Visitors’ second-half turnaround leaves McGhee reeling
INVERNESS charged into the top six and sent the Steelmen plunging to 11th with a ruthless second-half performance that exploited Motherwell’s defensive failings.
They had been second best for nearly an hour as Motherwell dominated possession and moved the ball well at times but crucially missed two big chances. However, once Carl Tremarco fired them in front 12 minutes into the second half it was a complete turnaround in fortunes and they ran out impressive victors with further goals from Lasana Doumbouya and Liam Polworth.
Motherwell manager Mark McGhee locked his side in the dressing room for some frank discussion after the match.
He said: “What worried me is that when we conceded the first goal we started to disintegrate. The spirit went out of us, we became fragmented.
“The second half was the most disappointing 45 minutes I’ve had since I’ve been back at the club. I don’t think it was rustiness, I don’t know what it was.
“I’ve had a chat with the players and I’ve told them we need to find an answer before Saturday [home match against Ross County].”
Motherwell missed two excellent opportunities which would have changed the nature of the game.
Josh Meekings was short with a clearing header in 19 minutes when he tried to deal with Louis Moult’s cross and the ball dropped perfectly for Craig Clay but he shot past the left post. Then Moult was then guilty of passing up an excellent chance in 26 minute when he fired into the side net as he tried to beat Owain Fon-Williams at his near pos.
Two minutes before half-time ICT were lucky to survive when Chris Cadden’s deflected shot looked as if it would land at the feet of Clay but Gary Warren just got there first to clear over his own bar.
Other than a weak Doumbouya header in 33 minutes, Thistle had barely posed a threat. However, they made Motherwell pay for those early misses when they took the lead in 57 minutes.
It was poor defending from Stephen McManus as he missed Brad McKay’s low cross and Carl Tremarco was at the back post to force the ball high into the net.
T hey produced a second goal in 71 minutes and once more it was very poor defending. Billy King won a corner on the left, Iain Vigurs swung the ball over and as the defence hesit ated Doumbouya smashed a right shot into the net.
To add insult to injury Liam Polworth scored a third goal seven minutes when he drilled a 25-yard shot low into the left corner.
Delighted ICT boss Richie Foran said: “It was an outstanding second-half performance from us.”
Samson; Tait, Heneghan, McManus, McMillan; MacLean (Ainsworth 77), Clay (McFadden 77), Lasley, Cadden; Bowman (McDonald 64); Moult. Not used: Brill, Lucas, Ferguson, Hastie.
Fon Williams; McKay, Warren, Meekings (Raven 87), Tremarco; Tansey, Vigurs; Polworth, Draper, Doran (King. 62); Doumbouya (Boden 89). Not used: MacKay, Mulraney. (NB only five subs listed)
Don Robertson
Motherwell Inverness CT Referee Attendance
3131