A look back at 95/96
With only three games remaining at the time of writing, let's take a look back at the roller-coaster ride that was season 1995/96 at Motherwell Football Club, and compare my stunning points predictions to what we actually earned. Oh dear ...!!!!
HOME AWAYABERDEEN 2-1 1-0 0-1 1-2
The hosts held the upper hand in all four clashes with honours even between the two. Taking into consideration that our two wins are part of an overall total of only nine at home this season, this has to be considered as one of our bette r sets of matches, although the extra-time Coca-Cola Cup success just gives the Dons the edge. Only one point out in my "prediction" - so far so good !!!
PREDICTED POINTS = 7 POINTS TOTAL = 6
HOME AWAYCELTIC 0-2 0-0 1-1 0-1
"MOTHERWELL CRISIS" shock as we somehow fail to beat Burns' Bottling Bhoys even once in an entire season !!! Mind you, you would have been forgiven for thinking we had turned them over the way we had the sheer audacity to get in the way of the "exciting" title race by not turning a blind eye to Van Donkey's only slightly off-side while only just-kinda interfering with play goal !!!
PREDICTED POINTS = 9 POINTS TOTAL = 2
HOME AWAYFALKIRK 1-1 1-0 0-0 1-0
A better than normal, unbeaten stretch against undoubtedly the most footballingly challanged team I've seen since - well since Airdrie were last in the 'BIG' league !!! Our own-goal victory at their dump set us up for our much-required late rally from there-on in. For a team to play as badly for 36 games as we did for 25 takes some doing, so that must be something that Mr Lambie will be thanked for treating the Bairns to !! And everyone thought he couldn't produce a w orse team than Thistle !!! Good work fella !!!
PREDICTED POINTS = 8 POINTS TOTAL = 8 (yeess!!) HOME AWAYHEARTS 0-0 ?-? 1-1 0-4
A couple of draws did nothing to warn us about possibly THE worst ninety minutes of the season (a catergory with about as many nominations as 'Worst playing surface in Scotland' this term!!!). We still have one more clash before their Cu p Final fling, but your obvious support for ANY other team against the bigoted two in ANY game is sorely tempted to be forgotten because of this mob. Nearly.
PREDICTED POINTS = 6 POINTS TOTAL = 2 (so far) HOME AWAYHIBERNIAN 0-2 3-0 2-4 0-0
Another poor, if not surprising set of scores against this season's least sustained title challangers (seven breakaways, wasn't it Darren!!) only brightened up by a much awaited and thoroughly enjoyable thrashing of them last month. A s trong finish would help us finish above them again but it is a sad state of affairs when two teams with more chance than most of putting in a challange at the top are squabbling over the highly coveted 'third bottom of the league' spot be hind such football illuminaries as Raith Rovers and Kilmarnock.
PREDICTED POINTS = 6 POINTS TOTAL = 4 HOME AWAYKILMARNOCK 3-0 0-1 1-1 1-0
But for Falconer's saved penalty and Howie's late blunder, another near miss in the prediction stakes against a team we always seem to do well against. Another enjoyable set of matches in store next time round if a) Tommy Coyne gets hims elf back to full fitness, and b) That bloody scoreboard packs in for our two visits!!!!!!!!
PREDICTED POINTS = 8 POINTS TOTAL = 7 HOME AWAYPARTICK THISTLE 1-1 0-2 0-1 2-0
I know I say it every time I mention, but how the hell can we manage to come out with only FOUR BLOODY POINTS against this lot ? Our last display at Firhill is what we SHOULD be doing to them and Hibs/Hearts more regularly. Thankfully t he play-offs may rid us of this concern for a good few seasons to come. Mind you, our record at McDiarmid Park isn't that hot either!!!!
PREDICTED POINTS = 5 POINTS TOTAL = 4 HOME AWAYRAITH ROVERS 0-2 1-0 0-0 ?-?
Four points apiece with one match remaining, Rovers must be in line to become the next big force in Scottish Football after getting rid of that Irish fella and bringing in new coaches Kirk and Krivokapic!!! Three disappointing results le ave us behind them in the league when we should be a lot better than that. There's always next season.....
PREDICTED POINTS = Um, well 12 ! POINTS TOTAL = 4 (so far) HOME AWAY R*****S 0-0 ?-? 1-2 2-3
HMMM....deja vu or what? After letting ourselves down in the first two opening 45 minutes at Castle Greyskull, we turn in some of our best stuff all season - all for a measly point. This is how they're heading for another monotonous title while we struggle. However our last performance set us on the way to bigger and better things, culminating in us making them set up a nailbiting league finale. Again. Please!!
PREDICTED POINTS = 7 POINTS TOTAL = 1 (so far)* TOTAL PREDICTED POINTS = 67 * TOTAL POINTS SECURED = 38 (so far)Better luck next year ! (and less injuries please!)
Christopher Hutton
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