BROPHY IS SPOT-ON TO RESCUE SAINTS
MOTHERWELL 2 ST MIRREN 2
GRAHAM ALEXANDER last night expressed his bewilderment at the manner in which Motherwell were denied a victory against St Mirren. Leading 2-1 as the game entered its closing stages, the Fir Park boss was perplexed as to why referee Bobby Madden awarded a penalty for Sondre Solholm’s challenge on Eamonn Brophy. Brophy’s spot-kick was saved by Liam Kelly — only for a retake to be awarded by assistant referee Dougie Potter. With Kelly and his team-mates adamant that Kelly’s leg had remained on the line, Brophy netted at the second attempt to complete Saints’ two-goal comeback. A furious Alexander said: ‘I’ve seen a replay of it. I think it was blatant — everyone could see it. ‘I didn’t speak to him (Bobby) as there’s no point really. It would just be me that gets punished after my team’s been punished. I can’t explain those decisions in an honest way.’ St Mirren were totally dominant in the first half without managing to capitalise. Curtis Main, twice, Brophy from distance and Connor Ronan were all entrants in the near-miss category.
Within three minutes of the restart, it was Motherwell who took the lead as Tony Watt’s header back across goal from a Sean Goss cross found the net. Three minutes after falling behind, some penalty box ping-pong ended with Jak Alnwick taking Watt out. A calm conversion into the corner from the spot chalked up the striker’s eighth goal of the season. Saints’ attempts to grab a lifeline through Brophy and Alan Power were thwarted by Kelly but the former did reduce the deficit with 16 minutes left. Coming four minutes later, the equaliser was hugely controversial. Solholm seemed to do little more than stand his ground as Brophy ran at him but
Madden pointed to the spot. Kelly saved but the celebrations were cut short when Madden ordered a retake. There was to be no reprieve with Brophy belatedly finding the top corner. Saints boss Jim Goodwin said: ‘We should be happy with a point away from home.’
MOTHERWELL (4-4-3): Kelly 6; O’Donnell 6, Solholm 6, Ojala 4 (Mugabi 27), McGinley 6; Grimshaw 6, Goss 6, Slattery 6 (Carroll 83); Woolley 6 (O’Hara 65), Shields 6, Watt 8. Subs not used: Fox, Van Veen, Roberts, Maguire. Booked: Kelly, Goss. ST MIRREN (3-4-3): Alnwick 6; Shaughnessy 6, McCarthy 6, Fraser 6; McAllister 6 (Tait 89), Flynn 7 (Kiltie 72), Power 6, Tanser 7; Brophy 8, Main 6 (Dennis 83), Ronan 6. Subs not used: Lyness, Dunne, Erwin, Millar. Booked: McAllister, Brophy. Man of the match: Eamonn Brophy. Referee: Bobby Madden. Attendance: 4,576.