Glory days are just around the corner

JIM REYNOLDS

8 Oct 1990

MOTHERWELL dropped their first home point of the season in Saturday's draw against Hearts, they also conceded their first league goal at Fir Park this term, and manager Tommy McLean wore a mournful expression as he thought of what might have been.

But Motherwell connections have no need to feel down in the dumps, for having watched the present crop of players develop and mould together over the last year I would say they are arguably the best Fir Park side to emerge in the last 30 years.

Not since the days of Hunter, Quinn, and St John have the Lanarkshire fans been entertained so well.

On Saturday it was again quality football that was on show, despite the downpour which made farces of almost every other game in the country.

Andy Russell's pitch was playable and, as if in tribute to the efforts of the Fir Park groundsman, both Motherwell and Hearts performed magnificently.

It has to be said that Motherwell always had the edge and should have won comfortably, but Hearts, although last Wednesday's UEFA Cup efforts against Dnepr must have taken a toll, showed a lot of determination and hung on so well that they could have sneaked both points near the end.

That, however, would have been a travesty, because Motherwell set up enough chances, especially in the first half, to have won several matches.

Henry Smith in the Hearts goal had one of those afternoons when he could do no wrong.

Manager McLean said: "It was one-way traffic most of the time and Smith was magnificent, but some of the chances we missed were unbelievable.

If the same opportunities had fallen to John Robertson and Iain Ferguson at the other end I'll bet they would have put them away."

It was perhaps ironic that Motherwell's equaliser in the second half should come from Nick Cusack, for it was the Englishman who missed the bulk of the early chances, although it has to be said the big fellow at least got himself into the right positions when the likes of Davie Cooper and Bobby Russell bored holes in the Hearts defence.

Cusack, it seems, is destined never to have a quiet time in premier-division matches against Hearts.

In three outings last season he got himself sent off twice and booked once.

On Saturday he should have had a hat trick before half-time.

As it was, a tremendous goal from Iain Ferguson gave Hearts a half-time lead they hardly deserved.

Incidentally, that was only Ferguson's second goal for the club since February, 1988, but the signs are there that the former Rangers striker is ready to repay new manager Joe Jordan for showing enough faith to give him another chance.

He and Robertson worked well together and there was another plus for the Edinburgh side in the performance of Davie Kirkwood, another expensive signing who has yet to establish himself.

Kirkwood started off in the midfield but moved to right back when Craig Levein had to be taken off suffering from double vision.

It was no coincidence that Cooper became more subdued when in direct opposition to Kirkwood.

But the real highlights of the day were contained in the quality play of Motherwell, especially outside the penalty area.

It was a joy to watch.

Of course, in their day Hunter, Quinn, St John and company were better, but not by a mile, and this present side is still improving.

For example, they have still to show that high quality in matches away from Fir Park.

If McLean can hold on to his players the good times could be just around the corner.

Mind you, there is so much speculation surrounding the future of captain Tom Boyd.

It seems that every club in England with anything near £1m to spend has been linked with him since he won his first cap against Romania last month.

McLean is quick to point out that so far there have been no inquiries.

Motherwell, on the other hand, will shortly be working on a deal to keep the player at Fir Park when his current contract is up at the end of the season.

Taken from the Herald