United get the Heartfelt vote from Mackay

Ray Hepburn

13 May 1991

MOTHERWELL manager Tommy McLean is facing up to the most taxing team selection of his career with the realism and relish that has transformed his Motherwell team over the last four years.

For after Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Hearts at Tynecastle, clues to his Hampden thoughts were there aplenty in a performance which still contained good promise.

McLean was aware that his back four did not cope well with the mobility of the Hearts' front three.

Cup final opponents Dundee United possess the same movement and pace.

However, Craig Paterson and Tommy Boyd are certain to enter calculations, which McLean will hope provides a solution to the containment that the Lanarkshire side will need.

Up front, although Iain Ferguson and Doug Arnott did not fare so profitably as their Hearts' counterparts, they could stress that the service they received was less than plentiful.

Enter, perhaps, Colin O'Neill and Bobby Russell, who could lend a better balance to a midfield area that will surely be crucial at Hampden on Saturday.

Even with these valuable options, Hearts midfield player Gary Mackay, who welcomes Everton to Tynecastle tonight for his testimonial match, feels that Dundee United will emerge cup-winners.

He is certainly well placed to judge, having played against both teams in the last nine days in a 2-1 defeat at Tannadice and against Motherwell, amid good entertainment, on Saturday.

"I feel United will defend better, have a touch more steel in midfield, and have front players with speed to give Motherwell enough problems," he suggested.

Mackay admitted, however, that his ability to select winning football teams was as suspect as a square pound coin, but he is playing well enough to be confident.

He, Derek Ferguson, and Eamonn Bannon played menacingly behind an eager Hearts' front three led by an effervescent John Robertson.

The result was a goal each for Bannon and Robertson and a host of other missed chances which should have made Motherwell's Ian Angus goal seem pale compensation.

Some of Hearts' best moments displayed their finest football of the season but, as in recent months, there were too few of them.

That's why some teams are busy this week and Hearts are idle.

Taken from the Herald