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Youngsters Jordan Halsman and Gary Smith have both departed the club on short-term loan deals.

Halsman, who has played twice for the first-team – starting his first game against Clyde in the Scottish Communities League Cup earlier this campaign – has joined Second Division side Albion Rovers on a 28-day loan.

The 20-year old has previously had experience of going out on loan, spending time at both Annan Athletic and Dumbarton

Also departing is striker Gary Smith. The 20-year old, who was the U19s league top scorer back in 2009-10, has found first-team action hard to come by with Michael Higdon, Jamie Murphy, Bob McHugh, Omar Daley and, most recently, Henrik Ojamaa all vying for a starting berth.

[pullquote]These guys work hard during the week and it’s good to have a game on a Saturday to focus on.[/pullquote]

The former Queen’s Park youngster, who has made four first-team appearances from the substitute’s bench, including making his Europa League bow against Icelanders Breidablik, has also had experience out on loan – spending six months at Dumbarton last season. He will spend an initial month at Ochilview.

‘Well boss McCall said “With no reserve league it’s important our lads are getting competitive football.

“We’ve already had the likes of Steven Lawless at Albion Rovers, Ross McKinnon at Dumbarton and Steven Howarth at Alloa and it has worked well for them.

“These guys work hard during the week and it’s good to have a game on a Saturday to focus on.”

‘Well boss Stuart McCall is hoping for a repeat of the 3-1 victory Motherwell recorded the last time they were in Dundee.

The Steelmen face Peter Houston’s men on the back of three league defeats which has seen the Fir Parkers drop out the top three for the first time this season.

And the former Scotland midfielder is hoping to recapture some of the early season form, including an impressive win at Tannadice back in October.

He said: “Two of my best games in charge at Motherwell have came at Tannadice; the 2-2 draw in the Cup last year was a great performance and then to bring them back for the replay in what was probably the biggest game of the season and we won 3-0.

“Then, this season, to go there when they were in decent form and win 3-1 was excellent and something we will be looking to try and repeat tomorrow, hopefully.”

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW ON MFC TV-

Midfielder Steve Jennings has been named the Cash Converters Player of the Month for December.

Despite sitting out the Hearts match through suspension, the Scouser was excellent in games against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park and St Mirren at Fir Park.

It’s the second time the former Tranmere Rovers man has scooped the gong; he was the recipient in the November poll too.

He said, “I am pleased to have won the award again and thank you to those who voted and Cash Converters.

“Our main focus is getting back to winning ways and hopefully that starts this Saturday against Dundee Utd.”

The award was presented to Steve last Saturday by Ricky Mullen, who voted for Steve at the Cash Converters SPL Facebook page.

Two Motherwell matches have been selected for coverage on broadcasters ESPN in the coming months.

The first is ‘Well’s match with Rangers on Saturday 31st March – the date of the match remains the same but kick-off will now be 12 noon.

The second is in early April when Motherwell visit Easter Road. The game has been moved back a day to Sunday, 8th April with a 12.30pm kick-off.

>> FULL FIXTURE LIST

All the goals as Motherwell Reserves draw 3-3 with Fleetwood Town at Fir Park  with goals coming from Bob McHugh and a Gary Smith brace.

-ALL THE GOALS EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV-

Assistant boss Kenny Black was pleased with his side’s workout following a battling 3-3 draw with Blue Square Premier side Fleetwood this afternoon.

The English non-leaguers raced into a two goal first half lead but were pegged back thanks to goals from Gary Smith and Bob McHugh.

The visitors got themselves ahead for a second time but were again pegged back, Gary Smith netting with a late, late header.

And Black reckons a battling, high-tempo ninety minute will have helped the fringe players get much-needed sharpness.

“It’s important for the fringe players to play regularly along with the guys who are returning from injury (Steve Jennings).

“We’ve not had a bounce game like today for two or three weeks and it’s important these lads keep up their match sharpness so it was a useful exercise.

“It was different opposition from what we were used to; we usually face SPL or First Division sides so when the opportunity of taking this game came up, we were delighted.

“They are going very well in the Blue Square Prem, you could see how good they were from their first-half showing, and our guys will have benefited from it.”

-WATCH KENNY BLACK’S INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV-

A Motherwell XI and Fleetwood Town played out an entertaining 3-3 draw at Fir Park this afternoon.

The Blue Square Premier side raced in to a two-nil first-half lead courtesy of a double from the experienced Gareth Seddon.

The first, after 22 minutes, came from a well-time Peter Cavanagh pass. The former Kettering striker dodged the offside trap and coolly slid the ball under Tom Bradley at his near post.

A few minutes later it was two. Former Man Utd youth product Danny Rose collected the ball in the middle of the park before sending a lovely ball over the top of the defence with Seddon again running the line excellently well. The 31-year old took a good touch before dinking a lovely effort over Bradley and in via the underside of the bar.

It stayed that way until the interval; Town boss Micky Mellon taking the opportunity to change things around with a number of substitutions.

‘Well had much more of the play at the start of the second period but were unable to break down the stubborn Fleetwood rearguard.

Kenny Black introduced Gary Smith in place of Steve Jennings and the striker made an immediate impact. He should have scored with virtually his first touch, going through one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but just as he was about to pull the trigger, the ball bobbled and he sliced a shot wide.

He would make it for it minutes later though when he brought ‘Well back into the match. Jonathan Page played in Chris Humphrey down the right with a decent diagonal ball. The winger went through the gears, got to the touchline before hanging it up towards the back post. Former Queen’s Park man Smith was unmarked and headed from close range.

Then, five minutes later, Smith turned provider as ‘Well drew level. Ross McKinnon’s free-kick from deep inside his own half was flicked on by the big striker for Bob McHugh, the striker making a great supporting run. He took one touch to set himself before blasting past Stephenson.

It looked then as if ‘Well would go on and win but, to their credit, Fleetwood got themselves back in front with just minutes left. A long, innocuous, ball over the top didn’t look as if it would pose any danger with Page sticking close to sub Richard Brodie. However, the on-loan Crawley striker twisted and turned before rifling past Bradley from an impossible angle.

3-2 then and it looked as if the visitors had the game won. Gary Smith would have the final say as he brought the Steelmen level with just a minute of stoppage time left to play. Ross Forbes collected midway inside the Town half. His superb ball into the area drew the keeper off his line allowing Smith to loop a header into the back of the unguarded net.

Motherwell: Bradley, Carswell, Halsman, Pollock, Page, McKinnon, Humphrey, Jennings (Smith – 70mins), McHugh, Ojamaa (Howarth – 78mins), Forbes

Referee for this Saturday’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Dundee Utd at Tannadice will be Stevie O’Reilly.

It will be Stevie’s second Motherwell match of the season having previously overseen the 1-0 win over Hearts in August. Both teams ended the match with ten men; Keith Lasley ordered off for the home side with Ian Black taking an early bath for the visitors.

O’Reilly, promoted to the Category 1 list some five years ago, will be a familiar face to Motherwell fans having overseen five games last term.

After previously handling the 1-1 draw with Aberdeen at Fir Park back last September, the 1-2 home defeat by Hearts in December, the New Years Day 0-0 draw with Hamilton at New Douglas Park and the 1-0 home defeat by Kilmarnock in early February, the last SPL Motherwell appointment came in early April as the Steelmen ran out 2-1 winners over Saturday’s opponents Dundee United at Fir Park.

He also had the honour of being the fourth official at the Scottish Cup Final last May when McCall’s men took on Celtic.

O’Reilly’s overall record in charge of the ‘Well is a bit of a mixed bag. Of the eight games has officiated, Motherwell have won three, drawn one and lost four.

Eleven goals have been scored and ten conceded. Fifteen players have been cautioned in those eight games; four were wearing Claret and Amber with two sent off, Steve Jennings in the game against Hearts back in December of 2010 and the aforementioned Keith Lasley one against the same side earlier this season.

Stevie will be ably assisted by Gary Sweeney and Michael Banks with Barry Cook on fourth official duties.

Tickets prices for the forthcoming Scottish Cup 5th Round clash with Greenock Morton have now been confirmed.

Admission is on the turnstiles with prices as follows:

• Concessions are listed as Over 60s and Full Time Students with a valid matriculation card.
• Juveniles are listed as Under 16s.
• Family Ticket is for x1 Adult and x2  Juveniles
• Prices are for all four stands.
• Tickets will be available for Morton fans to pre-purchase – further details will follow.
• If you are new to Fir Park, check our handy ‘New Fans’ section that will detail everything you need to know about matchdays.
• Fans who require wheelchair access should contact Sharon or John McCaskie on 01555 870122 or email disabledfans@motherwellfc.co.uk.

Chief Executive Leeann Dempster said, “We have agreed with Morton to keep the prices at the same level as the previous round with Queen’s Park.

“We have tried our very best to keep admission as low as possible for these non-season ticket matches.

“Cup games at Fir Park in recent years have provided some enthralling entertainment and I am sure this 5th Round tie will be no different.”

Morton fans will have the ability to pre-purchase tickets for the South Stand. Further details will follow.

Score a bargain break with Thomas Cook’s Motherwell FC Holiday Club this January.

Make the most out of supporting your team and receive an incredible 5% discount on any trip you make by mentioning the Motherwell FC Holiday Club when making your booking at your local Thomas Cook holiday shop.

This way, not only do you save money but you also help your club profit from it, as the club earns a royalty from every booking made.

Managers, players, staff and fans are all enjoying the benefits of the Motherwell FC Holiday Club. So if you have a business trip ahead or you just want to go somewhere sunny, remember to book with Thomas Cook Sport’s Holiday Club.

Representatives of our local Thomas Cook store will be in and around the stadium on Saturday distributing flyers explaining how the deal works for both you and the Club.

Terms and Conditions apply, see www.thomascooksport.com for details.