Still, nineteen points from the last eight games represents a fantastic haul and we must be optimistic as the team enjoys its mini break.
Both teams produced some decent football and did their best to knock the other off their stride. There was as much closing down on show as silky passing and the players produced as good a match as the poor surface allowed.
Good work Toro!
The pre-match weather combined with news of an inspection and frantic efforts to fork soggy areas probably knocked a few hundred off the crowd of 5,765. The South Stand held 1,254 visitors and they left buoyed by the late lifeline.
It was hardly a surprise to hear the managers offer differing opinions about the Hutchinson/Jack incident. The real time view from the Cooper Stand had us baffled at the booking. It seemed clear that our man got the ball. TV replays suggested an unclean contact and hinted that the referee was correct to caution our man. There were fears that the early booking (7 min) might be followed either by a second yellow or a reluctance to make hard tackles but Hutchinson stuck to his task and had a fine game. McInnes saw it as a "poor, reckless challenge" worthy of a sending off whereas McCall's view was that "it was a robust tackle but Shaun 100 per cent wins the ball. In no way was it a red-card offence."
McManus made amends for last week's own goal with a fine defensive performance and an excellent headed goal to open the scoring. Our centre backs have given us great service this season - a team needs more than goal scorers to be successful.
There will be no Motherwell games until Partick Thistle visit Fir Park in the middle of February. For the next two weekends we’ll be reluctant spectators as the League Cup semi finals and the next round of the Scottish Cup tack centre stage. We'll all suffer as we sit on the sidelines
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