Having fallen behind on the stroke of half time it was pleasing to see a second half resurgence with goals from Sutton and Ojamaa. Unfortunately we were unable to see the game out and County can thank Dingwall for the two goals that earned their first point at Fir Park in five attempts.
Kenny Black had to make two changes to the previous starting eleven as O’Brien and Ferguson appeared for Kerr and Ramsden. Francis-Angol’s continued presence at left back only serves to show how much we miss the steady influence of Hammell while Ferguson can be pleased with his first 90 minutes at the other side of the back four.
The first half was a dull and disappointing affair and there were very few chances made at either end. Motherwell had the best of the opening 15 minutes and we might have opened our account when Ojamaa delivered a fine ball from the angle of the box to give Sutton a header that flashed wide of the post. The visitors then had a decent spell but, like us, they were unable to fashion a goal chance until moments before the break. Dingwall, who had provided their main threat, fired a fierce shot that Twardzik did well to block but the winger placed the rebound to the far corner and the deadlock was broken.
Vigurs was withdrawn and Ainsworth took to the field as the game resumed. After an early scare when Jervis then Quinn had decent chances we stepped up the tempo and pulled level. Ainsworth got to the dead ball line and set Sutton up for an easy headed goal. We looked lively for the first time in the match and by the hour we were in the lead. A trademark run from Ojamaa ended with a low driven shot to Reguero’s right hand corner at the Cooper end and the home crowd of 3,000 began to hope that a win might be on the cards.
County made substitutions and pushed forward. We had a few chances on the break, the best resulted in an Ainsworth shot that beat the keeper but missed the target. It seemed inevitable that we would concede as wave after wave of attacks were scrambled away.
Our inability to hold the ball meant that we were unable to take control and kill the game. Passes went astray, wild clearances were quickly returned but we reached the three added minutes with the lead intact. Cadden replaced Ojamaa but both Erwin and Ainsworth returned the ball to our opponents when a time wasting run to the corner flag seemed the sensible option.
We paid dearly for the slackness with the last kick of the game when Dingwall slammed in his second in front of the empty south stand. It was the 126 away fans into the cnd of the O’Donnell stand who celebrated and the home support were left to leave the ground shaking their heads in frustration.
The visitors’ persistence and our frailty in possession suggested that a draw was the correct result. Baraclough will have a big list of topics on his notepad and it’s unlikely that he’ll have a magic solution.
Motherwell 2 Ross County 2
Team: Twardzik, Carswell, McManus, Sutton, Vigurs (Ainsworth 45), Lasley, o'Brien, Francis-Angol, law (Erwin86), Ojamaa (Cadden 91), Ferguson
Attendance 3,193 (126)