HAPLESS Motherwell were dumped out of the Scottish Cup by rampant Raith Rovers, as Ian Murray’s men deservedly coasted through to the quarter-finals of the competition.
First-half goals from Jamie Gullan and Sam Stanton had them in a commanding position, before a Kevin Van Veen strike just after the interval briefly gave the huge travelling support some hope.
Rovers stood firm though and sealed the win when Isma Goncalves – who only joined on loan from Livingston on the morning of the game – broke away to shoot across Liam Kelly and put the tin lid on another horrible afternoon for Steven Hammell.
Here are three talking points as Rover took their unbeaten streak to 12 games…
STEVEN HAMMELL ON THE BRINK
Hammell is and will remain a Motherwell legend, but he surely cannot survive as manager too much longer if he isn’t to tarnish his Fir Park legacy. And going by the opening 45 minutes produced here by his players, something has to give if they are to rescue their top-flight status.
Some of Hammell’s selection calls have to be called into question. He wasn’t helped by an injury crisis among his centre-backs, but deploying Van Veen on the left of midfield in the first half when he had wingers on the bench was a headscratcher. Riku Danzaki was bullied, Ross Tierney offered little, and Stephen O’Donnell retaining his place ahead of Max Johnston proved another misstep.
All that being said, the players too must take a long, hard look at themselves for the performance they put in during that first period. Raith simply outworked and outfought the Premiership team, and by the time they woke up after the interval it was too little, too late.
That is a worrying sign for Hammell. If the players are unable or unwilling to raise their levels above what they showed here, then the writing may well be on the wall for both their top-flight status and Hammell’s short management reign.
The third goal from Isma didn’t send the travelling fans into a frenzy, but sent them streaming for the exits, and the apathy was clear long before the end. In many ways, that apathy is worse than anger, with both the players and the fans seeming to have chucked it.
RAITH MARATHON MEN DESERVE THE CREDIT
The fact that Raith fought past Dundee in the SPFL Trust Trophy semi-final on Wednesday night after extra-time and penalties made their feat of knocking out Premiership opposition all the more impressive.
They got the cushion they needed during a first half where they carried all the threat, with Gullan coolly converting his penalty after Callum Slattery had handled in the area, and they fully deserved their two-goal half-time advantage after Stanton’s desire allowed him to scramble home.
They could be forgiven for fading after the interval, with Motherwell gaining the upper hand, but after Van Veen hit back early in the second half they refused to buckle, defending a series of set-pieces manfully.
And just when it looked as though they would have to steel themselves for a late onslaught, they seized their opportunity on the break, new arrival Isma finishing brilliantly as he was slid in behind to seal a thoroughly merited victory.
SENIOR PROS LETTING MOTHERWELL DOWN
The regression in some of the senior Motherwell player this season has been remarkable, and the like of Kelly and O’Donnell – such dependable performers in the past – were again suspect here.
It wasn’t so long ago that both men had Scotland aspirations, with O’Donnell regularly picking up caps and Kelly making squads, and there was even talk that the keeper would be one of the main contenders to deputise for Craig Gordon following his horrific leg break.
On this evidence, both of them are fortunate to be in and around this Motherwell team. Kelly had to be stronger for Raith’s second goal, juggling the initial deflected shot from Stanton before being muscled off the ball to allow the Raith forward to score.
As for O’Donnell, he was one of three Motherwell players hooked at the interval after an abject display, with replacement Johnston accentuating the paucity of his performance further still by helping the Steelmen turn the tide of the game with his energy down the right.
