Points shared in another disappointing derby day

Feb 17 2010 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

Hamilton 0 Motherwell 0

THERE was relief all round New Douglas Park just before 5pm on Saturday afternoon.

Relief that referee Charlie Richmond had blown the final whistle to end another disappointing Lanarkshire derby – the second in the space of seven days.

And relief from a players’ point of view that they can now finally put their feet up and enjoy a well earned rest having endured a tough schedule of three games in seven days in heavy underfoot conditions.

Leg weary, leggy, tiredness and fatigue were phrases banded about the post-match press conference after Motherwell and Hamilton played out a tame goalless draw that keeps Craig Brown’s unbeaten run as Motherwell boss intact and moves Accies a point further clear of the drop zone.

But as Brown surmised, “We don’t take much pride from the performances against Hamilton.”

On reflection my bold prediction that the two sides would make up for last weekend’s drab encounter at Fir Park by putting on an entertaining show was way wide of the mark.

The second 90 minutes of this double-header was marginally better than the first despite there being no goals, with the antics of Hamilton gaffer Billy Reid in the dugout proving light relief for those in attendance.

He did not take an embarrassing tumble as he had in the 2-2 draw between the side’s in early November when celebrating a late Marco Paixao strike.

But his arm flapping and facial expressions whenever a decision went against his side were of the amusing variety.

Whenever Motherwell were awarded a free-kick, heads in the main stand invariably turned in the direction of the diminutive Reid.

The whole world seemed to be against his side right from the first whistle and the home support backed up those assertions, roundly booing referee Charlie Richmond off the pitch both at half-time and on the full time whistle.

The level of quality from Motherwell was in complete contrast to their performance against league leaders Rangers during the week where the Steelmen were robbed of a win over the Glasgow giants thanks to the interventions of assistant referee John Gilmour who wrongly chalked off a Ross Forbes second half effort that would have put the home side 2-0 up and almost out of sight.

Inevitably Kris Boyd’s late strike earned the Ibrox club a share of the spoils.

But Motherwell’s brave side had run themselves into the ground having belied the state of the Fir Park pitch with a stirring performance full of passion and committment and not shorn of skill.

As much as they tried in mind to make Saturday’s derby a spectacle their bodies simply failed to respond with the ever lively Jim O’Brien looking out on his feet as he was substituted ten minutes into the second half.

Hamilton themselves came into this game off the back of a superb 2-0 away win over Dundee United last Wednesday, their first at Tannadice since 1989 that ended United’s seven game unbeaten run.

That win was in the main down to Portuguese twins Flavio and Marco Paixao who both scored in the first half to lift Accies off the foot of the table.

But Hamilton had to work extremely hard in the second period to hold on to their lead and their midweek physical exertions probably told against Motherwell.

In saying that, if Motherwell were the more likely side to win the first game at Fir Park, which they did, Hamilton will feel their play merited all three points this time round.

Not for the first time this season Motherwell goalkeeper John Ruddy was a rock in between the sticks, pulling off a series of superb stops to deny Accies.

The on loan Everton stopper had to look lively early on when Marco Paixao drove a low shot in on goal which Ruddy parried to safety.

Mark McLaughlin then hit the bar, beating Ruddy to the ball after Brian Easton had flighted in a teasing free-kick.

Lukas Jutkiewicz shot from distance soon after but Giles Coke had Motherwell’s best opportunity of the first half ballooning over from close range after being set up by John Sutton.

Former Motherwell midfielder Simon Mensing’s header forced Ruddy into a stunning reflex save after the interval and from the resulting corner kick Ruddy tipped over David Elebert’s effort.

The physically imposing goalkeeper then got in a mix up with skipper Stephen Craigan after Mark Reynold’s had passed the ball across the goalmouth with both players seemingly leaving the ball to each other.

Mensing got there first but Ruddy saved himself the embarrassment of making a clanger in front of Everton goalkeeping coach Chris Woods by making the save.

Motherwell were second best for much of the second half but still managed to carve out the best opportunity of the game.

Craigan punted a hopeful ball into the box which was brilliantly chested down by Sutton.

However his effort on goal was not a thing of beauty as he skied over from six yards out.

Billy Reid thought his side had earned a penalty earlier in the contest after Craigan had grappled with the busy Dougie Imrie but in the end both sides seemed happy to settle for a point.

Hamilton: Cerny, McClenahan, Canning, McLaughlin, McArthur, Easton, F Paixao (Crawford 87), M Paixao (Wilkie 77), Imrie, Elebert (Elliott 77), Mensing. Subs not used: Murdoch, Van Zanten, Evans, Thomas.

Booked: M Paixao (71)

Motherwell: Ruddy, Hammell, Reynolds, Craigan, Coke (Humphrey 55), Jennings, Jutkiewicz (Murphy 75), Sutton, Lasley, O'Brien (McGlinchey 55), Hateley. Subs not used: Fraser, Forbes, McHugh, Saunders.

Booked: Jennings (38), Hateley (45).

Referee: Charlie Richmond.

Attendance: 3133.