Craigan must wonder if Fir Park job is
STEPHEN CRAIGAN, once again, was non-committal in terms of whether he wants the Motherwell job a on a permanent basis.
The Fir Park caretaker boss was clearly frustrated and dejected after he watched his side lose to Dundee in what was an unconvincing performance.
Craigan had a long-distance post-match discussion with owner Les Hutchison last night and they will chat again today as the club decides on a short-list of candidates. It is expected Craigan will be given the opportunity to impress the Motherwell hierarchy in a formal interview.
He said: ‘It’s probably not the time to talk about the job. I will think about it over the next few days. I haven’t declared an interest to the owner yet because he hasn’t asked me if want it. If they want to do interviews, then there will be some sort of contact.
‘On this game, there’s a sense of disappointment because we wanted to build on last week’s win. I thought at times we looked dangerous but we conceded goals because we didn’t defend a cross and have a wall that disintegrates. It teaches me management is very frustrating.’
The first half contained next to no entertainment and both sides could be accused of playing a game of cat and mouse. To be fair, two players with the ability to light up a match both had to come off injured.
Dundee’s danger-man Greg Stewart limped off in the 27th minute after he was caught late by Louis Moult. Referee Don Robertson booked the Lanarkshire striker. Motherwell’s Lionel Ainsworth has the pace and confidence to be the main threat in his team but he too was forced off injured, just 60 seconds after Stewart, and Marvin Johnson was introduced. In addition, Dundee captain Kevin Thomson hobbled off four minutes before the break.
Gary Harkins, who had replaced Stewart, watched his 22-yard free-kick force Connor Ripley into a fine diving save in first-half stoppage time.
The home fans at last had something to be happy about in the 58th minute. A Harkins cross from the right was deep but kept in play by Kane Hemmings. He passed to Riccardo Calder and the
winger clipped in a lovely little dink. Waiting in the danger area was Rory Loy to volley home with his left foot from seven yards for his fifth goal in six games.
Motherwell pressed for an equaliser, and Johnson wasted a chance from eight yards.
They were made to pay as Paul Hartley’s team doubled their advantage in the 70th minute. From a direct free-kick 24 yards out, Kevin Holt let fly with his left foot and his powerful effort drove through the visitors’ defensive wall and beyond Ripley into the keeper’s bottom left-hand corner.
The points looked safe but Motherwell never gave up. Moult should have scored with a header before the visitors found the back of the net with six minutes to go when Stephen Pearson’s drive from 14 yards was dummied by sub Theo Robinson in the centre of the six-yard box. That deceived Scott Bain and the ball trickled past him and into the net.
Hartley was delighted with the result but is concerned that teams are targeting Stewart. The Dundee manager stressed: ‘It’s happening week-in, week-out to Greg Stewart. We want to try and protect our more talented players. He has a sore one from today. Players are going out to make sure he doesn’t have an influence.’