MOTHERWELL’S journey to Hampden started at the national stadium itself on what was an ominously gloomy afternoon. Little over a thousand trickled into the 52,000 seater cauldron, peering through the drizzle at a newly-assembled squad to blow away Queen’s Park 5-1.
Little over two months on, a bustling Fir Park twisted, shouted and shuddered as their return to the famous old ground was secured with a 3-0 victory over Aberdeen and a performance forged on the graft, resilience and workrate befitting of this steel town. A town forced to go 26 years without the sight of a trophy to cheer through its streets. On a night dripping with passion and endeavour against a stuttering Aberdeen, Fir Park reverberated as if the Champions League had just been secured.
For more on Motherwell's victory, as well as the latest analysis and news in Scotish sport, follow Scott Mullen on Facebook HERE.
The roof on the old coo’ shed stand – The John Hunter Stand to give its proper title – was only just replaced in the summer. It’s just as well gives the raucous scenes witnessed beneath it as Motherwell rampaged into a 2-0 lead within 19 minutes. The Lanarkshire side’s board were charging just a tenner for adults and a fiver for kids, and fans of both clubs responded in terrific numbers. It proved to be terrific value for money. Well, for most inside the ground, anyway.
Perhaps the most surprising thing about this Betfred Cup quarter-final result was that some were surprised by it. Aberdeen came into this game having drawn their last two games on the back of just edging out Partick Thistle. On the flip side, Stephen Robinson’s Motherwell sit fifth in the Ladbrokes Premiership having taken 10 points from a possible 12 in their last four games. This was their 10th win in 13 games this season.
Given that, it is remarkable that some bookmakers were offering odds of 7/2 for a home victory. So to was the fact Aberdeen seemed shell-shocked by the early blitz and fervent hustling, harrying and hounding they were given by their hosts. The second best team in the country were second best to too many balls, and simply couldn’t match the intensity of the claret and amber swarm which engulfed their midfield.
They were, however, given a helping hand. Quite literally.
For all Joe Lewis has been a hero for Aberdeen in between the posts – you only need to look back at that game at Murrayfield earlier this month for proof – he had possibly his worst 90 minutes in an Aberdeen shirt here. Given the strike force gunning down on top of him, possibly not the best timing.
The key moment came after just 13 minutes. Ryan Bowman turned Andrew Considine on the right before toe-poking a ball towards the Aberdeen No.1. What the Englishman didn’t account for was the darting run of Louis Moult who, quite sublimely flicked the ball up before hooking it over his shoulder. Lewis was bamboozled by the improvisation from Motherwell’s talisman and proceeded to fumble the ball into his own net. While Moult wheeled away to celebrate, television pictures later showed the former Wrexham man’s shot wasn’t going in.
For more on Motherwell's victory, as well as the latest analysis and news in Scotish sport, follow Scott Mullen on Facebook HERE.
Six minutes later and Lewis was culpable yet again. This time it was Steven Hammell’s whipped free-kick from the right which was met by the head of centre-half Peter Hartley from eight yards. Lewis again got it, this time diving low to his right, but he couldn’t stop it slipping through his grasp and into the net for the defender's first in Motherwell colours.
As both goals hit the back of the net in front of an aghast travelling support, a euphoric home end erupted, sending around 450 fans at the far end of the John Hunter stand surging to the front of the stand towards those Aberdeen fans. No doubt to check on the well-being of the well-travelled lot.
Aberdeen did ask questions but found little answers. Ryan Christie was their brightest light, but given those around him shone like a 2W bulb, it was easy done. In the second half he sprung an 80-yard one-man breakaway to eventually be denied by Trevor Carson. At 0-0 the Motherwell keeper did likewise, while Dominic Ball also headed over. Perhaps the biggest indicator of how their night collapsed was the fact an ineffectual Gary Mackay-Steven was subbed after just 35 minutes on the back of an abject performance.
But not even the Incredible Hulk could wrestle this night away from a Motherwell team possessed 0 the sight of Chris Cadden bolting the full length of the park to salvage a surrendered ball at 2-0 up sums it up. A night of jubilation would be finished only as Motherwell know how – a goal forged on hard graft and finished by Moult. With just four minutes to play, Moult scampered in behind a hapless Aberdeen defence, before having the audacity and, well, talent, to smash a shot high beyond Lewis at his near post. It was his eighth of the campaign.
For more on Motherwell's victory, as well as the latest analysis and news in Scotish sport, follow Scott Mullen on Facebook HERE.
It was a galling and eye-opening reminder to what could have been for Derek McInnes and the Aberdeen board who threw £300,000 towards Motherwell for the striker during the summer, the same amount in prize money he guided the Fir Park club too here.
More importantly, though, it sealed their place in the last four of the Betfred Cup against Rangers, and a return to the scene of 1991. Write them off repeating those heroics at your peril.
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