Steelmen’s top-six hopes on a knife edge

Apr 16 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

MOTHERWELL’S hopes of clinching a top-six slot were left hanging by a thread after Saturday’s defeat against Rangers at Ibrox.

The Steelmen could put themselves into the box seat by beating St Mirren on Saturday, but would then rely on Rangers dumping Hibs at Easter Road 24 hours later.

Motherwell started well and in the opening minute John Sutton chested a Graeme Smith clearance into the path of Jim O’Brien, but he volleyed past from 20 yards.

Rangers took the lead in two minutes and it was a defensive shocker for ‘Well.

Despite looking offside, Kris Boyd chased a long ball with Brian McLean before sending the ball out to Steven Smith on the left.

The winger’s cross was knocked on by Boyd at the front post and Maros Klimpl bizarrely chose to knock the ball across the six-yard box, allowing Andrius Velicka to bundle home from close range.

Seven minutes later Boyd found space between the two centre-backs to latch onto a flick-on, and unleashed a ferocious 30-yard volley past helpless Graeme Smith.

Motherwell pulled a goal back eight minutes from the interval, and it was a candidate for goal of the season.

Stevie Hammell was fouled in his own half by Velicka and he took the free-kick himself, sending it high to the edge of the box.

The ball reached John Sutton, who took a touch with his head before sendinga swerving volley past helpless NeilAlexander and into the top leftcorner.

Smith was forced into a fine diving save to deny a Boyd volley early in the second half, but Rangers settled the game in 64 minutes when Pedro Mendes won what looked a soft penalty as he tumbled in the box under a challenge from Brian McLean.

Graeme Smith was shown a yellow card for taking his protest too far and Boyd sent the keeper the wrong way with the spot-kick.

Rangers could have grabbed a fourth with 20 minutes left when Steven Whittaker cut through the defence, only to see his shot touched onto the crossbar by Smith.

MOTHERWELL: G. Smith, McLean, Quinn, Reynolds, Hammell, McGarry (Sheridan, 61), Klimpl, Hughes, O’Brien, Clarkson, Sutton (Murphy, 71). Subs (not used): Krysiak, Malcolm, D. Smith, Fitzpatrick, Lasley.