HAVING become the first Scottish side to fall at home against Welsh opposition in Europe, Motherwell will need to create a more welcome bit of history should they wish to extend their European adventure beyond a rather brief two-match sojourn.
No Scottish team has overcome a home reversal to prevail in a European tie, though many have had the opportunity to try. Motherwell are the latest team to have landed themselves in such a mess, and mess is what it was at the Shyberry Excelsior stadiu
m on Thursday night as they fell to Welsh part-timers Llanelli.
There were some mitigating factors involved, such as the relocation to Airdrie United's stadium. This venue is hardly a home to Motherwell. An already threadbare squad had also only enjoyed the benefit of three days of training under new manager Jim Gannon. But it remains a worrying reversal, and one which means they will have to write themselves in the Scottish football history books in order to progress.
Some relief has been sourced from the capture of Gannon's first signing. Midfielder Paul Jennings has signed a one-year deal with the club after turning down the chance to renew his contract with Tranmere Rovers, where new manager John Barnes had promised to make him captain. Like any other signing made between now and next week, he won't be eligible to play in Thursday night's return leg against Llanelli at the Parc y Scarlets. Neither will former skipper Paul Quinn be available for selection, although the right-back will be in Wales. Championship side Cardiff City are set to confirm his signing at the start of next week.
Gannon must go with what he already has and perhaps another week's training might see the side undergo a marked improvement. He endured an uncomfortable first match as manager and it wasn't just the unusually balmy climate which made him tug at his shirt collar. Later he faced more hard-hitting questions than he would have liked after his first game in charge and in some instances offered honest answers in return.
Gannon was not, however, completely crestfallen. In training the players had shown themselves to be "coachable", while he said he looked out across the pitch on Thursday and saw reasons for optimism. Half-time substitute Andy Lane was one such point of light, while right-back Steven Saunders, prior to tiring before the end, did enough to suggest he could play a part during the coming season. Ross Forbes, Jamie Murphy and Robert McHugh will also have benefited from the run-out.
It was perhaps the established players who gave more reason for concern, with skipper Stephen Craigan having been identified as the culprit for the loss of the winning goal in the first half. He failed to clear player-manager Andy Legg's corner and Stuart Jones headed in at the far post. But Craigan received some support yesterday from goalkeeper Michael Fraser, who admitted he should also have done better.
"Maybe I should have come for the corner," said Fraser. "It was high to the back post and the boy has got above us and headed it in. If I can come and take it then I suppose I should be doing that."
Fraser remained confident that Motherwell can overturn the result, although it won't be straightforward. Llanelli proved resourceful in defence and, while limited in attack, can rely on set-pieces. Their belief that Motherwell could be hurt from set-pieces was borne out by the 28th minute winner.
Llanelli claimed a corner from one of Legg's trademark long throws, and the Motherwell defence again looked uncertain as they tried to deal with the player-manager's delivery from the set-piece. "I've had a couple of reports on them and we thought if we could get balls into the box, they would be a little vulnerable," said Legg.
Gannon accepted Motherwell's need to tighten up at the back after the game on Thursday, but also stressed the importance of playing an expansive brand of football where the full-backs get forward at the right times.
"We have to go there and score to win," acknowledged Fraser. "Hopefully we can do that and take our chances in the return."
One player who will be seeking to prevent Motherwell doing that is midfielder Andrew Mumford. The former Swansea player was mocked by the home fans for his rotund appearance, but stood out for other reasons. He refused to let Motherwell take a hold in midfield and displayed a good touch.
"I took a bit of stick from the fans, but I think I answered them in the right way," he said. "You take a bit of stick and it's all part of the game. The best way to shut them up is by getting the right result. We certainly did that on Thursday night. It was a proud night for everyone connected with Llanelli."
Perhaps surprisingly given his shape, Mumford is a PE teacher, and will return to work next week. "We all have jobs so we train just three nights a week. To get past Motherwell and into the next round would be an incredible achievement, but we're aware we're only halfway there."
