Stuttering ‘Well crash out of cup
Below par Steelmen lose out to battling Hearts
MOTHERWELL 1 - 2 HEARTS “We didn’t deserve anything from the game.”
That was the damning response of Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson after the Steelmen’s disappointing loss to Hearts which saw them crash out of the Scottish League Cup.
The visitors came to Fir Park bereft of confidence and form, with many tipping their manager Craig Levein to be the first managerial casualty of the Scottish Premiership season.
Motherwell gaffer Robinson was gutted that his side didn’t take advantage of this and went on to claim his side didn’t merit a quarter-final spot.
He said: “We didn’t deserve anything from the game.
“We were too slow and too predictable right from the off.
“If Declan Gallagher with a 39-degree temperature is your best player you’ve got problems.
“We didn’t have enough leaders out there and were too predictable. We didn’t do the basics well enough.
“That’s the level of player we have at the moment but it’s about educating the players.
“We simply weren’t good enough on the ball.”
Hearts made a quick start and should’ve been ahead inside eight minutes after winning a penalty.
‘Well fans were raging as it looked like an old-fashioned ball-to-hand situation when Washington’s flick came off Charles Dunne’s arm.
But ref Bobby Madden had to go with the letter of the law and point to the spot. Either way it didn’t matter as Sean Clare’s effort clattered off the post and was escorted to safety.
It took the home side 20 minutes to get into a rhythm and mount any kind of attack.
Sherwin Seedorf took a wild fresh- air swipe at the back post from Richard Tait’s deep cross but there wasn’t anything wrong with his connection moments later when he forced Pereira to block before Hearts got into a heck of a mess.
The ball was the keeper’s to collect but there was a mix-up with Christophe Berra and it almost allowed Allan Campbell to nick in for an opener.
‘Well had to scramble at the other end following a superb break from Halkett and a brilliant square ball from Washington that took a last-gasp lunge from Dunne to deny a charging Walker.
Soon after Mark Gillespie was forced to paw out Mulraney’s drive.
Walker was on the end of a hefty clatter from Liam Donnelly and despite soldiering on for a few minutes was forced to go off.
It was a sore one for the Jambos but their mood lifted barely a minute later when Smith smashed a stunner into the bottom corner after cutting inside from the edge of the box.
‘Well were on the ropes and went two down before the break. This time there was no need for Madden to dig out the rule book before awarding the penalty as Gillespie wiped out Mulraney.
Washington didn’t miss and James Scott got hooked at the break as Robinson attempted a rescue mission.
Hearts were having none of it though. Mulraney wasn’t far off after cutting ‘Well open with a darting run and drive.
Steven Maclean sent a skimmer across the sodden turf to test Gillespie from distance and Washington continued to force ‘Well defenders into awkward places to create space for others.
Then Motherwell grabbed a lifeline out of nowhere. Long pounced on Liam Polworth’s cute through ball to drill through Pereira.
The momentum shifted towards ‘Well and it was Hearts who needed to hang tough.
They rode out a rough spell before regaining control.