A magical performance from Mulgrew
PIROUETTING on the right wing and predatory in the penalty box, Charlie Mulgrew is producing all sorts of new tricks at 35.
The centre half provided the perfect assist for defensive partner Ryan Edwards to open the scoring then netted a late winner.
In this battle of top six gatecrashers, United gave notice of intent to stick around the upper echelons.
Neither of these sides were heavily tipped to trouble high rank this season.
But with confidence coursing through every touch in this Tam Courts team, anything seems possible – as proved by Mulgrew’s magical contribution to a 10th win in all competitions.
He and Edwards marshall a defence that’s only conceded six times in 10 Premiership games. Now they are getting deadly at the opposite end of the pitch.
Courts said: “They’ve developed this formidable partnership in one box.
“And then you’ve a 35-year-old on the right wing putting in a pinpoint cross to the other centre-back.
“It’s great to see them causing the opposition problems. That’s two in two for Ryan.
“Charlie is a privilege to manage in terms of the way he trains. To have the composure in the heat of battle, to have the clarity, composure and quality to deliver that cross was a sight to behold.”
Mulgrew has never retired from international football and earned his 44th and most recent cap in a 4-0 loss to Russia two years ago.
His manager believes Mulgrew has never played better than now, hinting that Steve Clarke should take a look.
Courts said: “I don’t think he should rule anything out because he’s playing probably the best football of his life.”
It was a sore one for Motherwell after playing as well as they’ve done all season and cursing a string of typical Benji Siegrist saves. They should’ve stolen a first minute lead.
Sean Goss strode on to Tony Watt’s cutback 12 yards out, forcing Siegrist into a fine stop at full stretch.
Motherwell looked to bursts of pace and trickery from Kaiyne Woolery to prise open the stingiest
defence in the division and Siegrist had to be lively at his near post to deny the winger.
Not only did the pairing of Mulgrew and Edwards smother other threats, they combined to deadly effect at the other end.
Mulgrew dazzled on the flank following the breakdown of a free kick delivery by selling, of all
things, a stepover to shape space for a second go.
The deep, right-footed cross whipped over was planted for his centre half colleague to arrive at the back post and ghost from behind Stephen O’Donnell to head home.
Motherwell dug in and kept pressing. Siegrist produced a world class save from a heavily deflected O’Donnell volley. Two minutes later, the Swiss was seething.
The keeper came to punch – and got the ball. But not before clattering into the back of Tony Watt to concede a soft spot kick.
Watt dusted himself down to produce a clinical penalty. Unlike everything else thrown at the United keeper, Siegrist wasn’t near it.
United are on a roll, however, and wouldn’t be stalled. Nathan McGinley’s handball gave them another free kick and, when lines weren’t cleared, the home side was quick to profit from the second phase.
Mulgrew prodded the ball towards goal and it came off the luckless McGinley’s face to beat Liam Kelly.