Alexander swears red was wrong call
GRAHAM ALEXANDER is only three matches into his reign at Motherwell but he has witnessed his fair share of drama in such a short space of time.
His opening games in charge ended in 1-1 draws, but a debatable penalty for St Mirren and a suspiciously offside goal scored by Cedric Itten of Rangers last week left the Fir Park boss frustrated.
The scoreline may have been different at Pittodrie yesterday but his feelings remained the same.
Trailing to Tommie Hoban’s header, Motherwell midfielder Liam Polworth was sent off three minutes into the second half.
A collision with Lewis Ferguson saw referee Craig Napier play advantage for Motherwell but soon Polworth received a red card.
It left everyone in the stadium confused. Alexander claimed afterwards his player was dismissed for foul and abusive language but stressed Polworth’s expletives were directed at Ferguson and not Napier.
Andy Considine’s close-range finish sealed the win for Derek McInnes’ men, who leapfrogged Hibs into third spot and with a game in hand.
But Alexander was left to dissect a first loss — and, clearly frustrated, was left biting his tongue, with Motherwell still above bottom-club Hamilton on goal difference but winless in 13 games.
‘I was told it was for foul and abusive language,’ said the Fir Park boss. ‘He (Polworth) did swear, not at the ref but the opponent who brought him down. I think the ref thought he was swearing at him.
‘I haven’t spoken to the ref — and I won’t. All we can do is make sure we replicate everything we put in that performance as I am proud of the team.
‘We could have felt sorry for ourselves but we didn’t. We tried to keep attacking players on the pitch when we were down to ten men.
‘We did well in everything that was under our control but we can’t do anything about anything else. We can appeal it as it was a straight red. Liam said he did swear, he admits that, but I doubt he was the only one who swore today.
‘It was just in whose direction, but he says it was at the player who fouled him. We will appeal it if we feel we should but we have to plan for the next game without him.
‘When the ref came over after Liam was fouled, I thought he was needing treatment but when he pulled out the red card we couldn’t believe it.’
Curtis Main dropped to the bench as Ryan Hedges returned from suspension for the Dons, while midfielder Funso Ojo replaced Ross McCrorie.
The opener arrived on 15 minutes. Matty Kennedy’s free-kick from the right met Hoban, who rose highest to head into the far-left corner of the net.
It was a chaotic start, with Motherwell almost grabbing an equaliser with two glorious chances midway through the half.
A vital save by Joe Lewis denied Watt before a block by Ojo — footage showed it was with his hand — prevented Sherwin Seedorf from scoring.
‘It is for others to say,’ said Alexander when asked if it should have been a red card and penalty.
‘I just focus on my team and how they played — and they were superb. Not once did they feel sorry for themselves or have a sense of injustice.’
Watt then had the freedom of Pittodrie to burst forward. His shot from 20 yards crashed back off the left post and straight into the arms of a relieved Lewis.
A skirmish involving Polworth and Scott Wright saw both players booked. The Motherwell midfielder appeared to lash out and looked to have lost his cool momentarily.
But three minutes after the break, Polworth was sent packing in bizarre circumstances. As he burst forward, a collision with Ferguson midway in the Dons half saw both players fall to ground but referee Napier played advantage.
The visitors’ attack eventually came to nothing but, suddenly, Napier was back in front of Polworth and showed him a red card, with the player holding his shoulder as he trudged off the pitch.
Alexander clearly did not like what he was seeing and was soon shown a yellow card by Napier.
McInnes’ men finally doubled their advantage with 13 minutes remaining. Hedges slipped the ball to Ferguson, whose deflected effort from the edge of the Motherwell box fell kindly for Considine to convert from close range.
Asked if he would consider approaching referee bosses after a serious of debatable decisions, Alexander replied: ‘No. I don’t want that to be the narrative that we are here singing sob stories at something. I would rather other people look at those things.’