Motherwell 2
Dundee 2
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

Newspaper extract from The Courier .

"I consider that a point dropped, not a point gained," said Dundee manager Archie Knox after his team had drawn 2-2 with Motherwell in a Fir Park thriller.

It's a statement many would class as optimistic allowing that Dundee had been 2-0 down after a mere seven minutes, but it is completely justified on the overall evidence.

Like a boxer who had ignored the possibility that his opponent could punch, the Dark Blues were floored twice by newcomer Crawford Baptie in those opening minutes.

A Gahagan corner and Baptie went up almost unchallenged to head cleanly past Geddes. Time-100 seconds.

Six minutes later, Baptie again launched his 6ft 3 in off his size 12 boots to get to another Gahagan cross. Geddes seemed to have the ball covered, but was simply brushed aside as the big lad's header again went in.

"That one would get a game for M.I.M. (the basketball team) any time," joked Archie Knox about Baptie later.

Then, more seriously, "You can't give any team two goals of a start and we toiled for half-an- hour after that."

Yes, Dundee toiled-but they didn't collapse, even although Baptie and Graeme Forbes kept the defence stretched in the air in dead ball situations.

Gradually, mostly because of the efforts of Bobby Connor and John Brown, Motherwell were forced back.

"They have a lack of belief in themselves because of so many defeats," said manager Tommy McLean at the end and it showed in 39 minutes. With no apparent danger threatening from a George McGeachie lob into the penalty area, Dornan handled.

John Brown smashed home the spot kick and Dundee were really back in business.

Second half, the Dark Blues were in almost complete command, which is why their manager considers it a point dropped, not one won.

Five minutes after the break, Forbes could only head a Glennie free kick straight to Stuart Rafferty, who instantly whipped a 15-yard shot past Gardiner.

McKinlay had been booked for a foul on Gahagan two minutes earlier, and, as the pressure on Motherwell grew, Kennedy, who had gone on for Mulvaney only minutes earlier, was booked for a foul on Shannon. Ex-Dundee United striker John Reilly joined him in the book for comments passed.

In 70 minutes, Dundee got what I considered a soft penalty when Connor fell inside the box after a Dornan challenge. This time, Brown fired the ball almost straight at Gardiner, who kept it out.

However, the big redhead should have had a third chance from the spot three minutes later when Hendry, in the act of shooting, was downed by Baptie.

"No penalty," indicated referee David Syme-wrongly, in my opinion.

It was a pity that only 2204 people watched this game, although maybe it isn't so surprising when you consider 'Well are now seven points adrift of third bottom Hibs.

"I always thought that if we got a goal before half-time we would go on to win," Archie Knox said afterwards.

"We certainly did enough after the interval to have taken both points. Finishing is still our problem."

After those early shocks, Jim Duffy marshalled his defence well and it was good to see George McGeachie play for 77 minutes before being replaced by John McCormack.

Stuart Rafferty, especially after his goal, was much more the bustling defence-worrier he can be and, although Ray Stephen might have been feeling the effects of his groin injury, he battled away well.