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    St Johnstone 2 – 1 Motherwell

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    McGhee – We face a selection headache

  • Archive

    TV: Highlights from Tannadice

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    McGhee – We did our job well

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    Dundee Utd win in pictures

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    Dundee Utd 0 – 3 Motherwell

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    TV: Highlights from Links Park

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    Craigan – We should’ve won the game

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    Dundee Utd U20s 1 – 1 Motherwell U20s

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    McGhee – It’s hard work that’s required

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    St Johnstone 2 – 1 Motherwell

    [tab:Match report]

     Phil McGhee at McDiarmid Park

    Motherwell lost yet another late goal, their sixth in the last ten games, to lose 2-1 to St Johnstone this afternoon.

    The visitors had went ahead when Louis Moult nodded James McFadden’s corner home in the 33rd minute, but David Wotherspoon caught out Connor Ripley at his near post with an excellent strike two minutes before the interval.

    The game looked to be heading for a draw but there was yet another late sting in the tail when Tam Scobbie converted Simon Lappin’s free-kick just as the 90 minutes were up to seal all three points.

    Motherwell initially named the same team and 3-4-2-1 formation that won 3-0 at Tannadice on Tuesday but Scott McDonald pulled out after the warm-up because of a tight hamstring. Wes Fletcher took his place.

    St Johnstone had the first early chance when Louis Laing lost the ball but Steven MacLean fired over from 22 yards.

    The pitch was cutting up badly and there was little quality on show but Motherwell began to exert some territorial advantage and threaten from corners.

    Their tactic was for McFadden to put the ball into a crowded six-yard box and Alan Mannus twice palmed away the former Saints player’s deliveries before the next one went straight behind for a goal kick.

    But the former Scotland international was more successful with his next effort. Moult came back out to meet the inswinging cross on the six-yard line and head into the far corner.

    The Perth side came alive and Wotherspoon was the threat. He forced Ripley to push his corner over and then set up Craig, who fired over first time from eight yards.

    Motherwell appeared to be expecting another cross when Wotherspoon collected Craig’s pass on the angle of the box on the left-hand side, but the former Hibernian player swerved a shot inside Ripley’s near post.

    Motherwell switched to a 4-4-2 at half time as Steven Hammell replaced McFadden, who had picked up a knock late in the opening period.

    They looked the likelier team just after the restart but could not test Mannus.

    Chris Cadden stabbed over Marvin Johnson’s cross, Moult headed over Hammell’s free-kick and Fletcher shot weakly at the keeper after intercepting Darnell Fisher’s pass.

    Saints improved and Graham Cummins glanced Scobbie’s cross past the far post before Ripley held Murray Davidson’s effort at the second attempt.

    Craig missed a great chance in the 78th minute when he volleyed Wotherspoon’s cross just past from 10 yards but Motherwell could not hold on.

    A tired Ben Hall tripped Sutton on the edge of the area, allowing another former ‘Well man, Simon Lappin, to whip in a free kick. His cross found Tam Scobbie and he rose almost unopposed to head home.

    [tab:As it happened]

     Ally Reilly at McDiarmid Park

    FT: St Johnstone 2 – 1 Motherwell

    90′ | 2-1
    Goal – Scobbie heads home Lappin’s free-kick delivery.

    89′ | 1-1
    Hall booked for a foul on Sutton about 30 yards out

    84′ | 1-1
    Cadden bursts past Scobbie and is hacked to the ground. Could easily have seen red but ref shows the yellow.

    80′ | 1-1
    Final St Johnstone change, Lappin on for Craig.

    79′ | 1-1
    Motherwell sub, Fletcher off for Ainsworth.

    78′ | 1-1
    What a chance for Craig to put Saints 2-1up but he pulls his shot wide of the post. A let-off.

    73′ | 1-1
    Davidson gets on the end of a low cross to the edge of the box. He volleys first time but it’s comfortable for Ripley.

    71′ | 1-1
    St Johnstone sub, MacLean off for Sutton.

    68′ | 1-1
    Glorious chance for Cummins as he has a free-header in the box but can’t divert it on target.

    65′ | 1-1
    Loose pass is intercepted by Fletcher. With no support he has to go alone but his shot from range is weak and Mannus gathers.

    And a St Johnstone change, Thomson off for Cummins.

    64′ | 1-1
    Motherwell sub, Gomis makes way for Pearson

    59′ | 1-1
    Fisher booked for obstructing Johnson. Free-kick wide on the left for ‘Well….Hammell finds Moult but he heads over!

    429 ‘Well fans here today in the 3039 attendance. Thanks as always for your support. #SJFCvMFC

    49′ | 1-1
    Chance! Johnson swings it in low, deflects off Fletcher and falls to Cadden but under pressure he fires over from 6 yards!

    Second half is underway. COYW!

    Half time sub for Motherwell, McFadden off for Hammell.

    HT: St Johnstone 1 – 1 Motherwell #SJFCvMFC

    43′ | 1-1
    Goal – Wotherspoon pulls Saints level with a shot from the left hand side of the box. 1-1 here at McDiarmid.

    41′ | 0-1
    Good chance for Craig as he gets on the end of Wotherspoon’s low ball but he scoops it well over the bar from 15 yards.

    ….and is impeded on the third delivery. Free-kick to ‘Well.

    36′ | 0-1
    Lasley has to head Craig’s cross wide for a corner. Ripley palms the delivery over the bar for a second corner……

    McFadden whips in a great ball to the head of MOULT who does the rest and nods home. 1-0 to ‘Well!

    32′ | 0-1
    And another corner. ‘Well have yet to make their delivery count…..GGOOOAAALLL!!!!

    30′ | 0-0
    Cadden wins another corner down the right hand side.

    26′ | 0-0
    Cadden’s cross is deflected out for a corner by Shaughnessy.

    25′ | 0-0
    Fletcher cushions Johnson’s cross into the feet of Moult who fires well over the bar from just outside the box.

    16′ | 0-0
    Both players back in the action after a look from the physios.

    15′ | 0-0
    Fletcher and Scobbie off the pitch getting treatment for a head knock. Looked a sore one.

    13′ | 0-0
    McFadden does well down the left and wins a corner. Fires it in low and finds McManus at the front post but his shot is blocked!

    4′ | 0-0
    First chance of the game as MacLean robs Laing and sets up Davidson outside the box but thankfully he fires well over the bar

    Motherwell get the game underway. COYW! #SJFCvMFC

    [tab:Reaction]

    Motherwell  manager Mark McGhee:

    “In general it was fine. We played well enough, we played the conditions, it’s not a pitch you can play any football on.

    “The commitment and attitude was good. If you don’t get a second goal you have got to be vigilant. We didn’t do well enough, we defended the free-kick too deep.”

    St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright:

    “I’m pleased for the players and proud of them as well. Because at 1-0 there were a few jitters around the ground. I suppose with the levels of success we have had, that’s to be expected.

    “But we showed character to get back in the game and keep going right to the end. It was never a pretty game, it was never going to be, and we came out the right side of it.”

    [tab:Man-of-the-match]

    [poll id=”265″]

  • Archive

    McGhee – We face a selection headache

    ‘Well boss Mark McGhee admits he has a selection dilemma ahead of Saturday’s game at McDiarmid Park.

    The Steelmen brought a disappointing run of results to an end with a solid 0-3 win at Tannadice on Tuesday night.

    The Fir Park boss not only made five changes to the starting line-up, but played a new formation never played used this term.

    However, the win and performance won’t guarantee any player who started and automatic pick for Perth, with the Fir Park boss adamant he has to select his side based on who he feels is most effective to take on Tommy Wright’s men.

    “It has to be horses for courses, even if it’s the same horses,” McGhee told the Broadcast press and Motherwell’s pre-match news conference.

    [pullquote]“On Tuesday, we left out our two full-backs in place of our wingers, which was particularly significant, and I’m not too sure we can go to St Johnstone and do that, so that is something we’ll have to give a lot of thought to.[/pullquote]

    “Just because it worked at Dundee United doesn’t necessarily mean it will work at McDiarmid Park. Dundee United have a particular way of playing, which is why we lined up how we did during the week.

    “St Johnstone don’t play that way, they have two players in the wide areas (at both full-back and on the wing) and if we went the same again, we’d only have one on each side, which could cause problems, so we’ve got to weight up all these variables.”

    The Fir Park boss was also wary of anyone getting too far ahead of themselves in the wake of that win on Tayside.

    The three points moved ‘Well up to eighth in the Premiership table, but it remains delicately poised with only six point separating the teams from Ross County in fourth to Kilmarnock in eleventh.

    He added: “One game is nothing, we need a run of four, five or six games without defeat as we head into this vital stage of the season.

    “It would only be at that point could we ever start looking above us.

    “At the moment we’re a long way from that, we’re in a fight along with seven or eight other clubs and we most do all we can to try and maintain some.”

  • Archive

    TV: Highlights from Tannadice

    Extended highlights from Tannadice as a Scott McDonald brace and a Stephen McManus header gives ‘Well a 3-0 win over Dundee Utd.

  • Archive

    McGhee – We did our job well

    Mark McGhee revealed a 4am text conversation with assistant Stephen Robinson inspired the Steelmen to victory over Dundee Utd.

    The Fir Park boss was struggling to sleep after Saturday’s loss against Kilmarnock, and came up with the idea of a change of shape ahead of the United clash.

    It worked a treat as an unusual 3-4-1-2 line-up caused the hosts problems, eventually resulting in a 0-3 victory for the Fir Park men.

    “I woke the other night at four in the morning as I had been thinking about it,” McGhee explained.

    [pullquote]”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.[/pullquote]

    “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.”

  • Archive

    Dundee Utd win in pictures

    Action images from today’s 0-3 win over Dundee Utd in the Ladbrokes Premiership at Tannadice.

    Snaps courtesy of SNSPix

    [svgallery name=”dundeeutd160216″]

  • Archive

    Dundee Utd 0 – 3 Motherwell

    [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″]

  • Archive

    TV: Highlights from Links Park

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

  • Archive

    Craigan – We should’ve won the game

    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.”

  • Archive

    Dundee Utd U20s 1 – 1 Motherwell U20s

    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

  • Archive

    McGhee – It’s hard work that’s required

    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.”