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    TV: Highlights from Station Park

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    Craigan: As good as it’s been

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    Inverness U20s 1 – 3 Motherwell U20s

  • Archive

    Craigan: Performance is key

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    TV: Highlights from Ibrox

  • Archive

    Rangers loss in pictures

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    McGhee: Gutted for players & fans

  • Archive

    Rangers 2 – 1 Motherwell

  • Archive

    Under 20s kick off league campaign

  • Archive

    Rangers vs Motherwell: A closer look

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    TV: Highlights from Station Park

    Goals from Lee Lucas, James McFadden and Allan Campbell earn a 1-3 win for Motherwell’s Under 20s.

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    Craigan: As good as it’s been

    U20s manager Stephen Craigan felt his side’s performance was as good as it’s been at points tonight.

    The Northern-Irishman made the long trip north to Nairn with his side as they dominated Inverness and won 3-1 in the opening league game of the season.

    Speaking to MFC TV after the game, the manager praised all of his sides’ performances.

    He said: “We have a way that we want to try and play – we want people to get on the ball, we want people to be comfortable in possession of the ball.

    “I think first half is probably as good as it’s been – James McFadden came up to me at half-time and said he’s never enjoyed a first-half as much as that one in a long-time – credit has to go to all of the boys.”

    Leading 2-0 at half-time led Craigan to warn his players away from any complacency.

    He said: “I think the warning at half-time was not to give Inverness any in-roads or time on the ball – and I think they got a little bit lucky with their goal.

    [pullquote]I think first half is probably as good as it’s been – James McFadden came up to me at half-time and said he’s never enjoyed a first-half as much as that one in a long-time.[/pullquote]

    “But we showed good maturity when it went to 2-1. We managed to wrestle the game back in to our grasp and get control again.”

    He added: “The third goal was the icing on the cake but to be honest I think it could have been more.”

    The manager highlighted that not one of his players had an off night.

    He said: “Some of the boys had their best performances of the season tonight, Allan Campbell had a tough night against Airdrie last week but had probably his best performance of the season – as did Tom Fry.”

    He added: “Lee Lucas looked like a player full of composure and calmness and settled us at the right times.

    “I think the boys will learn from these experienced players – and of course there was that guy James McFadden playing out there tonight too.”

  • Archive

    Inverness U20s 1 – 3 Motherwell U20s

    Motherwell Under 20s got off to a brilliant start in the Development League with a dominant win away to Inverness CT U20s.

    Played in Nairn at Station Park, Craigan’s side were outstanding and never looked in doubt from the first whistle.

    It was a solid start from the youngsters, who took just five minutes to make the breakthrough.

    James McFadden worked the ball brilliantly down the left-flank before cutting it back to the edge of the box where Ross MacLean touched it in to Lee Lucas’ path, who slotted the ball neatly beyond Caley keeper Essan in to the bottom left corner.

    And it was a comfortable half from the Steelmen from that point onwards, as Stephen Craigan’s boys enjoyed some neat moments of play – combining one-touch passing with fluid movement that proved too much for the hosts.

    The presence of first-team players James McFadden and Lee Lucas was telling, as the latter looked relaxed in the middle of the park while McFadden dazzled on the ball.

    And ten minutes after the first goal went in, McFadden picked up the ball, spun and drove towards the Caley box before being hacked to the deck by Doran.

    From the resulting free-kick, the ex-Everton man curled an attempt on goal which nicked off the top of the wall and flew past Essan to double the ‘Well’s lead.

    And if the visitors didn’t look settled before, the second goal certainly settled them even more, as PJ Morrison was barely tested in a half of dominant and flamboyant football from the visitors.

    The second half got off on a similar note with the Fir Parkers dominating from the start, but against the run of play, Inverness pulled one back when Sam Robertson whipped a dangerous ball in to the box.

    Tumbling towards Morrison in the Motherwell goal, Caley’s trialist striker got the faintest of touches to nick the ball beyond the onrushing Morrison and into the back of the net.

    But that didn’t affect the Motherwell youngsters, who came in to their own and dominated the remainder of the game – adding a third in the dying minutes to wrap up the points.

    Allan Campbell worked the ball brilliantly in a packed Caley box, playing a neat one-two before striking low and hard past Esson.

    James McFadden and Lee Lucas played with the youngsters and demonstrated just what they can bring to the first-team too.

    McFadden, who was involved in both first-half goals, looked relaxed and threatening going forward which was no surprise to the crowd in Nairn.

    Lee Lucas showed a level of composure in the middle of the park that had an impact on the entire team, steadying the youngsters at important moments and keeping the ball well.

    But it wasn’t just the experienced players who shone, with every player in the starting line-up showing what they can bring to Craigan’s team going forward this season.

    Next up for the 20s is a clash with Aberdeen, where the side will be looking to continue their fine start in the league.

    Motherwell: Morrison, Watt, McMillan, Maguire, Ferguson, Campbell, MacLean, Lucas, Scott (Falconer – 45mins), McFadden (Turnbull – 69mins), Fry

    Subs Not Used: Stevenson, Hastie, Armstrong

  • Archive

    Craigan: Performance is key

    U20s manager Stephen Craigan is looking forward to his sides opening fixture in the Development League tomorrow night.

    The youngsters travel far north to Nairn to play against Inverness, and the manager beieves it’s a good opportunity for the team to gel.

    Speaking to MFC TV at training this morning, Craigan said: “We’re looking forward to it on the back of our Irn-Bru cup games against Edinburgh City and Airdrie.

    “We sense that the competitive season is just around the corner with regards to the league.”

    He added: “We don’t mind travelling north, we only have to do it once to Inverness, once to Ross County and once to Aberdeen so it’s an opportunity for the boys to gel on the bus – we’re playing in Nairn which is just outside of Inverness and I believe the pitch is good.”

    [pullquote]We’re looking forward to it on the back of our Irn-Bru cup games against Edinburgh City and Airdrie.[/pullquote]

    The Northern-Irishman believes that the emphasis will be on the performance levels as opposed to the result alone.

    He said: “Most importantly we go up there and try and maintain the level of performance that we’ve set against Airdrie and Edinburgh and if we can build on that – great.

    “We’ve got a few first-team boys making the trip with us, we’re not sure who yet, but they can come in and add something to the team.”

    He added: “Every game we play we want to win naturally, I don’t put all the emphasis on it because most importantly if we can get players consistency levels high and we can get them doing the good stuff like they did against Airdrie in particular, I think the wins will come.

    “It would be nice to start off with a win, of course it would, but if I can improve these players, make them better and improve their performance level so they can push into the first team then that’s the most important bit.”

  • Archive

    TV: Highlights from Ibrox

    Highlights from Ibrox Motherwell concede a last minute goal to narrowly lose 2-1 to Rangers.

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    Rangers loss in pictures

    Images from today’s 2-1 loss to Rangers at Ibrox in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

    Snaps courtesy of SNSPix

    [svgallery name=”rangers200816″]

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    McGhee: Gutted for players & fans

    ‘Well boss Mark McGhee was “gutted” as his side conceded a last-minute goal to lose 2-1 away to Rangers.

    For more than an hour, Motherwell held a one-goal lead at Ibrox and, as the game was coming to a close, it looked like McGhee’s side had secured a point.

    But after the eventual defeat, McGhee spoke to MFC TV and expressed his emotions after an impressive performance from his players.

    He said: “I’m gutted for the boys and I’m gutted for that small group of supporters that came over here and for a long, long time thought they were going to see their team get a result, really gutted.

    [pullquote]I’m gutted for the boys and I’m gutted for that small group of supporters that came over here.[/pullquote]

    “But most of all it was about the performance and the performance was back to what we expect, we ran out of energy a little bit and then conceded a second goal.”

    The boss highlighted a few key injuries leading to a young and rather inexperienced bench, leaving him with few options.

    McGhee said: “We didn’t have the strength on the bench with injuries to Hammell and Moult and all these players that are on the side at the moment.

    “We didn’t have the strength in depth on the bench to look at it and say that if someone was struggling we could put somebody in – I looked at the bench and it was all young boys and I just thought it was too much for them today.”

    [pullquote]It’s much, much more positive than the last few performances so we can now look forward to the Dundee game with relish.[/pullquote]

    It was a positive afternoon in some aspects though, despite the pain in the manner the defeat came about.

    The manager said: “That’s the level of performance, that’s the Motherwell team we’ve been developing over the last month or so.

    “It’s much, much more positive than the last few performances so we can now look forward to the Dundee game with relish because we know what we’ve got to do, we know we can do it and we’ve got to take that out in the home game.”

  • Archive

    Rangers 2 – 1 Motherwell

    [tab:Match report]

     Phil McGhee at Ibrox

    Motherwell were denied a thoroughly deserved share of the spoils at Ibrox when Kenny Miller snatched a last-gasp winner.

    After Scott McDonald had given the Fir Parkers a lead early in the first half, Mark McGhee’s men performed admirably throughout the team.

    And although Harry Forrester grabbed the equaliser 18 minutes into the second half to fire up the home crowd, Motherwell looked equally likely to find a winner on the second consecutive time at Ibrox.

    Mark McGhee fielded an unchanged side from last week as Motherwell looked to emulate their performance and memorable 3-1 victory on their last visit in the league play-offs 16 months ago.

    In the early stages ‘Gers seemed determined to ensure there would be no repeat of that result as the dominated possession. The pressure on the visitor’s goal during the opening fifteen minutes was often self-inflicted as the Fir Park players conceded possession around the box allowing drives from Miller and Forrrester to blaze over the bar.

    The best opening came at the other end in seventeen minute. McDonald’s head-flick sent Lionel Ainsworth racing through the centre of the home defence, only for him to pull his left shot well wide of goal.

    Rangers ignored that warning and a minute later lost the opening goal. Marvin Johnson dragged the ball back on the far side of the penalty area and when his right foot cross trundled across the six yard box, McDonald popped at the back post to prod the ball home and stun the Ibrox crowd.

    A couple of minutes later it could have been 2-0 after a swift Motherwell move. Chris Cadden robbed Joey Barton on the half-way line, McDonald found Johnson and his head-flick set the ball up nicely for Craig Clay but from 18 yards the thundered his volley a couple of metres wide of the post.

    With Craig Samson yet to make a save his opposite number was almost caught out after 26 minutes. James Tavernier rolled the ball towards his own goal but with Johnson bearing down on Foderingham, the ‘keeper rattled the ball off the ‘Well man inside the six yard box and was relieved to see the ball deflect narrowly over his bar.

    Not unexpectedly, Rangers started the second half on the front foot and when Miller sent a low cross into the six yard box it took a brilliant tackle and block by Joe Chalmers, who had an impressive ninety minutes, to deny Harry Forrester a certain equaliser.

    However, it took an equally impressive stop at the other end to prevent ‘Well from doubling their lead. Scott McDonald turned Danny Wilson in the box and from an acute angle his flashing drive was heading for the top corner until Foderingham threw himself across his goal to palm the ball round his post.

    That kept Rangers’ hopes of an equaliser alive. And in the 63rd it arrived. Samson did well to block Miller’s effort at the edge of his six yard box but the ball rolled kindly for Forrester who calmly steered the ball between Stephen McManus and Ben Heneghan to make it 1-1.

    As the Ibrox side pushed for the winner, ‘Well came close to claiming all three points when Johnson strike from 20 yards was a good height for Foderingham to dive and push away.

    With four minutes remaining and ‘Well comfortably holding out for a share of the points striker Jacob Blyth came on for Craig Clay who had a commanding 86 minutes in midfield before running himself into the ground.

    That forced Scott McDonand to drop deeper for the remainder of the game and it proved costly in the final minute as the ‘Well striker lost possession wide on the right.

    As the ball was whipped into the box Gers’ first attempt was well blocked on the six yard line but the ball rolled along the box to Miller who slammed it back across Samson and into the corner for the cruellest of winners.

    ‘Well still had time for a deserved equaliser but from a McManus cutback Johnson curler from 18 yards dipped narrowly over the bar.

    [tab:As it happened]

     Lewis Irons at Ibrox

    ’93 | 2-1
    It’s all over at Ibrox and it’s a tough one to take for the travelling ‘Well fans.

    ’91 | 2-1
    Rangers snatch the lead in the dying minutes. Miller curls low past Samson after it came back out to the forward

    ’90 | 1-1
    3 minutes added on here at Ibrox

    ’87 | 1-1
    Sub: Craig Clay is replaced by Jacob Blyth

    ’82 | 1-1
    Dodoo works himself some space and hits one at the near post, but it’s off target

    ’78 | 1-1
    Johnson unleashes a brilliant effort on goal from outside the box, but Foderingham saves in dramatic fashion

    ’76 | 1-1
    Heneghan slides in to stop Miller in the box and clear the danger

    ’70 | 1-1
    Rangers win a corner and Miller tries to latch onto it at the near post, but Tait is there to block

    ’65 | 1-1
    Rangers sub: O’Halloran replaces Forrester

    ’63 | 1-1
    Rangers pull level. Samson does well to save Miller’s shot but it falls to Forrester who strokes it through the crowd.

    ’62 | 0-1
    Chalmers blocks Tavernier’s cross and Rangers win a corner, but the ‘Well clear

    ’60 | 0-1
    McDonald rises to head at goal from a corner, but it’s too high for him and he heads over

    ’58 | 0-1
    Rossiter hacks down Johnson on the half-way line and the free-kick is given.

    ’55 | 0-1
    Rangers double change: McKay and Halliday make way for Dodoo and Kranjcar

    ’55 | 0-1
    Wilson heads over the bar from a corner after Chalmers put it behind to thwart the danger

    ’52 | 0-1
    McDonald is denied his second by a wonder-save from Foderingham. The Aussie struck low from inside the box. #COYW

    ’48 | 0-1
    Wallace crosses and Barton looks set to tap in from 4 yards, but Joe Chalmers puts in an incredible tackle to stop him

    ’47 | 0-1
    A threatening ball in from Tavernier is headed over from close-range by Halliday

    ’46 | 0-1
    We’re back underway at Ibrox

    Half-time here at Ibrox and Motherwell lead 0-1 #COYW

    ’35 | 0-1
    McDonald chips a lovely cross into the Rangers area and despite taking a clear deflection, the goal-kick is given.

    ’26 | 0-1
    Tavernier dallies on the ball in his six-yard box and Johnson pounces. The keepers clearance deflects off Johnson and goes over.

    ’24 | 0-1
    Wilson has a strike from all of 30-yards, but Samson watches on as it flies over.

    ’20 | 0-1

    So nearly 2! McDonald dinks a lovely ball onto Johnson’s head who nods it into the path of Clay who strikes just wide. #COYW

    ’19 | 0-1
    Johnson’s dangerous ball across goal is tapped in from a yard by Scott McDonald! #COYW

    GOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!!!

    ’16 | 0-0
    Rangers win two corners in quick succession, but the Steelmen defend well and clear the danger.

    ’13 | 0-0
    Harry Forrester tries one from distance but again it is narrowly over the bar and doesn’t trouble Samson

    ’11 | 0-0
    Ainsworth’s loose pass is latched on by Kenny Miller, but he fails to hit the target and it rises just over the bar.

    ’10 | 0-0
    Ainsworth dinks in Johnson on the left, who strikes towards goal – but the effort rises high and wide.

    ‘5 | 0-0
    McDonald is slipped through on goal but is halted by the offside flag – not too much in it

    1 | 0-0
    Johnson beats Tavernier on the left but is then brouight down. Free-kick to the Well who take it quickly and cross but it’s cleared

    1 | 0-0
    Scott McDonald gets us underway here at Ibrox #COYW

    Motherwell subs: Brill, Lucas, Blyth, Thomas, McFadden, Ferguson, MacLean #RFCvMFC

    [tab:Reaction]

    Motherwell manager Mark McGhee:

     

    Rangers manager Mark Warburton:

     

    [tab:Man-of-the-match]

    [poll id=”282″]

  • Archive

    Under 20s kick off league campaign

    Stephen Craigan’s U20s kick-off their Development League season with a trip north to face Inverness CT.

    The ‘Well youngsters, who have played twice in the IRN-BRU Cup against Edinburgh City and Airdrie, will take on the Highlanders at Nairn County’s Station Park (kick-off is 7pm).

    The youths’ first home game will be one week later at the Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie, when Aberdeen are the visitors.

    Tuesday 23 August 2016
    Inverness –v- Motherwell
    Station Park, Nairn
    Kick-off 7.00pm

    Tuesday 30 August 2016
    Motherwell –v- Aberdeen
    Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie
    Kick-off 6.00pm

  • Archive

    Rangers vs Motherwell: A closer look

    Motherwell travel to Ibrox in the Ladbrokes Premiership this weekend, looking to bounce back to form.

    The Steelmen went down to a narrow 2-1 defeat at home to St Johnstone last weekend and face tough opponents in the form of Mark Warburton’s Rangers.

    The two sides met earlier this season, as the Glaswegians left Fir Park with all three points in Group F of the Betfred Cup.

    But in truth, it could have gone either way, with the Fir Parkers carving out a stack of chances and ultimately being undone by two wonder-strikes.

    After a poor showing in Glasgow when McGhee’s men faced Celtic in the Betfred Cup, the club will be hoping for a more enjoyable afternoon in the city.

    Striker Louis Moult will be the only guaranteed absentee for Mark McGhee to deal with going into Saturday’s match – Carl McHugh on the mend from a slight concussion and will be touch and go to make the game whilst Stevie Hammell trained this week.

    Tickets for the match are available from the Fir Park Ticket Office now priced at:

    ADULTS:    £24 
    CONCESSIONS:                                       £18
    JUVENILE:    £7
    • Juveniles are under 16s
    • Concessions are over 65 and 16 & 17 year olds

    The Ticket Office will be open on this Saturday (20th August) between 10am and 1pm. Please note there will be no sale of away tickets from Ibrox on the day of the game.

    Playing either half of the Old Firm on their own turf is always difficult and if success is to be achieved, goals are a necessity.

    So with last season’s most potent striker Louis Moult still recovering from a groin operation, the onus is on others to pitch in.

    Thankfully for the Steelmen, talented midfielder Chris Cadden has stepped up with three goals already this campaign.

    The 19-year old has been a standout since been given the nod by ‘Well boss Mark McGhee last winter. His performances were rewarded with a new 2.5-year deal last March and he has continued his elevation into a regular first-team starter.

    The Bellshill-born player now has 34 appearances and five goals in Claret and Amber under his belt.

    His drive, energy, enthusiasm and determination has been infectious and his importance to the team can’t be understated.

    His late runs into the box, his ability to take his team up the park under pressure and his willingness to close down and harry opponents has made this exciting young prospect one of the first names on the Fir Parkers’ teamsheet. If ‘Well are to win at Ibrox, Cadden will need to be at the top of his form.

    Rangers come in to the game on the back of an important first league win last weekend, when they beat Dundee 2-1 at Dens Park.

    Goals from Kenny Millar and Harry Forrester were enough to claim all three points and get their season up and running after a sluggish 1-1 draw with Hamilton on the opening day.

    But the Gers could be without last seasons top scorer Martyn Waghorn – who was absent from the Dundee win after going down in pain clutching his hamstring in the Accies draw.

    The last time the two-sides met before this season was the memorable two-legged victory in the Premiership play-off when the Fir Parkers dominated and won 6-1 on aggregate.

    But with a number of new faces arriving at Ibrox over the summer, Mark Warburton will have plenty of options at his disposal.

    Niko Kranjcar, Josh Windass and Clint Hill are among the additions, but it was the signing of Joey Barton that quickened the pulse rates of the Gers fans the most though – after the midfielder swapped the English Championship winners Burnley for the Scottish Championship winners on a free transfer.

    The Glaswegian’s are the bookmakers second favourites for the league title this season, so will certainly pose a threat to the Fir Parkers.