All guns blazing but team had to settle for lots less

Feb 4 2009 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

THE 557 Motherwell fans who turned up at Easter Road on Saturday got an early taste of what life without Chris Porter could be like.

It did not make pleasant viewing. If the sole objective of football was not to put the ball in the back of the net then they would have been reasonably content.

But it is and that was the only reason why the Steelmen failed to return west with all three points their play merited.

The arrival of Celtic target man Cillian Sheridan, on loan until the end of the season, will soften the blow somewhat for the Fir Park faithful. But whether the 19-year-old will have the kind of impact Chris Porter had during his successful 18 month spell in which he scored 27 times in 67 appearances remains to be seen.

Motherwell dominated the hosts as much, if not more than Hibs dominated Motherwell in the corresponding fixture back in November.

That day, the Fir Parkers were on the receiving end of a 4-1 trouncing.

The official stats say Motherwell enjoyed 56.1 per cent of the possession at the weekend.

It seemed more like 95 per cent to the naked eye, certainly in the second half.

“I thought it was one of the most one-sided second halves I have ever played in,” Well defender Steven Hammell told the Wishaw Press this week.

He added: “I thought their goal came out of nothing really and even before and after the goal I thought we dominated the match.

“They had a couple of breakaways (in the second half) but we came away from Easter Road disappointed not to have won the game.”

A slip in concentration allowed the home side to take an early lead in the seventh minute.

Ross Chisholm was afforded too much space on the left hand side of the Motherwell half and his cut back to Derek Riordan was put away with some aplomb by the former Celtic striker. After that, there was really only one team that wanted to win it.

Whether this was due to the absence of Scotland striker Steven Fletcher and Doncaster-bound Dean Shiels, it was still surprising how defensive the home side were.

Man of the match Rob Jones was a colossus in the middle of the Hibs defence all afternoon and he had to look smart early doors blocking a shot from the impressive Stephen Hughes. Clarkson also had an early effort saved and Steven Hammell tried his luck with a 30-yard free-kick that failed to trouble Szamotulski in the Hibs goal.

Jim O’Brien should have done better when in space with a left-footed shot before Hammell again disappointed with a free-kick.

It was one-way traffic throughout the second period as Clarkson forced the keeper in to a smart save low to his left before Hungarian Denes Rosa should have doubled Hibs lead after a rare excursion into the Motherwell half.

Riordan also made Graeme Smith work on 63 minutes but he ballooned a shot over the bar.

Nevertheless, it was at the other end that guilt-edged chances were being missed at a premium. Murphy side-footed the ball past the post when it looked easier to score and Paul Quinn could have done better from a tight angle.

They were rewarded for all their pressure 15 minutes from time when Jamie Murphy was needlessly brought down in the area by substitute Steven Thicot.

David Clarkson netted the spot kick.

Despite continuing to press for the winner, the visitors had to settle for a share of the points, much to the frustration of Hammell.

He added: “It is a game we should have won. But confidence is high and we are undefeated in January, which is good.”

Hibernian: Szamotulski, McCormack (van Zanten 71), Hogg, Jones, Stevenson, Chisholm (Thicot 46), Rosa, Hanlon, Rankin, Nish (Keenan 60), Riordan.

Booked: Stevenson.

Goal: Riordan 7.

Motherwell: Smith, Quinn, Craigan, Reynolds, Hammell, O'Brien, Hughes, Klimpl, Fitzpatrick (Murphy 65), Sutton (Darren Smith 65), Clarkson.

Goal: Clarkson 77 penalty.

Attendance: 10,903.

SPOT ON: David Clarkson netted Motherwell’s deserved equaliser against Hibernian on Saturday from the penalty spot.JDWSH020209clarkson-1