Motherwell 2 - 2 Dundee United: Bedlam at Fir Park as nine-man United hang on for a share of the spoils

Published on Saturday 28 November 2009 19:57

A GOOD match spoiled. That was the verdict of both managers, Jim Gannon and Craig Levein feeling strongly that an entertaining encounter was ruined by Alan Muir's refereeing.

United salvaged a point despite ending the game with nine men.

Prince Buaben and Danny Swanson were red carded, Levein livid with each decision and not thinking much of the match official.

"Marks out of ten? I'd say one out of ten today. I didn't think the referee had a good game at all. Prince has had two tackles. The second one was absolutely nothing. He didn't make contact. Swanny shouldn't have been sent off either."

Motherwell manager Jim Gannon also criticised the refereeing and went further in his condemnation.

"My team wasn't the victim," said Gannon, "but that was the worst performance I've seen from a referee. He did not know a foul from a tackle and made major errors. It was just a bizarre spectacle. It's bringing the game into disrepute. It was a great game of football but the game was in some ways spoiled by the referee."

On the match outcome, Gannon said he was disappointed with a draw while Levein expressed "great admiration for his players" adding that "Motherwell are a very good side. They're the only team that have beat us in the league to date."

Defence was the best form of attack for United as Andy Webster fired them into an early lead. Paul Dixon's cross was only half-cleared by Ross Forbes and Webster, from the edge of the area, drilled a fine shot beyond Motherwell keeper John Ruddy.

The home side got back on level terms pretty swiftly, United caving in from a corner. Forbes delivered the ball into the goalmouth and John Sutton rose to equalise with a powerful header.

Having drawn level, Motherwell went ahead on the half-hour mark.

Lukas Jutkiewicz caught out Nicky Weaver with an angled effort from outside the penalty area. It was a good strike by Jutkiewicz, but the United keeper looked to be at fault.

The nearest the visitors came to levelling before the break was Jennison Myre-Williams' long-ranger, but Ruddy grasped it at the second attempt. The situation worsened for United midway through the second-half when they were reduced to ten. Buaben, already cautioned for a challenge on Jamie Murphy, was sent off following a foul on Jim O' Brien.

United had their work cut out now, with the home side looking increasingly good for the three points. Motherwell had chased a winning goal against ten-man Aberdeen last weekend at Fir Park, but victory, in the end, had evaded them. This time they had their noses in front.

Motherwell couldn't keep their lead though. They first received a scare when United substitute Jon Daly shot over the crossbar. Then, moments later, Dixon's measured cross found Daly who finished off from close range.

The drama wasn't over yet, United substitute Swanson shown a straight red by the referee for a touchline challenge on Keith Lasley.

Referee Muir then had to have words with an incensed Levein who wasn't short of words for the match official.

Motherwell might have snatched it near the end when Lasley let fly from long range but the United keeper managed to block it wide with a hand. The two teams shared the spoils but it was the perceived spoiling of the match that preoccupied both managers.