Motherwell 1, Dundee Utd 3

Match Date: Wednesday, April 19 2000
Competition: Premier League
Attendance: 4,271

Motherwell Team:

Goram, Corrigan, Kemble, Strong, McMillan, Townsley (Curcic), Valakari, Brannan, Twaddle (Spencer 45), Goodman , McCulloch.
Subs not used: Brown, Nicholas, Adams

Motherwell scorer: McCulloch (22)

JECKYLL AND HYDE WELL SLUMP AGAIN

Motherwell  1     Dundee United  3

AFTER GAINING GROUND ON HEARTS At the week-end Motherwell once again slumped badly to United who hadn't won for twelve league matches. Despite taking the lead and looking comfortably the Fir Parkers switched off at the interval giving United what were three unlikely points.

It took a great tackle from Ged Brannan, however, to stop Venetis racing clear as the Visitors constructed the first attack of the match, and McCulloch completed the clearance. Motherwell then put together their first move though De Vos was alert to prevent Derek Townsley connecting with Corrigan's low cross. United hit on the break with the lively McConalogue but he was stopped in his tracks by Strong. An error by Kemble then let in McConalogue but his shot was blocked by the returning Goram, the ball breaking out to Mathie whose effort was held. Motherwell turned defence into immediate attack and were within an inch of taking the lead. Don Goodman made space at the corner of the box and fired in an 18-yard shot which came off the inside of the post and bounced out to safety for the United side. Goodman gathered again though despite being fouled by Patterson play was waved on. It took a combination of Strong and Brannan to deny United as McCulloch's low cross looked set to find Mathie in the box. The off-side flag then came to Motherwell's rescue when Hannah sent a long ball forward to the clear McConalogue who had strayed inches off. Greg Strong then rose to head clear a forward ball and such was the power of the header Goodman, mid-way inside the United half, almost gathered, De Vos managing to clear. Clever work involving McCulloch and Brannan opened up the visiting defence allowing Townsley to make the bye-line but his cross was too near Combe who held despite the close proximity of Goodman. The United defence, much-maligned for weeks now, were being held together by the Canadian De Vos, and he was called into action again to prevent Lee McCulloch gathering Corrigan's cross. Motherwell then were nearly gifted a goal when Combe made a hash of a pass-back and struck the ball against McCulloch, though to his relief it looped over the cross-bar. A chip forward by Hannah saw McConalogue outstrip the home defence but the ball ran through to Goram. The ball then fell for Venetis and he made a long run forward only to loose his footing right at the edge of the box. This gave Townsely the chance to break but it was a good block by Patterson which prevented the home winger going on. The off-side flag should have stopped McConalgoue as he went onto Mathies' forward pass though play was waved on. Kemble looked to have cleared that danger by beating Mathie to the ball but incredibly Referee McCurry chose to award United a free-kick. However, a foul in the box by Mathie alleviated the danger. 'Well pushed forward and were awarded a corner. This was partially cleared as far as Corrigan and his ball in was headed goal-wards by McCulloch but De Vos booted downfield. Although McCulloch of United fouled Corrigan play was waved on and United were awarded a corner which was held by Woods. After 22 minutes, however, Motherwell took a deserved lead. Combe, who had looked suspect at pass-backs, was extremely slack and when challenged by McCulloch the ball broke to the side. McCulloch needed no second invitation and rattled the ball high into the net at a difficult angle. Don Goodman was the game's first booking when he was carded after a late challenge on McCulloch, the striker somewhat unfortunate to say the least. Seconds later Goodman again was victim of a poor refereeing decision when he cleanly turned De Voss and sent McCulloch racing clear. However, seemingly upon De Vos's loud appeal, McCurry awarded a foul in his favour. United then gained an unlikely free-kick when McCulloch fell rather easily as Corrigan tackled. However, the 'Well defence held firm and the ball was cleared. Venetis then fouled Goodman wide right and as Brannan swept the ball in Don Goodman's header was saved low by Combe. Great work by Townsley, combining with McCulloch, saw a low cross evade everyone and run out at the far side. Another unfortunate error by Kemble almost gave Mathie a chance though Strong was equal to his name and made a terrific challenge to stop the striker, Kemble completing the clearance though at the expense of a corner which Goodman cleared. De Vos and Patterson then combined to foul McCulloch and Goodman and whilst both were clear fouls play was not stopped. Right on the interval Brannan showed some admirable initiative when, given a free-kick some 40 yards from goal he surprised everyone by lashing the ball towards goal, the ball clearing the bar by no more than a couple of inches with Combe well beaten.

Half-Time     Motherwell  1     Dundee United  0

It took Motherwell quite a while to wake up in the second-half, and by that time United had equalised. Mathie turned a static Motherwell defence on the edge of the box and fired in a shot which appeared to catch Goram off balance before sliding into the back of the net. Motherwell attacked from the kick-off, McMillan slid the ball forward to McCulloch and his low cross was knocked behind for a corner which came to nothing. Patridge received a knock and was carried off on a stretcher, though a second stretcher was almost called for after one of the Ambulancemen took a clear dive, though he was clearly lucky to escape a yellow card for bowing to the crowd. Two minutes later, however, substitute John Spencer, on for Twaddle, ran on to McCulloch's ball and, clear on Combe, somehow shot wide when he really should have put Motherwell back in front. Spencer tried to redeem himself, and connecting with Corrigan's ball attempted to square for McCulloch only for Malpas to knock behind. Kemble connected but sent his header just over. Good play by Valakari forced Malpas into conceding another corner soon after, but this time McCulloch shot wide from 25 yards. United almost took an unlikely lead when McConalogue raced into the box, Corrigan making a great block though as the ball broke Pascual found no takers for his dangerous low cross. Lee McCulloch played a similar ball across the United box soon after but with no-one inside Easton knocked out for a throw. Motherwell had a clear shout for a penalty when Townsley saw his shot deflected onto Maplas's outstretched hand, but no award was forthcoming and the ball sailed downfield. Venetis then had a shot from 18 yards but it was well wide. With 25 minutes to go Sasa Curcic replaced the tiring Townsley. The Motherwell defence were looking far from secure and, pouncing on McMillan's error, Pascual laid off for McConalogue who fired in only for Goram to make a great tip round the post. A deep cross by Mathie was then met by Venetis whose header was well held by Goram. United were coming more and more into the match, though it was Motherwell who came closest next. Malpas, making a record-breaking 613th appearance for United, made a timely interception to deny McCulloch as he rose to head Corrigan's cross. The ball ran out to Goodman and his net-bound effort was deflected over by De Vos. Goodman knocked on but Strong shot way over. Venetis gave away a free-kick when he fouled Brannan though Goodman's resultant header was weak and saved easily. McConalogue was continuing to give Motherwell problems with his pace and his low cross to Mathie was intercepted by Brannan at the expense of a throw. Mathie then saw yellow for a lunge at Strong. With eight minutes to go the game turned right on it's head as Motherwell made two glaring blunders to hand United all three points. Firstly, Corrigan stumbled on the ball just inside his own half allowing United to break, and it was Hannah who capitalised on another mistake by Kemble to shoot home from 16 yards. After replacing Venetis with Davidson United scored again. With the Motherwell defence all at sea De Vos was able to slide the ball under Goram to put the game beyond any doubt. Seconds after the re-start Motherwell had a chance when De Vos, who again escaped a yellow card, was late on McCulloch. McMillan took the 30 yard free-kick but curled over. McCulloch was then booked and there was no doubt this was perhaps the softest card of the season, the yellow meaning McCulloch misses the last three matches of the season. McConlogue then pounced on Kemble's slackness though the defender recovered well to stop the striker racing on. Just before the final whistle Brannan had a chance but his free-kick was blocked away, and with it just about went Motherwell's chances of a UEFA Cup place next season.

Full-Time     Motherwell  1     Dundee United  3

Match Report by Ricky Mullen (rmullen@motherwell.co.uk)