Hearts v Motherwell 19.02.06

Match Date: Saturday, February 19 2006
Competition: Scottish Premier League
Attendance: 16,976.

Motherwell Team (4-4-2):

Meldrum, Corrigan, Craigan, McLean, Hammell, McBride (O'Donnell 72), Kerr, McCormack, Foran, Scott McDonald (McGarry 67), Hamilton (Clarkson 85).
Subs Not Used: Martin, Fagan, Kinniburgh, Darren Lee Smith.

THE Scoreline didn’t completely reflect the actual game, as Motherwell were rather unfortunate to suffer a three-goal defeat on their travels. Hitting the woodwork twice, they competed well and were a touch unlucky to lose by such a margin.

The home side had an early corner when, after a clear foul by Neilson on McDonald was ignored; Elliott saw a cross knocked behind by Corrigan. When the corner came in Kerr hooked the ball away from Jankauskas. However, seconds later Motherwell could and should have taken the lead. Foran did well to evade a couple of challenges before floating a super ball into the box. Scott McDonald, unmarked nodded the ball on but typical of Motherwell’s recent fortunes it struck the post and then off the shins of goalkeeper Gordon before Pressley desperately cleared. And is if to sum up the Motherwell luck, they then fell behind. Cesnauskis played a pass in to Skacel who unusually remained on his feet. His shot was well parried by Meldrum but the ball fell to Jankauskas who netted. From the kick off McDonald was flattened by Pressley but play continued. However, Referee Richmond was rapid with his whistle when McDonald clashed with Neilson. A foul by Jankauskas on Craigan gave Motherwell another free kick but Pressley headed away. Meldrum was on call to superbly parry an angled drive from Skacel soon after with McLean on hand to hook downfield. Foran tried to take play forward but he was wrestled to the ground by Neilson who amazingly was not penalised for what was a clear foul. Seconds later Neilson again fouled Foran but there was no card, merely a free kick. And it was made worse for Motherwell when Hearts doubled their lead. Cesnauskis saw a driven cross partially cleared by Corrigan but it fell to Jankauskas who drove the ball in from 20 yards. Pressley used McDonald as a climbing frame after the restart and was lucky to escape a booking for yet another foul. McLean sent the ball long and Hamilton’s flick wasn’t far away from McDonald as Gordon gathered. Skacel lived up to his reputation for being a cheat when he went down as if seriously injured after Corrigan challenged. He made an unsurprising rapid recovery once a free kick was awarded. A good run from McDonald took him towards the home area but he saw his path to goal blocked. Fyssas made the by line for the home side but Hammell was on hand to twice clear the ball under pressure from Jankauskas. A deliberate handball from Cesnauskis should have carried a yellow but he was only booked, and later this was to prove important. Cesnauskis sent a deep cross into the box which McLean beat Jankauskas to and as the ball fell to Aguiar he blasted well over the top. Jankauskas fired in a shot from 25 yards out soon after but Meldrum got down to hold. Two rapid fouls, firstly by Brellier on McCormack then Fyssas on Hamilton saw Motherwell gain ground though from the latter McCormack could only head over the top. It was a busy time for Jim Hamilton, despite being the subject of some hefty challenges he was the first to see yellow for what was his first late tackle, Neilson being the recipient. Within two minutes Brian Kerr had joined him in the book after he had bundled over Aguiar though again given what the home players had escaped with it was a bit unfortunate. And this was made even more incredulous when there were two incidents involving Hearts players within a minute of each other. Firstly Brellier clearly dived over Hammell but Referee Richmond failed to book him. Then Cesnauskis quite clearly elbowed Richie Foran and, even though Richmond witnessed the incident and motioned that an elbow had been used, amazingly only produced a yellow card when a red should have appeared. Motherwell almost pulled themselves back into things when Hamilton, doing well to create space, fired in a shot from the edge of the box which Gordon tipped over the bar. McCormack then tried to set another attack in progress when he fairly dispossessed Fyssas; the Referee deciding the fall by the Greek was worthy of a free kick in his favour.

Brian McLean was adjudged to have fouled Cesnauskis conceding a free kick 35 yards out. This was cleared and as McBride attempted to go forward he was fouled by a very late Fyssas challenge. From the free kick Pressley hooked the ball away. McDonald was next to be fouled, Webster committing the offence, but he himself cleared. Hearts broke forward with McCormack forced to concede a corner. Pressley went right through on McDonald but play continued. Play continued and Hearts broke upfield where Cesnauskis had an effort deflected through to Meldrum. Motherwell did at last have the ball in the net but it was chopped off. McBride and Hammell combined for Foran to head across and as Hamilton challenged Gordon the keeper went down easily with the ball knocked home by McDonald. It seemed harsh as the ball was there to be won. McDonald forced a corner soon after. This was also knocked behind by Webster with Pressley able to partially clear that. McCormack played in Foran but a dubious offside flag appeared. Motherwell were on top and Hamilton’s flick on had McDonald clear on the edge of the six-yard box but he was unable to direct the ball on target and the chance was gone. The response from Hearts was an 18-yard shot which troubled only those seated behind the goals on the upper tier. Foran, who was having an excellent game, surged forward but saw his route to goal blocked out. McCormack gathered possession and was taken late by Aguiar who again escaped a card. Craigan was then flattened by a challenge from Jankauskas who received a talking to but not what should have been a yellow card. Motherwell made a change, replacing McDonald with Steve McGarry. The home side also made a change, Jankauskas replaced by Bednar. Another foul by Fyssas on McBride gave Motherwell a free kick out wide. Swung in, the ball was headed goalwards by Craigan but again luck deserted Motherwell as the ball crashed off the cross bar with Gordon able to gather. Another change by Motherwell had McBride replaced by Phil O’Donnell. A shot from Foran was charged down by Neilson who was able to clear. Corrigan looked have won well from Skacel but the Referee was once again conned by a convincing dive. Hammell was forced to concede a corner soon after which Craigan cleared, however, the ball returned with Cesnauskis shooting from 25 yards which Meldrum held. Richie Foran was booked for a foul on Cesnauskis who appeared to make the most of the challenge. Skacel flicked the ball through to Elliott who beat McLean to knock the ball beyond Meldrum for a third. Elliott was then booked for deliberately preventing Meldrum take a free kick. Richie Foran almost capped his fine performance with a shot which went inches over. Motherwell won another corner though the shot from Kerr went not to far past the wrong side of the post. A further home change saw Cesnauskis leave to be replaced by Johnson. Deliberate handball should carry a yellow card, though not for the first time not in this match with Skacel escaping. As Hamilton made way for David Clarkson returning from Injury, Brellier then was swapped fro Mikoliunas in a home move to please Lithuanian television. McCormack wasn’t so far away with a ball into the box whilst Foran saw a driven cross taken by Gordon at the second attempt as Motherwell refused to give up. McGarry then made a run to 20 yards and his drive was inches beyond Gordon’s post. Near the end Corrigan found McGarry and he in turn passed to O’Donnell with a shot over the top.