Match date : Wednesday 25th February 1998 Competition : Premier League Attendance : 4,517
Motherwell scorer: Tommy Coyne (5,19)
WELL'S NEW ERA IS A HAPPI START
Motherwell 2 Saint Johnstone 1HARRI KAMPMAN WOULD HAVE BEEN A Happy, if relieved, man on Saturday night as Motherwell threatened to sweep Saint Johnstone aside, then cling on as the Perth men excerted some pressure as the match drew to a close. Saint Johnstone ended the match with 10 men, though had Referee Allison not been so leniant with some of the Perth team's challenges, it could have been abandoned in the second-half.
Motherwell began the match at a cracking pace, forcing Saint Johstone onto the back foot right from the start. With Kevin Christie prompting well from the full-back role, the Steelmen swept to an early two-goal lead thanks to goalden Tommy Coyne. In the eleventh minute Christie burst out of defence then sent an inch-perfect 40-yard cross-field pass to find Owen Coyle on the edge of the Perth box. His cross to the back post was met by Coyne, and he expertly looped a header beyond Main and into the far corner of the net to the delight of Kampman in the stand. Even this early on the tackling from Saint Johnstone was choice to say the least. Six Perth players found their names in the Referee's book for over-the-ball offences. The Fir Parkers doubled their lead on 20 minutes, and again it was Tommy Gun Coyne who hammered the hapless Saints. Christie, having a fine match, won the ball in a challenge with Kernaghan, then slipped a pass wide to Davies. His first-time low cross was side-footed home by Coyne to complete a fine move and leave the visitors reeling. Strangely, though, that was virtually that from Motherwell as they seemed to relax and allow Saint Johnstone the luxury of more of the ball. Indeed, the only real noteworthy attack in the remaining 20 minutes or so of the half fell their way, O'Boyle, who just couldnt' seem to keep his mouth closed the whole night, took time out from moaning at the Referee to show why he is a feared striker by firing in a low shot which Woods did exceptionally well to palm round the post.
Half-Time Motherwell 2 Saint Johnstone 0It was the Perth men who continued to press for a goal early in the second half, with the home side seemingly content to soak up the Saints pressure and hit on the break. Not long after the re-start the vistors were up in arms as they claimed for firstly a penalty and then a back pass as a cross into the box struck Eddie May on the thigh, before rolling towards goal where Woods collected. Motherwell were now reliant on the speed of their breaks from defence, but some crude tackling from the Perth defence prevented any Motherwell player from bearing down on goal. Indeed, Kernaghan only escaped a red card due to the presence of a fellow defender as he hauled back Owen Coyle who would have only had Main to beat. Surprisingly he escaped even yellow card, though one was meted out to him as he threw the ball away in disgust. Justice was done later, however, when Kernaghan did indeed walk following another in a catalogue of terrible challenges from the big defender. Stevie McMillan then rescued the now-overworked Motherwell defence by clearing as O'Neill looked certain to pounce, but it was a gift from Referee Allison which gave Saints a life-line. McQuillan went down like the Titanic as Valakari won the ball, the Saints player appearing to fall outside the box but amazingly Allison thought otherwise. O'Boyle made no mistake from the spot to ensure Kampman had no easy last half-hour in his first match. Woods produced a great save from O'neil following a vicious in-swinging corner as the Saints tried desperately to level. Grant, on for the ineffective Xausa, was over-eager and his over-the-top challenge on Woods resulted in a booking, though this should have been red as he continually argued his point with Allison, Woods recovered to continue. Motherwell's chances were restricted to say the least,with Billy Davies coming close with a half-volley which Main saved, and a McMIllan cross which wickedly dipped over the bar. Near the end Saints claimed a goal when Grant scored, but it was clearly off-side, much to Grant's disgust. Saint Johnstone's night was then made worse as Kernaghan saw red. and Motherwell held on to give Harri Kampman the perfect, if nervy, start.
FULL TIME MOTHERWELL 2 SAINT JOHNSTONE 1