Many local businesses had taken the decision to keep their doors locked as the visitors reputation went before them. However, it turned it to be hearsay and it was just another normal Saturday around the town.
The XI selected by the new man was anything but normal, though. The home side lined up with five across the midfield and new signings Porter and Mensing were nowhere to be seen. Keith Lasley and Brian McLean both returned to claim starts in their usual roles, while Ross McCormack in the dayglo boots played the part of the loan striker.
A very lean Jim Paterson was handed the captains armband in the absence of Craigan, who is suspected to have suffered an injury in the warm-up. The home side started very strongly with the Southerners on the back foot for most of the opening half.
A couple of notable changes to the way the team operates is that the full-backs were clearly instructed to drop back to collect the ball from the goalkeeper and the central midfielders were very clever in taking it in turns to support McCormack. The former Rangers' man spurned a few half-chances as McGarry, Lasley and Fitzpatrick seemed to enjoy tormenting the defence. When the goal finally came on the stroke of half-time, any one of the four could have slotted home Darren Smith's cut-back, with McCormack the one to do the honours.
The lead was no more than the 'Well deserved as there was some excellent football on display from Mark McGhee's new-look side. The gaffer made the first three of his substitutions at the interval with Mensing, Porter and Clarkson all being introduced in a drastic change of formation.
The substitutions seemed to break up the play and the visitors were allowed more time and space on the ball. The only point worth mentioning during the second half was a wonderful long-range finish for the Millwall equaliser, courtesy of some very slack play from Martyn Corrigan.
The use of seven substitutes in the second half completely ruined the game from a Motherwell point of view but it was good to see so many good performances from the men in claret and amber with honourable mentions to Lasley, Quinn, McCormack and McGarry.
The game also showed that the new manager won't be afraid to play players in a variety of positions and use every formation in the book until he discovers what is best for his team. It's fair to say that the game has also whet the appetite of the Dossers faithful and everyone will be looking forward to getting next week's final preparation match over and done with to get on with the real stuff on August 4th.
Team: G. Smith, Quinn (Corrigan - 50), Murphy (Porter - 46), Kinniburgh (Reynolds - 50), McLean, Fitzpatrick (Mensing - 46), D. Smith (Clarkson - 46), McCormack (Nixon - 72), McGarry (Connolly - 58),