10-man ’Well sunk by last-gasp strike

Oct 22 2008 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

CELTIC’S trouncing of Motherwell aside, it’s very easy to see why predicting anything this season is almost impossible – other than to say the Old Firm will finish miles ahead of the rest.

Apart from the champions’ 4-2 victory at Fir Park last month, Motherwell have only won or lost any of their eight other Premier League matches so far by the odd goal.

Saturday’s match once again typified this, when Kilmarnock, many people’s tips for relegation at the start of the campaign, inflicted a defeat on 10-man ’Well thanks to a fortuitous last-minute Craig Bryson goal.

The fine line between winning and losing is never more exemplified than in this season’s SPL.

Indeed all of the weekend’s matches that were won were achieved by a single goal margin.

As such it’s as easy to predict Motherwell will compete for third place once again as it is to say they will be fighting a relegation battle come May next year.

Bryson’s goal was enough to consolidate Kilmarnock’s position in third spot in the SPL on Saturday in a fiery encounter that saw little in the way of quality football.

Paul Quinn’s second-half sending-off was the highlight for the home fans given what little entertainment was on show after the defender fouled Kilmarnock front man David Fernandez when through on goal.

This was before Bryson found himself all alone at the back post on 89 minutes, allowing him to prod the ball home past the hapless Motherwell goalkeeper Graeme Smith for the winning goal out of nothing.

Those in attendance at Rugby Park took part in a minute’s applause before the match in memory of Dundee United chairman Eddie Thompson who died earlier that week after losing a lengthy battle with prostate cancer.

Flags were lowered to half-mast in the stadium too.

The home side went with the same eleven that defeated Hearts at Tynecastle a fortnight ago, meaning vice-captain James Fowler, returning from suspension, had to settle for a place on the bench.

The Steelmen made one change to the side that defeated Falkirk last time out with Scotland international striker David Clarkson replacing Stephen Craigan.

Paul Quinn slotted into the central defensive position in Craigan’s absence with Keith Lasley moving from midfield to the right-back berth.

The opening minutes were very scrappy with both sides sizing each other up on the greasy surface but on eight minutes Killie’s Frazer Wright had to look sharp in defence as Sutton attempted to sidefoot home from six yards before Steve Hammell went close again for the visitors with a 20-yard free-kick.

The tempo had increased in play and striker Connor Sammon made a superb run into the Motherwell box but his shot failed to test Graeme Smith.

At the other end Porter had the ball in the net after a neat through ball from David Clarkson but the linesman flagged for offside, although after the match a number of the Motherwell players were claiming the goal should have stood.

On 19 minutes ’Well keeper Smith made an excellent double save, first from midfielder Craig Bryson and then from Danny Invincible’s effort outside the box from Smith’s initial parry.

Sutton then missed a good opportunity for the Fir Parkers, miscuing a near post header from a Steve McGarry corner.

The Englishman also went close ten minutes before the break when Murphy floated a superb ball into the area from the right flank but the striker could not connect well enough with his header to trouble Alan Combe in the home goal.

Combe had to look lively, however, after a Murphy shot in first-half injury time.

The slippery surface after a torrential downpour before kick-off made it hard for both sides to play any kind of descent football and possession football was at a premium.

Five minutes after the interval Motherwell almost took the lead when John Sutton’s powerful effort was cleared off the line and McGarry’s follow-up effort was fired straight at Combe.

With both sets of spectators getting impatient at the quality of play, it was the home fans who were on their feet just after the hour mark when referee Alan Muir showed last man Paul Quinn a straight red card for hauling down Spanish striker David Fernandez outside the area.

And ’Well gaffer McGhee showed his intentions for the remaining 25 minutes by bringing off the unlucky John Sutton for big Bob Malcolm who took over Quinn’s place at centre back.

It was the home side in the ascendancy now and impressive Moroccan Mehdi Taouil had two efforts saved by Smith as the Rugby Park men pushed for the winner.

And with the match seemingly drifting towards a goalless conclusion, it was Bryson who stepped up to give the Ayrshire club all three points to continue their impressive start to the campaign.

Kilmarnock: Combe, Lilley, Wright, Ford (Fowler 16), Invincibile (Flannigan 83), Bryson, Pascali, Taouil, Hamill, Sammon (Simmonds 74), Fernandez.

Subs not used: Rascle, Murray, Skelton, Cox.

Booked: Invincibile, Wright, Bryson.

Goal: Bryson 89.

Motherwell: Smith, Quinn, Reynolds, Hughes, Hammell, McGarry, Lasley, Murphy (O'Brien 86), Clarkson (Fitzpatrick 70), Sutton (Malcolm 65), Porter.

Subs not used: Nielsen, Connolly, Forbes, McHugh.

Sent off: Quinn (65).

Booked: Clarkson, Smith, Hammell.

Attendance: 5113.

Kilmarnock................. 1 Motherwell................. 0

Andrew Weston at Rugby Park