SPL

Nick Montgomery rues Hibernian finishing in draw with Motherwell

By Sports Desk January 02, 2024

Nick Montgomery was frustrated at his side’s lack of cutting edge despite salvaging a point with an injury-time equaliser in a 2-2 draw against Motherwell.

Elie Youan fired Hibs into a deserved first-half lead after making a dominant start to proceedings at Easter Road.

They would find themselves pegged back seven minutes later, however, and Bevis Mugabi then nodded the visitors ahead shortly after the hour mark.

It looked like the Hibees were set for only their second home defeat of the season before Youan grabbed his second goal of the afternoon to earn them a share of the spoils.

“I’m not happy we didn’t win the game, I thought we did more than enough,” Montgomery said.

“The first 30 minutes we could have been 3-0 up, I don’t think anyone can deny that.

“We conceded a real sloppy goal from a throw-in, totally against the run of play and that was the disappointing thing.

“At the end of the game, coming back from 2-1 down at home in a game that I felt we should have been quite far ahead, I have to be happy to take a point – but I’m pretty sure they will be delighted to come here and take a point.”

The Hibs gaffer was delighted to welcome back Harry McKirdy for the first time since undergoing cardiac surgery in August.

The striker received a huge welcome from the home supporters following his introduction with four minutes remaining.

“We had Harry McKirdy coming back from a life-threatening injury,” Montgomery added.

“To put him on the pitch and see that, for me some things are more important than football.

“His energy when he came on, he lifted the crowd. If people saw Harry and what he’s been through on a daily basis, it has been really emotional today – we’re talking about a kid that didn’t know if he’d play football again.”

Well boss Stuart Kettlewell was disappointed after Youan’s late leveller denied his side the chance to record successive league victories for the first time since September.

Motherwell recovered from a poor start and falling a goal behind to take the lead at Easter Road.

The Steelmen looked set for an important three points before Youan’s strike deflected off Mugabi and beyond Liam Kelly.

“I’m really disappointed, probably just for the point of view that we knew Hibs would have a lot of the game and throw crosses into our box, the pace and the threat that they carry,” said Kettlewell.

“I felt at that stage of the game we were comfortable, I wasn’t sure that there was another chance there.

“I think we’re one clearance away from three points today. If young Georgie (Gent), who has been great for us, makes a good contact with the ball we probably go get the three points.

“When you look at the overall context of the game and where we’ve been, then I suppose it probably is not a bad point.”

The Well boss is aiming to strengthen his squad during the winter break as injuries and suspensions continue to cause selection headaches.

Motherwell had only 12 senior players available for the fixture at Easter Road, with Shane Blaney and Oli Shaw missing out through injury and Brodie Spencer serving a suspension.

“I’m a broken record and I’m not wanting anyone to feel sorry for me, when you hear a few complaints and a few murmurs of discontent from clubs around about Scotland – I’d urge them to look at our squad and what we are able to field at this time,” he added.

“We are depleted, I think I had 12 fit senior players available to me today which becomes a struggle.

“What we did show was a real unity on the pitch, you can see we are united, you can see we are together.

“We know as a football club from top to bottom that we absolutely need a bit of help and a bit of support – we need to bring in one or two.”

Related items

  • Hurtig the hero after late goal sends Arsenal into Champions League quarters Hurtig the hero after late goal sends Arsenal into Champions League quarters

    Lina Hurtig's 89th minute winner ensured Arsenal progressed to the quarter-finals of the Women's Champions League after edging Juventus 1-0 on Thursday. 

    After being frustrated for large parts of the encounter, Hurtig bundled home from close range after Martina Lenzini's poor clearance to book the Gunners' place in the last eight. 

    Despite Arsenal dominating the early exchanges, it was Juventus who had the first sight of goal, though Eva Schatzer's effort was easy for Daphne van Domselaar to gather.

    In a first half that saw just two shots on target, both coming from the visitors, Renee Slegers' substitutes proved to be the difference for Arsenal. 

    Slegers introduced Beth Mead, Stina Blackstenius and Hurtig late on, with the latter somehow putting Kim Little's cross over the bar from five yards out. 

    However, the Swede would atone for her earlier error, combining with fellow substitute Blackstenius to net against her former club and send them out of the competition with two group games remaining. 

    Meanwhile, in Group D, Barcelona edged closer to the quarter-finals of the competition with a convincing 4-1 victory over St. Polten at the Generali Arena. 

    The reigning champions are still three points behind Manchester City following their 2-1 win over Hammarby, and know a win against the Swedes next month will see them progress.

    Kika Nazareth opened the scoring in the 20th minute after capitalising on a mistake by Kamila Dubcova, notching her second nine minutes later from close range. 

    Barca found themselves three goals up at the break when Vicky Lopez netted her first goal in the competition to put the result beyond doubt. 

    There was also a landmark moment for Alexia Putellas, who netted her 200th goal for the club with a well-taken effort into the far corner. 

    Valentina Madl took some of the shine off an otherwise impressive display from the visitors, who have now taken their tally to 20 goals from their four matches in the competition. 

  • Guardiola agrees two-year contract extension with Man City Guardiola agrees two-year contract extension with Man City

    Pep Guardiola will be Manchester City manager for at least two more seasons after 2024-25, after he signed a two-year contract extension on Thursday.

    The 53-year-old was coming to the end of his City deal, which was due to expire at the end of the current campaign, but he has opted to remain at the Etihad Stadium.

    The deal itself will take Guardiola's tenure at the club to over a decade, making him City's longest-serving manager since Les McDowall in 1963.

    There had been suggestions that he may leave at the end of the season following the announcement that director of football Txiki Begiristain was on his way out.

    Guardiola was strongly linked with the England job after Gareth Southgate resigned in the wake of their Euro 2024 final defeat, but the Football Association appointed Thomas Tuchel last month.

    “Manchester City means so much to me," Guardiola said. “This is my ninth season here; we have experienced so many amazing times together. I have a really special feeling for this football club.  

    “That is why I am so happy to be staying for another two more seasons.

    “Thank you to everyone for continuing to trust and support me – The Owner, The Chairman Khaldoon, Ferran, Txiki, the players and, of course, the fans… everyone connected to Manchester City. It has always been an honour, a pleasure and a privilege to be here.  

    “I have said this many times before, but I have everything a manager could ever wish for, and I appreciate that so much.  

    “Hopefully, now we can add more trophies to the ones we have already won. That will be my focus.”

     

    Having been appointed in 2016, Guardiola is by some distance Manchester City's most successful manager of all time, having won 18 major trophies during his time at the club.

    That list includes their first-ever Champions League triumph in 2023 and six Premier League titles, including an unprecedented four on the spin.

    He also boasts a 72.04% win percentage across all competitions, which is unsurprisingly the highest of any full-time City manager in history.

  • Shaw at the double as Man City progress in Champions League Shaw at the double as Man City progress in Champions League

    Khadija Shaw scored twice as Manchester City beat Hammarby 2-1 to seal their place in the Women's Champions League quarter-finals.

    Gareth Taylor's team entered Thursday's game with a perfect record in Group D, and their fourth win in as many European matches ensured they finished in the top two.

    Shaw—the leading scorer in the Women's Super League this season with eight goals—put them ahead in the 31st minute, driving into the area after taking in Yui Hasegawa's pass before seeing her shot deflect into the top corner.

    Shaw was booked for celebrating in front of the home fans despite appearing to have objects thrown at her from the stands, and Hammarby should have levelled when Julia Blakstad fired wide 10 minutes later.

    The hosts did draw level three minutes into the second half as Ellen Wangerheim tapped home while City's Laura Blindkilde Brown was down appealing for a free-kick. 

    That parity was short-lived, though, as Shaw blasted into the top corner from 25 yards out, taking her overall tally for this season to 12 goals in all competitions.

    In Group C, meanwhile, Bayern Munich lost their perfect record as they played out a 1-1 draw with Valerenga, boosting Arsenal's hopes of topping the pile.

    Jovana Damnjanovic came off the bench to put Bayern ahead 15 minutes from time in Norway, but Elise Thorsnes headed home following an 88th-minute corner to snatch a point for the hosts.

    Arsenal could now move within a point of Bayern when they face Juventus in Group C's other match later on Thursday.

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.