Motherwell and Ross County began the brand new season with a goalless draw at Fir Park, with the goalkeepers incomes plaudits.
Aston Oxborough’s Motherwell made his league debut after two years as Liam Kelly’s understudy, with Ross Laidlaw incomes the win with a number of positive saves. one cent.
Motherwell have been the higher aspect within the sport however are nonetheless struggling to search out their edge, with plenty of attacking midfielders injured and their ahead line within the early phases of growth following the departure of Theo Beyer.
Ross County’s Jordan White and Motherwell’s Sean Blaney get right into a combat in the course of the sport
Zach Robinson and Moshe Ebiye each missed good possibilities, whereas Filip Stuparevic was additionally a no-show after a poor efficiency in final weekend’s goalless draw with Partick Thistle.
New signing Apostolos Stamatropoulos got here on as an alternative halfway via the second half, however didn’t get an opportunity to open his account.
Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell handed the gloves to Oxford forward of West Ham loanee Christian Haggie and it paid off, with the 26-year-old dominating in his field , exhibiting good dealing with and application when additional appearances are required.
Robinson created the primary likelihood when he obtained away from Will Nightingale and escaped his defender, however his shot went over the publish and solely Laidlaw might beat it.
Ebiye had two good possibilities within the first half, each created by full-backs Ivan Wilson and Stephen O’Donnell. The striker was denied a close-range interception by Laidlaw within the first and had his header try utterly missed within the second.
The second half started with Laidlaw tipping the ball over from Dan Casey’s cross, which dipped underneath his crossbar, and Motherwell continued to push ahead, with their last purpose failing them on a number of events.
Oxborough made a few easy saves within the first half and made one of many extra spectacular ones, pushing Ronan Hale’s curling free-kick over the publish.
Stamattropoulos and Ross Karachan each made their debuts as substitutes, with the latter making his first look since sustaining a cruciate ligament damage whereas enjoying for County 16 months in the past.
The house aspect misplaced some momentum, nonetheless, when former Motherwell striker Jordan White acquired a cross from Akil Wright and, though he could have been offside, he headed over the crossbar.
Laidlaw stored the clear sheet with a superb one-handed save to show Wilson’s highly effective 22-yard volley into the nook. The Motherwell full-back’s affect continues to develop as his Premier League debut progresses.
Nightingale had an opportunity to win within the again nook however fired over the crossbar from 10 yards.
