There's no doubt that Motherwell did create the best goal scoring opportunities and on that basis we can be disappointed but it was a poor game and neither side deserved three points. The afternoon was littered with aimless defensive clearances, midfield mistakes and poor finishing. The goalkeepers will take comfort from their shutouts.
MacLean gets treatment
There were some mitigating factors. The loss of Hammell and Cadden was significant and that's not a criticism of their replacements. Ferguson can be pleased with his contribution in an unfamiliar position. The post-match revelation that decisions about the fitness of both Moult and McDonald were not resolved until an hour and a half before kick-off suggests that the pair were short of their best. Given those factors it might be that a point was as much as we could expect.
Results elsewhere did us no damage and we remain in the pack. If we are in the same spot when the winter break arrives we'll be doing well. Aberdeen (a), St Johnstone (a), Aberdeen (h), Inverness (a) and Hamilton (a) is a tough run under any circumstances but if we have to cope with a sizeable injury list at the same time the task becomes harder. In addition the games are squeezed into a three week period meaning that recovery times are reduced.
The manager took a light hearted view of his enforced absence from the dugout quipping that he was unsure whether the players would pay attention to McFadden's sideline instructions. He'll have another opportunity to watch his team from a higher viewpoint at Pittodrie on Tuesday. A point there would be a bonus.