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[tab:Match report]

 Phil McGhee at Tynecastle

A poor Motherwell were hit for six as a rampant Hearts brushed the Fir Parkers aside in the January snow.

The Steelmen, crucially missing skipper Keith Lasley to suspension and Liam Grimshaw, who returned to his parent club during the week, were second best all across the park and were deservedly beaten.

The game was as good as over in the early stages as Hearts scored three in a ten-minute blitz courtesy of goals from Rossi, Sow and a Reilly penalty.

It stayed that way until the 77th minute before the hosts added three late on, Paterson, Juanma and another penalty, this time from Djoum, rubbing salt into the wounds.

Mark McGhee was forced to reshuffle his pack for the first time in five matches, with the aforementioned midfielders missing. Joe Chalmers and Lionel Ainsworth were introduced. Hammell was pushed into right back to allow the former Celtic youngster into left back.

Law partnered Pearson in the middle of the park with Ainsworth and Marvin Johnson operating on the flanks.

‘Well made a decent start and could’ve been ahead from a well-worked corner but didn’t capitalise.

Hearts showed no mercy and got their noses in front on the eleventh minute. Defender Rossi flicked on a King corner at the near post. It looped over Ripley, only for Law to head off the line. However, the standside assistant referee, Brian Templeton, raised his flag to signal a goal and spark the celebrations amongst home supporters.

‘Well then missed a chance to level when Moult cleverly played in Ainsworth, but his low shot was well held by Alexander.

It was to prove a crucial miss as Hearts extended their advantage five minutes later. Paterson won the ball just inside the visitor’s half, allowing Djoum to burst forward and worked the ball towards Osman Sow. ‘Well didn’t get out quickly enough to block, allowing the striker to lash a low shot into the far corner.

It went from bad to worse and the game was effectively over on 21 minutes when Hearts were awarded a penalty. Reilly was pulled down by Ripley whilst attempting to dribble round the keeper, and the striker confident stroked home the spot-kick to give the hosts a comfortable 3-0 lead.

Sow had a possible fourth goal disallowed for offside just after the half-hour mark, and Prince Buaben stung Ripley’s palms from 25 yards soon after.

The visitors started the second half seeking an early goal and some sort of lifeline. Louis Moult ought to have done better than head Lionel Ainsworth’s free-kick over the crossbar on 52 minutes. Mark McGhee would have noticed his players keeping the ball slightly better but would have been frustrated by their inability to forge clear scoring chances.

Motherwell continued to make the better of it and could and should have gone ahead but both Scott McDonald and sub Wes Fletcher passed up glaring opportunities.

Unmarked, the Australian headed Marvin Johnson’s right-sided cross wide of the back post, a miss which virtually summed up a miserable afternoon for McGhee and his team.

An equally good chance presented itself a few minutes later when substitute Wes Fletcher ran through on goal after dispossessing Pallardo. However, he too failed to hit the target.

Hearts punished that loose finishing with another three in short succession. Paterson fired home from just inside the area, as did sub Juanma shortly after then, in stoppage time, Djoum won and scored a penalty to end the afternoon in miserable fashion.

[tab:As it happened]

 Ally Reilly at Tynecastle

FT: Hearts 6 – 0 Motherwell

91′ | 6-0
Goal – Djoum wins a penalty and fires home from the spot.

87′ | 5-0
Goal – Juanma collects the ball on the box, turns and fires past Ripley to make it 5-0 to the Edinburgh side.

84′ | 4-0
Hearts sub, McGhee on for Rossi.

82′ | 4-0
Motherwell sub, Clarkson on for Law.

80′ | 4-0
Augustyn booked for punching the ball away in anger.

77′ | 4-0
Goal – Paterson turns inside the box and gets his shot past Ripley. 4-0 to Hearts

76′ | 3-0
Law booked for a challenge on King, wide on the right.

74′ | 3-0
Great chance for Fletcher there as he dispossesses Ozturk and races through on goal but Alexander pushes it wide.

71′ | 3-0
Wonderful chance for McDonald after Johnson got down the right and fired a ball in to the back post but the Aussie heads wide.

69′ | 3-0
Hearts sub, Reilly off for Zanatta

64′ | 3-0
Motherwell subs, Fletcher and Thomas on for Ainsworth and Moult.

66′ | 3-0
Hearts sub, Juanma on for Sow.

64′ | 3-0
Great ball in from Ainsworth wide on the right, finds Pearson at the front post but he gets too much on it, and shoots wide.

56′ | 3-0
Moult is booked as he and Ozturk go for a header. Not a lot in that.

52′ | 3-0
From the free-kick, Moult heads just over the bar. Decent chance!

51′ | 3-0
Buaben booked for handball on the edge of the box.

Both teams back out, Law and Pearson get the second 45 underway.

HT: Hearts 3 – 0 Motherwell #HMFCvMFC

41′ | 3-0
Buaben stings Ripley’s palms with a good strike from 25 yards.

37′ | 3-0
McManus booked for a robust challenge on Sow, about 20 yards out.

33′ | 3-0
Sow has the ball in the net again, but this time the linesman’s flag is up and offside is given.

31′ | 3-0
Paterson’s deep cross finds Buaben at the back post. He takes a touch but his curled shot goes well over the bar.

27′ | 3-0
Moult slides it wide to Johnson about 20 yards out but he loses his footing as he pulls the trigger and it sails well over.

21′ | 3-0
Goal – Reilly steps up and fires low beyond Ripley. Horrible start.

20′ | 2-0
Penalty to Hearts! Ripley booked in the process for hauling down Reilly.

15′ | 2-0
Goal – It’s 2-0 to Heart, Sow with a low shot beyond Ripley into the bottom corner.

11′ | 1-0
Goal – Rossi heads the ball goalwards and after some thought, linesman says it was over the line. 1-0 to Hearts.

4′ | 0-0
Djoum takes no chances and knocks Ainsworth’s cross out for a corner…..Set-piece is worked short but Hearts clear.

3′ | 0-0
Hearts work the ball to Paterson about 30 yards out. He shoots, but Ripley looks comfortable as it flies past his post.

Reilly and Sow get the game underway at a sold out Tynecastle. COYW!!!!

Out come the teams……..and out comes the snow.

[tab:Reaction]

Motherwell  manager Mark McGhee:

“The forced shuffle was part of it. I didn’t really have any choice. We asked Josh Law to play in the middle of the park, and Pearo (Stephen Pearson) was asked to play almost as a sitting playmaker and he is not that but we had no choice so that possibly affected us.

“I was disappointed obviously, I think we were a pale imitation of what we have been. I don’t think we were at it anywhere, all over the park they were quicker to the ball, better in possession and obviously in finishing, everything about them was better than us.

“It wasn’t us at our best playing Hearts at their best, it was Hearts at their best playing us who were a poor imitation of what we were capable of. But Hearts were excellent.”

Hearts manager Robbie Neilson:

“I felt a wee bit for Mark as he lost Lasley to suspension and Grimshaw, one of their best players this season, got sent back so they had a void that they had to try to fill and we managed to expose it a wee bit.

“Coming off the Aberdeen game, such a high-profile game, there was a worry that we wouldn’t start the same way as we left off last week. The players did. We started the first 10 or 15 minutes positive, getting in behind people and causing them problems and that won us the game.

“After 22 minutes we were 3-0 up but you are always worried if they get a goal. I heard Mark saying that if they can get a goal then it gives them something to chase in the second-half but we managed to be the ones who scored in the second-half and it was a convincing win.”

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

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Mark McGhee says his side are preparing for a tough encounter at Tynecastle but has a plan to combat the Jambos’ “robust” style.

The Steelmen head to the Capital without two of their influential midfield players, with skipper Keith Lasley suspended and Liam Grimshaw having left the club following his loan spell.

But McGhee is confident the players he does have at his disposal will give as good as they get against Hearts.

He said: “We are going to Tynecastle without our two of our most physical players at a time when Hearts are playing a very robust style of game.

“But, as the week has gone on, we have developed an idea of how to approach it and now we are very confident.

[pullquote]“I’ve got no fears at all. I’ve got a lot of time for the way Hearts play and we are trying to do a bit of that as well. The last time the teams squared off at Fir Park we beat each other up.[/pullquote]

“It’s a physical game these days, there’s a lot of athleticism involved, there are some big lads involved. As long as it doesn’t cross a certain point…. and I don’t think it has done with Hearts or ourselves at any point.

“I expect our lads to stand up to the Hearts players in the best possible way and not be bullied.”

The clash with Hearts marks McGhee’s 900th game as a manager.

He added: “I want to get to 1,000 and I’ve got a chance, maybe in a couple of seasons.

“There aren’t many managers who get to 1,000. It would be an achievement and that’s what I’m aiming for.”

Motherwell FC today welcomed Jamie Hepburn MSP, Minister for Sport, Health Improvement & Mental Health to Fir Park.

In attendance for his visit were representatives from the Football Club, the MFC Community Trust and also the ‘Well Society.

With the Scottish Government’s consultation paper on ‘Supporter Involvement in Scottish Football Clubs’ closing tomorrow, it was a timely visit to the home of the Steelmen.

The Minister was given a tour of the ground taking in the club’s facilitates, which supports not only the first-team and development squads, but also the youth and female teams run by the Community Trust.

Leanne Thomas, Motherwell FC Director thanked the Minister for taking the time to visit Fir Park, “This morning was a great opportunity for all three pillars of Motherwell Football Club to showcase the good, positive work being done to Mr Hepburn.

“The Club is the epitome of community spirit, with our fans at the heart so it was important for us to demonstrate how we all work together for the good of Motherwell FC, the local community here in Lanarkshire and our supporters.”

The Minister was highly impressed with the range and depth of programmes and initiatives led by the Trust, with their General Manager Charlie Bennett grateful for the opportunity to converse directly with Minister.

Charlie added: “We engage with over thirty thousand individuals across Lanarkshire each year using football as a vehicle to motivate people to change their lives for the better. Our community initiatives support the concept of fan ownership and the benefits it will bring to people living our communities.”

[pullquote]Motherwell is doing fantastic work to increase supporter involvement, and that’s why I was so pleased to accept their invitation to come and find out more. [/pullquote]

Maureen Kirkwood, newly appointed member of the ‘Well Society board, engaged with the visiting Minister on the emotive subject of Fan Ownership; both fresh from the Supporters Direct summit which took place at Hampden last weekend.

Maureen commented: “This morning was a fantastic opportunity to meet Mr Hepburn, especially in light of the consultation paper’s subject of supporter involvement. Fan ownership at Motherwell is our vision, so we are keen to hear the outcome of the paper with its findings hopefully helping shape our future.”

In summary, the Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health said “It was a pleasure to visit Fir Park and meet people from the MFC Community Trust, the Well Society and the club itself.

“Motherwell is doing fantastic work to increase supporter involvement, and that’s why I was so pleased to accept their invitation to come and find out more. It was also a timely visit because the Scottish Government’s consultation paper on fan involvement in football clubs closes tomorrow (Friday).

“We are committed to the principle that football supporters should have a role for decision-making in their clubs, or even ownership when the opportunity arises. I’d urge everyone to take part in the consultation, which can be found on our website.”

The two Motherwell matches postponed in December have now been rearranged for this February.

The Partick Thistle match, which was originally scheduled for Saturday 5th December 2015, will now go ahead on Tuesday 2nd February 2016.

The Dundee Utd match, originally penciled in for Boxing Day, will now take place on Tuesday 16th February 2016.

Partick Thistle vs Motherwell
Tuesday 2nd February 2016
Firhill, Glasgow
7.45pm KO

Dundee Utd vs Motherwell
Tuesday 16th February 2016
Tannadice, Dundee
7.45pm KO

Extended highlights from Rugby Park as Kieran Kennedy’s first half header is enough to give the Under 20s a 1-0 win over Kilmarnock.

Under 20s boss Stephen Craigan was pleased with his side after they returned to winning ways with a 0-1 away win at Kilmarnock.

The experienced Steelmen controlled the game with the only disappointment for ‘Well, as the headed back up the M77 to Lanarkshire, being the margin of victory.

The win jumps the Claret and Amber men up four places to ninth in the table and within four points of the top six with two games in hand.

And Craigan was quick to praise the attitude of his side, who won for the first time since December 1st.

“I was expecting us to see a lot of the ball given how experienced a team we were able to name,” he said.

“A lot of it was going to come down to the attitude of the five first-team lads, their quality on the ball and how they could bring the younger lads with them.

[pullquote]“Both the players who came from the first team, and the younger lads who played, all did themselves proud.[/pullquote]

“We probably should have been further ahead and you see in the last minute, they had a couple of corners and that’s why I am always saying we need to be as ruthless as we can be.

“Thankfully, we saw the game through to take all three points.”

Craigan was speaking after his side had a short winter break over the Christmas and New Year period.

It was a decent first half of the season for ‘Well, who sit near the middle of the table with several games in hand.

‘Well also have a Youth Cup Quarter Final against Celtic or St Johnstone to look forward to, but the Under 20s boss insists it’s still about development and producing players capable to turning Mark McGhee’s head.

He continued: “The aim for us is to get as much game time for our younger players as possible.

“I want to get as many of them as ready as they can be for first-team football. Yes, want to win games.

“I enjoy winning, I am sure the players do too but we mustn’t lose focus about what we’re here to do, and that is accelerate the development of our young talent.”

A first-half header from Kieran Kennedy gave Motherwell U20s a deserved 1-0 victory over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

However, the final result doesn’t tell the story of the game as the Steelmen dominated from the first minute to the last, with the only mystery being how they didn’t add to their single goal tally.

Stephen Craigan was able to call on the experience of Wes Fletcher, Louis Laing, Jack Leitch, Joe Chalmers and the aformentioned Kennedy, with the likes of Luke Watt, Chris Cadden and Dylan Mackin also having first-team experience.

Motherwell started on the front foot and had four chances to get their noses in front within the first eleven minutes.

Fletcher hit the side-net after two minutes, Allan Campbell fired high over the bar, Dylan Falconer also hit the side net before Kennedy headed a Chalmers corner over the crossbar as the Steelmen looked to exert their authority.

Four minutes later, Killie keeper Conor Brennan kept the scores level when he rushed off his line to stop Falconer who had blasted a fierce shot at goal from twelve yards.

Home midfielder Dean Hawkshaw was next to save his side, getting back on the line to hack clear Laing’s effort, who had prodded towards goal after getting on the end of Chalmers’ corner.

It took Kilmarnock 32 minutes to register their first effort at goal, but Brett Long blocked Scott McLean’s low shot with his feet.

That would prove a vital save as with their next attack, ‘Well would finally open the scoring. Cadden drew the foul on the bye-line, allowing Chalmers to whip in a free kick that was headed home by Kennedy from six yards out.

Craigan’s men continued to push for more goals and Fletcher again hit the side-net before a long-range Laing shot skimmed inches wide of target with Brennan at full stretch.

The second half started much the same way the first ended, with ‘Well on the attack. Wes Fletcher turning well on the edge of the area before curling an effort just wide of target.

Killie did have a rare shot when Aaron Splaine curled a shot at goal that forced Long to tip round for a corner.

However, it wasn’t long until normal service was resumed, with the Fir Parkers on the attack. Half time sub Dylan Mackin stung the palms of Brennan with a shot from 18 yards before the same player was unlucky to see a low shot deflect just over the cross bar after a lovely Leitch back heel.

Laing had another long range shot that forced Brennan to turn around before a Fletcher flick was well held by the Killie keeper.

Campbell dragged a low shot wide before free kicks from Chalmers and Watt went over the bar and straight at the keeper respectively.

Incredibly, after being under the cosh for the vasy majority of the match, Killie almost stole a leveller with the last kick of the ball when Dale Carrick turned a corner just wide of Long’s left hand upright.

Motherwell: Long, McMillan, Chalmers, Watt, Kennedy, Laing, Falconer (Mackin – 46mins), Campbell, Fletcher, J. Leitch, Cadden

Subs Not Used: Morrison, Moore, R. Leitch, Ferguson, Turnbull, Watters

Motherwell FC can today (Tuesday) confirm Liam Grimshaw has returned to his parent club Manchester United.

Although the midfielder’s loan agreement was due to expire on Sunday night, United had a recall option for any point during the January window, which they exercised yesterday with a view to trading the player on.

Grimshaw leaves Fir Park having played sixteen times for the Steelmen across the SPFL Premiership, League Cup and William Hill Scottish Cup.

‘Well boss Mark McGhee explained: “We’ve held numerous very positive talks with both Liam and his representatives about the possibility of him becoming a Motherwell player.

“So much so, our plan was to try and finalise an agreement with Manchester United this week. However, we have been gazumped at the last minute by an English club who offered a package that we simply cannot compete with.

[pullquote]From Motherwell Football Club’s point of view, it is yet another example of how we are set-up to develop young players and this should give further encouragement to any footballer, club or parent about what we have to offer and the platform we can provide.[/pullquote]

“Whilst that is frustrating, we completely understand everyone’s position.

“I would like to firstly sincerely thank Manchester United for allowing us to have the player for the last four months.

“Liam himself has been fantastic in how he has approached the move and his conduct and performances throughout. We’re naturally disappointed to be losing him, but at the same time, proud of him that he’s earned such a good move and wish him every success.

“From Motherwell Football Club’s point of view, it is yet another example of how we are set-up to develop young players and this should give further encouragement to any footballer, club or parent about what we have to offer and the platform we can provide.

“We prepare for every eventuality so have other irons in the fire which we will now explore.”

Motherwell U20s are back in action tonight (Tuesday) when they take on Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

Stephen Craigan’s men return from their mini winter break with a trip to Ayrshire to face an out of sorts Kilmarnock side who have lost their last four games.

The two sides have met twice this season; a 2-2 draw in the League and a 1-0 win for Motherwell in the Youth Cup, with Ross MacLean’s superbly taken free-kick being the difference that afternoon.

Both sides sit on seventeen points in the table but ‘Well have two games in hand.

The match will take place at the Rugby Park ,Kilmarnock, with kick-off at 6pm.