Porter lifts Well spirits

Patrick Glenn
Sunday January 13, 2008
The Observer

Motherwell's first day back in action since the death of their captain Phil O'Donnell was appropriately rewarding, the Fir Park side retaining an interest in the Scottish Cup at the end of a match in which they had seemed certain to be swept away.

The two-goal lead taken by Hearts through goals, one in each half, from Deividas Cesnauskis and Andrius Velicka appeared to be conclusive evidence of the Tynecastle team's return to winning form, but a double from Chris Porter ensured a replay on Tuesday week as the visitors eventually found their rhythm.

The predictably relentless pace and energetic commitment of a cup tie would probably have dismayed Mark McGhee, the Motherwell manager whose team's extraordinary progress this season has been marked by a more studied, controlled style, based on fluent movement and accurate passing. Despite the visitors' obvious intention to adhere to his philosophy and one or two threats on the Hearts goal in the opening minutes, any apprehension on McGhee's part would have been vindicated by that early strike from Cesnauskis. He would, however, have been proud of the manner in which it was scored had it been delivered by the players wearing claret and amber.

A perfectly controlled and perceptive pass from Andrew Driver inside the right-back Paul Quinn released Andrius Ksanavicius was released into the left side of the Motherwell penalty area. The waist-high cross was met on the volley by Cesnauskis, the Lithuanian's left foot sending the ball far to the right of Graeme Smith and in off the post.

Falling behind must have been more galling for the away fans when they remembered the move a few minutes before from which David Clarkson might have given their team the lead. Ross McCormack created the opportunity by driving down the left and finding Clarkson with a low cut-back. Twelve yards out, Clarkson seemed to delay his drive just long enough to allow Christophe Berra to launch himself forward and make the block. It proved to be Motherwell's best chance of a first half in which Hearts, drawing encouragement from their advantage, looked for most of the time a much improved team from the one that had lost six and drawn one of their previous seven league matches.

There was clearly an improvement in the home players' attitude, as they were much more committed and industrious than the largely dispirited group of players who had been so unimpressive in recent times. And, when Velicka extended their lead early in the second half, the home support must have been encouraged to believe that their place in the fifth round had been secured.

That became less certain with the goal from Porter that brought Motherwell back into the match, resulting in a loss of conviction among Hearts players whose self-assurance was still vulnerable after such a lengthy period without a victory. When the muscular striker completed his double, the home support's previous confidence crumbled into despair.

Velicka's goal was almost a solo effort, but it was begun with a long clearance from his goalkeeper Eduardas Kurskis. The ball was flicked forward by Michael Stewart, before Velicka gathered it in his stride, swerved past Mark Reynolds and Graeme Smith, then slid the ball over the line from eight yards out to the right of goal.

Motherwell's first was a delight, a reminder of the slick football that has been at the core of their work this season. Stephen Hughes played the pass forward to Keith Lasley on the edge of the penalty area, from where it was cleverly chipped to McCormack, speeding into the left side of the area. His low centre allowed Porter simply to slip the ball into an unprotected net from six yards.

That first goal proved to be merely a rehearsal for the equaliser, the same players involved in another incisive move. This time, it was McCormack who leapt to the forward pass from Hughes and headed down to Lasley, who was in the clear on the right side of the area. When his cross came in, Porter hooked the volley with his right foot far to the right of Kurskis from six yards.

Taken from the Guardian/Observer