The Drought Continues



Inverness went with the same players that came so close to lifting silverware on Sunday, with the exception of Marley Watkins being replaced by Aaron Doran.

Greg Tansey was first to make a keeper work but he fired straight at Nielsen from a Doran cut-back with less than five minutes gone.

Billy McKay was next to try his luck after Vincent played a ball in to him, McKay volleying the ball at the keeper, and the same again after twenty minutes, Nielsen winning this duel so far, but Inverness are the side threatening to open the scoring at the moment.

Twenty four minutes gone and Well are slowly getting to grips with the game and speedy wide player Lionel Ainsworth has an excellent shot tipped wide by Brill off a Vigur's cross.

Ainsworth would not be denied though and he burst into the box a minute later to drive the ball low beyond Brill and into the net. 1-0 to Motherwell, slightly against the run of play but Well were now on the front foot.

With Inverness left chasing the game, Motherwell took full advantage to score a second goal as John Sutton nodded in Hammell,s pinpoint cross just after the half hour. Inverness leaving themselves open at the back and paid the consequences despite their bright start to this game.

Inverness still tried to take the game to Motherwell before the break but despite plenty of possession, failed to get a foothold in the game and the whistle blew to end the half with Motherwell in control and two goals ahead.

Half Time 2-0

Inverness scarcely deserve to be 2-0 down but it's difficult to see a way back into this game given the rigours of the weekend, but Yogi has introduced Ryan Christie for Aaron Doran as the second half gets underway.

Shaun Hutchinson glanced a header across the face of the goal as Motherwell looked for a third to kill the game off, but Inverness broke to the other end and almost scored as three attempts were blocked before Hitchinson clears off the line with his knee from Tansey. A let off for Well, and more misery for Inverness.

For all Inverness' good forward play, it's Motherwell that look dangerous as we leave the door open at the back, McFadden always a handful for defenders, but firing well over on this occasion.

Vigurs get's the break of the ball and tries to catch Brill out with a lob, but misses the target, however it's Inverness that continue to press with Tansey prominent and McKay and Shinnie have efforts on goal.

Young Christie is giving a good account of himself once more and his future is bright, getting involved in plenty of moves and not afraid to get stuck in.

Richie Foran once more is running a very fine line between staying on the park or getting booked, and in fact he ends up getting one, yellow carded. Marley Watkins enters the fray to replace James Vincent with fifteen minutes left.

Christie showed fantastic skill to get a shot in but it just misses the target, the ball flashing across Nielson. Get this lad on a long contract now!

Inverness were giving it a go and some might wonder how they never scored, but when your luck is out, there's not a lot you can do as Motherwell sit in and seem content to repel the visitors without looking to add to their tally.

Full Time 2-0

The game eventually became too much for Inverness to chase and it petered out with Inverness drawing yet another blank, which could be a new record for the club, something approaching 8 hours without scoring.

An entertaining game nonetheless, but Inverness left themselves open to counter attacking with some naive soccer tactics and despite Dean Brill being a virtual spectator in the second half we failed to make the most of our own opportunities and the result was never in doubt as soon as Sutton scored the second.

MotM for me goes to Greg Tansey who worked tirelessly and probed well in forays forward and special mention to Ryan Christie who did his chances of a start no harm at all.

Motherwell: 2
Lineup: Nielsen, Reid, Hutchinson, McManus, Hammell, Carswell, Lasley, Vigurs, Ainsworth, Sutton, McFadden (Francis-Angol 74).

Booked: Carswell (69)
Sent Off: none

Inverness CT: 0

Lineup: Brill, Raven, Devine, Meekings, Shinnie, Vincent (Watkins 75), Draper, Foran, Tansey, McKay, Doran (Christie 46).

Booked: Foran (69)
Sent Off: none