DUTV
STORY OF THE MATCH | RANGERS (A)
25th November 2024
United travelled to Fir Park for the re-arranged game following the first attempt to play the game having being thwarted by a power cut. Unbeaten in their last three games after the dramatic draw against Celtic on Sunday, Arabs were hoping that the team could get the win that would take them into the top six - provided it was by a two-goal margin.
Unfortunately, Manager Peter Houston was forced into making one change from the side that pulled the irons out of the fire on Sunday. Barry Douglas who'd only made his return after over two months out of the side had picked up an injury and Brian McLean was his direct replacement.
Hardly surprisingly after their 3-1 win at Perth at the weekend, the hosts were unchanged as they looked for a win that would take them up to third in the table.
And Motherwell certainly made an impressive start; winning possession from United's kick-off, they set Jamie Murphy free down the left and he cut inside to drill in a low 20-yarder which Rado Ciernziak held at full stretch. Four minutes later, there was a real let off for the Tangerines when Michael Higdon laid the ball back for Murphy whose first time shot was kept out by Rado.
United's first chance came after six minutes and it was a good one. Johnny Russell picked the ball up just inside the Motherwell half and powered his way to the edge of the box before teeing up Stuart Armstrong, but unfortunately the Scotland Under-21 internationalist fired over from just inside the box. Five minutes later, Jon Daly got his head to a Keith Watson cross but couldn't direct it on target.
Play continued to ebb and flow from end to end and Rado finger-tipped over an angled Murphy effort. A surging run then took Keith Watson past three players before he was unceremoniously brought down 25 yards out. From the free kick, Gavin Gunning thundered a shot through the wall which Darren Randolph couldn't hold. It was too tight an angle for Daly to get in a shot. He pushed the ball into Armstrong's path, but Randolph blocked his well struck effort. Just after the half hour mark, Sean Dillon blocked a dangerous looking drive from the ever-threatening Murphy.
For a spell both sides spoiled good build-up play with poor final passes, until 'Well skipper Keith Lasley fired wide with eight minutes of the first half left. Two minutes later Henrik Ojamaa cut in from the left and hammered in a shot to which Rado got a feint touch and it crashed against the face of the bar.
The second half got underway in a torrential downpour and that acted as a bit of a damper on proceedings with the first ten minutes passing without any real incident of note.
But that all changed when Ojamaa ran on to a through ball and his angled drive from 15 yards came off the base of the far post. Murphy collected the rebound and drove in along the bye-line and went down after Watson's challenge, but the referee rightly ignored the claims for a penalty which came only from the crowd.
Gunning became the first player to be booked for a body check on Murphy on the hour mark. Ojamaa tried from an acute angle two minutes later but was unable to get the better of Rado.
Twice Armstrong cut in from the left to fire in shots and if the first one was well wide, his second after 65 minutes went only inches past. Ryan then had a shot deflected for a corner and from it the ball appeared to cross the line before it was cleared - more justification for goal-line technology. But it was the prelude to a good spell for the visitors with Armstrong testing Randolph with a low drive from the edge of the box.
With 20 minutes left Houstie introduced Gary Mackay-Steven for Richie Ryan as he looked to press home United's advantage. A minute later John Rankin was harshly booked.
For the first time in quite a long while Motherwell threatened with 15 minutes left, Humphrey cutting the ball back for Higdon, but the striker failed to get enough behind his shot to trouble Rado. However, there was relief for United fans shortly afterwards when Law and Humphrey sliced their way through the United defence and the latter's cross had no takers flashing wide of the far post.
Both teams made changes as they went for broke in the closing stages with Rudi Skacel coming on for Rankin and Motherwell putting on Bob McHugh for Ojamaa.
And it was United who were to claim the spoils. Six minutes remained when Watson delivered a deep cross to the back post where it was met by Russell whose looping header dropped into the far corner.
United ran down the clock with Mark Millar replacing Russell but, before the end, Adam Cummins and Mark Millar were booked.
Man of the match: Keith Watson, who as impressive going forward as he was in defence, especially with his cross for the winner.
Summary: A great three points in which United were solid in defence and came on strongly in the last quarter to go level with the hosts on points and goal difference. Motherwell might claim they created more chances and hit the woodwork twice, but it is goals that count.
Motherwell:
Randolph, Hateley, Cummins, Ramsden, Hammell, Humphrey (Daley 87) , Lasley, Law, Murphy, Ojamaa (McHugh 79), Higdon.
United:
Cierzniak, Watson, Dillon, Gunning, McLean, Flood, Ryan (Mackay-Steven 70), Rankin (Skacel 79), Armstrong, Daly, Russell (Millar 86).
Referee: Alan Muir
Attendance: 3941 (Including 388 Arabs)
Unfortunately, Manager Peter Houston was forced into making one change from the side that pulled the irons out of the fire on Sunday. Barry Douglas who'd only made his return after over two months out of the side had picked up an injury and Brian McLean was his direct replacement.
Hardly surprisingly after their 3-1 win at Perth at the weekend, the hosts were unchanged as they looked for a win that would take them up to third in the table.
And Motherwell certainly made an impressive start; winning possession from United's kick-off, they set Jamie Murphy free down the left and he cut inside to drill in a low 20-yarder which Rado Ciernziak held at full stretch. Four minutes later, there was a real let off for the Tangerines when Michael Higdon laid the ball back for Murphy whose first time shot was kept out by Rado.
United's first chance came after six minutes and it was a good one. Johnny Russell picked the ball up just inside the Motherwell half and powered his way to the edge of the box before teeing up Stuart Armstrong, but unfortunately the Scotland Under-21 internationalist fired over from just inside the box. Five minutes later, Jon Daly got his head to a Keith Watson cross but couldn't direct it on target.
Play continued to ebb and flow from end to end and Rado finger-tipped over an angled Murphy effort. A surging run then took Keith Watson past three players before he was unceremoniously brought down 25 yards out. From the free kick, Gavin Gunning thundered a shot through the wall which Darren Randolph couldn't hold. It was too tight an angle for Daly to get in a shot. He pushed the ball into Armstrong's path, but Randolph blocked his well struck effort. Just after the half hour mark, Sean Dillon blocked a dangerous looking drive from the ever-threatening Murphy.
For a spell both sides spoiled good build-up play with poor final passes, until 'Well skipper Keith Lasley fired wide with eight minutes of the first half left. Two minutes later Henrik Ojamaa cut in from the left and hammered in a shot to which Rado got a feint touch and it crashed against the face of the bar.
The second half got underway in a torrential downpour and that acted as a bit of a damper on proceedings with the first ten minutes passing without any real incident of note.
But that all changed when Ojamaa ran on to a through ball and his angled drive from 15 yards came off the base of the far post. Murphy collected the rebound and drove in along the bye-line and went down after Watson's challenge, but the referee rightly ignored the claims for a penalty which came only from the crowd.
Gunning became the first player to be booked for a body check on Murphy on the hour mark. Ojamaa tried from an acute angle two minutes later but was unable to get the better of Rado.
Twice Armstrong cut in from the left to fire in shots and if the first one was well wide, his second after 65 minutes went only inches past. Ryan then had a shot deflected for a corner and from it the ball appeared to cross the line before it was cleared - more justification for goal-line technology. But it was the prelude to a good spell for the visitors with Armstrong testing Randolph with a low drive from the edge of the box.
With 20 minutes left Houstie introduced Gary Mackay-Steven for Richie Ryan as he looked to press home United's advantage. A minute later John Rankin was harshly booked.
For the first time in quite a long while Motherwell threatened with 15 minutes left, Humphrey cutting the ball back for Higdon, but the striker failed to get enough behind his shot to trouble Rado. However, there was relief for United fans shortly afterwards when Law and Humphrey sliced their way through the United defence and the latter's cross had no takers flashing wide of the far post.
Both teams made changes as they went for broke in the closing stages with Rudi Skacel coming on for Rankin and Motherwell putting on Bob McHugh for Ojamaa.
And it was United who were to claim the spoils. Six minutes remained when Watson delivered a deep cross to the back post where it was met by Russell whose looping header dropped into the far corner.
United ran down the clock with Mark Millar replacing Russell but, before the end, Adam Cummins and Mark Millar were booked.
Man of the match: Keith Watson, who as impressive going forward as he was in defence, especially with his cross for the winner.
Summary: A great three points in which United were solid in defence and came on strongly in the last quarter to go level with the hosts on points and goal difference. Motherwell might claim they created more chances and hit the woodwork twice, but it is goals that count.
Motherwell:
Randolph, Hateley, Cummins, Ramsden, Hammell, Humphrey (Daley 87) , Lasley, Law, Murphy, Ojamaa (McHugh 79), Higdon.
United:
Cierzniak, Watson, Dillon, Gunning, McLean, Flood, Ryan (Mackay-Steven 70), Rankin (Skacel 79), Armstrong, Daly, Russell (Millar 86).
Referee: Alan Muir
Attendance: 3941 (Including 388 Arabs)
