Motherwell 1-0 Hibs

Mar 30 2008 Euan Mclean At Fir Park

Mcghee Has Pop At Rival Boss

RAGING Mark McGhee lost the plot with Hibs boss Mixu Paatelainen yesterday and told him to stop trying to get players booked.

The Motherwell gaffer was involved in a furious touchline bust-up with his rival during a victory that could prove crucial to Well's dreams of grabbing third place and a UEFA Cup spot.

Ref Kenny Clark warned McGhee after the 28th-minute rammy with Paatelainen, who was last month involved in a nose-tonose confrontation with Rangers boss Walter Smith.

At Ibrox big Mixu demanded Nacho Novo be sent off for a bad tackle on Thierry Gatheussi and Smith was sent to the stand for his reaction to the Finn.

McGhee said: "I took exception to the fact it seemed every time there was a tackle Mixu wanted somebody booked.

"I was over-enthusiastic in my criticism and the fourth official rightly took exception to that and told me to calm down.

"Mixu had plenty to say as well, you know. I think it's unnecessary. I don't want their players booked any more than I want my own booked.

"I haven't spoken to Mixu about it and I won't, that's the end of it.

"But just to finish on that, at one point one of their players did something and Scott Leitch almost shouted 'book him'. I just managed to haul him back before he said it."

Paatelainen was more diplomatic about the first-half flare-up, saying: "It was nothing big. He's biased, I'm biased and that's all."

If Hibs' players had shown a similar stomach for a fight they might have produced something better than a sluggish performance.

After a five-game winless streak had stripped Well of pole position in the race for Europe, frustrated McGhee had his troops fired up to make a flying start.

They took just three minutes to deliver as David Clarkson grabbed the only goal and his 13th of the season in style.

Paul Quinn's huge looping crossfield ball was brought down neatly by the striker on the left flank and a quick touch on to his right took him past Martin Canning before curling a superb shot across keeper Andy McNeil inside the far post.

It was a dream start and should have got better for Well a minute later as Quinn lashed a thunderous 25-yard drive just wide.

Skipper Quinn then missed a sitter when Marc Fitzpatrick's 10thminute cross from the left broke to him in space at the back post.

He looked a cert to burst the net but there was no composure in his snatched shot that ballooned over.

Such a huge let-off should have given impetus to a poor Hibs side who had offered nothing.

Aside from Dean Shiels' rasping effort from the edge of the box that rattled Well's bar they never looked like scoring.

Well continued to create openings and blow them. Bob Malcolm got in ahead of Chris Hogg to head Simon Lappin's cross just wide.

Then Clarkson unselfishly squared across the face of goal for Chris Porter but he couldn't get enough on the ball to steer it into the gaping net from six yards.

Porter was holding his head in his hands again two minutes from halftime as he nodded a Keith Lasley delivery across the face of goal. Malcolm copped the first booking a minute before the break for hauling down Paul Hanlon and it was no surprise when the Hibees re-emerged for the second half with a change in their line-up.

Midfielder John Rankin made way for striker Abdessalam Benjelloun and Hibs looked more dangerous in a bright opening spell after the re-start.

But it was the home side who came closest after Fitzpatrick copped a yellow card for a late lunge on Felipe Morais. Hibs needed to produce more and the introduction of another hitman, Clayton Donaldson for Morais in 69 minutes, was an indication Paatelainen needed to inject some inspiration into his struggling side.

Clarkson's clever backheel into the path of Lasley storming into the area teed the midfielder up to blast a low shot just wide as Well continued to pose a threat.

That was Clarkson's last act of an impressive display as he made way in 72 minutes for Ross McCormack.

Well escaped eight minutes from time when wrong-footed Fitzpatrick couldn't cut out Shiels' through ball and Donaldson raced clean through.

But keeper Graeme Smith stood up to him to make a crucial block that keeps his side's European challenge on track.

REF WATCH

KENNY CLARK had a decent game but a couple of poor calls from his linesmen didn't help his case with the home fans. He used his cards consistently but was never tested by any big decisions and made do with words with Mark McGhee after his bust-up with Mixu Paatelainen. Rating: 6/10.