HARRY PAIN
PREMIERSHIP ACTION Kid’s disastrous debut OG and Well’s Main man hurt Staggies
GUTTED Ross County kid Harry Souttar sent Motherwell on the road to victory with a nightmare own goal on his debut.
However, to brand this a story of the super sub turned blooper sub would be unfair not only on young Souttar but also on Well’s new signing Curtis Main after his heroics.
The former Portsmouth striker played a massive role at both ends of the pitch to earn a deserved win that fired the Steelmen back into the top six.
Scoring his first goal for the club to double Well’s lead just two minutes into the second half was crucial enough – but to then make a vital goal-line clearance to deny County a lifeline just after the hour was almost as vital.
It’s moments like that when teams who are down on their luck must wonder what more they can do to get a foothold.
And that summed up the night for a Staggies side licking their wounds as they sit rock bottom of the Premiership.
County gaffer Owen Coyle certainly didn’t hold Souttar accountable. He said: “Young Harry scored an unfortunate own goal but fair play to him, he was terrific in the game.
“It was a horrible moment but his reaction in the second half and his mentality was outstanding. He’s going to have a terrific career.”
Coyle also had a go at referee Kevin Clancy for not giving a foul in the build up to Motherwell’s second goal.
He said: “I can’t tell you how bad that decision was. It was Nadir Ciftci who came in and barged right into the back of Marcus Fraser leading up to the goal. We were punished for it.”
Things didn’t go according to pl an for County from the start when skipper Andrew Davies limped off with a knock just seven minutes in.
That handed a debut to towering kid Souttar – younger but nevertheless taller brother of Hearts ace John – to slot into central defence.
Ciftci was in the mood to test that County defence, running on to Carl McHugh’s through ball to clip an effort on goal that was knocked wide.
However, the home side weren’t getting it all their own way with a lightning County raid almost paying off handsomely in 33 minutes.
Jim O’Brien’s swift feed found Inih Effiong prowling the 18-yard line and he sent a surprise low drive scraping just past Trevor Carson’s right post.
But this was a poor first half badly needing a goal.
And when it came on the stroke of half-time it was a moment for young debutant Souttar to forget. Andy Rose’s cross in from the right had to be cut out.
But as Souttar rose to meet it inside the six-yard box, it screwed horribly off his forehead and bulleted into the top corner of his own net.
Motherwell quickly picked up where they left off when they re-emerged for the second half and extended their lead just after the restart.
This time it was all of their own making as Ciftci hunted down and dispossessed Fraser on the right then carved a beautifully weighted low ball inside that curled into the path of Main rushing into the heart of the danger area.
With just six yards between him and glory, the hitman needed only to divert it on its way and the new signing steered the ball home.
The Staggies sparked into life after that. Twice it took heroic stops to thwart them in the space of 60 frantic seconds just after the hour mark.
First Ross Draper’s header from Jason Naismith’s cross was somehow kept out by the reactions of keeper Carson.
Then the big Englishman was frustrated again when another stinging header was cleared off the line by Main as Well held on to triumph.
Fir Park boss Stephen Robinson said: “We’ll play better than that and will get stronger. Nadir has set up two goals in two games and Curtis has scored one and made one.”