Officials named for Dons clash

Monday, March 5, 2012

Craig Thomson is the man in charge for Sunday’s Sky live William Hill Scottish Cup Quarter Final clash with Aberdeen at Fir Park.

39-year old Thomson, considered to be one of the best officials on the FIFA list, will be handling his third Motherwell game of the current season. His previous two were also live on television as Rangers ran out 3-0 winners back in mid-August and the 0-0 draw with Kilmarnock back in October.

Craig will be a familiar face to Fir Park fans having been a top-flight official for a decade and taking charge of three league matches last season.

Thomson was the man in the middle for the SPL opener against Hibs when goals from John Sutton and Jamie Murphy wasn’t enough for the victory as Hibs ran out 3-2 winners thanks to goals from Antony Stokes, Paul Hanlon and Liam Miller.

His next appointment was the 1-0 home defeat by Hamilton Accies in the Lanarkshire derby. Then Accies striker Nigel Hasselbaink separated the sides with a 15th minute curler from the edge of the box.

He also took charge of the 0-0 draw with Hearts last April when an unfamiliar ‘Well side did well to take a point at Tynecastle.

His record in charge of the Steelmen is mixed with nine wins, fifteen defeats and eight draws from 32 matches.

Not included in that list was the 2007/08 Scottish Cup fourth round replay win against Hearts at Fir Park, when he replaced the injured Stuart Dougal midway through the second-half.

In those games, Motherwell have scored 39 and conceded 43. 114 players have gone into the book, 56 were wearing claret and amber, while four players, including Stephen Craigan, have been dismissed. The skipper saw red in the 2-0 Scottish Cup defeat to Kilmarnock at Rugby Park six years ago.

Thomson will be ably assisted by Derek Rose and Alasdair Ross with Bobby Madden on fourth official duties.