MATCH REPORT | A PROMOTION PARTY AT TANNADICE
4th May 2024
United recorded their first win of the new season at Fir Park today in truly unbelievable fashion. On a beautiful day with a perfect pitch, United were two down after 12 minutes in a horror repeat of last week's game against Hearts. And things were to get much worse before they got better, with the vocal band travelling Arabs put through despair before being sent delirious.
The exciting news for Arabs making their way to the ground was the place in the first eleven for David Fernandez, playing just behind the front two of Miller and Crawford. Jim McIntyre dropped on to the bench. Motherwell's ever increasing injury list included first and second choice goalkeepers Marshall and Smith, so Colin Meldrum started in goal.
From United's point of view the first half was a disaster. Motherwell played with fluid passes and movement; United were static and lethargic. It took just five minutes for the hosts to take the lead. Scott McDonald outpaced McCracken on the left wing and his cross from the bye-line was met by a beautifully timed run from right midfielder Alan McCormick, and he headed home from 12 yards. Jim Hamilton almost grabbed a second with a header just past the post and it was no real surprise when the "Steel Men" doubled their advantage after twelve minutes. Craigan's flick from Brian Kerr's corner found Jim Paterson at the edge of the box. He was offered bag loads of time and space to drill a shot goalwards which deflected beyond Stillie - Brebner blocked on the line but McDonald was on hand to drive the rebound home.
Manager Chisholm reorganised his team into a 4-4-2 formation with Fernandez pushed up front and Crawford out to the right as United desperately sought just to stay in touch. But Motherwell continued to dominate. Duff's awful pass to McCracken was pounced upon by McDonald who tore away down the left flank again - this time Archibald was on hand to scramble his low cut-back away and avoid a repeat of the first goal. As the half hour mark approached, Stillie produced a magnificent save to turn McCormick's 20 yard volley behind after Hamilton's knock-down. It was a key moment as Motherwell then seemed to take their foot off the gas as half time approached. And they were punished for it on forty two minutes: Fernandez released Crawford on the right and his pin point cross was headed low into the far corner from 10 yards by Miller. United had not even managed a shot on target up until this point and should have been dead and buried - instead they had a half-time life-line.
Motherwell emerged from the break with David Keogh on for Jim Paterson, and Mark Fitzpatrick on for Willie Kinniburgh. The two substitutes made an immediate impact. Keogh was released by Brian Kerr on the right, and his deep cross was headed down by Hamilton for Fitzpatrick to side foot home with virtually his first touch. But United were looking far more threatening now, and the goal feast had only just begun. Fernandez celebrated his first start for United with a beautiful goal. Accepting a pass from Crawford the Spaniard let the ball run across him before burying a superb left foot shot low in the net from twenty yards.
The good work was swiftly undone. McCracken gave away a free-kick at the corner flag, collecting a booking in the process. Steve Hammell's set-piece was met by Jim Hamilton who headed high into the net - yet another goal lost at a set piece. Samuel replaced Robson on 62 minutes, the winger looking like he had picked up another knock. Samuel then moved to right wing as Crawford made way for McIntyre to come on at left midfield. Good work from Samuel allowed Wilson room to cross from the right on 67 minutes, and Miller claimed his second with an excellent diving header. 4 v 3 - and still more than twenty minutes left on the clock. On seventy-one minutes came the goal of the game. United moved the ball patiently from left to right where Samuel outpaced Hammell to the bye-line - his low driven cross was converted by Brebner and United were level. Motherwell looked rattled and United's fifth followed soon after. Another Wilson cross picked out Miller and his clever little back flick was again pounced on by Brebner who stabbed home from close range: 4 v 5 and still fifteen minutes to go!
Motherwell manager Butcher took Fitzpatrick off again to be replaced by Andy Smith with Motherwell going 4-3-3 in search of an equaliser. And with two minutes left they came ever so close to grabbing one. McDonald's header was cleared from the line by Brebner; Hamilton's follow-up shot from the edge of the box was superbly saved by Stillie, then as McDonald collected the rebound he appeared to be sliced down by Samuel - but the referee waived away strong claims for a penalty, then yet more claims as Duff and McDonald tangled. United almost added a sixth in injury time after an amazing break. Stillie threw to Kerr who hit a superb cross-field pass for Fernandez. His pass picked out the run of McIntyre whose chip beat the onrushing Meldrum - but landed just on the wrong side of the far post. But United had already done enough to secure all three points.
A truly incredible ninety minutes: a disastrous first half to forget and a stunning second half to remember.
Motherwell: Meldrum, Hammell, Kerr, Craigan, McCormick, McDonald, O'Donnell, Paterson (Keogh 45), Hamilton, Quinn, Kinniburgh (Fitzpatrick 45)(A Smith 80). Unused subs: G Smith, Clarkson, Fagan, D Smith.
United: Stillie, Wilson, McCracken, Archibald, Kerr, Brebner, Miller, Robson (Samuel 62), Duff, Crawford (McIntyre 66), Fernandez. Unused Subs: Samson, Dodds, Kenneth, Robertson, Cameron.
Referee: Mile Ritchie
Man of the Match: David Fernandez. No-one but the goalkeeper deserved any credit from the first half, but Fernandez was inspirational in the second half come-back, closely followed by Brebner.
Click here for the full match report by Stuart McDonald.
The exciting news for Arabs making their way to the ground was the place in the first eleven for David Fernandez, playing just behind the front two of Miller and Crawford. Jim McIntyre dropped on to the bench. Motherwell's ever increasing injury list included first and second choice goalkeepers Marshall and Smith, so Colin Meldrum started in goal.
From United's point of view the first half was a disaster. Motherwell played with fluid passes and movement; United were static and lethargic. It took just five minutes for the hosts to take the lead. Scott McDonald outpaced McCracken on the left wing and his cross from the bye-line was met by a beautifully timed run from right midfielder Alan McCormick, and he headed home from 12 yards. Jim Hamilton almost grabbed a second with a header just past the post and it was no real surprise when the "Steel Men" doubled their advantage after twelve minutes. Craigan's flick from Brian Kerr's corner found Jim Paterson at the edge of the box. He was offered bag loads of time and space to drill a shot goalwards which deflected beyond Stillie - Brebner blocked on the line but McDonald was on hand to drive the rebound home.
Manager Chisholm reorganised his team into a 4-4-2 formation with Fernandez pushed up front and Crawford out to the right as United desperately sought just to stay in touch. But Motherwell continued to dominate. Duff's awful pass to McCracken was pounced upon by McDonald who tore away down the left flank again - this time Archibald was on hand to scramble his low cut-back away and avoid a repeat of the first goal. As the half hour mark approached, Stillie produced a magnificent save to turn McCormick's 20 yard volley behind after Hamilton's knock-down. It was a key moment as Motherwell then seemed to take their foot off the gas as half time approached. And they were punished for it on forty two minutes: Fernandez released Crawford on the right and his pin point cross was headed low into the far corner from 10 yards by Miller. United had not even managed a shot on target up until this point and should have been dead and buried - instead they had a half-time life-line.
Motherwell emerged from the break with David Keogh on for Jim Paterson, and Mark Fitzpatrick on for Willie Kinniburgh. The two substitutes made an immediate impact. Keogh was released by Brian Kerr on the right, and his deep cross was headed down by Hamilton for Fitzpatrick to side foot home with virtually his first touch. But United were looking far more threatening now, and the goal feast had only just begun. Fernandez celebrated his first start for United with a beautiful goal. Accepting a pass from Crawford the Spaniard let the ball run across him before burying a superb left foot shot low in the net from twenty yards.
The good work was swiftly undone. McCracken gave away a free-kick at the corner flag, collecting a booking in the process. Steve Hammell's set-piece was met by Jim Hamilton who headed high into the net - yet another goal lost at a set piece. Samuel replaced Robson on 62 minutes, the winger looking like he had picked up another knock. Samuel then moved to right wing as Crawford made way for McIntyre to come on at left midfield. Good work from Samuel allowed Wilson room to cross from the right on 67 minutes, and Miller claimed his second with an excellent diving header. 4 v 3 - and still more than twenty minutes left on the clock. On seventy-one minutes came the goal of the game. United moved the ball patiently from left to right where Samuel outpaced Hammell to the bye-line - his low driven cross was converted by Brebner and United were level. Motherwell looked rattled and United's fifth followed soon after. Another Wilson cross picked out Miller and his clever little back flick was again pounced on by Brebner who stabbed home from close range: 4 v 5 and still fifteen minutes to go!
Motherwell manager Butcher took Fitzpatrick off again to be replaced by Andy Smith with Motherwell going 4-3-3 in search of an equaliser. And with two minutes left they came ever so close to grabbing one. McDonald's header was cleared from the line by Brebner; Hamilton's follow-up shot from the edge of the box was superbly saved by Stillie, then as McDonald collected the rebound he appeared to be sliced down by Samuel - but the referee waived away strong claims for a penalty, then yet more claims as Duff and McDonald tangled. United almost added a sixth in injury time after an amazing break. Stillie threw to Kerr who hit a superb cross-field pass for Fernandez. His pass picked out the run of McIntyre whose chip beat the onrushing Meldrum - but landed just on the wrong side of the far post. But United had already done enough to secure all three points.
A truly incredible ninety minutes: a disastrous first half to forget and a stunning second half to remember.
Motherwell: Meldrum, Hammell, Kerr, Craigan, McCormick, McDonald, O'Donnell, Paterson (Keogh 45), Hamilton, Quinn, Kinniburgh (Fitzpatrick 45)(A Smith 80). Unused subs: G Smith, Clarkson, Fagan, D Smith.
United: Stillie, Wilson, McCracken, Archibald, Kerr, Brebner, Miller, Robson (Samuel 62), Duff, Crawford (McIntyre 66), Fernandez. Unused Subs: Samson, Dodds, Kenneth, Robertson, Cameron.
Referee: Mile Ritchie
Man of the Match: David Fernandez. No-one but the goalkeeper deserved any credit from the first half, but Fernandez was inspirational in the second half come-back, closely followed by Brebner.
Click here for the full match report by Stuart McDonald.
