Early errors end ’Well’s dream of UEFA run

Oct 8 2008 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

DEALING with setpieces has been a problem throughout the footballing journey Motherwell have been on since Mark McGhee took charge of the club in the summer of 2007.

It so nearly cost them third spot in the SPL last season despite the fact they were by far the best, excepting the Old Firm, throughout the campaign.

And it cost them any hopes of an extended participation in this year’s UEFA Cup last Thursday, with schoolboy defending at two setpieces rendering this tie well and truly over after just 23 minutes of the second leg.

Former Motherwell skipper Paul Quinn began a procession of errors in 17 minutes with a needless shove on Nancy forward Monsef Zerka just outside the box at a time when the visitors had been temporarily down to 10 men, Sami hobbling off with a match-ending knee injury.

From the resultant setpiece, keeper Graeme Smith, the Motherwell hero in the first leg, acrobatically palmed away Benjamin Gavanon's attempt on goal but only to the feet of the lively Mark-Antoine Fortune, who emphatically thumped in the rebound.

Mark Reynolds, so impressive for ’Well last term, was at fault, failing to react quickly enough at the far post to Smith’s parried save, allowing Fortune to nip in front of him.

Just as the Motherwell fans had got over the initial shock of conceding that early goal, moments later the tie was over.

A soft foul conceded by Bob Malcolm on the left, again on Zerka, allowed Gavanon to float a teasing ball into the six-yard box.

It eluded everyone, including a static home defence and Graeme Smith, before nestling in the back of the net. The game was over - and in such a frustrating manner.

The noise generated by the home fans before the match had been superb, better even than when the Old Firm are in town.

But the anticipation, the usual expectation and the false optimism that comes on occasions such as this involving Scottish football teams quickly disappeared.

Same old, same old. Remember Scotland v Italy last year? A bit like that.

The biggest night in McGhee’s managerial career had turned sour quickly.

His side had started brightly enough, with David Clarkson going close early on.

But basic errors proved the Fir Parkers’ undoing and so midfielder Robert Malcolm was replaced on the half-hour mark by teenager Jamie Murphy, the player that McGhee assured us days before would be the first on the team sheet; no kidology. He had no choice but to make the change.

His side now had to score four goals in an hour to progress to the group stages.

Porter missed a good chance just before the interval that would have at least given the fans something to chew on at half-time as they were entertained by a pipe band at the interval.

But the second half became a damp squid of an affair. Flashes of excitement perked up the crowd momentarily throughout the half – Stephen Hughes thrashing a long-range effort just over the bar and Steven McGarry’s shot being forced out for a corner.

In truth however, at the other end, were it not for Nancy’s profligacy in front of goal, their lead could have been extended to four, five or even six.

Zerka, N'Diaye and Fortune were class acts on the break and should have done better with a number of chances as the Steelmen pushed forward for a consolation goal. Hadji taught the home players a lesson on ball distribution and ball retention as well. Nancy were a class act and fully merited their victory.

McGhee wanted his side to “kick their teeth in” but it was his side who were down in the mouth very quickly last Thursday evening.

His side simply did not perform to their potential, which was the most galling aspect of the tie for him and the Motherwell fans.

Playing at their best, Nancy would still have been technically and financially superior opponents but that does not always guarantee success in a two-horse race.

And this is what irks most; the Steelmen failed to turn up when it mattered.

It is easy to speculate but you do wonder how different the outcome of this tie would have been if Nancy had met the Motherwell team who were playing with the confidence that shocked Celtic at Parkhead back in March, and not the side that conceded four first-half goals at Fir Park against the same opponents last month.

Motherwell: Smith, Quinn, Craigan (Darren Smith 75), Reynolds, Hammell, Lasley (Sutton 64), Malcolm (Murphy 32), Hughes, McGarry, Porter, Clarkson.

Subs not used: Nielsen, Fitzpatrick, O'Brien, Connolly.

AS Nancy: Bracigliano, Chretien, Andre Luiz, Sami (Ouaddou 20), Brison, Macaluso, N'Diaye, Hadji, Gavanon (N'Guemo 66), Fortune (Berenguer 75), Zerka.

Subs not used: Gregorini, Helder, Biancalani, Dia.

Booked: Chretien 80.

Goals: Fortune 18, Gavanon 23.

Att: 11,318

Referee: Espen Berntsen (Norway).