Motherwell 1-1 St Mirren: Adverse conditions the winner as Well pitch in to grind out replay in Paisley

Motherwell 1
(Hughes 65)

St Mirren1
(Dorman 11)

IT WAS a case of honours even after a forgettable 90 minutes between two sides who struggled to cope with adverse conditions.

Motherwell came from behind to earn a replay at St Mirren Park in nine days' time and it would have been unjust if they hadn't been allowed a second chance to reach the quarter-finals of the Homecoming Scottish Cup.

They don't award points for artistic impression in the cup which, given the disgraceful state of the Fir Park playing surface, is just as well.

A cursory glance at St Mirren's starting line-up, which featured the strike pairing of Billy Mehmet and Jim Hamilton, suggested that manager Gus MacPherson had also sussed that attempting to play silky football on this pitch would be a waste of time.

He was right, too, although the home side squandered two glorious opportunities before Saints moved in front.

David Clarkson was the first sinner, firing straight at Mark Howard after being sent clear from Keith Lasley's pass.

At least that effort was on target: when Marc Fitzpatrick was given a free header six yards out from Steven Hammell's free-kick, he sent his effort over the bar.

Saints could not have complained about being behind at that stage but they surprised their hosts, and possibly themselves, by taking the lead immediately after that second escape.

Mehmet justified his inclusion by picking out a trademark run behind the opposing back four from Andy Dorman.

The midfielder took the ball round Graeme Smith and, although Hammell did superbly well to block his initial shot the rebound fell kindly for him and this time he produced a clinical finish.

Falling behind provoked a flurry of activity from Motherwell but it proved to be a lot of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

Mehmet was foolishly booked for throwing the ball away after conceding a free-kick and Hamilton collected a yellow card for dissent.

Motherwell, by contrast, couldn't get arrested and it was no great surprise when Cillian Sheridan, signed on loan from Celtic, replaced Lasley at the interval.

He provided Clarkson with the support he had previously been lacking and Hughes, who had been deployed in a no-man's land between playing up front and on the left wing, was switched to a more central role. Motherwell thrived consequently.

Even so, Saints had a clear-cut chance to secure their place in the quarter-finals when Hamilton's knock-on provided Mehmet with a shooting opportunity but he pulled his shot well wide.

Relief turned to disbelief for the home crowd when they found themselves level just five minutes later.

Clarkson did the spade work on the right flank, cutting the ball back for Sheridan. Howard left his line to block the Irishman's fierce drive but the rebound fell to Hughes and he lashed it into the roof of the net from 15 yards.

Motherwell dominated from then on but lacked the cutting edge which would have converted their build-up play into something more palpable. Even so, the visitors could have won it in the dying seconds when Stephen McGinn's free-kick was allowed to travel all the way to the far post where the unmarked Scott Cuthbert was lurking with intent.

Unfortunately for the defender, he lacks a predatory instinct and his volleyed attempt at goal was weak and easily gathered by a relieved Smith.

It would have been harsh on Motherwell, whose second-half performance alone was worthy of a replay. McGhee's team are now unbeaten in eight matches and, on this showing, should start as favourites for a place in the last eight when they reconvene at St Mirren Park.