Steelmen were never in hunt as they simply failed to appear

Nov 26 2008 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

MOTHERWELL forgot to turn up on Saturday.

Or so it seemed after they were given a harsh footballing lesson by a rampant Hibernian side that looked nothing like the under pressure club who had previously gone six games without a win.

This was a dreadful performance from the home side that really is hard to explain.

Robert Malcolm called it ‘rubbish’ and feels like they are currently performing like a lower division outfit.

Manager Mark McGhee believed it was the worst performance since he took the reigns at Fir Park and for the first time in his Motherwell career he is a man under pressure.

Success often brings heightened expectations and this is no more apparent than at Motherwell Football club these days.

For the second week in succession, the Fir Park faithful voiced their displeasure both at their manager and players.

But let’s give a sense of perspective to this.

Motherwell overachieved massively last season and if anyone seriously expected them to reach the giddy heights of third place in the SPL again this season then they were being unrealistic.

It is very hard for any club in Scotland (assuming the Old Firm clubs finish first and second) to maintain a level of consistency over two seasons let alone three or four that enables them to compete regularly for third spot.

More ‘fashionable’ clubs such as Hearts, Hibs, Dundee United and Aberdeen struggle to maintain consistency season in season out.

So for a club like Motherwell, it is nigh on impossible.

Mark McGhee told this paper on Monday that a top six finish is a more realistic aim for his club and he is right.

Anything over and above that is a bonus as last year was.

Nevertheless this does not excuse Saturday’s performance against a rejuvenated Hibernian side who tore Motherwell to shreds for almost the whole 90 minutes.

John Rankin gave the visitors an early lead before Malcolm equalised shortly before the break against the run of play.

But two goals early in the second half, including a stunning goal of the season contender from Steven Fletcher and a Dean Shiels strike from inside the box secured a well deserved three points for Mixu Paatelainen’s side.

And in the final minute Riordan finished things off with a shot from inside the box after a classic counter attack.

In the very first minute of the contest Bob Malcolm gave the ball away in the middle of the park allowing Dean Shiels to thread a neat ball through to Derek Riordan. But the striker’s effort on goal was well saved by Graeme Smith who parried the ball to safety.

John Rankin then went close for Hibs minutes later with a long range effort but the former Inverness midfielder made no mistake in the sixth minute placing a left footed shot past Smith from outside the box.

It was all Hibernian with The Steelmen well off the pace, struggling to cope with the invention and movement of the Edinburgh side.

Bamba then went close for the Hibees with a header from a Derek Riordan corner kick but he failed to keep his effort on target.

On 20 minutes Riordan should have doubled Hibernian’s advantage.

A speculative punt out of defence by Rob Jones was flicked on by Steven Fletcher in the middle of the park towards Derek Riordan who had a free run on goal.

The former Celtic misfit almost had too much time on his hands and once again Graeme Smith was the victor in their one on one duel, saving superbly.

It took until the half hour mark for Motherwell to seriously threaten the Hibs goal but Belgian keeper Ma-Kalambay saved comfortable from two Malcolm long range free-kicks in quick succession.

But five minutes before the break it was third time lucky for the defender after Rob Jones was deemed to be fouling Chris Porter just outside the box.

And Malcolm made no mistake with his right footed free-kick, slamming the ball past a motionless Ma-Kalambay into the corner of the net.

It woke up the increasingly frustrated home support but was a scarcely deserved equaliser.

Fletcher was the first to try his luck on goal shortly after the break but his left footed effort failed to trouble the impressive Smith and sailed over the bar.

But four minutes in, Shiels put Hibernian back in front.

A neat flick on by Riordan towards Steven Fletcher found its way to midfielder Shiels and the Northern Irishman made time and space in the box to fire a low shot past the outstretched Smith diving to his right.

It was no more than Hibernian deserved and they continued to look dangerous on the counter attack.

They made it three on the hour mark with a wonderful 30 yard strike from Steven Fletcher.

An excellent run down the left flank by Ian Murray was halted on the edge of the box by Paul Quinn. But Murray then took the ball off Stephen Hughes and teed up Scotland international Fletcher who bulleted the ball with his left foot low past Smith and into the corner of the net.

Sutton almost halved the deficit immediately with a shot from distance but Ma-Kalambay tipped the ball over the bar.

And in a day of long range efforts, Bamba then tried his luck from almost 35 yards out that troubled Smith but thankfully for the goalkeeper the powerful shot was straight at him.

Shiels then chipped the ball over Smith’s head from eight yards taking advantage of an all at sea home defence but the ball clattered off the bar.

Despite some late Motherwell pressure it was the visiting fans who went home the happiest after seeing Riordan finish off a counter attack involving substitutes Lewis Stevenson and Colin Nish with a crisp right footed shot from eight yards out.

Motherwell: Graeme Smith, Quinn, Malcolm, Reynolds, Hammell, McGarry (O'Brien 64), Lasley, Hughes, Murphy (Darren Smith 70), Porter, Sutton.

Booked: Malcolm, Lasley.

Goals: Malcolm 42.

Hibernian: Ma-Kalambay, van Zanten, Jones, Hogg, Murray, Bamba (Thicot 90), Rankin, Chisholm, Shiels (Stevenson 88), Fletcher (Nish 80), Riordan.

Booked: Jones, Hogg, Bamba.

Goals: Rankin 6, Shiels 50, Fletcher 61, Riordan 90.

Attendance: 4,957

Referee: Charlie Richmond