British Broadcasting Corporation

Related BBC sites

Page last updated at 20:34 GMT, Wednesday, 13 May 2009 21:34 UK

Motherwell 2-2 Inverness CT

Inverness celebrate their equalising goal

Highlights - Motherwell v Inverness CT

Motherwell striker John Sutton denied relegation-battlers Inverness victory with a late goal at Fir Park.

Well defender Brian McLean headed the hosts in front from a 26th-minute corner but Filipe Morais drilled home following good work from Dougie Imrie.

Imrie then fired the visitors in front in the 56th minute from Lionel Djebi-Zadi's cross.

But the Steelmen were not to be denied and Sutton forced home team-mate Maros Klimpl's effort to rescue a point.

The visitors were denied an early goal when Motherwell defender Mark Reynolds cleared Imrie's effort off the line.

Grant Munro was off target with a header and Morais had a low drive comfortably saved as Inverness pushed forward in the opening stages.

But they were unable to prevent Motherwell taking the lead in the 26th minute, when McLean headed Steven Hammell's corner in off the post.

Stung by falling behind, Inverness committed more men forward and scored the equaliser five minutes before half time.

Imrie evaded the attentions of Hammell and cut the ball back for Morais. The Portuguese showed his predatory skills as he drilled the ball into the corner of the net from eight yards.

Terry Butcher's side started the second half strongly and Imrie put them ahead in the 56th minute with a sublime finish.

Djebi-Zadi won the ball from Paul Quinn just inside the box and his cross was volleyed home at the back post by the former Clyde forward.

Inverness could have extended their lead when Morais fired wide before Imrie had a low drive saved by Graeme Smith at his near post.

Sutton levelled for the hosts with 11 minutes remaining when he forced the ball home after following in Klimpl's initial shot.

And Jim O'Brien spurned a chance to seal the points for the Steelmen late on, but his speculative effort from Michael Fraser's sliced clearance drifted wide.

The draw means Inverness are three points clear of basement side St Mirren with two games remaining, while Motherwell are assured of seventh spot.


Motherwell manager Mark McGhee:

"We changed our shape, made a couple of substitutions and that brought us an equaliser. I think we didn't deserve to lose.

"This result is far more important to them than it is to us. We've secured seventh, which is great financially.

"We have to temper the way we play because of the pitch. We have to be more direct at times and that's a shame because we all want to pass the ball."

Inverness CT manager Terry Butcher:

"We lost the three points and only secured the one. We're scoring goals in the split, we're picking up points and we're tip-toeing towards safety.

"The boys stood up well. Motherwell were by far the better team in the first half. We felt at half-time that we hadn't really performed and we needed to be more brave in the second half and we were.

"Lots of positive things came out of the game - the only negative thing is that we didn't get three points.

"We've edged towards survival very well. The boys have been magnificent, they have been absolute heroes."


Motherwell: Graeme Smith, Quinn, McLean, Reynolds, Hammell, Lasley (Klimpl 53), Hughes, O'Brien, Murphy (Fitzpatrick 73), Sheridan (Sutton 66), Clarkson. Subs Not Used: Krysiak, Malcolm, McGarry, Hutchinson.

Goals: McLean 26, Sutton 79.

Inverness CT: Fraser, Proctor, Tokely, Munro, Djebi-Zadi, McBain, Black, Kerr, Imrie, Morais (Barrowman 78), Foran. Subs Not Used: Esson, Rooney, Mihadjuks, Odhiambo, Vigurs, Morrison.

Booked: Foran, Munro.

Goals: Morais 40, Imrie 56.


BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Motherwell's Stephen Hughes 8.00 (on 90 minutes).

Please note that you can still give the players marks out of 10 on BBC Sport's Player Rater after the match has finished.

Att: 2,818

Ref: D McDonald



Print Sponsor


see also
SPL as it happened
13 May 09 |  Scottish Premier
SPL photo gallery
13 May 09 |  Scottish Premier


related bbc links:

related internet links:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites


Explore the BBC

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.