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 Phil McGhee Fir Park

Stephen Craigan made the perfect start as interim manager as Motherwell held on for the narrowest of wins over struggling Thistle.

A first-half own goal from Freddy Frans and a second half strike from Scott McDonald set the Fir Park side on their way to a much needed win.

However, when David Agoo pulled one back for Partick with twelve minutes remaining, it required stout defensive qualities from the home side to secure all three points and take some pressure off the ‘Well players.

Craigan’s first team selection saw five changes from Ian Baraclough’s last starting eleven against Morton. Back came Keith Lasley, Scott McDonald, Louis Moult and Lionel Ainsworth. There was also a surprise return for Stephen Pearson missing for nine games after being injured in the opening game of the season at Inverness.

The buzz of anticipation from the home support at the kick off almost led to an opening goal inside the first five minutes.

A series of passes ended with the ball finding Johnson but from 12 yards and with a decent angle on goal he rattled the ball against Tomas Cerny’s legs.

Partick replied with a 20-yard drive from Stuart Bannigan, which was comfortably held by Connor Ripley.

The visitors appeared more composed and as ‘Well carelessly conceded possession Thistle had a few chances around the home goal with Robbie Muirhead heading narrowly over.

Out of nothing ‘Well took the lead after 21 minutes courtesy of an own goal.

Ainsworth darted into the box on the right before sliding a pass across the face of the goal and with Moult lurking behind him Freddy Frans lashed the ball high into his own net.

It was a lucky break for the Fir Park men and they had another slice of good fortune five minutes later. After watching his header palmed over the bar by Ripley, former ‘Well striker Steven Lawless was again denied an equaliser when his low shot from the edge of the box rebounded off the post.

The first half started positively for ‘Well when Ainsworth set off on a long mazy run which carried him fifty yards before he thumped his parting shot off Cerny.

Ainsworth was involved in the thick off the action and five minutes later his free kick picked out Moult and his back header bounced past the ‘keeper but on the wrong side of the post.

Motherwell chased a second goal to kill off Thistle and it arrived after 68 minutes with Ainsworth again the provider. His cross found McDonald unmarked six yards in front of goal and although Cerny managed to palm out his initial header the Ausie striker coolly steered the rebound beyond the grounded ‘keeper to make it 2-0.
That should have put the Steelmen comfortably on course for three points but Partick pulled one back to leave a nervous closing 12 minutes.

A Thistle corner was directed towards a packed goalmouth and substitute Amoo nodded the ball inside the post and give the visitors a lift.

In the final minutes Motherwell’s defence, with Stephen McManus and Kieran Kennedy solid in the air, withstood Thistle’s pressure for the narrowest of victories and a welcome three points, which lifts them to ninth in the league table.

[tab:As it happened]

 Ally Reilly at Fir Park

An own goal and a McDonald strike are enough to give ‘Well all three points!!

95′ | 2-1
Full time!!

90′ | 2-1
5 minutes added on!

88′ | 2-1
Both players booked.

88′ | 2-1
Ouch. Seabourne clatters into Ripley and the big man is not happy, with the pair exchanging heated words.

84′ | 2-1
Muirhead turns and hits a volley from a Thistle throw-in which thankfully hits the outside of the post.

78′ | 2-1
Goal – Amoo pulls a goalback for Thistle from a corner….

76′ | 2-0
And a Motherwell change, Wes Fletcher makes a return to action, coming on for Scott McDonald.

76′ | 2-0
Final Thistle change, Amoo on for Bannigan

71′ | 2-0
Lasley booked for a heavy tackle on Osman.

69′ | 2-0
IT’S 2-0!! Ainsworth curls in a delightful ball which is fired home by McDonald!!!

GGOOOAALLLL!!!
65′ | 1-0
And a Motherwell change, Johnson limps off for Thomas

65′ | 1-0
Thistle sub, Muirhead off for Pogba

63′ | 1-0
Motherwell sub, Leitch on for Moult

61′ | 1-0
Lovely little jinking run again from Ainsworth but as he gets into the box, he is robbed by Booth.

58′ | 1-0
Welsh booked after he lost the ball and hacked down Pearson.

57′ | 1-0
Thistle sub, Doolan off for Nisbet

52′ | 1-0
From that free-kick, McManus flicks Ainsworth’s delivery inches past the post!

50′ | 1-0
Johnson hits the ground hard after Dumbuya gets himself underneath him as he rose to head the ball. Free-kick to ‘Well.

48′ | 1-0
Great run by Ainsworth which takes him all the way into the box. You’d bet on him scoring from there but Cerny makes the save!!!

Both teams are back out and the second half gets underway. COYW!!!!

HT: Motherwell 1 – 0 Partick Thistle

44′ | 1-0
Frans booked for being overly aggressive in an aerial duel with McDonald, then Moult is booked for dissent.

36′ | 1-0
Osman enters the ref’s book for pulling Moult to the ground as he broke away

26′ | 1-0
Great save by Ripley, tipping Lawless’ header over the bar!! Seconds later, Lawless strikes the base of the post from 18 yards!

22′ | 1-0
Ainsworth gets past his man his cross/shot is put into his own net by what looked like Frans. 1-0 ‘Well!!

GGGOOOAALLLL!!!

19′ | 0-0
Good ball in from the left finds the head of Muirhead who flicks it just over the bar.

10′ | 0-0
Bannigan picks the ball up in an advanced position and opts for the shot. Easy save for Ripley though.

5′ | 0-0
Great chance for Johnson! Gets a second bite at the cherry from his first shot but fires straight at Cerny from 12 yards!

And we’re off! COYW!!!!!!!

Motherwell in the claret and amber home colours, Thistle in their baby blue away kit.

Out come the teams from the tunnel……

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Motherwell manager Ian Baraclough:

Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald:

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The Well Society are delighted to announce that they will be holding a Football Quiz night in the Centenary Suite here at Fir Park, on Tuesday 29th September kicking off at 7:30pm.

The quiz will include questions on Motherwell FC past and present as well as rounds on Scottish, European and International football.

In attendance will be some first team players, the coaches and Club Directors who will be participating in the quiz and avoiding the wooden spoon!

Each team will be made up of four people, to register your team today email Craig at well.society@motherwellfc.co.uk

If you don’t have a team of four don’t worry you can register as an individual and we’ll put you into a team on the night.

There will be a trophy and a prize for the winning team along with the prestigious title of ‘The Well Society Football Quiz Champions’

The event will be free for Well Society members, however non-members are also welcome to attend for an entry fee of £5 per person.

Experienced defender Stephen McManus talks to the press ahead of this weekend’s Ladbrokes Premiership game with Partick Thistle.

Caretaker manager Stephen Craigan previews Saturday’s clash with his old side, Partick Thistle.

The Big Debate with Gordon Brewer is coming to Motherwell on Friday 25th September for a live lunchtime show.

Every Friday the programme visits a different part of Scotland to discuss the big issues of the week.

Gordon will be joined by a panel of speakers from the world of Politics, Arts, Science, Business and other areas of public life and the BBC want you – the audience – to pose the questions.

They are looking for questions on the most stimulating moral, political and social issues of the day – the current issues that will get people talking. So the programme gives you the opportunity to challenge politicians, policy makers, writers and thinkers.

The programme is very similar in format to the TV debate programme Question Time only for radio  – they look at 4 or 5 issues that are making the headlines in the week of the debate depending on what questions are submitted by audience members in advance of the programme.

Questions should be brief and to the point if possible and should be on something that’s been reported in the news.

As the programme broadcasts to a Scotland wide audience, they are looking for issues that raise matters of genuine national and international interest.

Once you know what you want to ask, email your question to the BBC at bigdebate@bbc.co.uk by 5.00pm, Thursday 24^th September.

Please be aware the BBC are not able to guarantee that all questions will be used.

To apply and join in discussing the burning topical issues of the week, book your place via the BBC’s online booking form http://bbc.in/1Al9Rpx  or by emailing bigdebate@bbc.co.uk

Tickets are free.

Motherwell Football Club has today (Wednesday) parted company with manager, Ian Baraclough.

The Board of Directors would like to sincerely thank Ian for his great efforts last season and keeping the club in the SPFL Premiership for this very important season in the Club history, with the 130th anniversary and the 25th anniversary of the 1991 Scottish Cup celebrated at the end of the season.

The Board will immediately commence the search for a new manager.

In the interim, current Under 20s boss Stephen Craigan, along with Stephen Robinson and Jim Hollman, will handle first-team affairs.

Extended Highlights from Cappielow Park as Motherwell crash out the League cup with a 3-2 extra time defeat to Greenock Morton.

Action images from today’s 3-2 extra-time defeat to Greenock Morton at Cappielow Park in the League Cup.

Snaps courtesy of SNSPix.

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[tab:Match report]

 Phil McGhee at Cappielow Park

Motherwell crashed out of the League Cup to Championship side Morton after losing 3-2 after extra time.

An injury time equaliser from Scott McDonald forced Motherwell into extra-time for the second consecutive League Cup tie. But there was to be no great escape for the Fir Park side this time as Jim Duffy’s men netted twice in the additional 30 minutes.

A late strike from Loius Moult gave some hopes of taking the game to penalties and revive memories of the Scottish Cup win at Cappielow in 1991 on the road to Hampden.

However, there was to be no cup glory this time, though, as despite an energetic finish, Motherwell failed to improve sufficiently on a slow start.

Ian Baraclough made three changes from the side which faced Hamilton, Jack Leitch returning to the midfield while wide men Marvin Johnson and Dom Thomas were deployed to support lone striker Theo Robinson.

Undoubtedly, there was pressure on the Premiership side and Morton made the most of it with a confident opening spell. And although Leitch was first to produce a shot which drifted over, it was the home side that found the net after 11 minutes.

Peter McDonald’s pass took a fortunate bounce off Stephen McManus’ heel at the edge of the box but there was nothing lucky about the finish as Alex Samuel slammed his angled drive from 15 yards high past Connor Ripley.

The Fir Park men then enjoyed a lot of possession as they moved the ball around the Cappielow pitch and Johnson latched on to a loose ball at the edge of the box before testing the Morton ‘keeper with a low shot.

Liam Grimshaw then broke from the middle of the park but his shot drifted high over the bar. A rehearsed corner from Thomas after 24 minutes picked out the unmarked Joe Chalmers and the full back’s drive from 20 yards raced through a packed penalty box and just outside the post.

It was the Greenock men, though, who came closest to adding to the score when McDonald darted into the box and his powerful drive forced a diving block from Ripley.

Johnson curled another effort beyond the Morton goal before McDonald came close to snatching a second just before half time when unmarked, he stabbed the ball a yard wide of a begging goal.

A big improvement was required from ‘Well in the second half, particularly in terms of goal threats but it was an unchanged side that kicked off the second forty five.

That changed within 13 minutes, though, when ‘Well went two up front, Louis Moult and Scott McDonald replacing Thomas and Robinson.

Before the strikers could make an impact the tie was almost over. Former Steelman Ross Forbes rolled a short free kick to McDonald and his terrific strike was brilliantly blocked by Ripley once again.

A quick exchange between McDonald and Moult sent the latter racing through but Gaston sprinted from his line to clear the danger.

Down the other end, a Forbes free kick took a wicked deflection before rolling narrowly past Ripley’s post to keep the visitor’s faint hopes alive.

With ten minutes remaining Lionel Ainworth came on to make his presence felt on the right. Although there was a bit more urgency and threat around the home goal ‘Well still couldn’t force a save from the Morton ‘keeper.

Indeed it took a smart save from Ripley to deny Michael Tidser making it two and finishing off the tie.

Then in the final minute, Ainsworth’s 20 yard drive flashed narrowly past the post ‘Well looked down and out.

Dramatically in the second minute of injury time McDonald snatched an equaliser when he squeezed Ainsworth’s cross under the ‘keeper.

The late equaliser failed to dent Morton’s confidence and six minutes into extra-time Ripley produced another good save to turn a 35 yarder from Forbes over the bar.

Two minutes later ‘Well should have been ahead when Moult chested down Ainworth’s cross but from 12 yards he swept the ball wide of goal.

That miss proved costly when Morton regained the lead, Samuel sneaking in front of Kieran Kennedy to guide the ball low past Ripley for his second goal.

The game was then stopped for 5 minutes due to trouble in the ‘Well crowd behind the Morton ‘keeper.

Early in the second period of extra time Grimshaw’s volley was held by Gaston under his cross bar before Ainsworth miss hit from five yards as ‘Well chased another equaliser.

Eight minutes from the end, though, Tidser nudged the ball beyond Ripley to make it 3-1 and dent any thoughts of a Motherwell recovery.

However, with four minutes remaining Moult lashed a loose ball high into the net to set up a nail biting finish but Morton held out to deservedly progress to the quarter finals.

[tab:As it happened]

 Ally Reilly at Cappielow Park

FT: Morton 3 – 2 Motherwell AET

ET 26′ | 3-2
GOAL – Moult pulls one back for ‘Well. 3-2 now….

ET 22′ | 3-1
Goal – Tidser makes it 3-1, getting on the end of a cut-back into the box

ET 15′ | 2-1
Last 15 now underway

ET HT’ | 2-1
Denny Johnstone goal gives Morton a 2-1 lead going into the last 15 minutes.

ET 15+ 3′ | 2-1
Gaston saves McDonald’s shot with his foot as he raced on to Moult’s through ball

ET 14′ | 2-1
Long stoppage in play here as Police deal with incidents in the crowd.

ET 10′ | 2-1
Goal – Johnstone gets across his man and gets on the end of the cross, tapping into the net. 2-1 Morton.

ET 9′ | 1-1
Great ball in to Moult by Ainsworth. He takes a touch but can’t find the target from 15 yards.

ET 6′ | 1-1
Forbes pulls a shot out of nothing and Ripley does well to tip it over the bar.

First half of extra-time is now underway. COYW!!!!

FT’ | 1-1
Into extra-time, McDonald pulling ‘Well level with the last kick of the ball.

McDonald equalises!!!!!

GGGGOOOOAAALLLLLL!!!

90′ | 1-0
Ainsworth skips past his man and gets a shot away which flies agonisingly past the post.

86′ | 1-0
Morton sub, Lamie on for Miller.

85′ | 1-0
Good save again from Ripley, palming Tidser’s shot wide of the post.

79′ | 1-0
Motherwell sub, Taylor makes way for Ainsworth

77′ | 1-0
Deep ball into the back post by Johnson is headed wide of the post by Law.

76′ | 1-0
Morton sub, Johnstone on for McDonald.

75′ | 1-0
Forbes’ free-kick is deflected wide of the post, with Ripley wrong footed. Close.

71′ | 1-0
Moult booked for dissent it looked like. Nothing in the foul and ref pulled the play back.

62′ | 1-0
Superb save from Ripley, diving low to his right to tip McDonald’s free-kick to safety.

61′ | 1-0
Law booked for pulling at Sabajo’s shirt as he passed him.

59′ | 1-0
Johnson gets down the wing and forces a corner….but it is nodded clear at the front post.

56′ | 1-0
Motherwell subs, Moult comes on for Robinson and McDonald comes on for Thomas.

46′ | 1-0
Straight away Morton have a free-kick in a dangerous position…Fired in low by Forbes, cleared by Leitch.

Morton get the second 45 underway. …

Half time, Morton 1 – 0 Motherwell

43′ | 1-0
Pepper booked for a foul on Johnson as he broke away from a Morton corner.

42′ | 1-0
Very nearly 2-0 to Morton there as McDonald latches onto a cross and pokes it just wide from close range.

36′ | 1-0
Taylor bursts forward and plays in Johnson…..can’t test the ‘keeper from just outside the box, though.

30′ | 1-0
Samuel stings Ripley’s palms with a powerful drive from just outside the box. Ripley beats it away.

27′ | 1-0
Great corner delivery to the head of O’Ware who heads inches over the bar from ten yards.

24′ | 1-0
Taylor’s cross is sliced wide for a corner….nicely worked set piece sets up Chalmers who shoots just wide!

13′ | 1-0
‘Well work the ball quickly up to Johnson who cuts inside from the right but shoots well over the bar.

11’| 1-0
Goal – Samuel gets the break of the ball in the box and makes no mistake, firing past Ripley from 15 yards!

6’| 0-0
Johnson gets the better of Pepper and squares it to Leitch who opts for the shot. Fires well into the ‘Well fans.

4’| 0-0
Tidser works a bit of space down the right and slides in Kilday but he slices his cross into the stand, with Morton men in the area

Kick-off | 0-0
Taylor and Leitch get the game underway. COYW!!!

Out come the teams, ‘Well in full claret, Morton in their familiar blue and white hoops #GMFCvMFC

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Motherwell manager Ian Baraclough:

Coming Soon

Morton manager Jim Duffy:

Coming Soon

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‘Well boss Ian Baraclough previews the League Cup 3rd Round clash with Morton at Cappielow.