Match Report

Sunday, 25th January, 2009

by Ewing Graeme

Motherwell 1 Falkirk 1: Lucky Bairns get off lightly as sloppy Motherwell spare the rod

FALKIRK have now taken just three points from their last nine league fixtures but the real mystery is how they managed to leave Fir Park with one yesterday. They were completely outplayed by their hosts but a combination of bad luck and worse finishing proved costly to the home side's hopes of making a late charge for a European place.

Motherwell visit Inverurie Locos on Homecoming Scottish Cup duty tomorrow night and they are unlikely to be as dominant against the Highland League outfit as they were here.

Falkirk at least moved a point further away from Inverness at the bottom but their performance here explained why they have won just once on their travels this season. However, a marked improvement will be required if they are to avoid embarrassment in Tuesday's Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-final against Rangers.

The visitors scorned an excellent opportunity to take the lead in the third minute when Mark Reynolds allowed himself to be dispossessed on the edge of his own penalty area by Kevin McBride but the midfielder couldn't get the ball out from under his feet in time to despatch a shot and Reynolds was able to atone for his original error by clearing the danger.

Fortunately for Scottish football, both Mark McGhee and John Hughes insist on a passing game. Unfortunately for their players, they had to contend with the worst playing surface in the SPL.

Parts of the pitch resembled a bog while other parts appeared to be covered in frost and it cut up quickly and badly.

Motherwell came close to breaking the deadlock in the 10th minute when Falkirk goalkeeper Robert Olejnik suffered a rush of blood to the head, racing out of his box in an attempt to reach Paul Quinn's through ball ahead of Chris Porter. The striker was always favourite to win that race, however. He nodded the ball away from Olejnik and his angled drive was blocked on the line by Lee Bullen. Even then Marc Fitzpatrick should have scored from the rebound but, under no pressure, he headed over from eight yards.

The home side were the dominant force by then and Jim O'Brien, still searching for his first goal for Motherwell, cut inside Darren Barr only to see Olejnik parry his full-blooded drive.

Kevin McBride collected the first caution of the afternoon for a high, late lunge on Steven Hammell just before the half-hour mark: it was indicative of Falkirk's frustrations.

The pressure on Hughes' side was relentless and it came as no surprise when the opening goal arrived two minutes before the interval: if anything, it was overdue.

McGhee believes that David Clarkson ought to be more prolific but the Scotland striker could not have done a better job with his looping header from Hammell's cross which left Olejnik clutching at thin air.

Falkirk, with Scotland central defender Darren Barr surprisingly deployed in a wide-right midfield role, were not at the races and were fortunate when Clarkson's poor first touch meant he was unable to capitalise on a miscued clearance from Olejnik. They were luckier still in the 50th minute when the same player's dipping shot from 20 yards once again beat the keeper only to smack the crossbar.

It was completely against the run of play, then, when Falkirk equalised two minutes later with their first attempt on or off target. Dean Holden was the unlikely hero, giving Graeme Smith no chance with a perfectly-struck left-foot drive from 15 yards after being picked out by Scott Arfield's pass. The goalscorer was cautioned for removing his jersey in celebration yet more serious offences went unpunished.

McBride could have been ordered off for another lunge at Stephen Craigan immediately before that goal and Barr also escaped censure for appearing to elbow Steven Hammell in the face. The full-back was carried off on a stretcher while the home fans roundly abused referee Crawford Allan, who was officiating at an SPL match for only the fifth time this season.

Falkirk escaped again in the 62nd minute when an O'Brien piledriver hit the underside of the bar and Chris Porter, from six yards out, somehow headed the rebound wide.