McManus settles a thrilling encounter
MOTHERWELL have showed us why they are firmly established as one of the country’s top sides.
Stuart McCall’s men lived up to their nickname The Steelmen by refusing to admit defeat and fighting their way to a dramatic, last-gasp win.
The Fir Parkers had won all 12 of their previous matches against teams in the bottom six, but it looked like this was unlucky 13th.
Two goals in the last six minutes left Partick Thistle heartbroken as the teams went toe-to-toe in a pulsating second half.
The Jags’ fans must have been sure their second win in 15 League matches was on the way when Kallum Higginbotham gave then a 3-2 lead.
Then came an incredible turnaround.
The game, which was preceded by a minute’s applause to mark the passing of Motherwell legend Andy Payton, nearly didn’t take place.
Days of heavy rain had left the pitch in an unplayable state, and it took the hard work of 50 staff and volunteers to squeeze 3,000 litres of water from the sodden Fir Park turf.
After half an hour, most of the paying customers must have wished they hadn’t bothered. It was really poor stuff as both sides struggled on the surface.
Partick Thistle boss Alan Archibald was trying to do it the Jose Mourhino way — with a lone striker and three men behind ready to burst forward.
That made the midfield a congested area, and the home side didn’t enjoy that one bit — they were even less amused when Thistle’s ploy of attacking on the break paid off.
Prince Bauben got to the ball just ahead of Keith Lasley and pushed it into the path of Higginbotham.
The midfielder was confronted by four defenders, but somehow got the ball through to Chris Erskine, and the on- loan attacker’s shot went in off the gloves of Gunnar Neilsen.
Mother well equalised within five minutes when Lasley’s shot from outside the box deflected off Higginbotham and went over Paul Gallacher.
Well were quick out of the blocks after the break, and Ainsworth fired his side in front from just inside the penalty area.
It was to be a lively afternoon for Thistle’s Higginbotham. He is always in the thick of the action, but his efforts do not always have an end product.
Yesterday he hit the net twice and created another, but had to watch his chance of a win bonus vanish just after he was replaced.
He scored from the penalty spot after Lyle Taylor was upended by Lionel Ainsworth, and then finished a great solo run by curling the ball home.
John Sutton nodded Mother well level, before Stephen McManus crashed home a header to seal an incredible victory.
The home fans were ecstatic and quick to remind Higginbotham — a former Fir Park player — of the final score.
Stuart McCall’s men lived up to their nickname