Share of the spoils for Motherwell in Lanarkshire derby

Nov 11 2009 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

FOUR goals, a red card, a missed penalty, two irate managers and a moody kitman made last weekend’s Lanarkshire derby the most explosive since Hamilton returned to the top flight.

A gripping SPL tussle ended with both sides probably happy to settle for a share of the spoils as the first quarter of the season drew to a close.

Motherwell have recorded just one loss in their first 11 games and Jim Gannon’s side can go into the international break fairly content as they sit in fifth position, three points behind third placed Hibernian.

The break comes at a good time for the Fir Parkers as they look to nurse some of their injured players back to fitness before the home match with Aberdeen on Saturday week.

The spell away from the spotlight may also allow manager Gannon time to calm down after his no-show at the post match conference on Saturday which it is believed was a reaction to an article published last week that hinted Stephen Craigan and Keith Lasley were set for the exit door in January.

A point away from home is never a bad result but the fact Motherwell played against 10 men for an hour and missed a penalty two minutes after the ordering-off will leave them wondering what might have been.

After a fairly subdued opening, the match exploded into life when Guillaume Beuzelin, making his debut for Accies, was sent packing for a second yellow card after a clumsy foul on Mark Reynolds.

His initial caution was for upending Jim O’Brien moments earlier.

By the letter of the law, you could not really argue with referee Craig Thomson’s decisions but a stern word in the ear after the first foul instead of a yellow card would probably have saved Thomson a lot of hassle for the rest of the match as the home fans and manager vented their fury thereafter.

It seemed only a matter of time before home boss Billy Reid would be sent to the stands as he showed his disbelief at any decision that went against his side.

However, it was pint-sized kitman and Accies stalwart Danny Cunning who ended up being sent to the stand early in the second half, seemingly for venting his anger at the fourth official.

Home goalkeeper Tomas Cerny was the man of the match and his heroics in keeping out Ross Forbes’ admittedly weak penalty in 37 minutes gave Hamilton the belief they could take something from the game.

O’Brien was clumsily fouled by Richard Hastings in the area but the spot-kick was easily pushed away by Cerny.

From the resultant corner, Steve Saunders saw his header cleared off the line as Accies held on until the interval.

Shaun Hutchinson, Steve Hammell, Yassin Moutaouakil and John Ruddy were ruled out of the match before the match which left Motherwell struggling for numbers at the back as winger Chris Humphrey was deployed at right-back, club skipper Stephen Craigan was restored to the centre of defence and Michael Fraser took over in goal.

Craigan has not enjoyed the best of seasons so far and is now very much a bit part player with Mark Reynolds, Hutchinson and Saunders seemingly ahead of him in the defensive pecking order.

The Northern Ireland internationalist was substituted, not for the first time, at the interval on Saturday.

Jamie Murphy came on and midfielder Hateley dropped back in Craigan’s place.

With Gannon absent to explain this decision after the match it was left to others to speculate why he made this tactical switch.

Craigan’s distribution in the first 45 minutes was poor but it did seem harsh to substitute the Motherwell stalwart and, whether Gannon likes it or not, this will only heighten speculation regarding the defender’s future.

Despite a bright opening to the second half by the Steelmen, it was Hamilton who took the lead in 60 minutes when Simon Mensing headed in a Marco Paixao cross.

Credit was due for Hamilton who never sat back and striker Mickael Antoine-Curier worked tirelessly upfront to make sure it was not all one-way traffic.

It began to feel as though it was not to be Motherwell’s day until Jamie Murphy decided to let rip with a 30 yard piledriver that left Cerny with no chance in 78 minutes.

’Well sniffed a winner but it was the New Douglas Park men who went up the other end just five minutes later and regained the lead when Paixao nodded in Weslowski’s cross.

Two crosses, two goals and the defence posted missing.

As Accies tried to play out the remaining minutes, October Young Player of the Month Lucas Jutkiewicz finished off a fine move with a right-footed shot from six yards to earn his side a share of the spoils.

Hamilton scrambled away a Mark Reynold effort just before the end but the hard work and endeavour of the hosts allowed them to hold on for a deserved point.

It was a thrilling derby and the only downside was that the match was witnessed by just 3583 fans.

Hamilton: Cerny, McLenahan, Hastings (Evans 46 (Elebert 90)), Canning, McLaughin, Wesolowski, McArthur, M Paixao, Mensing (Mills 84), Beuzelin. Subs: Murdoch, F Paixao, Kissock, Kirkpatrick.

Motherwell: Fraser, Reynolds, Craigan (Murphy 46), Coke, Humphrey, Jutkiewicz, Sutton, O’Brien (McHugh 77), Hateley, Forbes (Jennings 60), Saunders. Subs: Kosiorowski, Lasley, Archdeacon, Page.