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The referee for Friday’s Ladbrokes Premiership clash with Hearts at Fir Park will be Steven McLean.

It’s McLean’s second match in charge this season, after the Rangers League Cup group match in July, when the ‘Well lost 2-0.

Last season, Steven took charge of four ‘Well fixtures at Fir Park – three league fixtures and a Scottish Cup clash.

The first of the season arrived in August, when Louis Moult’s first half penalty gave the Steelmen a narrow 1-0 victory over Kilmarnock.

The second was another narrow victory – the 2-1 success against Partick Thistle when an own goal and a Scott McDonald header gave ‘Well all three points.

The final league game for McLean was a 2-2 draw with Hearts in late November, when the Steelmen were twice pegged back to draw despite goals from Moult and Marvin Johnson.

And the last time McLean took to the pitch at Fir Park was in the Scottish Cup 5th Round, when a late wonder-strike sent the Steelmen crashing out of the competition.

Now one of Scotland’s most recognisable whistlers, ‘Well fans will be familiar with the 35-year old.

His overall record in charge of Motherwell reads fifteen wins, seven defeats and four draws from twenty-six matches.

In those games, ‘Well have scored 50 and conceded 43. 76 cautions have been dished out, 44 flashed at those wearing Claret and Amber.

Four players have been sent off, two for ‘Well (Fraser Kerr and Keith Lasley in the same match against Killie in February 2013).

McLean will be assisted by Michael Banks and Sean Carr; with Greg Aitken on fourth official duties.

Highlights from Excelsior Stadium where Dylan Mackin’s second half strike is enough to hand the Under 20s three points over Kilmarnock.

U20s manager Stephen Craigan felt his side deserved the win tonight after watching his side secure a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Kilmarnock. 

Speaking to MFC TV at the Excelsior stadium after the match, Craigan praised his side for seeing out the victory.

But it wasn’t plain sailing, with Craigan admitting the match got nervy towards the end.

He said: “It gets to that stage when you don’t put the game to bed, we felt first half that we had two or three good chances where in recent weeks we probably would have been more clinical.

“It became a little bit sticky, the pitch became a little bit dry and we didn’t get to move the ball as quickly as we would’ve liked and some of the boys were taking too many touches when they were trying to get the ball under control.”

[pullquote]I’m pleased with a number of aspects of the game – we were dominating the ball and dictating the game. Kilmarnock are a young side like ourselves and they were tough to break down at points.[/pullquote]

He added: “I’m pleased with a number of aspects of the game – we were dominating the ball and dictating the game. Kilmarnock are a young side like ourselves and they were tough to break down at points.”

Jake Hastie was included in the starting eleven and Craigan singled out the youngster for his impressive showing.

He said: “I said to the boys at half time ‘go out there and be the difference, someone stand up and be the difference’ and I felt that Jake Hastie did.

“For the goal Jake did really well for to get down the outside and as a wide player you’re judged on your delivery and your assist record.”

[pullquote]I said to the boys at half time ‘go out there and be the difference, someone stand up and be the difference’ and I felt that Jake Hastie did.[/pullquote]

He added: “It was a good assist for him especially when he’s been a little frustrated over recent weeks cause he’s not played a lot of minutes.

“It’s always important when you do play that you go out there and take your chance and I thought he did well.”

But it wasn’t just the young winger, with Craigan saying his whole team did well to secure the points that saw them move top of the development League.

He said: “Overall, I’m pleased with the result and yes it got a little bit nervy towards the end – they brought a few taller guys on and got the ball in the box – but it’s about finding different ways to win games and tonight we found a way to win a game that I felt we deserved.”

The Under 20s made it three wins on the bounce and went top of the Development League after beating Kilmarnock 1-0 tonight.

A second half goal from striker Dylan Mackin was enough for Stephen Craigan’s side on a night where they dominated the match for long spells but were holding on towards the end of the match and could have been punished for several missed chances.

Experienced James McFadden and Dean Brill were named in the starting eleven and youngster Jake Hastie was awarded a start too. The winger looked the most dangerous going forward too, terrorising Killie right-back Queen.

The youngsters got off to a bright start when Ross McLean found himself free down the right hand side, he looked up and played a dangerous low ball across goal into the path of McFadden, but the experienced star couldn’t quite get on the end of it.

Minutes later and McFadden had the ball in the back of the net, only for the linesman to chalk it off for offside. It came from a brilliant Dylan Mackin delivery towards the far post, with the former Scotland striker rising up to head towards goal, crashing off the post before ending up in the back of the Kilmarnock goalkeeper.

Despite all of the Steelmen’s chances and possession of the ball, the game was still goalless after 20 minutes when Craigan’s side won the first corner of the match.

Allan Campbell’s delivery went all the way to the back post where Hastie was lurking, but the young winger couldn’t make the right connection with it and scuffed it towards goal where it was cleared.

Just before the half hour mark, ‘Well were denied by a good save after Mackin turned one towards goal from a brilliant bit of play and cross from Hastie out on the left flank. Lyle save fell to the feet of McFadden who from a tight angle missed the target.

Brill’s first save to make arrived in the 30^th minute, when a long range strike from Lewis Morrison was straight at the Englishman, who gathered with ease.

Jack McMillan did well to block an effort on goal but it came at the expense of a corner and from the following delivery, Morrison got on the end of the cross but his strike looped well over the bar and Brill remained untested.

Five minutes later, Ross MacLean dinked a brilliant ball over the Killie defence to Hastie who managed to find McFadden. The ex-Everton man juggled the ball as he worked his way through the defence towards goal. Despite being hacked at, the 33-year old stayed on his feet and got the shot away, but Lyle saved.

Just minutes later and the visitors survived again, this time Aidan Wilson did well to get his foot on MacLean’s effort to turn it over the bar and keep the score at 0-0 going in to the half time break.

As the second half got underway, Mackin was afforded a glorious chance to give Craigan’s side the lead, rising highest to head towards goal from a corner, but he missed the target.

McFadden went closer just a minute later when he got on the end of Tom Fry’s cross to head at goal, but Lyle did brilliantly well to tip it over the bar.

But just ten minutes in to the half, ‘Well took the lead and it was thanks top scorer Mackin who again netted. A great ball across the face of goal from Hastie allowed the striker the opportunity, and he made no mistake from six yards.

Just after the hour mark, Kilmarnock made two changes as Lidington and Queen made way for McLevy an d Wylie. And It wasn’t long after the substitutions that Killie tested Brill, forcing the Englishman’s first real save of the match. McLean cut on to his left and hit a good effort on goal, with the Motherwell stopper doing well to tip it over the crossbar.

James McFadden was replaced by Dylan Falconer on the 66^th minute and the club legend received a good reception from the crowd as he left the field of play. With fifteen minute remaining, Craigan made another change, replacing Jake Hastie with Jordan Armstrong to allow Allan Campbell to move into the middle of the park as the manager looked to see out the remainder of the match by bringing the composed midfielder into his natural central role.

Kilmarnock responded immediately with a substitute of their own, replacing Dempsie with Cameron.

Motherwell looked to be hanging on to the lead with just over five minutes remaining and Kilmarnock failing to test Brill and it could have been two when Mackin picked up the ball from Falconer on the edge of the box, but the striker’s effort went wide of the mark.

Kilmarnock squandered a very good chance to equalise in the dying minutes of the game when substitute Cameron passed wide when he was through on goal and in truth he should have done much better.

But there were no complaints from Motherwell as the referee blew the final whistle and Craigan’s U20s recorded their third straight victory to move top of the Development league table.

Motherwell: Brill, Campbell, McMillan, Maguire, Ferguson, Turnbull, MacLean (Scott – 88mins), McFadden (Falconer – 67mins), Mackin, Hastie (Armstrong – 76mins), Fry

Subs Not Used: Morrison, Scott, Falconer, Armstrong, Livingstone

U20s manager Stephen Craigan admits it is pleasing to see his side win games in different ways after a good run of results.

With Kilmarnock up next tomorrow night for the youngsters, Craigan admits that the opponents can be somewhat of an unknown quantity at 20s level, but his side are more than capable of adapting to any situation.

Speaking to MFC TV this afternoon, the Northern Irishman said: “Today’s been the only day where we’ve managed to get the whole squad together – with some training with the first team – so it can be frustrating at time to try and get the whole team together.

“The place has been good since last Monday after beating Hamilton which is always good, especially when it was a tough game.”

He added: “what’s pleased me over the last while is the fact we’re managing to win games in different ways against different sides who play in different ways.

“Our shape has to be good, our organisation has to be good and that’s pleased me over the last few games.”

With difficult and unknown opponents at u20s level, Craigan admits that his side have to be able to adapt, either in game or before depending on opposition team selection and shape.

Kilmarnock will be no different tomorrow, with Craigan expecting another tough match for his side.

He said: “we’ve given the boys some information on Kilmarnock and we know that they can potentially play two different shapes, so what I try to do is give them information on both, so when they arrive for the game and they play something different to what we expect then we can still adapt.”

He added: “that’s the rule for football in general: adapt as the game goes.

“It’s a learning curve for these young players, adapting how you play against your direct opponent how you play against the opposition as a team as well.

“But I think most importantly if we can impose ourselves on the game like we have in the last couple of weeks and get our front boys playing that bit better, when we work hard and our finishing is good, we’re a very decent side.”

The community trust are proud to announce that their October Camps are nearly upon us.

Following feedback from the community, the trust now have two options to accommodate everyone’s needs.

Wraparound Camps run from 8:30am – 5:30pm and are available for £100 or standard camps run from 9am-3pm and cost £50.

Running Monday to Friday from the 18th – 21^st October, each day will offer a different theme, culminating in a World Cup tournament on the Friday as well as a visit from a first-team player at some point through the week.

Booking is open now, so get in touch on 01698 239926 or visit www.motherwellsoccerschools.com

Highlights from Firhill where Scott McDonald’s header cancels out Chris Erskine’s first half strike to end the game 1-1.

Images from today’s 1-1 draw with Partick Thistle in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Snaps courtesy of SNSPix

[svgallery name=”partickthistle240916″]

‘Well boss Mark McGhee felt his side’s determination to get a point against Partick Thistle is a good sign for matches ahead.

Speaking to MFC TV after Motherwell drew 1-1 at Firhill Stadium, the manager spoke of the need for performances to improve, but also highlighted the spirit of his side to keep fighting for 90 minutes.

McGhee said: “We came here hoping to win the game on the back of the Hamilton performance and result, to prove that we are going up a level and we are getting better.

“In the first half we were poor so regardless of decisions and how we finished, a point is probably a fair result.”

“I don’t think we did enough in the game to win it, although we actually could’ve pinched it it in the end.

“I think we have to look at the first half performance and admit it wasn’t good enough but the second half was better.”

[pullquote]”We kept believing and we kept pushing and we got a deserved goal in the end so that was good and bodes well for the coming games.[/pullquote]

Scott McDonald’s late header was just reward for the Aussie having an earlier header ruled out incorrectly for offside, and the never-say-die attitude from the Steelmen impressed the manager.

He said: “There was a time when we might have lost that game, we might have not had that resolve or determination to go and get something out of that game and keep going till the end, because it was near the end of the game that we did get the goal.

“We kept believing and we kept pushing and we got a deserved goal in the end so that was good and bodes well for the coming games.”

With a tasty fixture against Hearts on Friday night, the ‘Well boss is hoping for more of the same attitude from his players combined with a return to form.

He said: “We have a terrifically difficult game coming up on Friday against Hearts where we’ll need all of that grit and determination and belief that we showed in the second half to get anything from the Hearts game, so it’s a good sign.”

[tab:Match report]

Lewis Irons at Firhill Stadium

Despite being far from their best, Motherwell showed great character to earn a point against Partick Thistle at Firhill.

And it might have been all three but for a incorrect offside call by assistant Alan Mulvanny, who wrongly chalked off a Scott McDonald header, and a couple of good late saves from Ryan Scully.

In the end, it was another McDonald header that rescued a point after Chris Erskine had given the hosts a first-half lead.

‘Well boss Mark McGhee named an unchanged line-up as Motherwell made the short trip to Glasgow to take on Partick Thistle.

Last weekend’s four-goal hero Louis Moult started alongside Ryan Bowman and Scott McDonald in a front three, looking to extend his scintillating form of five goals in his last two matches.

Partick made a couple of changes, with suspended captain Abdul Osman replaced by Adam Barton and Christie Elliott coming in for Doolan.

During an uneventful opening ten minutes, it was the home side who had the first opportunity, winning a corner after seven minutes, but Erskine over-hit his cross and it swung out for a goal-kick.

After 25 minutes, Azeez broke through for Thistle but his cross had nothing on it and flew straight into the grateful arms of Craig Samson.

Louis Moult’s first spell on the ball came near the half hour mark, when he collected the ball into feet, spun to run at the Thistle defence and dinked past Devine, only to be tripped to the floor to earn the Steelmen a freekick. From the following set-play Hammell’s cross was headed back across goal towards McDonald, who couldn’t get enough on his header to trouble Scully.

A few minutes later and Ryan Bowman had a chance to open his goal-scoring account in Claret and Amber. With a ball over the top, the Englishman tried to lift the ball over Scully from a tight angle inside the box, but his attempt with the inside of his right boot was stopped by the Thistle keeper.

With ten minutes remaining in the half, the Fir Parkers fell behind after Chris Erskine was afforded a one-on-one opportunity with Samson, slotting it low beyond the keeper with his left foot.

Six minutes into the second half and the hosts should have doubled their lead.

Erskine and Azeez surged forward on the break, and in a two-on-two situation, Erskine played a neat ball into his team-mate who dragged his shot wide of Samson’s right post.

That let-off looked to kick McGhee’s side into gear, with some neat play from Motherwell immediately following that chance. Some good passing and movement settled the game down and on the 55^th minute, Scott McDonald went close to equalising; the Aussie turned neatly inside the box but sent his strike narrowly over the bar.

But on the hour mark, Thistle created another opportunity and Azeez couldn’t convert it again. The striker was threaded through down the left side of the Motherwell box, but his low effort flashed wide of the opposite post and Motherwell remained just the one goal behind.

After 65 minutes, Motherwell had the ball in the back of the net, only to be wrongly chalked off by the linesman’s flag.

McDonald headed in from close range after Bowman headed a free kick back across the face of goal, but a poor decision from the official denied the Steelmen, despite McDonald being comfortably onside.

With just over 20 minutes to go, McGhee made his first change of the afternoon, bringing on James McFadden for Louis Moult.

Thistle went extremely close to taking a two goal lead, when Edwards fired a spectacular effort on goal from 25 yards, clipping the post and going behind for a goal kick.

Immediately up the other end, Motherwell had a great chance to equalise after Thistle failed to clear a corner. Clay teed up Bowman but the striker scuffed his shot and it was dealt with comfortably.

And with just over ten minutes left and his side on the ascendency, McGhee brought off Lasley in the hunt for a goal, replacing the skipper with Lionel Ainsworth.

And he was rewarded as, with just 7 minutes of the 90, the Steelmen drew level and it was a superb goal.

An inch perfect cross from Tait on his unfamiliar left foot was right on the head of McDonald who anticipated the cross and nodded it beyond Scully into the top corner.

In the dying minutes ‘Well so nearly took the lead, with Ryan Bowman rising highest at the back post to get on the end of a deep cross, but his low header was well saved by Scully who got down quickly to palm it away.

Motherwell kept getting closer and closer to a winner in stoppage time. Chris Cadden brought the ball down on his chest and played a neat one-two with McDonald, storming towards the Partick box and firing a low shot towards goal from the edge of the area. The deflected shot was met by a solid hand from Scully to keep his side level.

And it was the final bit of action of the afternoon, with Motherwell coming away with a hard-fought point at Firhill despite not hitting the form seen in recent weeks.

[tab:As it happened]

 Alastair Reilly at Firhill Stadium

FT: Partick Thistle 1 – 1 Motherwell #PTFCvMFC

90+2′ | 1-1
Cadden’s low shot is parried away for a throw-in. Good save!

90′ | 1-1
There will be three minutes added on

89′ | 1-1
Partick Thistle sub, Doolan on for Lawless

83′ | 1-1
Great ball whipped in by Tait onto the head of McDONALD who bullets it homE!!!

GGGGOOOAAALLL!!!!!

82′ | 1-0
Thistle look to make it 2 but Samson makes a good stop from Lawless’ shot

80′ | 1-0
Motherwell sub, Ainsworth on for Lasley

78′ | 1-0
Decent spell of pressure with chances for Heneghan and Bowman but neither can hit the target

76′ | 1-0
Spectacular effort from Edwards there. Struck the post with a powerful shot from 30 yards.

71′ | 1-0
Motherwell sub, McFadden on for Moult

69′ | 1-0
Thistle sub, Erskine off for Welsh

63′ | 1-0
McDonald has the ball in the net but the flag is up. Looked close on first viewing!

61′ | 1-0
Elliot booked for a foul on McDonald

61′ | 1-0
Azeez with a good chance again, this time he gets across Heneghan but can’t hit the target with his left foot.

57′ | 1-0
McDonald gets into the box, spins and gets a shot away but it dips just over the bar,

54′ | 1-0
Amoo drift in from the left but his low shot from just inside the box is easy for Samson.

51′ | 1-0
Should be 2-0 but Azeez somehow doesn’t even hit the target from 15 yards after going clean through on goal.

Both teams are back out and Thistle get the second 45 underway.

HT: Partick Thistle 1 – 0 Motherwell #PTFCvMFC

41′ | 1-0
Lasley curls in a deep ball towards Moult but Gordon does enough to put the striker off and its out for a goal kick.

31′ | 1-0
Goal – Erskine opens the scoring, capitalising on a loose pass. 1-0 to Thistle.

28′ | 0-0
First real good chance there for ‘Well. Bowman finds some space and tries to clip it over Scully but he stands up and saves.

24′ | 0-0
Moult skips away from Gordon and is then hauled down. Free-kick in a decent area, 30 yards out…Hammell’s delivery is cleared.

21′ | 0-0
First sniff of goal there for ‘Well and its Tait who got on the end of Cadden’s cross but can’t trouble Scully

16′ | 0-0
Half chance for Thistle! Barton nods it down to Azeez with his back to goal but McManus stands him up well and Tait sweeps clear.

13′ | 0-0
Devine is down receiving treatment after Scully wiped him out coming to collect Tait’s cross.

9′ | 0-0
Bit of a let-ff there as a pass back to Samson is a little short. Thankfully the keeper gets in ahead of Azeez to clear.

…Erskine’s delivery is too deep for Barton to receive at the back post area.

7′ | 0-0
Amoo’s cross is turned behind by McManus. Corner to Thistle….

Lasley gets the game underway. COYW!!!!

Teams have finally emerged from the tunnel, kick-off moments away. #PTFCvMFC

[tab:Reaction]

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee:

“We deserved a draw in the end. Our first-half performance was lethargic, I don’t know what went on there but we were disjointed, we didn’t have the same team performance as of late. That was a worry but at half-time I had a word and the second half was much better. It took us a while to get the goal, although we had one disallowed that was a goal, but given the poor first half we’ll settle for the draw.

“[The disallowed goal] was just a bad call, it happens. We make bad calls, referees make bad calls and you’ve got to forgive them, they do their best. Had it been given, it doesn’t mean we’d have got the second one, so we take it on the chin.

“There was a time in the past when we could have lost that game but we’ve grown up since then and learned to dig in and take it the distance. We kept going, we kept trying to change it. Louis Moult hadn’t trained all week, he’d hurt his hamstring, so we took him off. It worked out in the end.”

Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald:

“We created a number of very good chances and we’ve got to take them.

“At the moment, to win a game it looks as though we almost need two goals. We’ve conceded again late on and we don’t look like keeping a clean sheet. It’s frustrating because we were in charge in the first-half. If Ade takes his chance at the beginning of the second half, clean through, the game could have been dead and buried.

“[Ade] probably needs one to go in off his rear end or just bounce off him and go in. With his overall performance, it’s almost nearly there for him, he worked ever so hard and got us up the pitch. But he’s a striker and he’s paid to score goals. We’ll back him to the hilt. We need to start scoring.

“Apart from the first day of the season, we’ve not had a clean sheet and that’s frustrating because the defenders mostly did their job today. We didn’t deal with a decent delivery into the box and we have to deal with that.

“It’s out job to make sure the players [aren’t downbeat], because there are a lot of positives to take. We need to make sure we turn these draws into wins because we don’t want a gap to open up [at the bottom of the table]. We want to keep it as tight as we can. We’ll keep working hard and move on.”

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

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