Hearts 1, Motherwell 1
Match date : Saturday, November 6 1999 Competition : Premier League Attendance : 12,514
Motherwell Team:
Woods, Doesburg, Kemble, Teale, McMillan, Twaddle (Harvey 81), Brannan, Valakari, Nevin (Townsley 54), Spencer, McCullochMotherwell scorer: Spencer (83).
SUPER SPENNY KEEPS 'WELL IN THE HUNT
Hearts 1 Motherwell 1A LATE STRIKE BY John Spencer secured a point for Motherwell at Tynecastle in a match they largely dominated but trailed in. Despite hitting the bar and post Motherwell had to rely on Spencer's speed inside the box to continue their excellent away record.
The visitors were first to show when Ged Brannan supplied Kevin Twaddle out wide, but his cross was just too strong for McCulloch. A Hearts break upfield came to nothing when, as Kemble nipped in to break up the attack, Fulton caught the defender late and Motherwell gained the free-kick. The home side went ahead on 7 minutes when Fulton and Naysmith combined to cross for the unmarked McSwegean, and he gave Woods no chance with a header. A minute later it was almost two but good work from Teale and Woods denied McSwegan again. Hearts were certainly the better side at this point and Naysmith set up Adam but his poor shot was easily dealt with. Naysmith was then lucky not to be booked when he caught Kemble late. It was getting a bit tousy with McSwegan lashing out at Valakari, the Scotland striker escaping any real punishment. Locke then appeared to handle as McMillan drove the free-kick forward but play was waved on. Motherwell then woke up and a terrific run by Twaddle set Nevin into the box but his poor cross was cleared. Twaddle again made a darting run to the by-line to send in a low cross for Spencer but there was Pressley to boot upfield. The ball was returned and Locke fouled Twaddle inside the box. It looked a penalty but Referee Freeland, hardly a favourite with the Motherwell fans as it was, waved play on once more. Stevie McMillan was booked for a softish challenge on Locke soon after, much in keeping with Referee Freeland's inconsistencies. The visitors survived an injury scare when Michel Doesburg landed awkwardly on his head when clearing, but thankfully he was no more than dazed and got up after treatment. Hearts were awarded a soft free-kick when Adam down very easily near the box. As the ball was swung in Adam himself got free to flash a header wide. Given that McMillan was booked for a trip Gary Locke should have also seen yellow when he blatantly tripped Kevin Twaddle, however, a free-kick was all Hearts received in punishment and from the award Pressley climbed all over McCulloch to clear. Goalscorer McSwegan then almost gifted Motherwell an opportunity when his sloppy midfield pass allowed Nevin to race forward. The former Chelsea winger failed to deliver his wayward cross drifting out of play. Soon after, however, Motherwell were given a free-kick in a dangerous position after Jackson had fouled McCulloch on the edge of the box. Brannan fired in a shot which Roussett did very well to divert wide, Nevin's return going past. Pat Nevin was not having the best of matches and after a good mazy run he sent in a poor cross much to his own, as well as the Motherwell supporters, annoyance. Only the crossbar denied Motherwell on the half-hour when Murray, under pressure from McCulloch, headed a Twaddle cross onto his own bar. Then ball bounced out to Kemble and his shot was blocked for a corner. Motherwell pressed, and it was Brannan who next saw a shot desperately blocked. From the corner Spencer laid the ball off for Valakari, but the Finn's shot went wide. Roussett, way out of his goal, was almost made to pay when Lee McCulloch attempted to lob the Frenchman only for the ball to drop inches the wrong side of the bar. Seconds later the two were in direct competition again and it was Roussett with a great save which denied McCulloch the equaliser. Ritchie was fortunate to only see yellow when he tripped McCulloch who was bearing down on Roussett. McMillan's shot was blocked and cleared. The home side were rarely being seen as an attacking force but from one attack a terrific Kemble challenge stopped McSwegan in his tracks. Hearts were forced to take of Locke with seven minutes to the interval and replace him with Flogel. Two minutes from half-time Motherwell had a penalty denied when Pressley pulled McCulloch back, and to add insult to injury the foul went in Hearts favour. A minute later Cameron should have been booked when he was woefully late on Spencer, Referee Freeland wrongly playing advantage as Motherwell had lost possession, failing also to book the Hearts midfielder. As the interval loomed Pressley then deliberately body-checked McCulloch though once more Freeland refused to penalise the ex-Rangers defender.
Half-Time Hearts 1 Motherwell 0Motherwell continued where they had left off and attacked from the whistle. A minute in they were once again denied by a lick of paint as McCulloch got on the end of Nevin's cross to crash a header off the far post. Two minutes later Hearts made a further substitution by replacing Naysmith with Severin. The Fir Parkers came close again when Doesburg and Twaddle combined to cross for Nevin but under severe pressure he headed narrowly wide. Hearts were given free-kick when what looked to be a clean challenge by Kemble on Jackson resulted in Hearts free from 22 yards. Adam saw his shot deflected but only into Cameron's path but his shot went wide. Ritchie then had to be alert as Spencer looked set to connect with Nevin's low ball. Hearts attacked and Flogel carried the ball to the bye-line and what appeared to be out of play. A free-kick was awarded against McMillan for his challenge though Flogel's cross went wide. Motherwell took Nevin off and replaced him with Townsely. The home side gained a free-kick when Cameron went down like a sack of potatoes 25 yards out Severin strode up and Woods saved well. However, Motherwell continued to seek out an equaliser and following good work from Spencer and Brannan, McCulloch saw a shot well saved by Roussett. Murray of Hearts then caught Spencer late 20 yards out though Fulton deflected the Free-kick by Twaddle behind for a corner. Ged Brannan, normally renowned for his shooting, would not have been proud of his try as the ball skewed well wide. Some dallying by Twaddle then let Adam in and it was Woods who rescued the winger with a great save. Fellow Motherwell player Sean Teale then made a brilliant challenge on Flogel as he broke in the box. On the hour mark McSwegan limped off to be replaced by Spanish forward Juanjo. However, Motherwell resumed normal service and Spencer fired narrowly over on receipt of a Townsley pass. Hearts were beginning to sneak back into the game and it took a good Woods save to deny Cameron. Motherwell broke forward, Doesburg supplied McCulloch, and he fired in a shot which went inches over, though it wouldn't have counted as Referee Freeland somehow spotted a non-existent hand-ball. Seconds later he failed to spot a deliberate handling by Murray. Ritchie was treading dangerously, and he can count himself lucky not to have seen a second yellow for a climb on McCulloch which gave Motherwell a free-kick. Valakari won a corner, and as the ball came in Murray booted clear an instant before Spencer looked to score. The ball just wasn't landing for Motherwell, and as if to reiterate the point Twaddle made a terrific pass which bounced just behind Spencer and out. Cameron, climbing all over McMillan, was allowed to continue and his header wasn't far away. The home side attacked again, and it was Juanjo who forced his way into the box. Upon losing possession he pushed McMillan over and it took good defending by Teale to usher the ball out, Hearts feebly claiming a penalty as Juanjo hit the ground. The tanned Spaniard would not doubt have been looking somewhat red seconds later when his blatant dive inside the box earned him a yellow card, one of the few decisions Freeland got right in the match. Motherwell raced upfield, McMillan crossed, but Townsley got under the ball and headed over. Two successive corners regained the initiative for Hearts, though stout defending by Teale and Kemble kept the home side from adding to their tally. With ten minutes left Twaddle made way for Paul Harvey. As with on his debut, Harvey's arrival heralded a goal for Motherwell. Stevie McMillan drilled in a low cross which Spencer collected, and side-stepping Murray he mis-hit a shot which deflected off Rousset's outstretched foot and spun into the net. Hearts quickly forced two corners though these came to nothing, and they should have been reduced to ten men when Ritchie hauled McCulloch to the ground, a free-kick the outcome. Townsley had a great chance to give Motherwell a deserved victory three minutes from time when McCulloch's flick and the tall wingers touch to him into space but his shot was well blocked by Rousset. A great turn by Harvey then sent Spencer to the by-line but his deep cross drifted inches wide. In injury-time Cameron sent a curling shot just past, though Woods appeared to have it covered. Soon after it was full-time, though Motherwell must be looking upon it as two points dropped.
Full-Time Hearts 1 Motherwell 1