Motherwell fc draw a blank at McGhee’s Pittodrie

Sep 3 2009

MOTHERWELL made it three games unbeaten at the start of the SPL season with this goalless draw in an uninspiring game at Pittodrie against former Manager Mark McGhee’s Aberdeen.

There were two changes to the Well side with young defender Shaun Hutchinson out after picking up an injury in training on Friday and he was replaced by Steven Hammell. Up front John Sutton dropped on to the bench to be replaced by new signing Lucas Jutkiewicz.

The early exchanges saw Aberdeen’s Sone Aluko looking lively without ever really setting anything up for his strikeforce. After this lively opening 10 minutes for the home side it was Motherwell who took charge of the first half.

There were two half-hearted penalty shouts with firstly Jim O’Brien looking to have been felled by Jerel Ifil and then Andrew Considine looked to have hauled down Jamie Murphy but ref Chris Boyle waved both appeals away.

Sandwiched between these two incidents Well carved out a great chance, a sweeping passing move eventually released Jim O’Brien on the left and his cross was met by the head of Jutkiewica but his effort was glanced wide from eight yards out.

Jim Gannon then made a tactical substitution after only half an hour when he replace Steven Hammell with John Sutton to allow his side to move to a 4-4-2 formation.

Sutton could’ve had his side two up at the break, he firstly met an O’Brien corner but could only head over, and minutes later he could only steer a Ross Forbes free-kick just over.

Aberdeen were the more likely side in the second half and Charlie Mulgew’s set pieces were causing problems for the Well rear guard.

On 65 minutes he swung a corner in from the right and John Ruddy had to look lively to punch clear from under his own crossbar.

The Dons then had their own penalty shout minutes later when Steven Suanders and Lee Miller collided in the box but once again the ref waved play on.

With 10 minutes left Ruddy was forced to make the first real save of the game and it was from one of his own defenders.

A Mulgrew corner was sliced by Saunders and Ruddy produced a reaction save to tip the ball over the bar.

With a minute to go John Sutton was provided with one more chance to clinch the game for his side.

Young sub Robert McHugh burst down the right and picked out Sutton with the cross but once again he headed over from eight yards out.

Both teams were left to settle for a point apiece in a game that will not live long in the memory for either set of fans.

Aberdeen: Langfield, Mulgrew, Foster, Considine, Kerr, Miller, Mackie (Grassi 66), Aluko, Ifil, Crawford (Paton 46), Fyvie

Subs Not Used: Nelson, Maguire, Young, Duff, Hansson.

Booked: Crawford (20)

Motherwell: Ruddy, Hammell (Sutton 31), Reynolds, Craigan, Coke, Jutkiewicz (Jennings 69), Murphy (McHugh 69), O'Brien, Hateley, Forbes, Saunders

Subs Not Used: Kosiorwski, Lasley, McGarry, Page.

Referee: Chris Boyle

Attendance: 11,320