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[tab:Match report]

 Phil McGhee at Tannadice

Motherwell moved up three spaces in the league and moved to within three points of the top-six with a well-deserved 3-0 win over Dundee Utd.

The Steelmen took a first-half lead when Stephen McManus headed home on the stroke of half time.

A brace from former Aussie International Scott McDonald, his 10th and 11th of the campaign, secured the win, which moves the Fir Parkers 15 points clear of the Tanandice side in the bottom six.

Mark McGhee made five changes after defeat by Kilmarnock saw them slip into the bottom two having picked up just two points from a possible 18.

McFadden was handed his first start in almost a year while Louis Laing, Ben Hall, Keith Lasley and Louis Moult came into a new-look 3-4-1-2 formation.

United, who had Paul Dixon in for the absent Ryan Dow, lined up 4-1-3-2 and both sides cancelled each other out in an uneventful first half.

The hosts threatened when Guy Demel’s overhead kick deflected just wide and through Spittal’s shot, which forced Connor Ripley to push wide.

Motherwell had plenty of attacking options, with Marvin Johnson and Chris Cadden looking to get forward from wide areas, but their bold formation did not translate into chances until the final seconds of the half.

McDonald invited a foul in a dangerous area, getting his body in between Sean Dillon and the ball. McFadden curled in the free kick and McManus got the slightest of touches to guide it into the far corner.

United should have levelled 10 minutes into the second half but Billy McKay inadvertently blocked John Rankin’s header in the goalmouth after Spittal had set him up six yards out.

McKay was immediately hauled off for Edward Ofere, who was quickly denied by Moult’s block, and Ripley then saved from Simon Murray.

The Motherwell goalkeeper had a huge let-off when he failed to deal with Rankin’s cross. After the ensuing scramble, the ball broke kindly for Spittal but he headed off the top of the bar with the goal gaping.

McDonald punished the hosts moments later. Substitute Josh Law’s corner glanced off a United head and the Australian chested the ball down at the far post before flicking it into the roof of the net.

Eiji Kawashima made excellent stops from McDonald and Johnson but he could not prevent McDonald’s 25-yard strike bouncing into the corner of his net to secure the victory, ensuring the few hundred ‘Well fans heading back down the road did so happy at Motherwell’s biggest win at Tannadice for seven years, when coincidentally Mark McGhee was in the visitor’s dugout.

[tab:As it happened]

 Ally Reilly at Tannadice

Superb second half performance after a solid first 45. Excellent three points for the Claret and Amber men!!

FT’ | 0-3
FULL TIME!! Dundee Utd 0 – 3 Motherwell!!

90′ | 0-3
Three minutes added on.

88′ | 0-3
Motherwell subs, Johnson off for Hammell and McDonald off for Fletcher

80′ | 0-3
It’s that man McDonald again, with a powerful low shot from 25 yards past Kawashima. 3-0 to The Steelmen!

GGGGOOOOOAAALLL!!!!

78′ | 0-2
And from that corner, Kawashima is again called into action, palming Johnson’s powerful shot over the bar.

77′ | 0-2
Great low save from Kawashima to put McDonald’s low shot around the post for a corner!

72′ | 0-2
Law’s corner finds McDonald unmarked at the back post and he does the rest from 5 yards!!

71′ | 0-2
Johnson works his way into the box and wins a corner….GGGOOOOAAALLLL!!!!

66′ | 0-1
Ball floated into the ‘Well box which finally falls to Spittal who heads off the bar!!

65′ | 0-1
Motherwell sub, McFadden makes way for Law.

64′ | 0-1
McDonald to take the free-kick, about 30 yards out. Shoots, but it’s well over the bar.

63′ | 0-1
McFadden wriggles away from two and is eventually hauled down by Demel who is booked.

61′ | 0-1
Decent chance for Murray as he gets some space on the right but he fires straight into Ripley’s arms.

57′ | 0-1
Utd with a lot of pressure but again and again there is a Motherwell man there to make the block.

56′ | 0-1
Double Utd change, Ofere and Fraser on for McKay and Dixon

54′ | 0-1
Spittal gets in behind and finds Rankin at the back post but ‘Well recover and clear the danger.

McKay and Murray get the ball rollling for the second half.

Both sides huffed and puffed but it’s Motherwell with the half-time lead thanks to McManus’ header!

HT: Dundee Utd 0 – 1 Motherwell #DUFCvMFC

McFadden whips in a great ball which is nodded on by McManus into the net!! 1-0 to The Steelmen!!

GGGGOOOAALLLL!!!!

45′ | 0-0
Late chance for ‘Well as McDonald wins a free-kick wide on the right….

25′ | 0-0
Johnson dragged to the ground about 35 yards out, on the right….McFadden’s delivery is headed clear by Dixon.

22′ | 0-0
Spittal gets into the box and produces a fine low diving save from Ripley. Utd corner is then cleared for a throw-in.

15′ | 0-0
And it’s another Utd corner, this time it is dealt with and ‘Well counter……but Moult is offside from McFadden’s pass.

14′ | 0-0
Spittal whips in Utd’s first corner of the game which is only half cleared by Ripley and it goes out for another corner.

7′ | 0-0
Johnson drifts to the right hand side, cuts in on his left foot and shoots wide of the post from 25 yards.

6′ | 0-0
…fired in low by McDonald and swept clear by Utd.

6′ | 0-0
McFadden and Moult combine down the left and win a corner….

2′ | 0-0
Murray with the first chance of the game but lashes well wide of the post with other options.

Lasley and McDonald get the game underway. COYW!!

[tab:Reaction]

Motherwell  manager Mark McGhee:

“I sent my assistant, Steve Robinson, a text at four in the morning saying 3-4-1-2 and we started discussing it and, by the time we got to work, we knew what we wanted.

“I don’t know any team that I’ve managed that have played like that before, but that’s the way we had to be.

“We have over-played at times. We knew how they would play, the pressure they would put us under in terms of returning the ball and we decided to match it.

“We set out to do a job and I thought we did it very, very well.”

Dundee Utd manager Mixu Paatelainen:

“I am disappointed to have lost that game because I never anticipated that.

“I thought we had plenty to worry them, but today we were very flat and that performance was not acceptable.

“We just concentrate on Saturday’s match and doing our best, but it is a really long road.”

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

[poll id=”264″]

Extended highlights from Links park as Motherwell and Dundee Utd Under 20s play out a 1-1 draw.

Stephen Craigan couldn’t help but feel disappointed after his side couldn’t hold onto their lead against Dundee Utd today.

The Steelmen took an early first half lead when Josh Moore smashed home his first goal of the season.

‘Well had chances to extend their advantage but were pegged back when Brad Smith rifled home from distance to level things up.

The Fir Parkers may have got themselves in front late in the game, but were forced to settle for a single point that moves them into sixth in the Development League table.

[pullquote]When you score first to lead then lose one, you always feel a little disappointed[/pullquote]

“When you score first to lead then lose one, you always feel a little disappointed,” the former Steelmen skipper confessed.

“We had some decent chances in the game and restricted them to very little. We worked a lot on our shape for the match and performed that well for the most part.

“We can still be a little of naive at times, but we are an extremely young side and that’s going to happen. But with regards to commitment and effort, it’s been a tough two weeks and we’ve asked a lot of the players and they’ve delivered.”

Stephen Craigan’s Under 20s were held to a 1-1 draw by Dundee United at Montrose this afternoon.

The Steelmen had taken an early lead when Josh Moore smashed home his first goal of the 2015/16 campaign.

It stayed that way until the 63rd minute when Brad Smith rifled home a leveller from long range.

‘Well could have won it late on, but the Terrors held on for a share of the spoils.

Craigan once again named an extremely young side, with just one change from the win over Rangers last week. Ross MacLean, suspended following his red card in that match, was replaced in the starting eleven by Josh Moore.

Motherwell made a positive start to the match and could have taken the lead inside three minutes when Dylan Falconer and Robbie Leitch combined on the edge of the area, only for the latter to drag a shot narrowly wide.

It was a warning the hosts failed to heed as with their next attack, Motherwell got their noses in front.

Moore charged towards the box after industrious play on the right from both Turnbull and McMillan. The winger attempted to play a one-two with Falconer, but got a fortuitous bounce back and showed no mercy, drilling hard through Ryan Booth into the net.

After a shaky start, Dave Bowman’s men settled and Reghan Tumilty had their first shot of the game, but it was straight at Morrison who saved comfortably.

Smith deflected a Tumilty cross wide of target before the Tangerines were almost in on goal, but for an assistant’s flag denying them a chance for a shot.

Motherwell were still creating though and almost doubled their advantage in bizarre circumstances when Allan Campbell’s tackle came off Cammy Ballantyne and almost flew into the net from forty-yards, but dropped just over the bar. Shortly after, Leitch had another low shot straight at Booth.

Craigan’s men finished the half stronger though and could have doubled their advantage shortly before the break when Moore cut it back for Falconer, but the outrushing Booth blocked his low shot. The rebound fell to Leitch but, leaning back, he blazed it over the bar.

‘Well made a positive start to the second period when McMillan blazed a shot over. At the other end, Jordan Garden took advantage of a pass that held up in the wind, but Morrison palmed his low shot wide of the post.

However, with their next attack, United got their leveller and it was a goal of some quality. Smith played a neat one-two with Aaron Duke before unleashing a dart of a shot into the top right corner from thirty yards out.

The goal rattled Motherwell for a spell, but the introduction of Mackin and Ferguson from the bench added some more experience and calmed things down.

Moore had a header for the Steelmen straight at Booth before United sub Murray got in behind the away defence, but it shot lacked power and was straight at Morrison.

There was a moment of significance on the 83rd minute when fourteen-year old front man Jamie Semple was introduced in place of Moore to make his debut for Stephen Craigan’s side.

And it was ‘Well who almost grabbed a winner in the last second. A free-kick was blasted off the wall by Mackin and when Hastie blasted the rebound back across goal, it hit Harry Souttar and trundled towards goal only to be hooked off the line by the recovering Logan Davie.

Motherwell U20s: Morrison, McMillan, Watt, Maguire, Livingstone (Ferguson – 78mins), Moore (Semple – 83mins), Turnbull, Campbell, R. Leitch, Hastie, Falconer (Makin – 63mins)

Subs Not Used: Long

Mark McGhee has said it’s hard work and rolling the sleeves up that will get Motherwell out of their recent bad run of form.

The Steelmen enjoyed a terrific December, going unbeaten for six games and the boss was awarded the Manager of the Month gong by the league.

However, since the convincing win over Cove Rangers, the Fir Parkers have struggled and only have a point at Dens Park to show for it.

The Claret and Amber men are back on Tayside tomorrow to take on Dundee United hoping to arrest a recent run that has seen the slip into eleventh.

And the current Scotland assistant knows there will have to be an improvement from Saturday’s defeat to Kilmarnock of the team are to take three points.

[pullquote]It’s then up to everyone to roll up their sleeves, to be determined and show the supporters that regardless of previous results, Saturday was more of a blip in performance.[/pullquote]

“Recent results have been disappointing, but Saturday was different,” McGhee explained.

“It was abject, there was nothing positive to take from it other than perhaps the performance of goalkeeper Connor Ripley.

“The best cure for that is to get back out there, to show we have got the bottle to face that, to take it on in what will be a difficult game.

“But we came in on Sunday, we’ve trained hard on Monday and we’ll meet again tomorrow and by the time we walk through the door at Tannadice, we’ll hopefully have Saturday out of our system.

“It’s then up to everyone to roll up their sleeves, to be determined and show the supporters that regardless of previous results, Saturday was more of a blip in performance.”

Extended highlights from Fir Park as Greg Kiltie and Craig Slater score in a 2-0 win for Kilmarnock.

Action images from today’s 0-2 defeat to Kilmarnock in the Ladbrokes Premiership at Fir Park.

Snaps courtesy of SNSPix

[svgallery name=”kilmarnock130216″]

‘Well boss Mark McGhee bemoans a ‘very bad day’ as ‘Well crash 0-2 at home to Kilmarnock this afternoon.

[tab:Match report]

 Phil McGhee Fir Park

Motherwell turned in a poor performance to lose 0-2 at home to Kilmarnock this afternoon.

Other than a positive opening fifteen minutes or so, it was a miserable afternoon for Mark McGhee’s men, who now drop to second bottom of the table.

In the end, two goals in a six-minute spell, from both Greg Kiltie and Craig Slater, secured the win for Lee McCulloch’s side.

‘Well boss Mark McGhee made just one change to the side that lost at home to Inverness seven days ago. Keith Lasley had been struggling with a back problem all week and was replaced in the starting eleven by Lionel Ainsworth.

‘Well started on the front foot and McDonald won an early free-kick that was eventually taken by Johnson, albeit it posed little threat to Jamie MacDonald’s goal.

The Fir Parkers forced a couple of corners, but despite delivery into a good area, there were no takers.

However, the visitors grew more and more into the game and Tope Obadeyi almost put his side ahead, robbing Morgaro Gomis on the edge of the area, but his low shot was straight at Ripley.

The on-loan Boro keeper made another good save, this time to deny Slater’s curling free kick to keep it all square.

Ripley was at it again ten minutes later, this time saving from Smith from a dead ball, conceding a corner kick in the process.

Motherwell were looking to hit on the counter and after winning a corner from a bursting Johnston run, McDonald found himself in space with his back to goal, but after teeing up Stephen McManus, the big defender’s shot was way off target.

Killie finished the half with a McKenzie shot that was comfortably saved by the on-loan Motherwell stopper.

McGhee made a chance at the break, introducing top-scorer Louis Moult in place of Lionel Ainsworth, and switching back to a regular 4-4-2 formation.

And the sub was in the thick of the action almost right away, flicking on a Hammell cross, but MacDonald was well placed to gather comfortably.

Minutes late it was McManus’ turn with a header, but sadly it was off target from Josh Law’s inviting delivery.

Then, from out of almost nowhere, Killie took the lead. A well-worked move across the pitch found Smith in spaceon the left. His delivery to the back post found Greg Kiltie and he made no mistake from close range, giving the Ayrshire side the lead.

It went from bad to worse as McCulloch’s men added a second just five minutes later. Picking up from a wide pass, Slater waltzed through the home defence and fired low past Ripley.

Motherwell had a chance for an instant reply, but sadly Marvin Johnson could only fire a low shot into the side netting.

Magennis and Slater came close to adding to the advantage, but both missed.

As the game moved towards it’s conclusion, Jamie MacDonald saved well at the feet of Moult and, in the last minute, the former Wrexham man hit the woodwork with a header to sum up a miserable day at the office for the Claret and Amber men.

[tab:As it happened]

 Ally Reilly at Fir Park

FT: Motherwell 0 – 2 Kilmarnock

90′ | 0-2
Off the bar from Moult. His header from 6 yards hits the woodwork.

88′ | 0-2
Final Killie sub, Slater off for Robinson

85′ | 0-2
Killie sub, McKenzie off for Carrick.

MATCH ATTAX | Young ‘Well fans can vote now for their Man of the Match. Tweet their name, age, choice & #MatchAttaxMOTM.

71′ | 0-2
Killie sub, Frizzel on for Obadeyi.

67′ | 0-2
Motherwell sub, Gomis off for Dom Thomas.

63′ | 0-2
Good chance for an instant reply but Johnson fires into the sidenetting from 15 yards.

61′ | 0-2
Goal – Slater waltzes through the centre of the pitch and fires low past Ripley to make it 2-0 to Killie.

56′ | 0-1
Goal – Kiltie sticks Killie ahead, sliding home a cross that was fired into the box.

53′ | 0-0
Dicker is booked for barging Johnson off the ball. He complains, but with no real cause.

51′ | 0-0
Obadayi booked for barging Johnson off the ball inches outside the Killie box…….Law takes the free-kick and it flies wide.

49′ | 0-0
McManus goes close with a header from Law’s free-kick delivery. Just over the bar.

46′ | 0-0
The sub is straight into the action, flicking on Hammell’s cross but MacDonald gathers easily.

There has been a change, Moult is on for Ainsworth.

Both teams are back out for part 2….

HT: Motherwell 0 – 0 Kilmarnock

45′ | 0-0
Pearson booked for thwarting a Killie counter-attack by hauling down Kiltie

42′ | 0-0
McKenzie finds plenty of space on the left and fires away a low powerful shot which Ripley deals with comfortably.

36′ | 0-0
From that delivery the ball is worked into McDonald with his back to goal and he lays off McManus who clips it well wide.

36′ | 0-0
Johnson gets the better of Hodson and his cross take a deflection, looping just over the bar for a corner.

……he gets it up and over the wall but Ripley dives low to his left and makes the stop.

33′ | 0-0
Hammell booked for taking down Magennis, about 25 yards from goal. Smith to take the free-kick….

31′ | 0-0
Johnson wins Motherwell a corner…..Ainsworth puts it into the box but there is no takers, sadly.

….and it’s well saved by Ripley! Tipped over the bar for a corner, which is cleared by McManus.

16′ | 0-0
Obadeyi dispossesses Gomis and gets a shot on goal which Ripley blocks with his feet. Killie now with a free-kick 22 yards out….

…from that corner the ball just doesn’t fall for a ‘Well player and Balatoni finally clears from the feet of McManus.

11′ | 0-0
Ainsworth crosses at the second attempt and it is deflected wide for a corner.

9′ | 0-0
Magennis combines with Kiltie inside the box, The youngster gets a shot away but Hammell gets in the way and deflects for a corner

5′ | 0-0
After a bit of discussion Peason lays it off to Johnson but his shot hits the wall and Kille clear.

5′ | 0-0
McDonald goes down about 25 yards from goal and wins ‘Well a free-kick….

Kilmarnock get the game underway. COYW!!

Out come the teams, both sides in their usual colours at a very cold Fir Park. Bit of snow here but nothing too serious.

[tab:Reaction]

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee:

Kilmarnock interim Manager: Lee McCulloch

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

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James McFadden has penned an extended deal that will keep him at Fir Park until the end of the current season.

The 48-times capped Scotland legend put pen to paper this morning, after his initial six-week deal expired recently.

McFadden, 32, will now battle with Louis Moult, Scott McDonald, Wes Fletcher, Lionel Ainsworth and Marvin Johnson for a spot in the starting eleven.

The player has been registered and is available for selection for today’s game against Kilmarnock, should Mark McGhee wish to use him in the squad.

McFadden said: “I’m really pleased to be staying on at Motherwell; I love it here and it’s the only club in Scotland I’d consider at this stage.

[pullquote]I’m really pleased to be staying on at Motherwell; I love it here and it’s the only club in Scotland I’d consider at this stage.[/pullquote]

“I’ve continued to train and I am ready to go right away. I will give everything I can for as long as I’m here.”

‘Well boss Mark McGhee said: “We’ve been keen to get James tied up for a while, but it had to be right for everyone.

“I’ve said it so many times, but you can’t have enough people with the ability and influence around the club the way James has.

“He’ll help our younger lads too – if you’re a Dylan Mackin or a Dom Thomas, you can’t help but learn from someone like that.

“More than that though, he’ll be able to help the lads on a Saturday afternoon. He’s a player with real ability and has looked very sharp in training.”