Shocking start for Gannon

2nd July 2009

Jim Gannon suffered the worst possible start to his Motherwell reign as the Steelmen suffered a shock 1-0 first-leg defeat to Llanelli in the Europa League first qualifying round.

Stuart Jones capitalised on some poor defending midway through the first half to head home a famous winner for the Welsh side at Airdrie's Excelsior Stadium.

Gannon, who was unveiled as `Well manager on Tuesday, had called on his new players to implement some of the ideas he had introduced in his first few training sessions. But they lacked any invention as the hosts struggled to break down the organised Welsh Premier League runners-up.

The shock factor in the result was dissipated to some extent by the under-strength nature of Gannon's squad.

With Cardiff-bound Paul Quinn about to become the ninth first-team player to leave Fir Park this summer, Gannon handed debuts to former Inverness goalkeeper Michael Fraser and young midfielder Ross Forbes. Teenager Steven Saunders came in at right back to face up to 42-year-old Llanelli player-manager Andy Legg.

The goal still came as a shock though as Motherwell paid the price for some static defending in the 28th minute. Legg swung in a corner to the back post and Jones headed past the stranded Fraser.