Sutton is head man as ’Well restore some pride

Jul 15 2009 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

MOTHERWELL made up for the embarrassment of losing to Welsh minnows Llanelli in the first leg by securing a convincing 3-0 win in Wales last Thursday that booked their passage through to the second qualifying round of the inaugural Europa League.

A brace of headed goals from striker John Sutton in the first half at Parc Y Scarlets eased the nerves of the small yet vocal band of Steelmen followers who had made the journey south with understandable trepidation.

But after a solid week of preparation the Motherwell players looked much more comfortable in manager Jim Gannon’s favoured 4-2-3-1 formation.

Youngster Jamie Murphy rounded off a professional job against part-time opposition with a well-worked breakaway goal in 72 minutes.

The result sets up a tie with KS Flamurtari, the Albanian cup winners, who finished sixth in their domestic league last season and famously held Barcelona home and away in European competition back in 1986.

There has been much debate as to the merits of Motherwell starting competitive action so early in the season, with one claret and amber fan overheard to say after the first leg calamity at Airdrie’s Excelsior Stadium that it was an unnecessary distraction.

But what it has done is quickly focus the minds of the threadbare Motherwell squad, who now realise they are fighting for their professional careers as Gannon looks to build a side capable of competing for a top six SPL finish when the domestic competition gets under way next month.

It is far easier to assess the strengths and weaknesses of a player in the pressure-cooker atmosphere of competitive action and for this reason alone, Motherwell’s involvement in the early rounds of the Europa League should make Gannon’s re-building job a more efficient and less time-consuming process.

If Gannon didn’t know about Motherwell’s weakness from set-plays before he took the Fir Park hotseat, he certainly does now and he’ll l almost certainly address the issue over the coming weeks.

Goalkeeper Michael Fraser, signed by Mark McGhee on a pre-contract deal from Inverness earlier this year, looked dodgy when attempting to deal with crosses in the second leg and the hesitant efforts of centre-backs Stephen Craigan and Mark Reynolds would not have filled the former defender with any confidence that these two will be his preferred centre backs when the SPL action begins.

Conceivably, Motherwell fans may see just one or two of last season’s first-choice XI making the starting line-up for the trip to newly promoted St Johnstone on August 15.

Despite this uncertainty, the efforts of under-19 regulars Paul Slane, Ross Forbes and Steve Saunders was a notable consolation.

All three did their chances of flourishing under the stewardship of Gannon no harm over the two legs.

Full-back Saunders got up and down the park far too often for the home sides liking on Thursday and he provided Sutton with a great chance after three minutes when he sent over a cross from the right.

The Englishman somehow put his effort wide but he made amends less than five minutes later with the crucial opener.

The quick-thinking Slane placed a free-kick into the path of left-back Steve Hammell and his cross from the left touchline was met by Sutton’s powerful effort that this time found the intended destination.

Llanelli caused some consternation in the visitors’ penalty area, thanks in the main to the incredible long throw threat of player-manager Andy Legg and the physical presence of midfielder Andrew Mumford.

But Motherwell got their second goal in 25 minutes. Slane again was the orchestrator, setting up Sutton for his second with a fine cross that was powerfully headed home.

McGarry could have put the tie beyond the hosts three minutes later but a superb save from Ashley Morris kept them the Welshmen in it.

Llanelli upped the tempo in the second period but were always susceptible to a Motherwell counter.

On one of the few occasions Motherwell dealt effectively with a Llanelli cross, the Fir Park side scored from the resultant breakaway.

A fine run and cross from Jim O’Brien set up substitute Jamie Murphy in 72 minutes and he headed the ball into the net with his first touch to seal the victory.

A week is a long time in politics and thankfully for Motherwell the same can be said of football, with seven training sessions enough time to save Gannon from a nightmare start to his new job.

Llanelli: Ashley Morris, Phillips (Moses 80), Stuart Jones (Jenkins 67), Thomas, Howard, Mumford, Venables, Corbisiero, Legg (Warlow 76), Follows, Griffiths.

Subs Not Used: Craig Morris, Bowen, Holloway, Craig Jones.

Motherwell: Fraser, Saunders (Page 78), Craigan, Reynolds, Hammell, Forbes, Slane, Lasley, McGarry (Murphy 68), O'Brien, Sutton (Archdeacon 76).

Subs Not Used: Kosiorowski, Fitzpatrick, Hutchinson, McHugh.

Attendance: 3,025

Referee: Milorad Mazic (Serbia)