We opened the scoring with a McDonald goal but slack defending allowed County back into the game just before the break. The second half saw more frantic effort than skill but the visitors shut up shop and avoided the loss.
Laing failed a fitness test and O’Brien was paired with McManus in the centre of defence. Hammell was welcomed back after a five month absence an Grant was preferred to Ainsworth. Our left back received a heart cheer at his first involvement and he can be pleased with his contribution.
First half action
McDonald was awarded the first of the game’s six yellow cards when he went down under a challenge in the penalty area. Referee Allan saw it as a dive but TV evidence suggested that there had been contact.
Johnson tested brown with a fierce effort from a narrow angle but the opener soon followed. Law delivered a tempting low cross from the right and McDonald finished at the far post. It was exactly the start we needed to relieve some of the tension that was apparent as both teams scrapped for the ball and rushed clearances to avoid a costly error.
It developed into a bruising affair and the flow was often stopped for fouls. We seemed to be in control as half time approached but a moment’s carelessness cost us dear. O’Brien had an opportunity to clear a high ball from outside the angle of the box but h chose to go for distance instead of safety and Boyce was able to block. Before the defence was able to muster he fired beyond Long into the corner. The 469 away fans had their reward.
After the turnaround we attacked the Cooper end but our chances were few. McDonald was over elaborate and Erwin, despite some neat touches, was lax with the end product. We had a shout for a penalty when Pearson burst into the box but the referee was up with play and dismissed our appeal. Pearo had our best chance when he found space on the left and shot to Brown’s tight. Our former goalie was at full stretch but his fingers did enough to keep the ball out.
County had a couple of late opportunities but a good save from Long and a header wide of the target meant there was no more scoring and despite us throwing everything up the park in the closing minutes the opposition defence easily rebuffed our advances.
After the match the manager reckoned “It’s all to play for”, that’s an opinion not shared by most of the Motherwell support as another vital game ended without a win.
Motherwell 1 Ross County 1
Attendance 4,281 (469)
Team: Long, Hammell, McManus, Lasley, O’Brien, Law, Erwin (Sutton 76), Johnson(Ainsworth 67), Grant(D Thomas 82), Pearson, McDonald