There were mixed views voiced as the 'Well fans left the North Stand. While some concentrated on the importance of the result many were critical of our performance. There was also a widely held belief that our hosts didn't deserve to take nothing from the game.
Ian Baraclough had similar thoughts, “Maybe it was a day when the result was more important than the performance and we could certainly have been better because we gave the ball away far too often for my liking.” And he added the understatement, “We were also a bit timid at times.”
It’s one of the curious attractions of football that the performance of a team reduced in strength by a sending off seems to increase. We were presented by that phenomenon for much Saturday’s match. Thompson’s dismissal spurred his team-mates on and for almost half an hour they were in charge. The half time team talk and substitutions altered the balance but although we dominated possession there seemed to be a reluctance to move forward. The back four exchanged passes along the line and with the midfield but there were alarmingly few periods into the St Mirren box.
The one notable exception to our pedestrian plodding resulted in the goal. Law started the move deep in our half with a throw-in from the right wing. Via Kerr and McManus it was delivered to Ojamaa on the left touchline and he embarked on a cross field run assisted with a pass and return from Ainsworth. Law raced down the right wing and collected an inch perfect pass from the Estonian allowing the delivery to Sutton four yards out at the near post. The striker directed the ball to Ridgers’ far corner and the game was won. It was the outstanding move of the game and it delivered the prize of three points.
We now have a five point lead over Ross County and the focus turns to Partick Thistle. They come to Fir Park on Saturday with a six point advantage. Motherwell have yet to record two consecutive wins this season. If that can be changed next weekend we’ll be back in the mid-table mix.
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