slammed into the side net. The visitors then almost pulled a goal back from the most unlikely of sources when a deep cross was met by Partridge and his attempted clearance cracked off the crossbar to safety. Motherwell broke upfield with McFadden who released Pearson. The midfielder fond Hammel but his shot was superbly parried by McKenzie. Moments later it was halftime after one of the most incredible opening spells at Fir Park in years.
Half Time Motherwell 4 Hearts 0
The visitors came out at the start of the second half clearly intent on restoring some pride. Adams was adjudged to have fouled Severin and from the free kick Dunn set up Severin but his shot sailed wide. McFadden took possession of the kick out and his great skill almost produced a chance for Adams but the ball fell just behind him. Valois and Kirk then combined for the visitors to create an opening for De Vries and he looked to have shot wide but a corner was given. Sengewald partially cleared and it was Dubordeau who made an outstanding save to deny Severin before the ball was cleared. The visitors did, however, pull a goal back shortly afterwards. McFadden looked to have beaten McCann to the ball but a free kick was awarded. Valois sent a long ball into the box where Kirk was left unchallenged to nod beyond the helpless Dubordeau. Motherwell were left angry soon after when firstly Corrigan then McFadden had fouls on them ignored by Referee Dougall. And this was further incensed when Leitch cleanly won from Webster but a free kick went to the visitors. And to continue the strange series of decisions De Vries backed into Sengewald but the visitor got the free kick. Valois strode up but sent his effort way over the bar. Motherwell rode the period of Hearts pressure and came out the other side all the better.
McFadden set up Adams who only just failed to connect before Webster desperately cleared just before Corrigan. There was a show of wrestling from Webster who somehow escaped a booking when he wouldn't let go of McFadden. Then McCann sent Corrigan flying and again only a free kick was the order from Referee Dougall. Some 20 yards out, McFadden curled superbly towards the near post only to see McKenzie make a great save. Another visiting change had McCann replaced by Mahe. Seconds later Dubordeau did well to hold a shot from De Vries who had connected with Kirks' pass. Another foul by McKenna had Adams on his back but he got up to find Sengewald and the header looked to have came off McKenna but there was no corner. There was at last a visiting booking for McKenna when he committed one foul too many. McFadden struck his free kick off Severin for a corner. Only just cleared, the ball ran to Corrigan and from the edge of the box the defender slammed the ball home to see Motherwell go nap. Hearts were given a corner when it appeared the cross from Simmons had just sailed behind. Dubordeau punched clear and McFadden raced away. He passed for Adams but the midfield man found himself clear but just offside. Hearts then passed up a chance to pull another goal back when Dubordeau did well to parry the shot from Severin which fell to Kirk but somehow he sent the ball wide of the target. Motherwell had a free kick opportunity when McKenna brought down Lehmann. Cleared to Corrigan his looping effort was well held by McKenzie. Only brilliant goalkeeping from McKenzie kept the scoreline at five. A terrific ball from Lehmann found Corrigan and he slipped it on to McFadden. Sending in a superb shot McKenzie somehow parried the ball round the far post. Cleared as far as Hammel his low cross needed only a touch which never came. A third change for the visitors saw Dunn replaced by Weir. Referee Dougall was clearly feeling sorry for Hearts as twice in quick succession McFadden was the subject of crude fouls from McKenna and then Webster. Finding Pearson with the free kick his effort was blocked and fell to Leitch and his net-bound effort was deflected over. It was then Knox who body checked McFadden for another free kick out wide. The move broke down with De Vries breaking away and though it looked like he had shot wide a corner was awarded.
Motherwell cleared and McFadden again burst away. He sent Adams through the middle but his early shot went wide. Sengewald was punished for his clearance when Referee Dougall awarded a free kick as the very low header from McCann was deemed a foul. Valois sent his curling free kick over. With five minutes to go McFadden played a superb one-two with Pearson though the standside linesman was a bit sharp with his flag when it looked at worse level. Sengewald was then replaced by Ferguson. A rather unnecessary kick by Severin on Hammel should have carried a card but there again was only a free kick. De Vries for the visitors won possession to send Knox wide though his shot was wild. The Dutchman was then lucky not to be booked when he was penalised for persistent fouling then showed dissent. A drive from Valois went wide before Motherwell wrapped up the scoring in style. Ferguson took full advantage of some slack defending to round McKenzie and slot home as Motherwell scored a sixth goal. Full time had the fans and payers in raptures.
Full Time Motherwell 6 Hearts 1
Match Report by Ricky Mullen