Motherwell 0, Dundee 3
Match date : Saturday, February 5 2000 Competition : Premier League Attendance : 5,856
Motherwell Team:
Goram, Corrigan, Kemble, Denham, McMillan, Townsley (Nevin), Brannan, Valakari, Twaddle, Spencer, McCulloch (Goodman).
SPIRITLESS 'WELL LOSE OUT AGAIN
Motherwell 0 Dundee 3ANOTHER POOR PERFORMANCE BY Motherwell gave Dundee a relatively easy three points at Fir Park, and their biggest win on League business since 1926. Even though Motherwell had plenty of the ball the final pass was lacking giving the visitors from Tayside their third win in-a-row at Motherwell.
A great recovery from Benito Kemble stopped Falconer running clear after he had intercepted a poor pass from Denham. As the ball was played forward Tweed emulated Kemble by nicking in to cut out a Corrigan ball for Spencer. Finnish International Valakari then had a shot blocked by Tweed following good work by Corrigan and Brannan. Motherwell kept up the early pressure, McMillan made a terrific turn in midfield to send Twaddle racing to the bye-line though the ball in was well claimed by self-professed Motherwell fan Robert Douglas. A clever combination by Boyack and Byrne looked set to give the latter a chance only for McMillan to clear for a throw. Twaddle's attempted clearance bounced awkwardly but was claimed by Goram. Racing forward Townsely had a shot rebound off Rae for a home throw. Corrigan played a great pass to Brannan who in turn picked out McCulloch, though the striker's control was lacking on this occasion. The visitors then broke forward with Byrne who was close with a long-ball to Falconer, former Fir Park team-mate Denham cutting out the danger. It was still Motherwell who were the better team and Kemble was unlucky with a long-ball to Spencer, the clearance by Tweed proving effective. Tweed again stopped another dangerous pass to Spencer from Kemble seconds afterwards, and as Dundee broke a poor Corrigan pass allowed them to advance towards the Motherwell box, only for a off-side decision against Falconer to come to the full-back's rescue. Denham and Kemble made headed clearances from Robertson and McSkimming crosses though as the ball fell from the second Rae fired in an 20-yard shot which Goram did brilliantly to tip round the post. From the corner Ireland found Rae but this time the shot was well over. A poor kick-out by Goram, strangely one of many during the match, almost presented Falconer with a chance but a good tackle by Denham prevented any more danger. Motherwell had a good shout for a penalty after Rae had pulled McCulloch back in the box, Referee Young ignoring the claims. Spencer then won a throw for Motherwell as McSkimming delayed, though Brannan's similar indecision with a cross saw Robertson boot away. After a good start Motherwell were beginning to loose their way, with Dundee gradually coming more and more into the match. Byrne's cross was headed away twice by Corrigan though Townsely was caught in possession giving Willie the chance to make the bye-line. Falconer's shot was blocked with Robertson's follow-up from 16 yards going just over. Derek Townsley then beat McSkimming and crossed deep where Wilkie was able to head behind just ahead of McCulloch. As the corner came in Greg Denham turned the ball past from 10 yards. From the kick-out Spencer looked set to race forward but he was pushed off the ball by Wilkie, though much to the amazement of Motherwell fans and players alike play was waved on. McCulloch then raced into the box and passed to Spencer but he was beaten to the ball by Rae who almost sent Wilkie in, Kemble just able to intercept. Dundee attacked again with Boyack, his pass for Falconer looked too strong though Corrigan's attempted clearance struck Falconer and fortunately for the Motherwell defender hand-ball against the striker stopped play. Simo Valakari, who was looking out-of-sorts, almost sent Spencer clear with Tweed again cutting out the danger. Tweed wasn't quite so clever soon after with McCulloch winning the ball, Ireland attempted to clear though as the ball fell Valakari volleyed well over. The Finn was at the heart of the action again but his pass carried just too little wait for Townsley allowing Robertson the chance to knock the ball out. The game's first yellow fame on 23 minutes when Falconer threw the ball away in disgust at an off-side decision. Two minutes later more indecision at the back between Corrigan and Goram nearly gave Byrne a chance, though the Keeper was able to recover enough to concede a throw. It was amore open game and Motherwell went close when Brannan's cross only just evaded McCulloch, the move beginning with excellent play involving Corrigan, Spencer and Townsley. There should have been a second yellow when Smith was very late on Twaddle, Referee Young choosing only to give a free-kick. Corrigan took the award but his ball for Spencer was well cut-out by Smith. Just before the half-hour Motherwell had a stone-wall penalty denied when McCulloch was pulled to the ground by Ireland, and to further enrage the Motherwell support Referee Young continued to have words with McCulloch as play continued. Douglas then caught a McCulloch flick and sent Dundee forward. Falconer headed towards goal where Denham knocked back for Goram, but another poor clearance went wide for a throw. Goram then made a good kick-out which fell to Brannan, his long-ball for Townsley then gave Spencer the chance to cross. It was a good one, finding Twaddle, but he failed to control the ball inside the six-yard box and the clearance was swift. Stevie McMillan picked up the loose ball sending Twaddle to the bye-line but his low cross was kicked behind for a corner by Ireland. It was poor, Dundee broke forward, but Rae's pass for Byrne was intercepted by Denham. The Fir Parkers went close when Spencer passed sidewards inside the box to Corrigan, but his attempt went over the bar. Kemble then strode forward and picked out McCulloch, though again he was held by Ireland who once more was allowed to proceed. Dundee were presented with a chance when McMillan and Valakari left the ball to each other. Robertson raced forward, his shot deflected high, with Goram saving Falconer's header back in. Five minutes from the break McMillan was more precise with a long ball which Spencer cut-back into McCulloch's path, the shot going wide. Both sides came close when firstly Smith saw his progress towards goal ended by a fine Corrigan tackle, though as Motherwell broke forward it took a similar well-timed interception to stop Spencer. Terrific play between Corrigan, Townsley and Valakari saw the ball played forward to the on-side Twaddle, though the flag-happy East Standside linesman thought otherwise. A soft free-kick against Twaddle then allowed Dundee a free-kick some 40 yards from goal with the ball being headed behind by Wilkie. Just before the break Wilkie mis-hit a clearance which Tweed did well to nick back to Douglas as Spencer looked to pounce. Dundee had the last effort with Spencer blocking Robertson's shot
Half-Time Motherwell 0 Dundee 0Within seconds of the kick-off Motherwell went close when Twaddle cut into the box and shot low though Douglas saved. Byrne then latched onto a loose ball in the Motherwell box but good defending by Denham cleared. Goram then hit a clearance against Denham which was almost capitalised upon by Byrne, Denham recovering enough to give Goram a second opportunity to boot upfield which he did. Good combining between Spencer and McCulloch set up Twaddle and he shot inches over the bar. However, soon after Dundee took the lead. Ireland slipped the ball into the path of Robertson and he gave Goram no chance with a piledriver from fully 30 yards out. Dundee then had a free-kick 25 yards out though Kemble dealt with this one easily. Goram collected Smith's ball into the box and found Corrigan. Playing a one-two with Townsley he shot over the bar. Corrigan then lost possession and it looked like Falconer would break, though Kemble was alert. Wilkie then saw a half-hit clearance fall to Townsley but a poor cross was headed away by Tweed. The Motherwell defence continued to look shaky with Kemble thankful to Valakari who rescued his poor pass. Lee McCulloch was gathered possession 25 yards out but as he stumbled Tweed kicked viciously in an attempt to win the ball. The free-kick was curled in by Brannan but blocked allowing Dundee to break, but Falconer's cross for Robertson was headed well behind. A corner to Motherwell in 57 minutes was flicked on by Townsley to McCulloch. He found Spencer but the back-flick to McCulloch was whacked away by Tweed. Again Dundee burst forward and McMillan didn't help matters when his poor pass upon gaining possession instantly gave it away. However, to be fair to the defender he recovered well and stopped Rae. Motherwell were trying to level, Brannan and McMillan combined to set McCulloch up, but his shot was blocked by Smith. Seconds later, to the displeasure of the home support, McCulloch was replaced by Goodman, with Townsely also making way for Nevin. With 25 minutes left Dundee all but sealed victory with an all-too-easy goal. Rae played a one-two with Byrne and had acres of space to shoot low from 20 yards to score. However, Motherwell almost hit back right away. Spencer won a corner off Tweed, and as that came in Kemble met the ball perfectly on the volley from 16 yards only to see Douglas make a spectacular tip over. Corrigan's poor ball in then gave Dundee the chance to break, but as Valakari won back possession he was fouled by Robertson. Motherwell tried to pull a goal back with Nevin headed goalwards but Douglas was again there to save. McMillan then found Spencer in the box but a rare lack of control saw the chance go. As the ball was played downfield Goram delayed a clearance which almost let Byrne in. With 18 left Denham made what appeared to be a good clearance from Smith though inexplicably Young gave a free-kick with Denham having to leave the field with an injury. Poor defending by Motherwell then saw Brannan forced to give away a corner with the ball bobbing about dangerously. Corrigan was then short with a clearance which was fired just past by Boyack. Dundee centre-half Tweed was again sharp to cut out the danger as Goodman almost found Spencer with a through ball. Slack defending by Motherwell should have seen a third Dundee goal when Boyack was allowed the freedom of Motherwell to stroll forward. His ball out wide was poorly delivered by Robertson and drifted behind. With 8 minutes to go good play by Spencer saw Valakari race into the box. Just as he was set to score Wilkie looked to clip the midfielder's ankles and with Motherwell screaming for a penalty the corner was given. Tweed blocked Corrigan's shot for a throw. Tweed was then alert to deny Nevin's ball for Spencer, but as the throw came in Twaddle had an effort blocked and there was Tweed to clear. John Spencer fired in a terrific shot which looked goal-bound until Douglas saved brilliantly, with Smith's attempted header wide being collected by the visiting Keeper just before it looked likely to give Motherwell a life-line. Dundee then replaced Byrne with Grady in an attempt to waste time. With two minutes to go Dundee were awarded a soft penalty when Smith took a spectacular dive when challenged by Kemble. Grady made no mistake from the spot and it was all over. Motherwell almost grabbed a late consolation when Spencer ran onto a loose ball but his shot was gathered by Douglas at the second attempt. Wilkie then blocked a Spencer effort soon after, with Dundee making a useless substitution in the final minute replacing Smith with Van Eijs. However, there was no disguising the poor performance of the Fir Park team and they left the field at the end of the game to loud boos from their own supporters.
Full-Time Motherwell 0 Dundee 3