MOTHERWELL...2, HEARTS...0
THE cash-saving cull that has been instigated to safeguard Motherwell against the financial perils of the modern game has been accepted in surprisingly good spirit by those whose futures are now uncertain.
Always keen to discover new ways of freshening-up the often laborious training regimen, Billy Davies, the Fir Park
manager, has stumbled upon a novel concept which, considering the similar restraints affecting several other clubs, could become a regular feature in
practice pitches throughout the country.
While bounce matches played between the Scots and the sizeable English contingent became a
feature of the Graeme Souness era at Rangers, Motherwell have recently discarded the more traditional methods of selecting their eight-a-side line-ups in favour of a
contracts v non-contracts rivalry.
Worryingly for Davies many of Motherwell's best players on Saturday fell into the latter category. Indeed, none was more impressive than Andy Goram as he sought to restore some of the pride that had been dented by demotion for the first time in years.
The 36-year-old, haunted by the humiliation of appearing
fallible against Aberdeen a few weeks ago, produced a vintage performance that only served to deepen the disappointment of those still coming to terms with his inevitable departure.
Although these days The Goalie looks more like a world darts champion, with flashy gold jewellery, mullet hairstyle, two days' growth, and an expanding waistline, he nevertheless retains the ability to defy even the most precise of poachers. And gravity.
He made a series of saves that laid the foundations for a worthy win over haphazard Hearts.
A typically instinctive swat of a seemingly goal-bound header from the otherwise anonymous Robert Tomaschek moments after Derek Townsley had given the home side the lead, was as important to the outcome of the match as Derek Adams' killer second.
Blocks from Kenny Milne and Andy Kirk reinforced the belief that Goram could quite easily emulate his international
predecessor, Jim Leighton, and carry on into his 40s.
His twilight, though, is certain to be spent elsewhere. Out of contract in the summer, Goram has turned down what is believed to be Motherwell's final offer, one that, apparently, is worth considerable less than his current deal.
That, allied to the fact that he was unceremoniously dumped for two matches in favour of
Stevie Woods, means Goram can begin negotiating elsewhere after the New Year.
As Motherwell have discovered provincial clubs (and everyone outwith the Old Firm can
consider themselves in that
category) can no longer afford to have wage bills that account for a large percentage of income.
Therefore, if Goram wishes to maintain his current earnings, his only option appears to be to move down south, provided there are clubs willing to offer him a handsome salary..
Davies, on the other hand, faces the biggest test of his short managerial career: to replace his big names with bargain-basement buys without a drop in standards.
Twaddle, Ged Brannan, and John Spencer were the other stand-outs and all three are free agents in the summer.
Spencer, as one of the club's highest earners, is already resigned to leaving, while Brannan has yet to receive a satisfactory offer.
Twaddle has yet to be offered anything, but on this form, the gangly winger is a must-keep. Unorthodox - often to the point of exasperation - he is nevertheless effective and it was from his corner that doppelganger Derek Townsley managed to head his team in front in the fifty-seventh minute and shatter the seeming invincibility of Antti Niemi.
The Finn, signed originally as a replacement for Goram at Rangers, has regained his international place with his performances for Hearts and Goram, in his programme notes, hailed Niemi as one of the best goalkeepers in Britain.
To lose a second after some poor defending by Steven
Pressley, allowing Townsley to barge in and set up Adams, further tarnished what had been as impressive a display as his one-time rival.
However, as new manager Craig Levein has discovered, the defence is Hearts' biggest
deficiency and one that will require to be remedied urgently.
Next league matches: Motherwell - St Johnstone (a); Hearts - Dundee united (h).
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