IT says it all that each of the four goals scored yesterday were from headers; two of them headers from headers and one a header from a header from a header.
The only way to make, er, headway on the excuse for a pitch at Fir Park seems not to play on it, especially in a swirling wind that just makes the whole exercise of producing constructive football about as achievable as pushing an elephant up a stair
case.
Yet even hitting the high way did not really help either side further their ambitions of UEFA Cup-earning third place in the SPL. A 85th-minute equaliser from Dundee United's Lee Wilkie left the two teams reflecting on projections as they attempt to plot a course to Europe. Motherwell manager Mark McGhee recognised afterwards that his side remain favourites to bring cross-border competition to Lanarkshire for the first time in 12 seasons, with two games in hand over challengers United and Hibernian. But these games are against Rangers and that complicates matters. No more than the bobbletastic surface which must form the crux of every home post-match interview McGhee gives.
After watching his side squander a lead late on, the Lanarkshire club's manager didn't seem to know whether to be more angry about his standard bug-bear or the defending in the build-up to Wilkie's leveller. The latter was pretty shoddy, with a long throw-in from Danny Grainger being knocked on by Darren Dods before Stephen Craigan – scorer of an earlier own goal – attempted a back flick that allowed the United captain to pounce. In the end, McGhee reserved his biggest scalding for the bald, patchwork thing that is enclosed by four stands at Fir Park. "It was a poor, poor game bordering on the shambolic. I said beforehand the pitch wouldn't be a factor but it was," he said. "It was diabolical and a big handicap."
Not least to Keith Lasley, who was played in by David Carkson with a few seconds remaining but blasted wide when the ball bobbled up as he shot.
United boss Craig Levein, who admitted defeat would have ended his club's hopes of third place, agreed that normal football rules do not apply at Fir Park. "You have to go longer on this pitch because you can't play a short, crisp passing style."
It was impossible to consider yesterday's encounter without thoughts drifting to Phil O'Donnell. The midfielder collapsed and died after suffering heart failure when United last faced Motherwell at Fir Park. The tragedy removes the clubs' meeting on December 29, 2007 from being a football memory. The 5-3 home win in which O'Donnell gave of his last that day has understandably become a non-happening. Yet, it was difficult not to believe that Levein told his team to go for it from the off yesterday because they were 3-0 down inside 17 minutes in that, ultimately, grim game.
The visitors certainly piled forward with zip in the early moments as if working to a game plan. They did all the pressing, saw Willo Flood's shot on sight saved well, but fell behind when Motherwell's first attack saw Clarkson meet a Stephen Hughes cross from the left and inadvertently nudge the ball on for Porter to bury. A minute from the interval, Craigan levelled up the score when his attempt to knock a Noel Hunt header behind flashed across the box and resulted in the ball spinning straight past his own keeper.
The sting then appeared to be taken out of the contest when Ross McCormack whipped in a curling free-kick from wide on the left at pace that might have been bending in before Porter put a forehead on it to make sure. Wilkie's late intervention could not be foretold. But maybe Levein fated it by preparing to remove the big centre-back and throw on a fourth forward in Mark De Vries. "I said to Houstie (assistant Peter Houston] at that throw-in, 'unless Wilkie scores he's coming off'."
Aerial ability should always guarantee 90 minutes in Lanarkshire's badland.
MAN OF THE MATCHA number of United players put in good shifts – Wilo Flood, Morgaro Gomis (right) and John Daly all impressing. But Chris Porter gets the award for his goals, albeit two straightforward headers.
QUICK FACT These two teams were chasing a place in Europe for the first time since each lost to Finnish club MyPa 47 in the UEFA Cup – United in 2005 and Motherwell in 1995.
TALKING POINTIs there ever any talking point from Fir Park more than the heap they have to run about on?
The full article contains 785 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
