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Motherwell 0, Kilmarnock 4
Match date : Wednesday, February 22 2000 Competition : Premier League Attendance : 5,813
Motherwell Team:
Goram, Corrigan, McGowan, Kemble (Valakari 45), Denham, McMillan, Davies, Harvey (Townsley 45), Brannan, Spencer (Twaddle 45), McCulloch.FRIGHT NIGHT AT FIR PARK
Motherwell 0 Kilmarnock 4THE FIR PARKERS PRODUCED ON OF THE WORST Performances at home in recent memory to hand Kilmarnock their record win at Motherwell. Indeed, Motherwell have now lost their last three league matches scoring once and conceding 12 goals in the process.
There was little hint of the trouble ahead when Motherwell burst forward in the opening stages. Paul Harvey, handed his first start at Fir Park, raced upfield but a crucial delay in spotting Stevie McMillan in space allowed Reilly the time to intercept the pass. However, Holt and Mitchell then combined for the visitors on the edge of the box with the latter firing in a shot which Goram was grateful to collect at the second attempt. The action swung to the other end and McCulloch's cross to Spencer was just cut out by the returning Marshall in goals. Alarming gaps were already appearing at the back for Motherwell allowing loan-signing Abou to head McPherson's cross inches past. With the Motherwell midfield playing almost on their own 18 it was no surprise the visitors began to push forward. Brannan conceded a corner which Lauchlan met though this was deflected behind for a second corner. Lauchlan again connected though his header sailed over. Good work by Davies, supplying McMillan with an inch-perfect ball, sent the full-back towards the visiting defence but in trying to beat both McPherson and Mitchell he was crowded out. McMillan retained possession, however, and running the ball onto Spencer he sent a good ball in for Davies who was given off-side in what was a close decision. An early card for Reilly should have been seen when he flattened Davies though Referee Young failed to see the obvious in the clumsy challenge, awarding a free-kick instead. Although Motherwell again lost possession McGowan made a great tackle to stop McPherson, and in turn passed brilliantly to McMillan. The defender found Spencer, but in trying then to pick out Kemble former Fir Parker Reilly cut out the ball. The visitors rushed upfield with Holt seeing his shot deflected behind for another corner. Andy Goram had to look sharp when McGowan's ball shot towards goal, the Goalie turning the ball over the bar, with Denham then having to concede a second corner. The ball came in and was met by Reilly who should have done better with a free header. The game's first booking came on 19 minutes, Cocard booked for a late tackle on McMillan. Strangely play was waved on with Kilmarnock gaining possession. Cocard then perhaps should have seen red soon after for a bad challenge on Denham though this time the Frenchman got lucky. Martyn Corrigan then found space on the right from Davies' great pass but the cross was woefully short. However, it was still the visitors who looked most likely and Durrant, picking out Mitchell, saw his colleague pass on for Cocard who shot past on the angle. Andy Goram sent the ball long for Corrigan who looked to be well on side and running clear, but a dubious off-side stopped his progress. Seconds later McMillan ran onto McCulloch's pass to shoot just wide from 16 yards, though a push by Holt, apparently unseen by Young, wouldn't have helped. The visitors took the lead on the 28th minute mark with some poor defending aiding and abetting the away cause. Abou all to easily worked his way into the area and crashed a shot against the far upright, with Cocard allowed time and space to gather the ball and slot it into the unguarded net. Soon after it could have been two, McGowan short with a pass back which Goram just managed to beat Abou to, Kemble completing the clearance as Cocard looked to capitalise. Davies then body-checked Holt on the edge of the box giving the visitors another chance, and although Cocard's shot went wide the Referee, clearly using sonar, detected a touch which no-one else did and gave a corner. After conceding a second, it looked as if Mitchell had run the ball out when a third corner was given. Motherwell broke forward from this one and Corrigan raced upfield to supply Harvey clear in the box. With time to control his first touch was poor and the ball was cleared. A minute later the Motherwell fans had something to cheer when the joined the Kilmarnock fans in laughter when Referee Young fell flat on his face. There was some controversy 8 minutes from the break when Spencer sent McCulloch clear, and although it was obviously from an on-side position a flag was raised. A minute later Denham was turned all too easily by Cocard who shot inches past. Some good defending by the visitors denied Motherwell when Davies charged into the box only to be denied by Holt. The defending by the home side was at times comical with Kilmarnock almost doubling the lead on 40 minutes. McPherson breezed into the area and slipped a pass to Cocard who in turn saw a shot tipped over. The second goal was merely delayed, Durrant chipped the ball into Cocard who sent a weak-ish shot beyond Goram, who got a touch, and into the far corner. Ged Brannan was then booked for an apparent shirt-tugging incident. Just before the break Motherwell had their first attempt on target when Spencer crossed for McMillan to head goal-wards, Marshall saving.
Half-Time Motherwell 0 Kilmarnock 2Clearly as upset as the fans, Boss Billy Davies made three substitutions for the first time as boss before the second half began. Taking off Spencer, Harvey and Kemble he replaced them with Valakari, Twaddle and Townsley. This almost paid instant dividends when Townsley sent Twaddle to the bye-line. The cross came in but Mitchell just managed to beat McCulloch to the ball. Cocard then fell rather easily on the touch-line to give Kilmarnock a free-kick some 45 yards out. Martyn Corrigan cut the ball out giving Twaddle the chance to break.. Crossing, the ball again was cut-out by McPherson as McCulloch waited to pounce. Stevie McMillan was then fouled by Hessey on the left, Twaddle whipped in the low ball and Derek Townsley had a header well saved. It was much more positive stuff from Motherwell after such a poor opening first-half. Hessey gave away a corner though as the ball came back out to Valakari his cross was too deep and beyond Twaddle. Kilmarnock were becoming forced to hit on the break now and one such attack almost led to another goal, McPherson's cross hitting the net on the outside. Great play by Corrigan gave Davies the opportunity to send McCulloch away but the pass was just too strong. Hessey was booked on 56 minutes for a really bad tackle on Townsely. The free-kick was wide-left, on 25 yards out, but Twaddle's effort hit the wall. Hessey then should have been sent-off for a body-check on Townsley but play was waved on. Davies, clearly upset, saw yellow himself for dissent. Lee McCulloch, so often the recipient, turned provider when he flicked on a pass in the direction of Townsley but the ball gathered pace and ran out. Simo Valakari had an effort on goals but, with the Finnish International still to score for Motherwell, it was no surprise the shot was saved easily. Motherwell continued to press and McCulloch won the race for a loose ball but his cross to Twaddle was met by a foul from Dindelux. As the ball came in Twaddle headed just past. Corrigan was playing well, and more good attacking play was received by Valakari, though the move broke down when an off-side decision went against Townsley. The Kilmarnock defender Hessey again escaped a red card when he was late on Corrigan. The ball was slipped through by Brannan to McCulloch, definitely on side, though not in the eyes of the East Stand Side Linesman. It wasn't often the visitors attacked or indeed needed to, but they came close when Mcgowan just managed to clear from Abou's flick to Cocard. Motherwell almost pulled a goal back on 70 minutes when Marshall made a great save from Twaddle's header, latching onto a terrific Townsley cross. The off-side decisions were enraging the Motherwell players and fans alike, Twaddle flagged despite running from behind two Kilmarnock defenders. Twaddle then managed to make the bye-line but with McCulloch ready to strike the cross was low and gathered. Marshall was having a much busier time of it and he had to be alert to gather Townsley's cross for Twaddle. Defending was being done better for Motherwell with McGowan there to stop Durrant's dangerous pass to Abou. The Fir Parkers had a shout for a penalty denied when McCulloch was pulled by Hessey in the box. Townsley won a corner, but as it came in Davies poor control saw the chance fade. Kilmarnock burst forward with Durrant, but he was well tracked by Townsley who broke the move down. Abou was then carried off with a seemingly serious injury to be replaced by Veraille, though at the final whistle there was no indication of the on-loan striker's need for medical attention. A great flick from Lee McCulloch to Twaddle was desperately cut-out by McPherson with Dindelux conceding the corner. McCulloch had a shot blocked with Corrigan's follow-up easily held. With five minutes to go some really dreadful defending by Motherwell gifted the visitors a third. McGowan deflected a wayward shot towards goal and although it all but trickled towards the post Goram stood rooted to the penalty spot. As the ball rebounded Veraille slotted into the empty net. However, in the last minute it got worse for Motherwell. A promising move broke down in midfield allowing Durrant to send Veraille clear, and he made no mistake. At the final whistle the chorus of boos said it all.
Full-Time Motherwell 0 Kilmarnock 4