Tweet
Motherwell
2
McFadden 8′Humphrey 45′
Ross County
0
FT 90 +6
HT 2-0
12 May 2013
Last updated at 18:05
36
Share
Facebook
Twitter
print
By Kenny Crawford
BBC Sport Scotland
Comments (1)
Chris Humphrey inspired Motherwell to a ruthless victory over Ross County which ended the Dingwall side's hopes of Europa League football next season.
James McFadden converted Humphrey's centre early on but a Richard Brittain strike almost had County level.
The pacey Humphrey broke from his own half to net a second before half-time.
A nasty looking knee injury to County's Brittain preceded McFadden's wayward header from close-range, before Ivan Sproule hit the crossbar.
Second place in the Scottish Premier League was already secure for Motherwell and this was potentially a final home game in claret and amber for the likes of McFadden, Randolph, Michael Higdon and Nicky Law; but none of that led to the hosts taking their foot off the gas.
Ross County needed a point at Fir Park to stay in the mix for a third-place SPL finish and set up a tasty Highland derby next week, but despite showing plenty of forward threat, were picked off by two swift counter attacks.
Motherwell's Humphrey had barely touched the ball during impressive passing from County in the opening seven minutes, but his first contribution to the match was explosive.
The winger dispossessed Iain Vigurs and darted down the right, passing Grant Munro with ease before squaring for McFadden to side-foot the ball calmly back across visiting goalkeeper Michael Fraser.
Ross County's Richard Brittain appeared to twist his knee in the second half
Ross County quickly looked for the equaliser they required to keep European ambitions alive.
German forward Steffen Wohlfarth had a close-range effort well blocked and captain Brittain worked a tidy one-two with Vigurs before thumping a low left-footer just wide from 20 yards.
Then the quality of a Brittain free-kick did not match the fine play between him and Martin Scott that won it.
A loose Motherwell pass in midfield allowed Vigurs to send Sproule scurrying through on goal but his heavy first touch after out-pacing Stevie Hammell rolled into the arms of the onrushing Darren Randolph.
But with the Dingwall side on the front foot, another counter-attacking master-class by Humphrey doubled Motherwell's lead.
Again, Vigurs was guilty of mis-controlling after a clearance from County's corner kick fell to him, and again Humphrey exploited it; speeding from deep inside his own half to eventually stroke the ball in at Fraser's near-post from 10 yards.
County's belief remained and after the break Scott and Sproule kept Randolph on his toes.
Another attacking foray from Humphrey caused damage in a different way when Brittain appeared to twist his knee badly when attempting to block the former Shrewsbury player's shot.
The concern shown by both sets of players highlighted the seriousness of the midfielder's injury.
Brittain's replacement Mark Fotheringham was next to threaten the Motherwell goal when Vigur's pass teed him up.
McFadden should have made it three from Humphrey's deep cross but headed over from a few yards.
And County, who were doing everything apart from hitting the back of the net, were frustrated once more at the sight of Sproule's angled shot skimming the crossbar.
Randolph, who is destined for a move to England in the summer, was substituted in injury time to receive a standing ovation from the Fir Park crowd.
LINEUP, BOOKINGS (2) & SUBSTITUTIONS (6)
Motherwell
01 Randolph (Stewart - 90' )
03 Hammell
05 Hutchinson
15 Ramsden
04 Law (Higginbotham - 79' )
06 Hateley
07 Humphrey
14 Lasley
18 Carswell
09 Higdon (McHugh - 79' )
20 McFadden
Substitutes
43 Stewart
19 Kerr
26 Francis-Angol
30 Cummins
17 Daley
11 Higginbotham
16 McHugh
Ross County
01 Fraser
04 Munro
13 Hainault
18 Ikonomou
22 Kovacevic
08 Lawson (Cooper - 74' )
10 Brittain Booked (Fotheringham - 56' Booked )
11 Vigurs
14 Scott (Glen - 65' )
16 Sproule
15 Wohlfarth
Substitutes
19 Gallacher
05 Boyd
21 Cooper
24 Ross
29 Fotheringham
20 Glen
27 Porritt
Ref: Craig Thomson
Att: 7,734
MATCH STATS
Possession
52%
48%
90mins
Motherwell
Ross County
Shots
59
On target
22
Corners
26
Fouls
47
Live Text Commentary
90:00 +2:42 Substitution
Substitution
Darren Randolph goes off and Ross Stewart comes on. 90:00 +5:02 Full time
Full Time
The referee blows for the end of the match. 90:00 +2:42 Substitution
Substitution
Lee Hollis on for Darren Randolph. 89:24 Booking
Booking
The referee books Mark Fotheringham for dissent. 89:00 Iain Vigurs gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Tom Hateley. Keith Lasley takes the free kick. 86:34 Outswinging corner taken by Mark Fotheringham. 82:04 Corner taken left-footed by Iain Vigurs from the right by-line, clearance by Shaun Hutchinson. 80:59 Unfair challenge on Iain Vigurs by Stewart Carswell results in a free kick. Mark Fotheringham has a direct shot on goal from the free kick. 78:32 Substitution
Substitution
Kallum Higginbotham replaces Nicky Law. 78:32 Substitution
Substitution
Michael Higdon leaves the field to be replaced by Robert McHugh. 76:04 James McFadden has a headed effort from close in and clears the bar. 73:20 Stevie Hammell restarts play with the free kick. 73:20 Substitution
Substitution
Paul Lawson goes off and Alex Cooper comes on. 73:20 Mihael Kovacevic gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on James McFadden. 72:13 Paul Lawson takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, Shaun Hutchinson makes a clearance. 67:25 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Iain Vigurs, Grant Munro has a headed effort at goal from close in which goes wide left of the target. 65:52 Shot from just outside the penalty area by Mark Fotheringham misses to the left of the target. 64:34 Darren Randolph takes the indirect free kick. 64:34 Substitution
Substitution
Gary Glen on for Martin Scott. 64:34 The offside flag is raised against Martin Scott. MORE LIVE TEXT
Live text and data provided by The Press Association
Your comments (1)
Also related to this story
Adams waits on Brittain injury news 12 May 2013 ROSS COUNTY
Motherwell total thrills McCall 12 May 2013 MOTHERWELL
Sunday's Scottish football as it happened 12 May 2013 SCOTLAND
Share this story
36
Share
Facebook
Twitter
print
Comments
Sign in with your BBC iD, or Register to comment and rate comments
All posts are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules.
Jump to comments pagination
All Comments (1)
Order by: Latest First Highest Rated Lowest Rated
0
Comment number 1. Kyle
1 HOUR AGO
I must say I'm disappointed in County, I thought they would pick up at least a single point as they were still in the hunt for a European place.
2
McFadden 8′Humphrey 45′
Ross County
0
FT 90 +6
HT 2-0
12 May 2013
Last updated at 18:05
36
Share
By Kenny Crawford
BBC Sport Scotland
Comments (1)
Chris Humphrey inspired Motherwell to a ruthless victory over Ross County which ended the Dingwall side's hopes of Europa League football next season.
James McFadden converted Humphrey's centre early on but a Richard Brittain strike almost had County level.
The pacey Humphrey broke from his own half to net a second before half-time.
A nasty looking knee injury to County's Brittain preceded McFadden's wayward header from close-range, before Ivan Sproule hit the crossbar.
Second place in the Scottish Premier League was already secure for Motherwell and this was potentially a final home game in claret and amber for the likes of McFadden, Randolph, Michael Higdon and Nicky Law; but none of that led to the hosts taking their foot off the gas.
Ross County needed a point at Fir Park to stay in the mix for a third-place SPL finish and set up a tasty Highland derby next week, but despite showing plenty of forward threat, were picked off by two swift counter attacks.
Motherwell's Humphrey had barely touched the ball during impressive passing from County in the opening seven minutes, but his first contribution to the match was explosive.
The winger dispossessed Iain Vigurs and darted down the right, passing Grant Munro with ease before squaring for McFadden to side-foot the ball calmly back across visiting goalkeeper Michael Fraser.
Ross County's Richard Brittain appeared to twist his knee in the second half
Ross County quickly looked for the equaliser they required to keep European ambitions alive.
German forward Steffen Wohlfarth had a close-range effort well blocked and captain Brittain worked a tidy one-two with Vigurs before thumping a low left-footer just wide from 20 yards.
Then the quality of a Brittain free-kick did not match the fine play between him and Martin Scott that won it.
A loose Motherwell pass in midfield allowed Vigurs to send Sproule scurrying through on goal but his heavy first touch after out-pacing Stevie Hammell rolled into the arms of the onrushing Darren Randolph.
But with the Dingwall side on the front foot, another counter-attacking master-class by Humphrey doubled Motherwell's lead.
Again, Vigurs was guilty of mis-controlling after a clearance from County's corner kick fell to him, and again Humphrey exploited it; speeding from deep inside his own half to eventually stroke the ball in at Fraser's near-post from 10 yards.
County's belief remained and after the break Scott and Sproule kept Randolph on his toes.
Another attacking foray from Humphrey caused damage in a different way when Brittain appeared to twist his knee badly when attempting to block the former Shrewsbury player's shot.
The concern shown by both sets of players highlighted the seriousness of the midfielder's injury.
Brittain's replacement Mark Fotheringham was next to threaten the Motherwell goal when Vigur's pass teed him up.
McFadden should have made it three from Humphrey's deep cross but headed over from a few yards.
And County, who were doing everything apart from hitting the back of the net, were frustrated once more at the sight of Sproule's angled shot skimming the crossbar.
Randolph, who is destined for a move to England in the summer, was substituted in injury time to receive a standing ovation from the Fir Park crowd.
LINEUP, BOOKINGS (2) & SUBSTITUTIONS (6)
Motherwell
01 Randolph (Stewart - 90' )
03 Hammell
05 Hutchinson
15 Ramsden
04 Law (Higginbotham - 79' )
06 Hateley
07 Humphrey
14 Lasley
18 Carswell
09 Higdon (McHugh - 79' )
20 McFadden
Substitutes
43 Stewart
19 Kerr
26 Francis-Angol
30 Cummins
17 Daley
11 Higginbotham
16 McHugh
Ross County
01 Fraser
04 Munro
13 Hainault
18 Ikonomou
22 Kovacevic
08 Lawson (Cooper - 74' )
10 Brittain Booked (Fotheringham - 56' Booked )
11 Vigurs
14 Scott (Glen - 65' )
16 Sproule
15 Wohlfarth
Substitutes
19 Gallacher
05 Boyd
21 Cooper
24 Ross
29 Fotheringham
20 Glen
27 Porritt
Ref: Craig Thomson
Att: 7,734
MATCH STATS
Possession
52%
48%
90mins
Motherwell
Ross County
Shots
59
On target
22
Corners
26
Fouls
47
Live Text Commentary
90:00 +2:42 Substitution
Substitution
Darren Randolph goes off and Ross Stewart comes on. 90:00 +5:02 Full time
Full Time
The referee blows for the end of the match. 90:00 +2:42 Substitution
Substitution
Lee Hollis on for Darren Randolph. 89:24 Booking
Booking
The referee books Mark Fotheringham for dissent. 89:00 Iain Vigurs gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Tom Hateley. Keith Lasley takes the free kick. 86:34 Outswinging corner taken by Mark Fotheringham. 82:04 Corner taken left-footed by Iain Vigurs from the right by-line, clearance by Shaun Hutchinson. 80:59 Unfair challenge on Iain Vigurs by Stewart Carswell results in a free kick. Mark Fotheringham has a direct shot on goal from the free kick. 78:32 Substitution
Substitution
Kallum Higginbotham replaces Nicky Law. 78:32 Substitution
Substitution
Michael Higdon leaves the field to be replaced by Robert McHugh. 76:04 James McFadden has a headed effort from close in and clears the bar. 73:20 Stevie Hammell restarts play with the free kick. 73:20 Substitution
Substitution
Paul Lawson goes off and Alex Cooper comes on. 73:20 Mihael Kovacevic gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on James McFadden. 72:13 Paul Lawson takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, Shaun Hutchinson makes a clearance. 67:25 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Iain Vigurs, Grant Munro has a headed effort at goal from close in which goes wide left of the target. 65:52 Shot from just outside the penalty area by Mark Fotheringham misses to the left of the target. 64:34 Darren Randolph takes the indirect free kick. 64:34 Substitution
Substitution
Gary Glen on for Martin Scott. 64:34 The offside flag is raised against Martin Scott. MORE LIVE TEXT
Live text and data provided by The Press Association
Your comments (1)
Also related to this story
Adams waits on Brittain injury news 12 May 2013 ROSS COUNTY
Motherwell total thrills McCall 12 May 2013 MOTHERWELL
Sunday's Scottish football as it happened 12 May 2013 SCOTLAND
Share this story
36
Share
Comments
Sign in with your BBC iD, or Register to comment and rate comments
All posts are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules.
Jump to comments pagination
All Comments (1)
Order by: Latest First Highest Rated Lowest Rated
0
Comment number 1. Kyle
1 HOUR AGO
I must say I'm disappointed in County, I thought they would pick up at least a single point as they were still in the hunt for a European place.