MOULT’S NIFTY AT FIFTY
Now King Louis aims to gun down Hoops
Louis Moult made it a half century of goals for Motherwell only to admit he was in the dark about his achievement.
The 25-year- old scored either side of half-time against summer suitors Aberdeen to take his haul to 50 strikes in 97 games.
Moult made it a fantastic fifty 10 minutes after the break when he fired Chris Cadden’s cross high into the net for his second.
But the Englishman only learned more than half an hour later just how special his dress rehearsal for Sunday’s Betfred Cup Final with Celtic at Hampden was.
He said: “Chief operating officer Alan Burrows came up to me, shook my hand and said, ‘ Well done for scoring 50 goals’.
“I didn’t know it was – I knew I was close but didn’t realise it was that close.
“I’ve played less than 100 games so it’s a good achievement and hopefully I can score plenty more.
“The fans have been great to me since I came here – they follow the club all over the place. We would love to deliver a trophy for them next weekend.”
Well head into the showpiece hav ing dumped the Dons out 3-0 in the quarter-finals two months ago.
But a dismal run of six visits to the Granite City without a win stretching back to before Moult’s Fir Park arrival in 2015 haunted them in the top flight.
They had the hitman to thank for ending it when he nipped off his marker to head home before going on to grab his 14th of the season, sinking Derek McInnes’ second-placed Dons. But boss Stephen Robinson was just as impressed with his men at the other end of the pitch as Well avoided a third defeat on the spin.
He said: “It ’ s a fantast ic achievement for Louis and he should be very proud of himself.
“He has worked his way back from disappointments in his career so deserves all the plaudits he’s getting. His work- rate more than his goals were the impressive thing today. It’s a team game. Everyone played well and that’s what brings you wins – it’s a squad game.
“The defenders came in and did really well so that pleased me as much as Louis scoring goals.
“All week we were focused on this game and this game only, on getting the points because Aberdeen are a good side and Derek has them playing well.
“I don’t think we have the edge over Aberdeen. The games are always tough and close.
“Things went well for us in the cup game – we got a bit of luck when we needed it.
“We were ver y well organised. We changed shape three times during the game but our boys buy into it and want to do well for the club.”
Dons skipper Graeme Shinnie was out through suspension with Andy Considine handed the armband for the day after he passed Russell Anderson’s record of 408 appearances.
That put the defensive stalwart in the all- time top six of club appearance holders along with legends such as Wi l l ie Miller, Alex
McLeish and Jim Leighton. And Aberdeen had him to thank for turning behind Charles Dunne’s teasing cross early doors with Adam Rooney volleying into the side netting from the corner.
At the other end Ryan Bowman shunted the ball to Luke Grimshaw who hammered in an effort that Joe Lewis beat away.
Andy Rose then watched as the Dons No.1 palmed away his drive with Well posing a real threat.
The Reds were finding it difficult to get out of their own half due to the wind swirling right around Pittodrie as Well man mountain Cedric Kipre halted Gary MackaySteven’s run down the wing.
And Motherwell took a deserved lead three minutes before halftime after Considine gave away a free-kick down the left, earning a yellow for his troubles.
Richard Tait f loated over the set- piece and that man Moult evaded his marker at the back post to head across Lewis.
McInnes threw on Stevie May for Greg Tansey at the interval but it was Motherwell who grabbed the next goal with Moult once again doing the damage. Cadden skinned Scott McKenna down the right and fired over a cross the lethal Moult flashed high into the net beyond Lewis. Trevor Carson did well to scramble May’s shot behind the post with 17 minutes left as time ebbed away from the Reds. There was sti l l t i me for Ryan Christie to enter the ref ’s book for a rash challenge but by then the spoils were Lanarkshire bound.