Match date : Saturday 29th November 1997 Competition : Premier League Attendance : 9,999
ICEMAN OLLIE GIFTS WELL CRUCIAL POINT
Hibernian 1 Motherwell 1A CRUCIAL blunder by Icelandic Goalkeeper Ollie Gottskalksson with just seconds to go gave Motherwell a vital point and prevent Hibs opening up a three-point gap at the foot of the table. Although a draw was a fair result, the points looked to be staying at Easter Road until Ollie's last minute error.
The home side began the better of the two sides in this match, and they almost took the lead in only five minues when, from Rougier's free-kick out on the left, Dods was allowed to leap unchallenged to glance on a header which, for him, bounced the wrong side of the post. The Motherwell forward line was looking eager, and good chasing by Coyle and Coyne forced Gottskalksson into an error, but as the ball was sliced to the side Lavety was fortunate to see his attempted clearance rebound off Tommy Coyne and out for a goal-kick. With both teams in desperate need of all three points, pretty play was always going to be at a premium, and neither team could gain any real advantage for any lengthy spell in the opening half. However, Hibs almost made the breakthrough when Hughes used Christie as a step-ladder to get on the end of another Rougier corner, but justice was seen to be done when Woods produced a great save to palm the ball to the side, with Hendry, playing deep, clearing the lines. Whilst Motherwell were finding it difficult to break through the packed Hibs rearguard, when they did they found Gottskalksson in rather erratic form. The Icelandic International almost gifted 'Well the lead when, after Stevie McMillan had done well to beat Boco on the wing, his cross was twice fumbled by Ollie but luckily for him McGinlay booted clear. Charnley then saw a shot from Lavety's lay-off scream just wide with Woods covering, but just prior to the interval Motherwell suffered a set-back when Tommy Coyne was injured bravely chasing a ball in the box. His shot was blocked by the Keeper, and following up Coyne appeared to twist his leg. Coyne did return briefly just before the break.
HALF-TIME Hibernain 0 Motherwell 0Despite appearing after the break, it was obvious Coyne was struggling, and he was soon replaced by Dougie Arnott. Hibs then began to look the sharper of the two teams as they desperately chased the points. Having lost their previous seven, and without a win in nine, they came at Motherwell in determined fashion. Rougier fired in a shot from 20 yards which Woods parried under his body, and just as it looked as if the ball would bounce over the line the impressive Craigan cleared. Tosh then volleyed a shot from all of thirty yards out which fell just on top of the net, though it did look as if Woods might have managed to get back in the nick of time. Motherwell just could not force their way down the park, and it looked increasingly likely that Hibs would break the stalemate. Crawford breezed his way rather too easily past three Motherwell defenders to shoot for goal, but Woods produced a great save to turn the ball round the post. However, from the resultant corner by Rougier, Dods rose completely unchallenged to head into the net off the crossbar. At 1-0 up, Hibs then sat back and Motherwell siezed the initiative, though a series of free-kicks near the box came to nothing. Tosh was extremely fortunate to esceape with only a yellow card with an over-the-top challenge on young Motherwell midfielder Lee McCulloch, who was stretchered off. leaving Motherwell to play out the remaining 9 minutes with only 10 men having used all their substitutes. This did not deter the Fir Parkers, though it took a mazy run from the ever-improving Kevin Christie and a fumble from the Hibs keeper to give Motherwell a point. With the seconds rapidly running out, Christie ran 30 yards past several Hibs players to shoot low from 20 yards. The shot should not have proved difficult for Gottskalksson to save, but he allowed the ball to squirm from his grasp, and there was the ever-alert Owen Coyle to smack the ball high into the roof of the net from no more than 5 yards out. It was no more than Motherwell deserved, and but for some questionable timekeeping by Referee Roy they could have won the match. Dougie Arnot raced clear of the half-way line only for the Referee to blow for time, with there surely being still more injury time to go after the lengthy stoppage for Lee McCulloch's injury. However, Motherwell will be more happy with a point as it continues their revival, whilst Hibs Manager Duffy will be sweating further as his team have now completed their tenth match without a win.
FULL TIME Hibernian 1 Motherwell 1