The Road to Hampden - Quarter Final

A double from John Sutton secured a replay against the holders Dundee Utd in an outstanding game at Tannadice.

Motherwell got off to the best possible start with a goal inside the opening minute. They won a corner on 24 seconds, Steven Hammell took the kick and found the head of John Sutton at the far post and his effort left Dusan Pernis with no chance. The goal itself was timed at 54 seconds.

Both keepers were called upon to make an excellent save, David Goodwillie slipped past three Well defenders before hitting a crisp shot which Darren Randolph reacted brilliantly to save one handed.

Within minutes it was the turn of the other keeper to shine, Keith Lasley hit a stunning volley from the edge of the box, and the ball looked to be heading for the top corner until Pernis got up to save one handed and tip the ball over the bar.

With five minutes to the break United got back level, a Jeith Watson cross from the right looked harmless enough until Goodwillie pulled out a stunning overhead kick to leave Randolph helpless.

The opening stages of the second half was poorer stuff but Well came close with Lasley having a shot saved by Pernis, and then Shaun Dillon almost putting through his own goal from a Hammell cross.

The visitors took the lead on the 73 minutes, great combination play between Hammell and Lasley allowed Hammell to whip a cross to the front post for Sutton to sweep past Pernis.

They couldn’t hold on to the lead for more than a minute, with United going straight up the other end and equalising. A cross from the right missed everybody in the six yard box apart from Daly who was in acres of space to side foot home from six yards out.

Losing the goal so soon after taking the lead for the second time was something that was disappointing for McCall, “Frustrating and disappointing, I am not going to say if we hadn’t lost that goal we would have won it not with the players they have in their side. From middle to front they are an exciting side. On the back of three victories they were full of confidence and I thought we gave as good as we got and it was a good cup tie.”

Well side: Randolph, Saunders, Hutchinson, Criagan, Gunning, Murphy (Humphrey - 63), Lasley (Forbes - 84), Hateley, Hammell, Sutton, Jeffers Subs not used: Hollis, Jones, Casagolda

Crowd – 7358