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Wilkie pitches in late but still makes point MATCH OF THE DAY
Sunday Herald, The, Apr 27, 2008 by Michael Grant at Fir Park
Motherwell 2 Porter 16, 50
Dundee United 2 Craigan 45 OG , Wilkie 85
MOTHERWELL may well consider playing their next home game on a mound of earth using a bundle of rags instead of a ball.
Other potential venues could be a swamp or a laboratory wind tunnel. They may as well, given that Fir Park yesterday - and in recent months - should have acclimatised them to conditions which amount to prolonged torture of their players.
Dundee United were also the ill-treated victims of a rutted, patchy playing surface and a cruel wind which mocked their attempts to do justice to a fixture of significance. The pair are locked in a contest with Hibs to finish third and qualify for the Uefa Cup, which would be United's first European football for three years or Motherwell's for 13.
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Motherwell continue to hold an advantage over the other two given that they have two games in hand , but conditions yesterday may have robbed them of a precious late winner which could have pushed them clear.
When they broke clear in the third minute of stoppage time David Clarkson could not bring the bobbling ball under control - both managers later said that the pitch had hampered him - and instead released a pass to Keith Lasley, who also looked accusingly at the surface after blasting an excellent chance wide of the post. His manager, Mark McGhee, sympathised but said that his substitute was "not a natural fi nisher". It was the last kick of a match in which all the goals were headers and United twice came from behind, including a goal from Lee Wilkie which punished slack defending .
"Was that two points dropped by us? No, no, no, " said McGhee. "We still have Hibs to play and the result meant we kept Dundee United behind us. It might be that we have to go to Easter Road and beat them on the last day of the season but that's fine, it is a prize worthy of having to do that. " Chris Porter scored twice for Motherwell but suffered with the rest. "Every game is scrappy now, " said the forward. "We can't pass it like we did earlier in the season."
Motherwell had been hesitant at the start, yet their first proper attack brought a goal.
Stephen Hughes had to be taken off at halftime because he felt ill but it was his cross which came off Clarkson's head and continued to Porter, who nodded it into the net.
Motherwell had appeared vulnerable but their opener heralded a period of bright play which put United under pressure. Porter had an unconvincing penalty claim for a clumsy challenge by Danny Grainger and then could not get the ball under control after lifting it over goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska on the edge of the area.
United toiled until they were gifted an equaliser at the end of the first half. Morgaro Gomis crossed and Noel Hunt's nod back into the goalmouth worried Stephen Craigan so much he could only knock a header into his own net. The opening period had been compelling but the second half was stripped of incident between Motherwell's second goal in the 50th minute and United's second equaliser in the 85th.
Porter, Clarkson and Ross McCormack were a menace to United and when Motherwell were awarded a free-kick the delivery from McCormack was hard and accurate into the penalty box where Porter timed his run to meet it with a forceful header over the line.
It was his 15th goal of the season and another hard one for United to absorb, given that he turned down the chance to sign for them last summer.
Motherwell seemed likely to see out a win and United's anxiety brought manager Craig Levein close to withdrawing the player who saved them. He had already thrown on two wingers, Jim O'Brien and Craig Conway, and his next plan was to replace Wilkie with Mark de Vries.
"I said to 'Housty' [assistant manager Peter Houston] 'the only way he's not coming off is if he scores', " said Levein.
He did. Grainger's long throw was flicked across the Motherwell penalty box by Darren Dods to be met by Wilkie's reflex header which crept inside the far post.
"We didn't lose the game, but we drew it because of a poor, poor bit of defending, " said McGhee. Wilkie saved a point for his team and himself from the hook; Jon Daly was substituted instead.
"It feels like a good draw, " said Levein. "When you play in these conditions it alters the way you have to play. " Defeat might have removed United from contention for Europe but, instead, third place remains unresolved.
Hibs must still play them both, and if any of them take points from their matches against the Old Firm those may prove decisive. It won't give Motherwell encouragement that when they take on Celtic on Saturday it is back on their own, unloved pitch.
Motherwell
Smith Quinn Craigan Reynolds Hammell McCormack Malcolm Hughes Lappin Porter Clarkson
Dundee United
Zaluska Dillon Wilkie Dods Grainger Kerr Flood Robertson Gomis Daly Hart
Motherwell substitutes: Fitzpatrick for Hughes 46, Lasley for McCormack 83, McLean for Lappin 88 Not used: Daniels, McGarry, Smith, Murphy Booked: Quinn 67, Porter 90
