Late goal leaves Steelmen still without a win

Aug 21 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

MOTHERWELL were left frustrated after a late Phil McGuire goal denied them victory in their first home match of the new season, despite dominating thoughout.

The Fir Park side found that their reputation from last season preceded them as Aberdeen put out an ultra-defensive formation.

Motherwell started lively and an excellent through ball by Marc Fitzpatrick released Jamie Murphy, but the youngster shot tamely at Jamie Langfield.

At the other end, Gary McDonald was allowed to latch onto a Mark Kerr ball and he tested Graeme Smith’s reflexes at the near post.

’Well could have been ahead just before the interval when Stephen Hughes and Stevie Hammell combined on the left but Murphy could only divert the cross towards Langfield.

Motherwell came out with more purpose in the second half but Hughes bulleted a header wide from a Hammell corner.

Langfield was then forced into a stunning save to deny a powerful Paul Quinn header from another Hammell corner.

Aberdeen started to show their menace and Charlie Mulgrew picked out substitute Tommy Wright in a classic counter-attacking move, but Smith saved his header.

But with five minutes remaining, Aberdeen were awarded a free-kick after Keith Lasley’s needless foul on Kerr 25 yards out and Mulgrew stepped up to bend a shot round the wall and into the net.

Motherwell: G. Smith, Quinn, Craigan, Reynolds, Hammell, Clarkson, Lasley, Hughes, Fitzpatrick (O’Brien, 90), Porter, Murphy (D. Smith, 59). Subs (not used): Nielsen, Malcolm, McGarry, Connolly, Wilson.

l Motherwell swooped to sign Wycombe Wanderers striker John Sutton on Tuesday on a three-year deal.

Former St Mirren hitman Sutton (24) becomes Mark McGhee’s third summer signing behind Celtic winger Jim O’Brien and on-loan Blackburn ’keeper Gunnar Nielsen and goes into Saturday’s squad for the visit of Dundee United.