[tab:Match report]
Phil McGhee Fir Park
It was a frustrating afternoon at Fir Park as Motherwell were held to a 1-1 draw by a stubborn Ross County.
Despite creating enough chances to add to Scott McDonald’s early strike, and being denied a couple of penalty claims, the Fir Parkers failed to close the gap on the Highlanders and now need three wins starting with another ‘six pointer’ against Kilmarnock on Friday night.
With Ian Baraclough recognising that it was a must win game, ‘Well were boosted by the return of Stevie Hammell for his first appearance since New Year’s Day. Mark O’Brien also came into the defence for the injured Louis Laing while Conor Grant was preferred to Lionel Ainsworth in midfield.
In a game branded as a cup final, both teams made a determined and robust start. And within four minutes Scott McDonald was the first of seven bookings for simulation, although it looked a fairly strong penalty claim after being clumsily challenged in the box by Rafael de Vita.
Remarkably, Michael Gardyne then escaped a yellow card when he took out Marvin Johnson as the ‘Well winger broke wide on the left.
It was Johnson who had the first strike at goal latching onto McDonald’s pass before forcing Mark Brown to dive and palm his powerful drive round the post.
The County ‘keeper was forced into another save in the 18th minute when he held McDonald’s volley from the corner of the box after a quick throw in from Hammell.
A minute later, though, the former ‘Well ‘keeper was beaten. Grant rolled the perfect ball in front of Josh Law who swept a low cross into the six yard box finding McDonald sliding in to poke the ball over the line to make it a perfect start for ‘Well.
The Fir Park players took confidence from the goal, dictating the play and appeared the more likely to add a second with Brown and his defence having a few anxious moments.
Just when they seemed to be heading for a half-time lead, though, ‘Well conceded a sloppy equaliser.
There was no real danger as O’Brien sliced his clearance off Liam Boyce allowing the Northern Irishman to nip in and curl the ball beyond George Long to make it 1-1 at the break.
‘Well resumed pressing towards the visitor’s goal but Long had to be alert to Gardyne’s shot through a ruck of players forcing the ‘keeper to throw himself full length to smother the ball.
As the game entered its final 30 minutes both teams were intent on finding a winner and Grant’s run and low drive from the edge of the was saved by Brown after a slight fumble.
After 66 minutes Lionel Ainsworth took Johnson’s place as Baraclough desperately attempted to unlock the County defence. Within minutes an explosive run and cross from the substitute was just too far in front of Erwin.
Pearson was then caught by Boyd as he tried to turn ten yards from goal but the referee once again waved aside appeals for a penalty.
Brown spilled another 20 yard drive from Grant but as the ball bobbled about the 6 yard box it failed to fall to a ‘Well player.
John Sutton came on with 14 minutes remaining and with four goals from a similar position in his last two home games, there was a buzz of anticipation that a winner might follow.
And two minutes later Pearson twice came close to nicking it when his low drive was heading inside the post until Brown at full stretch pushed the ball to safety. Then as the clearance fell across the box Pearson stretched to head the ball towards goal but Brown reacted well to save again.
As ‘Well pushed for a winner Long kept them in it with a fine block to prevent Rocco Quinn from stealing all three points for the visitors.
In the end although Motherwell couldn’t find a winner, a point was enough to keep their slim hopes of surviving the play-offs alive.
[tab:As it happened]
Ally Reilly at Fir Park
FT | 1-1 | #MFCvRCFC
Full time whistle goes, Motherwell 1 – 1 Ross County
93′ | 1-1 | #MFCvRCFC
Only two minutes to go, no sign of a winner 🙁
90′ | 1-1 | #MFCvRCFC
5 minutes added on.
88′ | 1-1 | #MFCvRCFC
Rare County chance goes a begging, Rocco Quinn firing straight at Long from 18 yards.
86′ | 1-1 | #MFCvRCFC
Final throw of the dice for ‘Well, Dom Thomas is on for Grant.
81′ | 1-1 | #MFCvRCFC
Ross County sub, Curran off for Rocco Quinn.
79′ | 1-1 | #MFCvRCFC
Curran seems to fall over at every opportunity. Fair enough, it’s enough to fool the ref.
78′ | 1-1 | #MFCvRCFC
Great chance for Pearson but Brown gets down well to his low shot from just inside the box!
76′ | 1-1 | #MFCvRCFC
Motherwell sub, Erwin off for Sutton.
74′ | 1-1 | #MFCvRCFC
Stunning volley from Grant is beaten away by Brown after it comes through a crowd of bodies!
72′ | 1-1 | #MFCvRCFC
Big penalty claim as Pearson as clattered in the box but Allan waves away the claims!!
67′ | 1-1 | #MFCvRCFC
Motherwell sub, Johnson makes way for Ainsworth.
65′ | 1-1 | #MFCvRCFC
Ross County make the first change of the game, De Vita off for Dingwall.
64′ | 1-1 | #MFCvRCFC
Good break-away for ‘Well ends with Grant taking a pot-shot from range. Straight at Brown though.
63′ | 1-1 | #MFCvRCFC
O’Brien enters the ref’s booked, hacking down Boyce on the half-way line.
59 | 1-1 | #MFCvRCFC
‘Well work a short free-kick to Erwin and Pearson’s touch at the front post from his cross is deflected wide.
54′ | 1-1 | #MFCvRCFC
Gardyne manages to get past Hammell but his shot from the edge of the box is tame and fails to test Long.
51′ | 1-1 | #MFCvRCFC
Pearson is then booked for a rugby tackle on Irvine.
48′ | 1-1 | #MFCvRCFC
Boyd is booked for hauling down Johnson as he jinked past him.
47′ | 1-1 | #MFCvRCFC
‘Well switch off at a short corner to Gardyne.Thankfully Boyd can only sweep his shot wide of the post.A let off there
HT’ | 1-1 | #MFCvRCFC
Johnson and Lasley get the second 45 underway. COYW!
HT | 1-1 | #MFCvRCFC
Both sides are back out for the second half. Fingers crossed….
HT’ | 1-1 | #MFCvRCFC
Motherwell 1 – 1 Ross County
44′ | 1-1 | #MFCvRCFC
Quinn booked for tripping Johnson as he broke away.
41′ | 1-1 | #MFCvRCFC
Goal – County equalise through Boyce who cuts in past McManus and fires past Long from 12 yards
39′ | 1-0 | #MFCvRCFC
Hammell to the rescue! Follows in Wood’s spilled shot and slides clear from Curran. Great defending!
37′ | 1-0 | #MFCvRCFC
Johnson whips a great ball in for Erwin but Reckord just gets there first! Corner….cleared for a throw-in,
36′ | 1-0 | #MFCvRCFC
Erwin and De Vita run into each other. De Vita hits the deck and Erwin is booked.
34′ | 1-0 | #MFCvRCFC
Fraser impedes Erwin down the left hand side. Free-kick taken by Johnson which Brown flaps it! Good chance in the end.
33′ | 1-0 | #MFCvRCFC
Grant swings in a great inviting corner from the right but disappointingly, there is no takers!
31′ | 1-0 | #MFCvRCFC
Gardyne cuts inside Hammell and gets a shot away but he’ll be disappointed with it. Well over the bar.
27′ | 1-0 | #MFCvRCFC
Motherwell counter but Johnson blazes well over the bar form 25 yards.
26′ | 1-0 | #MFCvRCFC
O’Brien deflects Gardyne’s cross out for a corner, which Lasley clears at the front post.
19′ | 1-0 | #MFCvRCFC
Motherwell take the lead!! McDonald on hand to poke home a low cross into the box! COYW!!!
GGOOOAALLLL!!!!
18′ | 0-0 | #MFCvRCFC
McDonald spins and hits Hammell’s throw-in first time but it is straight at Brown.
14′ | 0-0 | #MFCvRCFC
Another Motherwell corne….but again ‘Well can’t muster any sort of effort on goal.
12′ | 0-0 | #MFCvRCFC
McManus can’t make anything of Johnson’s deep corner and County clear.
12′ | 0-0 | #MFCvRCFC
Johnson stings the palms of Brown with a volley from a tight angle. Corner to ‘Well.
5′ | 0-0 | #MFCvRCFC
Erwin’s long range shot is deflected wide for a corner. It’s a deep delivery and De Vita hooks it clear.
5′ | 0-0 | #MFCvRCFC
McDonald goes down in the box but receives a booking as ref says he dived. Not overly convinced he did!
4′ | 0-0 | #MFCvRCFC
County win the first corner of the game,Lasley sweeps Wood’s delivery away at the near post.
Out come the teams…. #COYW
Kick-Off | #MFCvRCFC
Boyce and Woods get the game underway. COYW!!!
Pre-match | #MFCvRCFC
Teams just coming out the tunnel. It’s a huge one, and we’ll have all the action as it happens. #COYW
[tab:Reaction]
Motherwell manager Ian Baraclough:
“There were two teams giving absolutely nothing away and the intensity never dropped. From both sides, the commitment and desire was fantastic.
“The boys did everything we asked, made them defend, last-ditch tackles and but for the roll of the ball at times, we could have had a lot more goals.”
Ross County manager Jim McIntyre:
“Motherwell, without a shadow of a doubt, were the better side for periods of the first half, especially the first 25 minutes, but we got ourselves back in the game with a great goal from Liam and a fabulous finish. That was pleasing that we didn’t play that well but showed the character.
“I don’t think there was a great deal of quality in the second half, the wind certainly never helped either side, and obviously the tension with what’s at stake, both sides were guilty of being a bit wasteful.
“The important thing was, if we weren’t going to win the match, just make sure we don’t lose it. I was really pleased with the battling qualities of the players.”
[tab:Man-of-the-match]
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