Not Well Served

Last updated : 24 January 2015 By Ed_ScottishFitba

C:WindowsTempphpFAB6.tmpMotherwell manager Ian Baraclough felt his side's interested were not best served by officials in their 3-1 defeat to Dundee United at Tannadice. A second-half brace from Charlie Telfer, along with Jaroslaw Fojut's header, proved enough for Jackie McNamara's men, with Simon Ramsden notching Well’s only goal 11 minutes from time. Baraclough believes his side were denied a clear first-half penalty and said his team also had a good goal disallowed. He said: "It was one that got away. I'm not going to sit here and cane the officials. It was one we had a good grip on. We created chances. We've got a bit of spirit about us. There was a lot of endeavour and desire to win individual battles. On another day it would have gone for us."

The disallowed goal came in the 44th minute when Callum Morris cleared the ball from underneath his own bar.  One of the assistant referees said the ball had not crossed the line – even through referee Craig Thomson had originally pointde to the centre circle. Baraclough added: "I've just spoken to the referee and the linesman who gave a decision Apparently he (the assistant referee) shouted 'play on' and the referee thought he shouted 'goal'. It's easy to mix those two words up, isn't it? It's one of those things. I've seen it back. His standing foot is on the line and the foot that he's cleared it with is behind the standing foot. Make your own assumption. But I don't know because, with the position I was in and with the position of the camera, you can't tell fully."

United manager McNamara preferred to praise two-goal teenager Telfer, saying: "Charlie has settled in really well and looks like an experienced player, even though he's still only young. He took his two goals really well and his overall creative play was very impressive. His passing and intelligence on the ball was there for all to see. This is a great three points. Motherwell were probably the better team in the first 15 minutes but after that I thought we came into it more and created enough chances to be deserved winners."