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With the expected large crowd at Saturday’s Scottish Cup clash with Stranraer, fans can beat the queues by picking up a ticket from Fir Park.

The Stair Park club have allowed Motherwell to sell tickets from the Fir Park Ticket Office, on sale from lunchtime today. It is hoped that fans who pre-purchase tickets will find it much easier, and quicker, getting into the ground on Saturday.

Anyone who doesn’t pre-pay and intends to get their ticket on the day of the match should note that a ticket will have to be purchased from the Stair Park Ticket Office (open from 12 noon on matchday), adjacent to the turnstiles, before entry to the ground will be permitted (similar to St Mirren and Inverness CT). Please also be aware that this is cash only!

Motherwell have an allocation of 3120 tickets in total.

Chief Executive Leeann Dempster said, “Despite repeated assurances from Stranraer that they could cope with cash at the turnstiles, the club have today been informed you will now need a ticket before you can get into the ground.

“Stranraer will operate a booth on matchday, similar to St Mirren Park and the Caledonian Stadium, and that will obviously be busy if recent Motherwell crowds in the Scottish Cup are anything to go by. 

“We want to give fans the opportunity to beat the expected queues on Saturday by picking up a ticket from Fir Park before the match. We also have credit and debit card facilities which will not be available down at Stair Park.”

On a separate issue, after the success of the supporter’s buses that left Fir Park for Hampden on Sunday, the club were considering hiring more coaches in order to make the trip to Stranraer quicker and easier for travelling fans. 

We’ve had feedback though from the supporters associations on numbers / buses making the trip already and it would appear that there is still good availability on buses already booked. 

So with that in mind, we are pleased to publish contact info and departure details for the supporters association below so that we can encourage as many supporters to travel to the match as possible.

• Central Branch – The bus for Stranraer will leave the Bentley Hotel at 11am. Phone Jim on (01698) 299650 or e-mail Christopher on christopher_hutton@btinternet.com.
• Wishaw Branch – Leaving Kenilworth Avenue Wishaw at 10.30 am.  Costs £10 to non-members.  Contact Anne on 01698 470601 for info.
• Bellshill Branch – Leaving Carousel Bar Bellshill at 8.50am, Holytown Monument at 8.55am, Fir Park 9.00am.  Call Brian on 01698 747644 after 6pm.
• East of Scotland – No bus running for this game although they do normally run to most matches and can pick up via Livingston.

Shaun Hutchinson is determined to bounce back from Sunday’s Co-operative Cup disappointment with a win over Kilmarnock.

The Steelmen put up a fine display against the Scottish champions at Hampden, but ultimately succumbed to a late Steven Naismith goal.

[onlymembers]Now ‘Well must take their frustration out on Mixu Paatelainen’s side and the youngster insists spirit in the camp is high.

“I think everyone in the squad feels like we deserved a bit more from the game. We played very well, but that game has finished now,” the 20-year old insisted.
 
“Apart from the Hibs game, we haven’t been on a great run in the league. But we know that after a few wins in the league we could shoot up the table. There’s no better way to bounce back from defeat on Sunday than a win over Kilmarnock.
 
“We desperately want to climb up the table – we know we have a good enough squad to be higher in the league. Still, we have to be aware that Kilmarnock are doing well too. They have just lost Conor Sammon but regardless of his replacement it will be a tough test.”

While the transfer window has been cruel to Wednesday’s opponents, it has been fairly kind to the big Geordie defender.

Hutchinson has stepped up to the plate admirably following the departure of Mark Reynolds, and has shown no ill-effects of a nightmarish year-long battle with injuries.

He continued: “I’m able to get a run in the first team, and I’m really enjoying it at the moment. I’m looking forward to every game I get to play in.
 
“It’s been such a frustrating year for me and to be playing again is so big. I just hope it continues. I’ve had a lot of injuries and only played a few reserve games before this run, so it has been about getting back up to sharpness again.
 
“Against Inverness I tired a bit, and then against Hibs I felt a little bit of cramp, but I’m finding my legs again and my fitness is getting back up to what it was under Jim Gannon.”

Shaun was also full of praise for the January arrivals at the club. Although Stuart McCall admitted he found the transfer window frustrating, Hutchison believes the club have done some good business – despite not bringing in a striker.

Young defender Gavin Gunning arrived on loan from Blackburn while Northern Ireland international Steve Jones made the move to Fir Park from Walsall.

“No strikers came in, but we know that the strikers we have here are more than capable of scoring goals for us,” the 6’2 stopper praised.

“Some have gone out and a couple have come in, so there’s a few new faces. Jones and Gav (Gunning) have arrived and that adds something to the squad.

“I’ve seen them in training and they seem like good players, and they are good lads in the dressing room too, so the boys are happy with them coming in and they can make an impact.”[/onlymembers]

Stuart McCall described the last 48 hours as the most frustrating of his career, after losing to Rangers and missing out on a host of transfer targets.

The ‘Well gaffer made no secret of his desire to bring in another striker to bolster his squad before the end of the transfer window on Monday evening, but none transpired in what was a hectic evening’s negotiations.

[onlymembers]“I’ve got to say, the last 48 hours are probably the most frustrated I’ve been as a manager,” the 46-year old lamented.  “On the back of the defeat against Rangers, I put my phone back on after the game and the boy I thought I had got unfortunately had a bit of a family crisis and had to stay down south.

“We couldn’t match what he was being offered in England for another boy. The third target, which would have been a good one, couldn’t come because his club couldn’t get a couple of strikers which they thought they were absolutely certain to get.

“The fourth one got offered more money to go to America. The fifth one right up until eight o’clock last night was 50-50. He was still keen, and up to quarter to eight we were still hopeful of getting him. It was really, really frustrating. You try to get your top target in and I really thought we were going to get him.”

McCall’s candid description of the madness of transfer deadline gives everyone an idea just how tough it can be to bring the right player in on such a prohibitive timescale, but the gaffer hasn’t given up on the idea of strengthening the squad.

In the meantime the likes of Sutton and Murphy will have to carry the baton up front, while Esteban Casagolda, Bob McHugh and Gary Smith could come to the fore.

“I concentrated a lot of effort on trying to get people in because the lads deserve some help; they started in June,” the former Bradford boss acknowledged.

“We have the opportunity to get people in from Scottish clubs and free agents. We are still searching and I would be hopeful of bringing in one or two people before the end of the season. I’ve had a couple of names thrown at me, but I know of three or four other SPL clubs who are getting the same names put to them.

“I’d like to think a couple of young kids will come through and make their mark like they have done over the years here.

“The fans, like me, we haven`t seen enough of Casagolda. But he’s a good kid; I’ve looked at his clips when he has played and he scored a couple of goals in a bounce game last week. He is raring to go and I’m sure he will get his chance soon.

“Bob McHugh, unfortunately, has done his wrist and will be back in a month, and we have young Gary Smith, who has an excellent goal-scoring record in the under 19s. So we have players who can step up to the plate.”

The Motherwell boss was speaking ahead of a vital encounter with fourth-placed Kilmarnock on Fir Park on Wednesday evening.

Kilmarnock have their own transfer tale of woe to tell, losing top scorer Conor Sammon to Wigan a matter of hours before the deadline closed. Although McCall is happy not to be facing the big Irishman he admits Killie will still prove a real threat.

“I saw Kilmarnock at Hamilton on Saturday and was really impressed,” McCall continued. “I thought they played some terrific football.

“The two bonuses I got on Monday was that no-one came in for any of my young lads at the last minute – although my phone was off – and the big boy Sammon moving on because I thought he was excellent for Kilmarnock on Saturday, as a lot of the team were.”[/onlymembers]

Referee for Wednesday’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Kilmarnock is the familiar face of Stevie O’Reilly.

O’Reilly will be handling his fourth Motherwell game of the current campaign after previously overseeing the 1-1 draw with Aberdeen at Fir Park back in September, the 1-2 home defeat by Hearts in December and the New Years Day draw with Hamilton at New Douglas Park.

[onlymembers]It’s been a busy old season for the 44-year-old, who was promoted to the Category 1 list some five years ago. Tonight will be his eleventh Scottish Premier League game of the current campaign. He was also the man in the middle for Aberdeen’s 2-1 Co-operative Insurance Cup Quarter Final win over Falkirk at Pittodrie and, more recently, Rangers’ 3-0 hammering of Kilmarnock in the Scottish Cup 4th Round.

As a relative newcomer to top-flight officiating, O’Reilly has never handled a Motherwell versus Kilmarnock encounter. However, he is familiar with tonight’s opponents having handled four of their games in the last year.

O’Reilly’s overall record in charge of ‘Well games is a bit of a mixed bag. Of the five games has taken charge, Motherwell have won only won, drawn one and lost three. Eight goals have been scored whilst, coincidentally, eight have been conceded. Nine players have been cautioned in those five games; three were wearing Claret and Amber with just one sending off, Steve Jennings in that game with Hearts two months ago.

Stevie will be ably assisted by Andy Tait and Alastair Mather with Steven Nicholls on fourth official duties.[/onlymembers]

Motherwell Season Ticket holders should note that entry to Wednesday night’s game with Kilmarnock will be with ‘Special Voucher K’.

The original game with the Ayrshire side was postponed due to heavy snow at the start of December.

However, as opposed to using Match Voucher 9, the club has confirmed these alternative arrangements. As a result, anyone who has purchased a half-season ticket gets the bonus of an additional game.

Chief Executive Leeann Dempster said, “We’ve decided to reward fans who purchased Half Season Tickets with an additional game that they wouldn’t have otherwise had.

“We had an excellent support at Hampden and we are keen to see as many people as possible at Fir Park this week.”

Motherwell’s Hampden stars were united in disappointment after narrowly missing out in a place in the first major cup final of the season.

The Steelmen turned in a marvelous display at the national stadium and were only defeated thanks to a late Steven Naismith goal, following some super skill inside the area from Rangers’ £4M striker Nikica Jelavic.

[onlymembers]A particular high point of a fine contest came from the right foot of Keith Lasley, as the midfielder – who was returning after a recent injury-enforced hiatus – arrowed a splendid low drive past the despairing Neil Alexander to make it 1-1.

With the scores leveled up and ‘Well on the ascendancy it looked as though the men in claret-and-amber might go on to seal a famous win.

“I don’t get too many, and I have scored a couple this season now,” Lasley said, speaking about his equaliser. “It was a sweet strike and I knew as soon as I hit it that it was on target.

“There was definitely had a belief throughout the whole game. We hoped the goal would help us kick on and get what we deserved from the match.

“Sometimes you get back on level terms and then you go behind again there is a tendency to chuck it, but I thought we had a couple of chances late in the game that could have swung it back in our favour. We can take credit and belief from the game and hopefully kick on and take this into our League form.”

One of the ‘late chances’ Lasley referred to fell to young Stevie Saunders. The teenage Scotland international – who will be hoping for many more Hampden occasions, for club and country – rose highest at the back post to direct a Jamie Murphy cross towards goal.

It looked, all the way, like a second leveler for McCall’s troops, but somehow Neil Alexander managed to get his foot in the way, and the Gers defence smuggled clear.

“I thought that was going in but that is football,” Saunders said, looking back on the 85th minute chance. “In general I thought the lads were brilliant and we worked hard off the ball, which was important.

“The gaffer said as long as you win your battles in midfield and keep the ball then you will do well – and that is exactly what we did. Even from defence we passed the ball and didn’t rush things and created a few chances.

“Unfortunately it just wasn’t enough to get the win.”

Attention now turns from the glamour of a national cup semi-final to the weekly grind of the SPL, as fourth place Kilmarnock come to Fir Park on Wednesday evening.

Mixu Paatelainen’s men sit five points ahead of McCall’s side in the standings, and it will be vital that ‘Well do not linger on the disappointment of their Hampden heroic failure as they aim to make up ground on the pack of teams ahead of them.

“I thought the goal was coming and we were pushing and pushing and some of the possession play we had was terrific, and we are disappointed at how unlucky we are,” Jamaican winger, Chris Humphrey lamented after the full-time whistle on Sunday afternoon.

“It’s now vital that we get our heads up ahead of the game on Wednesday.”

Interviews: Graham Barnstaple [/onlymembers]

Motherwell boss Stuart McCall couldn’t hide his pride after a brave defeat at Hampden on Sunday afternoon.

The Steelmen were terrific throughout, and looked the more likely side to reach the final when Keith Lasley equalised in the second half.

But a Steven Naismith goal 15 minutes from time was enough to break ‘Well hearts and send Rangers to an Old Firm final.

“I’m really proud of all of my players,” the Motherwell boss gushed. “I told my players not to have any regrets. I wanted the lads to be able to look each other in the eye, having given their best.

“Our performance merited at least, extra time. There was really nothing between the two sides apart from an unbelievable Edu strike and some great ability from Jelavic for the second goal.

“We’ve got a disappointed group of players in their – but they all have a very proud manager.”

The former Everton and Rangers midfielder was also full of praise for the vocal support which made the journey from Motherwell, and further afield.

There were more than 5,000 vociferous fans in claret-and-amber at the national stadium, and the manager insists that their presence helped to spur the lads on to a rousing semi-final display.

“The fans really lifted all the players,” McCall praised. “I’d like to think the performance of the players also lifted fans.

“The only thing that I am disappointed about is the result. The players were terrific, as was the support we got from the stand.”

After Aberdeen’s apparent stage-fright on Saturday afternoon there must have been fears over Motherwell’s young squad, but they were allayed in a super display from some of the younger ‘Well stars.

Stevie Saunders, Shaun Hutchison and Jamie Murphy all performed admirably in a youthful Steelmen side, who will now, hopefully, take this narrow defeat on board on progress to a successful end to the campaign.

McCall continued: “We have a lot of younger players, and they all stood up to the challenge, Walter Smith said as much to me after the match.

“I’ll analyse this game later – as I do with all our matches – and look for things we could have done better, but I don’t think there will be an awful lot.

“We have a huge game on Wednesday night and we have to lift the lads for that. Our performance today shows what we are capable of, and we have to carry that on for the rest of the season.”

Motherwell and Kilmarnock face each other on Wednesday 2nd February and we want you to watch the big match in style.

Mixu Paatelainen’s men have being going great guns this season, and are in a multi-team battle, including Motherwell, for fourth spot.

The teams have only played once this season, Motherwell running out 1-0 winners thanks to a single Nick Blackman goal.

However, the Rugby Park side have added several new faces this then, including the talismanic Alexei Eremenko, and are a much more difficult opponent now as a result.

Motherwell have been going well under Stuart McCall so all the ingredients are there for a fascinating encounter and you can enjoy the big match in style from our recently refurbished Centenary Suite.

You will be welcomed on arrival with a glass of bubbly, then sit down to a fantastic three course meal.

Complimentary Motherwell labelled wine will be served at your table and a pay bar facility is available via our attentive staff offering a drinks service to your table.

Relax until before kick off with your complimentary matchday magazines and teamsheet before taking your seats in the centre of the Phil O’Donnell Stand for the match.

Half time refreshments are served again in the Centenary Suite and a pay bar is available after match.

Prices start from as little as £69!

We also have amazing packages available in both the South Stand Boxes and the Millennium Suite as well as the Match Ball Sponsorship.

If you are interested, then contact Diane or Wilma on 01698 338062 or email commercial@motherwellfc.co.uk.

Pictures from the 2-1 defeat by Rangers in the Co-operative Insurance Cup Semi Final at Hampden Park.

These action shots and more are available to buy online at www.motherwellpics.com.

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Burns Suppers have been part of Scottish Culture for nearly two-hundred years as a means of commemorating our best loved bard.

And when Burns immortalised haggis in verse he created a central link that is maintained to this day.

The ritual was started by close friends of Burns a few years after his death in 1796 as a tribute to his memory.

On Friday, the 4th of February, Motherwell Football Club will be celebrating that tradition with the annual Burns Supper in the Centenary Suite.

Enjoy the finest traditional fare with a healthy dram in congenial company and listen to the convivial tones of our invited speakers all for just £25 per person.

For further information or to make a booking, contact the Hospitality team on 01698 338008 or email wilma.marshall@motherwellfc.co.uk.

Slainthe!