Games between Motherwell and Inverness at Fir Park have tended to follow a predictable course. The visitors normally start with a somewhat defensive approach keen not to concede. Attacks tend to start from deep in their half when we lose possession and they break up field with pace. That did not happen on this occasion.
From the first minute they were on the front foot the game was carried to us. When they lost possession they pressed the ball and denied any speedy reply. As a result our movement into their half was often slow and tentative. The energy, organisation and drive that seemed to grow under McGhee’s first few games was stifled.
The game turned on two first half incidents. The penalty award, McGhee called it dubious, and the decision to give Tansey a second attempt felt like an injustice. Ripley’s excellent save was for nought. Then, as half-time approached, the deflection gave Storey an unlikely goal.
Motherwell started the second period looking more like the team that had shown recent improvement but the third goal ended any realistic hope of a recovery. It was a strike worthy of winning any game.
The worry from a ‘Well perspective was the inability to convert play in the final third into goal scoring chances. Too often we were forced to try hopeful efforts from distance or send in speculative crosses. Of course, when the opposition were three ahead they were able to set up in defensive formation. but there was little creativity, no incisive passing and a lack of sharpness from us.
Moult’s goal from Ainsworth’s delivery at the angle of the box found the striker with a yard of space and his good touch beyond the post kept his fine scoring run alive but it did not herald an unlikely revival.
The manager said he saw “a lot of positives” although there was plenty to work on. He felt it important that we don’t lose the momentum gained in the last few weeks. We’ll find out more about that in Dingwall in a fortnight.
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