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    Aberdeen replay prices reminder

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    TV: Highlights from Fir Park

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    TV: Lasley thrilled with winning goal

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    TV: McCall delighted with home win

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    Ross County win in pictures

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    Motherwell 3 – 2 Ross County

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    Cooper Bar opens at noon today

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    TV: McCall has attacking intent

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    TV: Higdon expecting Highland test

  • Archive

    ‘Well Society Members Meeting

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    Aberdeen replay prices reminder

    A reminder for fans that the ticket prices for Tuesday’s William Hill Scottish Cup 4th Round replay against Aberdeen have been confirmed.

    ALL STANDS:

    Adults: £12
    Concessions: £6

    • Concessions are listed as Over 60s, Under 16s and Full Time Students.
    • Tickets will be available to pre-purchase or on the turnstile on the night of the match.
    • Season Tickets will be valid for this match using Voucher 1 (Domestic Cup Tie) from the middle of book..

    Motherwell vs Aberdeen
    William Hill Scottish Cup 4th Round Replay
    Tuesday 11th December 2012
    Fir Park Stadium
    Motherwell

    Kick-Off: 7.45pm

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    TV: Highlights from Fir Park

    Extended highlights from Fir Park as goals from Michael Higdon, Nicky Law and Keith Lasley give Motherwell a 3-2 win over Ross County.

    -WATCH EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS ONLY ON MFC TV-

    MFC TV

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    TV: Lasley thrilled with winning goal

    Steelmen skipper Keith Lasley was delighted his first goal of the campaign handed ‘Well all three points against Ross County this afternoon.

    The veteran midfielder was regularly amongst the goals last term, notching a career-best five throughout the season but before today, had yet to find the net.

    But his 82nd minute strike finally ended that run and handed the Fir Parkers their first home win since September, pushing the side into third in the table.

    [pullquote]The most important thing was getting the three points but from a personal point of view it’s obviously nice to pop up with the winner.[/pullquote]

    A beaming Lasley told MFC TV: “The most important thing was getting the three points but from a personal point of view it’s obviously nice to pop up with the winner.

    “From our first half display I think we merited the three points.

    “For about half an hour I thought it was as well as we had played at home this season but we just never got our noses in front when we probably should have done with the chances and pressure we had but it wasn’t to be.

    “Funnily enough when Lawsy scored I though Ross County got on the ascendancy and you’ve got to give them credit in that regard.

    “They’re a decent side and got themselves back in the game; obviously it was our day in the end but you have to credit Ross County for making the match what it was.”

    -WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW ONLY ON MFC TV-

    MFC TV

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    TV: McCall delighted with home win

    ‘Well boss Stuart McCall couldn’t hide his delighted after ‘Well picked up their first three points at Fir Park in over three months.

    You have to go all the way back to early September when the Steelmen thrashed County’s Highland neighbours, the high-flying Inverness Caley Thistle.

    It’s difficult to fathom just how that run came about given some of the performances during that spell, but it took a battling 3-2 win over the Staggies to end the rut.

    McCall was thrilled with the win but also saluted the contribution of Ross County who, despite the result, left North Lanarkshire with plenty of plaudits for the way they played.

    [pullquote]We played some really entertaining stuff but just didn’t have the finishing touch at times.[/pullquote]

    “I am delighted to get a home victory,” McCall told MFC TV after the match.

    “We always talk about getting the first goal and in fairness after we started well, they got a terrific goal but I felt we came on after that and played some really good football.

    “We played some really entertaining stuff but just didn’t have the finishing touch and then we score a terrific goal ourselves. Chris stands a really good ball up at the back post and big Michael bangs it in.

    “In the second half we just felt if we kept playing with the same quality as in the first half we’d do well and to get the early goal exactly what we asked for.  For some reason it seemed to rock us and they came into the game more and at 2-1 we were quite edgy.

    “It was a terrific winning goal though and I thought today Las in the middle of the park did all the dirty work. He won second balls, won tackles and headers and kept us going in the middle of the park. He deserved to get the winner.”

    -WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW ON MFC TV-

    MFC TV

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    Ross County win in pictures

    Pictures from the 3-2 win over Ross County in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League at Fir Park.

     [svgallery name=”rosscounty081212″]

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    Motherwell 3 – 2 Ross County

    [tab:Match report]

     Kris Jack at the Fir Park

    Motherwell recorded their first home victory since early September defeating Ross County 3-2 at Fir Park.

    Goals from Michael Higdon, Nicky Law and Keith Lasley handed ‘Well a win that sends them to third, as Rocco Quinn’s double proved in vain for Derek Adams’ side.

    Stuart McCall made one change to the side that drew with Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup last weekend, Shaun Hutchinson returning to the starting eleven at the expense of Fraser Kerr.

    Mark Fotheringham and Colin McMenamin came back in to the County side following their 3-3 draw with Inverness in the Cup, Sam Morrow and Stuart Kettlewell sat it out as The Staggies sought their second away win of the season.

    County created the first chance of the match and Quinn was unfortunate to see his chipped effort from outside of the box land on top of Hollis’ goal.

    Motherwell responded prompotly at the other end, however Humphrey failed to find the target after a neat pass from Higdon.

    Former ‘Well stopper Mark Brown was the first goalkeeper forced into making a save – parrying the ball away after Lasley connected with Tom Hateley’s corner before the hosts fell behind to a screamer of a strike.

    Former Celtic youth Quinn burst forward before unleashing an unstoppable shot beyond Hollis from 30 yards, much to the delight of the noisy Ross County fans who had travelled down the A9.

    Stuart McCall’s side responded in a positive fashion and Brown made a brave stop at the feet of Henrik Ojamaa, before the hosts grabbed a deserved equaliser.

    Humphrey’s pin-point delivery found Higdon and Motherwell’s top-scorer powered the ball beyond Brown. It was the big hitman’s eleventh goal in 17 games this season, and showcased his talent for finding the back of the net with a header.

    Buoyed by their equaliser, Motherwell continued to threaten the County goal and Jamie Murphy passed up a great opportunity to fire the hosts in front when he blazed over after good work form Lasley.

    The visitors created a chance of their own seven minutes before the break when Quinn released Gary Glen but the Staggies striker was denied by the legs of the onrushing Hollis.

    Right back Mihael Kovacevic was replaced by Grant Munro at half-time, however it was Motherwell who made the dream start to the second half when Law raced through on goal and calmly slotted the ball into the net.

    It was the ideal start to the second half and came from one of the most positive runs of the game by Law, whose composed finish brought the home crowd to their feet.

    The goal stung County to life and Ross Tokely tested Hollis with a powerful header and Colin McMenamin failed to capitalise on a free header inside the area following a good delivery from Richard Brittain.

    The visiting supporters cried for a penalty after Mark Fotheringham tumbled inside the area but Hollis looked to take the ball cleanly.

    County were immerging more as an attacking threat which allowed Motherwell to counter. One such occasion brought about a free-kick on the edge of the area but former ‘Well keeper Brown made an excellent stop to keep out Hateley’s curler.

    Glen then looked to have restored parity when he collected Quinn’s pass and fired beyond Hollis, but the former Hearts striker was rightly adjudged to have strayed offside.

    County made a double substitution as Stuart Kettlewell and Alex Cooper came on in place of Brittain and Glen.

    The changes almost immediately paid off as Tokely fired just wide of the target and Stuart McCall reacted by making a change of his own when Ojamaa made way for Robert McHugh.

    The Staggies fans did not have to wait much longer for an equaliser though as Quinn fired against Adam Cummins before his deflected effort rebound left Hollis flat-footed. It was a goal that sparked the County fans back to life, having wrong footed the ‘Well stopper on its way in to the net.

    McCall introduced Stuart Carswell and Zaine Francis-Angol in place of the injured Law and Higdon in an attempt to spark some life into the Well attack.

    Both sides were demonstrating a desire to secure all three-points and Lasley slotted home with eight minutes remaining to put the Fir Park side on course for victory.

    Great tenacity on the right hand side from Chris Humphrey kept the ball alive, allowing him to fizz a pass along the 18 yard line, where his skipper was waiting to drill the ball low in to the bottom right corner for his first goal of the season.

    Shortly after the Motherwell captain looked to double his tally but it wasn’t too be as he fired wide.

    Adams’ side continued to battle and they came agonisingly close to scoring an equaliser in the final minute of injury-time, the home defence failed to clear Vigurs’ corner and Hollis somehow kept out McMenamin’s fizzing effort to secure a win for the hosts.

    [tab:As it happened]

    Alastair Reilly at Fir Park

    FULL TIME: It’s ended Motherwell 3-2 Ross County. Superb 3 points.

    92mins: Lee Hollis to the rescue! Great hand to deny County a headed equaliser

    90mins: 3 minutes for ‘Well to hold on.

    87mins: Lasley almost at it again! Francis-Angol showing some superb play to get past Boyd and his cut back was deflected to Las. just past.

    82mins: What a well worked goal! Murphy to Humphrey to Lasley. One touch. Goal. Celebrations. 3-2. Barcaesque.

    GOAAAALLLLLL!!!

    80mins: Francis-Angol shows great pace to get past Boyd and whip the ball across for McHugh. Munro gets in just ahead of him to clear.

    79mins: Motherwell sub: Francis-Angol on for Higdon.

    75mins: ‘Well on the ropes a little here…….County looking dangerous in pursuit of a winner.

    73mins: Motherwell sub, Carswell on for Law.

    72mins: Hammell curls in a teasing ball just across the 6 yard line. Brown collects easily.

    68mins: GOAL, Quinn equalises! It was a deflection which deceived Hollis, but he’ll take that. 2-2

    67mins: Motherwell sub, Ojamaa off for McHugh

    67mins: Ross County subs: Kettlewell and Cooper on for Brittan and Glen

    62mins; Quinn tries his luck from a touch closer this time and on his left foot. Doesn’t trouble Hollis.

    59mins: Hateley with a Ziidane-esque roulette on the edge of the County Box but hits the deck. Nothing given!

    55mins: Hateley with a Beckhamesque effort from all of 30 yards. Brown does well to tip it over. And yes, Beckhamesque is a word!

    51mins: Hollis spills Fotheringham’s shot from just inside the box. Penalty shouts from County as Glen nipped in on rebound. No pen.

    Goal! Straight after the restart! Nicky Nicky Law!!! 2-1 Cool finish from Lawsy 10 yards out after 48 minutes.

    HALF-TIME: Motherwell 1 -1 Ross County

    44mins: Great football again from Motherwell. Lovely one touch stuff which ended when Humphreys cross was intercepted by the toe of Boyd.

    40mins: Brittain normally is excellent at dead ball situations. Not there though as his shot is well over the bar.

    36mins: Hollis gets his angles right in the end after rushing off his line block Glen’s shot. Danger from corner cleared.

    33mins: Great ball in by Humphrey. Exactly where any striker would want it but unfortunately no takers.

    31mins: Boyd cautioned for denying Humphrey a clear run at goal…by diving on the ball.

    30mins: Great football from the Steelmen! Murphy on the end of Lasley’s cutback but can only blaze over from 12 yards.

    28mins: Fitzpatrick floats a ball into the crowd and it is met by the towering leap of a fan. Despite his celebrations, Brown not tested!

    23mins: It’s the big scouser! Higdon bullets home the cross from 8 yards. 1-1!

    GOOOOAALLLLLLL!

    22mins: Lasley goes for a wander down the left wing and cuts in like any winger would be proud of. His cut back is only just intercepted.

    18mins: ‘Well find themselves 1-0 down despite dominating the so far. Sweet strike from Quinn though.

    GOAL: Rocco Quinn opens the scoring with an incredible 25 yard shot which goes in off the bar.

    12mins: Ojamaa shows some trickery out wide and wins a corner…. Hateley’s front post delivery is diverted goalward by Las but Brown gets a hand to it to make a fantastic stop!

    8mins: Higdon spreads the ball wide to Humphrey who drives into the box. Gets his footwork all wrong though and shoots high and wide.

    4mims: Audacious little chip from Rocco Quinn drops just over the bar. End to end stuff at the moment…

    1min: Good ball across the face from Murph but County sweep up.

    1min – We’re underway at Fir Park. ‘Well shooting towards the Cooper.

    [tab:Reaction]

    Motherwell manager Stuart McCall:

    “All in all, it’s a great three points. We needed the monkey off our back with the home form. I thought in the first half we played some terrific football and I was disappointed to come in at half-time level.

    “Some of the moves in the first-half were terrific, we just didn’t finish them off. In the second half we started brilliantly, and I think it kind of rocked us when we went 2-1 ahead.

    “I thought they played well in the second half. We weren’t at our best. In fairness to Ross County, they came here and played two strikers,” he continued.

    “They didn’t come and sit in, they came and had a go. And I think, because of their attitude, it made it a more open game.”

    Ross County manager Derek Adams:

    “The three goals were poor goals from our point of view. We can’t defend like that against a team as good as Motherwell.

    “We didn’t do well enough in the game to take the point, didn’t defend well enough and allowed Motherwell to gather the win.

    “We can’t defend as kamikaze as we did. We’re creating openings and were unfortunate not to have scored [late in the match].”

    [tab:Man-of-the-match]

    [poll id=”127″]

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    Cooper Bar opens at noon today

    The Davie Cooper Bar will open from noon today ahead of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Ross County.

    ‘Well fans are welcome to use the facility which offers a wide variety of drinks, both alcoholic and non, as well as large screens to watch all the pre-match build-up.

    A selection of first-team players will also visit pre-match to sign autographs and pose for pictures.

  • Archive

    TV: McCall has attacking intent

    ‘Well boss Stuart McCall is aiming for three points against Ross County after drawing a blank against the Staggies last time out.

    The Steelmen were SPL first-footers in the Highlands back in August, sandwiched in between the Champions League 3rd Qualifying Round clash against Greek giants Panathinaikos.

    That match ended in a rather uneventful 0-0 draw and McCall is hoping his side can get amongst the goals at Fir Park tomorrow.

    [pullquote]We’ve got lads in confident mood, individually and collectively and we’re in a good run of form at the moment.[/pullquote]

    He told the press at the clubs’ weekly news conference: “I was disappointed in the way we played up there but you’ve got to remember that they had only just came up and then they had some good results since so, in hindsight, a 0-0 up there wasn’t that bad.

    “We defended quite well but I don’t think our attacking play was very good so we’re hoping to improve on that.

    “We’ve got lads in confident mood, individually and collectively and we’re in a good run of form at the moment.

    “Ross County have a good base, togetherness and experienced defenders but when we’re at home we’re confident we can go and create chances; there’s no guarantee we’ll take them but if we do go on and create chances and take a fair percentage of them and try to win the game.”

    -WATCH THE FULL PRESS CONFERENCE ONLY ON MFC TV-

    MFC TV

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    TV: Higdon expecting Highland test

    ‘Well top scorer Michael Higdon reckons the Steelmen will have to be at their best when they come up against a resilient Ross County side.

    The Staggies, led by former Motherwell midfielder Derek Adams, have won praise for all quarters for the way they have taken to life in the Scottish Premier League.

    And with ten goals already to his name this campaign, Higdon knows the Steelmen will have to be on top form to get their first win at Fir Park since County’s Highland neighbours Inverness were in town in early September.

    [pullquote]I’m sure they’ll be looking to come out of it as quick as possible and they’ll be setting their sights on doing that tomorrow.[/pullquote]

    “Everyone in the league has a little dip in form in this league,” he explained.

    “We experienced that earlier and they are going through that a little at the moment with lots of draws but they have a lot of big characters in the team and a lot of experience with Tokeley, Munro and guys like that.

    “I’m sure they’ll be looking to come out of it as quick as possible and they’ll be setting their sights on doing that tomorrow.

    “They showed in the first game of the season how resilient they are. They’re tough to break down and are quite a tall team as well so we’re under no illusions how difficult it will be but if we play the way we have been we’re confident we can get a good result.”

    -WATCH THE FULL PRESS CONFERENCE ONLY ON MFC TV-

    MFC TV

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    ‘Well Society Members Meeting

    The ‘Well Society board last night presented their vision statement to members at a meeting at Fir Park.

    The document, which lays out the strategy for securing a controlling stake in the club, was endorsed by the vast majority of members who attended the meeting in the Centenary Suite.

    The four-man board, who were elected on October 24, now aim to co-opt an additional three members in the coming weeks. Society members will then vote two representatives on to the club board.

    The society has raised almost £400,000 since January and have been handed a 15% shareholding in the club. The ‘Well Society board are developing plans to recruit more members as they aim to raise the £1.5million needed to secure a majority stake, which was donated by John Boyle.

    ‘Well Society chairman Graham Barnstaple said: “We have been working in close conjunction with the club since being elected six weeks ago and they are very keen for two members to join the board as soon as an election process is finalised.

    “We are also urging more fans to join the revolution and formulating a plan to encourage corporate membership of this pioneering community ownership scheme.

    “This is a unique opportunity to financially safeguard the club, to ensure it is run by those with its interests firmly at heart, and to allow Motherwell to continue to play at the highest level.

    “Recent events at Rangers and Hearts have highlighted the potential dangers of allowing one man to control a club’s destiny and we have the chance to make sure similar problems never occur at Fir Park.

    “Hearts fans rallied to fend off an imminent danger to their club’s existence but it is no less important that we raise the money needed to take over our club and secure its long-term future. We urge all Motherwell fans to rise to the challenge.”

    The document includes plans to encourage corporate membership; engage with community organisations; harness the skills and enthusiasm of the membership to raise funds; and to develop a communications strategy that allows fans’ opinions to help shape the future of the club.

    The four board members are chairman Graham Barnstaple, secretary Tom Feely, Sandy Kilpatrick and Brian McCafferty.

    Well Society