Fightback is beyond 10-man Buddies

Sep 29 2008 by Paul Massey, Paisley Daily Express

MOTHERWELL 2

ST MIRREN 1

SAINTS were denied any points at Fir Park on Saturday after they succumbed to two second half goals and were forced to play the last 20 minutes with 10 men following Franco Miranda’s red card.

Gus MacPherson’s Buddies took a deserved lead through in-form striker Billy Mehmet but goals from John Sutton and Bob Malcolm saw them come undone in the second half.

The result leaves Saints bottom of the SPL.

There were four changes to the Saints’ starting line-up following their disastrous result at Dunfermline in the Co-operative Insurance League Cup earlier in the week.

As expected, Scott Cuthbert came in at left-sided centre back for the injured Will Haining, while Hugh Murray had to make way for the return of Andy Dorman in midfield.

Steven Robb started on the left flank ahead of Stephen McGinn and Dennis Wyness came in for Jim Hamilton up front.

Mehmet prodded the ball into the grateful arms of Graeme Smith after two minutes when Saints sprung a counter attack down the left.

Miranda stroked the ball into the box and Wyness touched it on to Mehmet – but he could only guide it towards the on-rushing keeper.

Seconds later Saints goalkeeper Mark Howard was forced to pull off an important save at his far post when former Buddie Sutton connected with a Keith Lasley cross from the wide area.

Then the visitors won a free kick when Robb went to ground 22 yards out on the left but Dorman’s poorly struck cross was headed to safety by Mark Fitzpatrick.

After seven minutes Wyness tried his luck when he cut inside Fitzpatrick to unleash a powerful angled drive from 16 yards that Smith managed to get a hand to, before Garry Brady picked up a knock in a challenge with Sutton – although he was able to continue.

Miranda forced a corner on the left after 14 minutes and Robb elected to swing it in. Cuthbert made a connection and fired it towards goal but Wyness’ flick-on took the ball wide of the left hand post.

Then Dorman flicked the ball over the crossbar from eight yards after Brady picked up a return pass from Mehmet, found Robb on the left and the midfielder swung in the cross.

The opening quarter of the match saw some nice stuff being played and it was encouraging for Saints fans to see the visitors go about their business with confidence.

Another half chance fell the way of Saints and from Robb’s left wing cross, Mehmet’s first time header was easily caught by the well-positioned Smith.

After 24 minutes a powerful run forward from Motherwell’s Jamie Murphy forced Howard way out of goal as the midfielder pumped a long ball upfield for David Clarkson to chase, but the Saints goalie was alert to the danger and hoofed it clear.

Gary Mason was penalised for an infringement when he challenged Clarkson for possession and Motherwell won a free-kick 25 yards out, but fortunately for Saints Stevie Hammell’s effort drifted well wide.

Then Clarkson weaved his way to goal 22 yards out but his low drive zipped wide of the right hand post.

But Saints were to go 1-0 up after 30 minutes – and who else but top scorer Mehmet would get the goal.

Robb scampered down the left, found Mehmet, and the big striker took a touch to take it past Paul Quinn before looking up and guiding a lovely right foot shot beyond Smith from 16 yards.

Jack Ross was harshly penalised for a foul on Clarkson after 33 minutes and the Steelmen won a free-kick 25 yards out on the left.

Up stepped former Rangers star Bob Malcolm to smash a right foot shot off the crossbar.

Then Mehmet picked up a caution after 36 minutes for a foul on Hammell.

Robb stabbed a right foot shot wide of the mark after 38 minutes when he connected with Mehmet’s cute backheel, before the keeper fumbled Miranda’s cross but Wyness couldn’t get a proper shot away.

Two minutes after the restart Motherwell were level through Sutton’s header from a corner on the right by Murphy.

The ball was played short, swept into the danger zone by Hammell, and Sutton reacted quickest to send an awkward header beyond a crowded defence and into the left hand corner.

All of a sudden the Steelmen were in the ascendancy and Clarkson brought Howard to his knees with a low angled drive after 52 minutes following Sutton’s dummy.

After 53 minutes Ross pulled up with a hamstring injury at the near touchline but moments later he was back in the thick of it.

Then it was Saints’ turn to pile on the pressure and Sutton conceded a corner on the right – but Dorman’s cross was headed clear.

Ross, though, succumbed to his injury and Marc McAusland replaced him after 57 minutes.

McAusland, though, was harshly penalised for a tug on Sutton and the ’Well were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the penalty box.

Skipper Potter was booked for his protestations.

Up stepped Murphy to blast in a shot that Howard managed to parry away for a corner.

But Motherwell took the lead straight after that when Malcolm was on hand in front of goal to poke the ball home.

At the other end Brady played in Robb 22 yards out but the midfielder’s shot drifted high and wide of the left hand post.

Then Miranda forced a good save from Smith when he chested possession down and cracked in a half volley over on the left.

From Dorman’s corner Cuthbert headed over.

The game swung from end to end and Murphy saw a deflected shot go agonisingly wide before Hammell struck the woodwork with a cross-cum-shot from over on the right.

Midfielder Mason was sacrificed for Brighton after 69 minutes, then Miranda was red-carded when he was involved in an incident over on the far touchline with Sutton that only the linesman could see.

With Saints down to 10 men they faced a real uphill task to get anything from the game.

Mehmet hooked a pass across for Dorman 20 yards out but his weak effort trickled wide, then McAusland was yellow-carded for going through the back of McGarry.

With eight minutes remaining Jim Hamilton replaced Wyness as Saints sought an equaliser.

In the latter stages the home team had two penalty claims turned down which infuriated the home support.

Into injury time and Lasley picked up Murphy’s weaving run and pass – but could only shoot straight at Howard from 16 yards.