The first big day in the Scottish football calendar has come and gone and it was a game with a promise of huge reward for Motherwell and St. Mirren. A half full Hampden Park was rocking with both sets of supporters creating an atmosphere to make you think the national stadium was still a hundred thousand capacity.
First Half
The first semi-final of the weekend kicked off in a quick tempo with St. Mirren having a chance within the opening minutes before shutting up shop for the next twenty minutes. The Saints defended a barrage of set pieces from Motherwell, ending with a chance from Apostolos Stamatelopoulos whos’ header at the back stick floated just over the bar. St. Mirren grew into the game the more they defended the Motherwell set pieces, with Killian Phillips and Dan Nlundulu getting the Saints on the front foot.
The main controversy of the game would see St. Mirren take the lead after a quick free kick where the ball was still rolling in the eyes of the Steelmen, leading to a corner which was slotted home by Mika Mandron, marking his 100th appearance for the Buddies in style and scoring his seventh for the season.
Jens Berthel Askou’s side didn’t dwell on going a goal down, testing Shamal George from range, before almost causing their own downfall with keeper Calum Ward being caught out of position outside of his box- a move which is likely going to cost the Well at some stage this season.
The second would eventually come for St. Mirren on the stroke of half time with a terrific first time strike from Dan Nlundulu on the edge of the box after Motherwell failed to clear their lines. Nlundulu let the ball roll past him on the edge of the box before swivelling and striking it first-time. It was a first half which showed how clinical the Saints are.
Second Half
More of the same followed in the second half, with Motherwell starting the better of the two sides again testing George from the edge of the box. The opening twenty minutes weren’t fortuitous for Motherwell, creating many chances again where the end product just wasn’t good enough.
Tawanda Maswanhise had a glorious opportunity to get the Well back into it, only having to play the ball across to Ibrahim Said who had an empty net in front of him, yet instead running the ball out of play.
Elijah Just started getting the cogs turning for Motherwell, but again and again the final pass was never good enough for Askou’s side. The introduction of Callum Slattery gave Well another gear, testing George from inside the box. Another opportunity passed by Maswanhise who somehow couldn’t get a toe to a ball across the face of goal.
Motherwell played to their own demise again, somehow not conceding a third after St. Mirren’s press led to Mandron hitting the post from two yards out. Killian Phillips stroked the ball just wide of the post only two minutes later, yet giving Motherwell a lifeline which was finally taken in the 82nd minute when Motherwell took a quick free-kick of their own. Tom Sparrow found space on the right to pick out Callum Hendry, who slotted home in a composed fashion. The final pass had finally been played right- game on.
Well, it was game on for three minutes, only until Richard King somehow scored after Calum Ward made the initial save, with the spin on the ball catching everyone in claret and amber off-guard and allowing the ball to trickle into the net for a Saints third.
It would only get worse for Motherwell after a near wonder goal from Killian Phillips cracked the crossbar, falling to Mika who got his second of the day by curling the ball into the far post giving Ward no chance, rounding out a fine performance from St. Mirren.
Post Match
It’s a first final appearance for St. Mirren since 2013 when they beat Hearts 3-2 in the Scottish League Cup . After a less than inspiring start to the season, it’s hard to see how a team of the level of St. Mirren sit in eighth with only two league wins this season. The midfield trio of Killian Phillips, Keanu Baccus and captain Mark O’Hara ran the show, with the shear size and strength of Saints attack causing issues which Motherwell never seemed to be able to deal with. While the Saints were brilliant in attack, their back line showed a real level of dominance, never giving Motherwell an inch with Alex Gogic being given the man of the match award.
“We didn’t want to make an occasion out of the semi-final. We want to make an occasion out of the final. We wanted to be ruthless and we were, which is something we haven’t been in the league. So we’re delighted with the goals and the finishing today.” Stephen Robinson speaking to Premier Sports.
There appears to be a real connection in the Saints camp with Mika and Nlundulu running over to their manger after the first and second goals. While speaking to the press Killian Phillips spoke about his own career, how he was close to returning to Ireland, but stayed due to Stephen Robinson’s management.
“St Mirren executed the gameplan better than us, and they’re deservedly in the final. We started okay after after a little bit of nerves, we applied some pressure, but our attacking game wasn’t good enough and in the first, we were way too far off the level needed in the first-half. The game opened up in the second half when we were chasing, they done well to punish us.”
“We know how to combat them, nothing surprised us, we just have to be better. First-half we were nowhere near good enough. They had a few moments where they could hurt us and they did. We weren’t dangerous enough and now we sit here with disappointment, but acceptance we didn’t do enough.” Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou speaking with Premier Sports.
The Saints now return to Hampden to face Celtic on the 14th of December in the final.
