August 2002 Sunday, August 25
7.50pm
This afternoon’s match at Tannadice ended in a 1-1 draw. It was the proverbial “game of two halves” as we had much the better of the opening 45 mins, but found ourselves hanging on for a draw at the end.
Terry Butcher fielded the same eleven players as last week, and we got off to the best possible start when Stephen Pearson put us 1-0 up after only 3 mins. A Hammell corner was flicked on at the near post and fell right in Pearo’s path, and he made no mistake from six yards. We passed up several other chances to kill the game off before half time, most notably a Lasley close-range effort that was blocked by the ‘keeper and a Dirk Lehmann header which also brought out a good save from Gallacher in the United goal. By the end of the first half Steve Woods hadn’t seriously been called into action once, but we would be made to rue those missed chances in front of goal.
United equalised almost immediately after the break, when McIntrye’s miss-kicked shot from just inside the found its way past Steve Woods. This was the turning point in the game and the home side went on to dominate, and they hit the woodwork twice as we began to lose the battle in midfield. We survived a couple of other close calls but managed to hold out for a draw, which on the balance of the play was a fair result.
Team: Woods, Ramsey, Corrigan, Partridge, Hammell, Lasley (Kinniburgh 80), Adams, Leitch (McDonald 90), Pearson, McFadden (Ferguson 80), Lehmann.
Subs Not Used: Dubourdeau, Fagan.
Booked: McFadden, Leitch.
Crowd: 5,795
Terry Butcher is quoted in today’s papers as saying that he is hopeful of bringing in at least one, possibly two loan signings before next the transfer window shuts next Saturday.
Last week we reported that Willie Leishman, a Motherwell player from the mid 70s, had sadly passed away. You might like to know that his funeral will take place tomorrow at 2.30pm in St. John’s Church, Carluke.
Time for a new opinion poll!