Fighting spirit moves McGhee up SFA shortlist

Sentiment has a place in football. But not a big one, and not on the park. Heart of Midlothian showed that by taking a 2-0 lead in their Scottish Cup fourth-round tie at Tynecastle on Saturday against Motherwell, who were playing for the first time since their captain, Phil O'Donnell, died of heart failure a fortnight ago.

Motherwell showed it by lifting themselves in strained circumstances to play to their strengths. Attractive football eventually earned them a 2-2 draw, a home replay a week tomorrow, and a decent shot at the quarter-finals. If they get past Hearts, they will be hot favourites in their last-16 game against Huntly or Dundee.

Their manager, Mark McGhee, said afterwards that he would have understood if his team had folded at 2-0 down. That they didn't was not down to celestial intervention: in the last 25 minutes, they set aside recent events to focus on the task in hand.

"They showed the ability they have, they got back into it by passing," said McGhee. He made a comparison with Arsenal and Manchester United: "They believe in what they're doing and they stick to it." McGhee has no stars but the principles are the same.

Since Motherwell won the Cup in 1991 (their last silverware, O'Donnell scoring in the final), their high points have been second place in the League in 1995 and a CIS Cup runners-up slot in 2005.

Their entire annual football budget – for signings, wages for all players, bonuses, coaching staff – is in the region of £1m.

The loss of O'Donnell, 35, leaves the likes of Stephen Craigan, 31, and Keith Lasley, 28, as the old hands, while the future lies with club-reared youngsters like Paul Quinn (22, captain on Saturday), David Clarkson (22, and O'Donnell's nephew), Marc Fitzpatrick, 22, and Darren Smith, 19.

The striker Ross McCormack, 21, who moved from Rangers in 2006, is coming on in leaps and bounds, while fellow-forward, Chris Porter (24, free from Oldham in the summer) has been McGhee's most significant hire.

Deividas Cesnauskis and Andrius Velicka scored early in each half for the hosts, and Audrius Ksanavicius should have made it three but wasted a header. That miss stirred Motherwell, who went from clunk to whizz in a single move. A run by Clarkson, a ball to Stephen Hughes, a turn and pass to Lasley, a chip to McCormack, a first-time pass to Porter. 2-1. Lasley's run and cross provided Porter with the equaliser.

McGhee's CV includes guiding Reading, Millwall and Brighton to promotion but a common plus-point in those achievements at a sub-stellar level was making the best of limited resources, with good-looking play where possible. That is what has led to his candidacy to become Scotland's next manager – and a dilemma all round.

The Scottish Football Association has a shortlist comprised of Celtic's assistant manager, Tommy Burns (51), McGhee (50), George Burley (51), Graeme Souness (54), and, maybe, Billy Davies (43). Davies' age and relative lack of experience count against him. McGhee, like the others, wants to be considered.

He has said he would only leave with his club's blessing. But if that is not a "Call me", nothing is. The SFA, with no competitive game until September, could easily allow McGhee to stay at Fir Park until the summer. But they may pass to avoid accusations that they nicked him in Motherwell's hour of need.

That would be wrong, for McGhee and the SFA. An interview for Motherwell's exemplary leader in a time of crisis is deserved, at least.

Burns, an overlooked candidate last time, would be safe if not thrilling. If the SFA follow the recent template – an unemployed former Rangers manager, like Walter Smith and Alex McLeish – then Souness is the man. He comes with critics but, perhaps importantly, without compensation costs.

Burley is intriguing. His brief, heady days at Hearts in 2005 help his cause. Hearts have never recovered from his departure and its ongoing fallout. Saturday's stutter was the 14th time in 15 games that they have failed to win.

The SFA must put aside doubts that any new manager will again use the job as a stepping stone. That's life, and football goes on.

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