Well, Well, Well - Ten-man Steelmen punish lacklustre Pars

Dunfermline learned a harsh lesson in decision making, finishing and composure at a crisp and soggy Fir Park as Motherwell recovered from an early red card to Steven Craigan to record a 3-1 win over Jim McIntyre`s basement boys.

Despite having their captain ordered off, Stuart McCall`s charges were in command for large periods of the game and returned to third place in the Premier League while the Pars fans were left wondering if Saturday`s fine win at Rugby park was a flash in the pan.

Dunfermline lined up with the same starting XI that began at Kilmarnock as Jim McIntyre looked to win back-to-back away games for the second time this season.

This meant that on loan goalkeeper Iain Turner was behind a back four of Andy Dowie, Kevin Rutkiewicz, Alex Keddie and Paddy Boyle with Gary Mason as the defensive shield in front of them. David Graham, Joe Cardle and Mark Kerr lined up in the midfield with Andy Barrowman and Liam Buchannan up front. Motherwell only made the one change from the team that drew at Tannadice, Ojamaa coming into the side after a successful cameo against Dundee United on Saturday.

The Estonian winger was apparently signed on a deal described by manager Stuart McCall as "just his bus fare" but has already proved a hit with the Motherwell fans.

With Dunfermline defending the goals in front of a decent travelling support, referee Alan Muir got the game underway. Dunfermline had a quick chance through Mark Kerr, but his shot was well over.

The early stages looked fairly even although any hopes of a quick Pars breakthrough to capitalise on Motherwell`s poor recent form were quickly dashed as the `Well began passing the ball around confidently on a nice looking surface. Changed days from the old Fir Park (and Rugby Park last week).

Neither team created any clear cut openings in the opening spell, with the catchy/irritating (* delete as appropriate!) Motherwell songs and drums being the only real "entertainment" on offer. Motherwell have pace in their side though, and a through ball was played forward towards Higdon, who looked offside.

He didn`t go for it though and another midfielder broke forwards from deep to collect. Luckily for the Pars defence the Assistant on the incomplete stand side flagged for offside, although the crowd`s reaction suggested the decision was wrong.

At the other end Cardle managed to get into the box but seemed to slip at the vital moment and the chance went begging.

With the game looking like a stalemate, the crowd were woken with a moment of controversy. With the ball being cleared long, the referee blew his whistle and marched towards Barrowman and Craigan.

The Motherwell skipper seemed to be wiping his face; the Pars striker looked bemused by the incident and the Pars fans wondered what was going on at the far end of the pitch.

According to the referee, what had happened was that the Northern Irishman had head-butted the Dunfermline number 9 and so the central defender had to go. Barrowman was also booked, although it was hard to say if this was for playing a part in the incident of for something he said. Only 18 minutes on the clock then, and Dunfermline would be facing ten men for over 70 minutes.

Surely this was an opportunity to climb off the foot of the table?

Despite the numerical advantage, Dunfermline couldn`t make the extra man count from the resulting free kick, despite a scramble in the box. Managing to replace Murphy with Clancy possibly helped the `Well cause but it was systematic of the Pars` luck this season that the ball bounced around without dropping clearly to a black and white jersey. Barrowman and Cardle seemed to have a swing at shooting but both times the ball was either blocked or scrambled clear.

Cardle then went on a run from the half way line but his shot from the edge of the box was so far off target it nearly went out for a throw in. Barrowman was then again involved in the game but sadly for the target man, his race was run as a leg knock meant he was replaced by Andy Kirk.

This seemed to upset the flow of the Pars game (with no blame to the Ulsterman) and Motherwell started to get back into proceedings. With the Pars failing to learn from previous mistakes and standing off their men, OJAMAA managed to wriggle free and fired a low shot towards goal.

From behind the goals it looked as though Turner tried to push the ball away rather than simply palm it wide, but it may have taken a bobble en route. Either way the result was the same, 1-0 to the home side.

Motherwell tried to make their goal advantage count but the Pars came back into it and Jennings was booked for a crude shove on Cardle at the edge of the box. The free kick was cleared for the first in a series of Dunfermline corners but despite the best efforts of Rutkiewicz and Buchannan, Motherwell managed to clear.

There were also a couple of half-hearted penalty claims from Buchannan and a cynical foul on the edge of the box that somehow escaped a yellow card but for all the pressure the Fifers still couldn`t force the ball home. The home fans sensed that this was a critical period of the game and barracked the referee at every opportunity with several of his decisions being met with derisive shouts.

Despite having a Pars scarf wrapped warmly round my neck, it did look like the referee was still on top of things, despite their protests. The Pars yet again pushed forward but again the final ball or the last run was lacking as Dunfermline squandered the few pieces of possession they had as the first half wore on.

Ojamma was next in the book as he slid in late on Kevin Rutkiewicz who was clearing his lines in the corner. Pars had one last chance in the half as Andy Dowie carried the ball forward but his shot was wild and never troubled Randolph.

Half-time: Motherwell 1, Dunfermline 0