Motherwell show steel and skill as Ton are over-run
MOTHERWELL effectively claimed a place in the knock-out stages of the Betfred League Cup with an emphatic victory over 10-man Morton.
It was a display which delighted Fir Park boss Steven Robinson, who claimed it was as much about perspiration as inspiration.
“The most pleasing aspect for me was our work- rate and our energy,” he claimed.
“Morton aren’t a bad team but we made them look worse than they are with the way we played.
“We were really aggressive, we created a lot of chances and played some superb football.”
Morton were without first- choice defenders Lee Kilday, Thomas O’Ware and Ricki Lamie through injury, forcing manager Jim Duffy to throw youth coach Darren Barr into a makeshift back four.
And it was a defensive error by the visitors which led to the Championship side falling behind after only two minutes.
Barr and Connor McManus had gone up for a corner, but goalkeeper Trevor Carson’s clearance was missed by Michael Doyle.
That allowed Craig Tanner to get in a shot, which was turned behind by Derek Gaston.
However, the visiting goalkeeper was left helpless when Charles Dunne, making his debut for the Steelmen, powered home a header from Gael Bigirimana’s knock-on at the resulting corner.
Morton still hadn’t managed to trouble Carson when Chris Cadden produced a clinical finish to beat Gaston low to his left from 15 yards for Well’s second.
Bigirama was harshly shown a yellow card for a meaty challenge on Andy Murdoch but Well were in complete control.
Any chance of a revival by the visitors evaporated in the 38th minute when veteran midfielder Gary Harkins was needlessly ordered off for a studs- up challenge on Tanner.
Gaston then dived to his right to deny Bowman on the stroke of half-time and made a fine double save from Cadden after the restart as Motherwell ramped up the pressure.
It was only a matter of time before Mother well emphasised their superiority, though, and, midway through the second half, Richard Tait lashed home the rebound after Carl McHugh’s shot from 20 yards had struck the crossbar.
Substitute Louis Moult added a fourth when he curled home a free-kick from the edge of the penalty area, leaving the home fans singing in the rain.
“Even in the modern game, I don’t think that’s a red card,” said Morton manager Jim Duffy after the game in reference to Gary Harkins’ red card.
“The ball bounced high but there was no aggression from Gary – he was just trying to win it.”