Well Deserved Win

Last updated : 02 October 2011 By Ed_scottishfitba

Michael Higdon IMichael Higdon reacted the right way to the criticism he received from the fans for his performance against Aberdeen. He scored a double in yesterday's game against Dundee united in Motherwell's 3-1 win at Tannadice.  Higdon played a key role in the well-deserved win  as he capitalised on Dusan Pernis' poor clearance to score Motherwell's second on the stroke of half-time before converting a 64th-minute penalty after Garry Kenneth had brought down Nicky Law. Higdon's record now shows six goals in 11 games since joining Motherwell from St Mirren and manager Stuart McCall is happy with the forward's impact.

McCall said: "Before he actually scored, in the first three or four games he had them headed off the line and kicked off the line. He could probably have been in double figures. I'm pleased for him because he got a little bit of stick in the last home game and he reacted well to it. He knows how much we value him. He trains hard, he's a conscientious lad. All the lads are behind him, as they are everybody."

Motherwell were in control of the game from the start and Keith Lasley emphatically finished off Tom Hateley's low cross in the 13th minute after Nicky Law had sent the right-back clear down the wing.  And they held on comfortably against Peter Houston's men after Jon Daly forced the ball home from close range in the 77th minute. McCall said: "I thought from the first whistle we really went about it. We talked all week about what we had to do - defend well as a unit, get about the park in the midfield. Peter said this morning, and rightly so, that the midfield was a key area and I thought we were outstanding in that area, and obviously big Michael Higdon led the line well. All parts of the jigsaw fitted. The first goal was a great team goal, well worked and a great finish. We got the goal on half-time through a goalie mistake but big Michael is still outside the box and on his weaker side and still had to put it away. Coming down the hill here they always put pressure on you, long balls in, the two centre-halves defended really well and the full-backs. It was a team effort and it merited the victory. I don't think there were any complaints about the penalty. Nicky Law is good at that, taking the ball past people. I didn't know who was going to step up. I just didn't want Michael to blot his copybook because he was excellent all day, but he stuck it away well."

Houston was not pleased about some individual errors that contributed to their defeat, including Danny Swanson's failure to track Hateley's run for the first goal, but he admitted his side had been outplayed. Houston said: "It was a poor performance, even before we lost the first goal I thought they were hungrier and sharper to the ball than us. The better team won the match and we were well beaten. Probably the strongest part of our team is our midfield and I felt our midfield was dominated by the Motherwell midfield. I thought (Steve) Jennings, Lasley and Law got the better of our three, and we are experienced in there so I can't make excuses about having a young team. All over the pitch, they were the better side."