Motherwell Leave It Late But Top The Group

[jwok]

Motherwell huffed and puffed their way to the top of Betfred Group G as they struggled to a 3-1 win over a Clyde side that will consider themselves unlucky to take nothing from the game.

http://www.motherwell-mad.co.uk/rprt...48/index.shtml

[LawSteelman]

That was a fantastic result from what was an utterly dismal performance but we're through so that's the main thing. Had we exited the League Cup at this stage as was on the cards with 15 minutes to go it would have been disastrous but well done to the team for turning it around. We were lucky though.

The performance today was shocking I though. Yet again a slow, laboured attack which offered little threat and defensively we were shambolic. Hartley looks miles from fitness and like last week was all over the place. Liam Donnelly too looked shaky and nervy so plenty of worrying signs ahead of the league campaign kicking off.

Needless to say a similar performance at Easter Road a week tomorrow and we'll be soundly beaten.

[markymark]

So true,, that performance today didn't fill me with any confidence going into the league opener next week. That bad I actually didn't celebrate any of the goals today

[sieb1886]

We won - we're through - but so far ... we're 5hite!

Finger out time Robbo.

[dazlhigh]

We won - we're through - but so far ... we're 5hite!

Finger out time Robbo.

That was grim - reminded me of the Stranraer game- no cohesion or imagination; few chances being made. Charles being out for so long is a big blow - the other defenders have been embarrassed for pace too often for comfort against lower league players. Every time Clyde booted the ball up the park today my heart was in my mouth.

That said, I don't think that Clyde were unlucky; they can be disappointed, yes, but over the piece we deserved to win the game. The fans round about me were roaring their disapproval when Tait was taken off, but by that time Clyde had very little attacking threat. The change paid off; credit to the manager.

[Handsome_Devil]

No arguments that it was a poor performance but I'm not sure that it is such an indicator of a poor season ahead as some fear.

Yes, the issue over our defence is real. If Hartley doesn't pick up and the gaps close, we're in for a long, long struggle.

But if it does (and a couple of games after a serious knee injury, including time on dubious plastic is hardly decisive in Hartley's case) what has really changed from last term? Are we uninspired? Absolutely. Do we give everything and refuse to give up? Absolutely.

Today Clyde will grump they could have taken their second chance and killed it but we had ball after ball after ball into their box and the fact the quality was usually lacking is irrelevant...if you have that much pressure in the opposition box in Scotland, you will win way more games than you lose. That applies to the top-flight too.

Last season we worked hard, were organised and survived on teams throwing us points more than we threw them away. If the defence v Stranraer and Clyde is indicative of the season ahead, that balance has changed and we're in bother...but last season the LC group was not really an indication of things to come. A late(ish) goal v Berwick and late, late goal v Edinburgh disguised some uninspired showings and we then opened the league with two losses. Things turned out okay.

The only time to begin panicking is the end of August when the final squad is known for the first half of the campaign.