fbpx
News

Latest News

  • Archive

    TV: McCall wants professional approach

  • Archive

    Anderson in charge against Albion

  • Archive

    Under 20s game off

  • Archive

    TV: Highlights from Rugby Park

  • Archive

    Kilmarnock win in pictures

  • Archive

    TV: McCall pleased with reaction

  • Archive

    Kilmarnock 0 – 2 Motherwell

  • Archive

    TV: Vigurs keen to rediscover form

  • Archive

    TV: Back to basics for McCall

  • Archive

    Finnie’s in charge at Rugby Park

  • Archive

    TV: McCall wants professional approach

    ‘Well boss Stuart McCall insists his side will give Albion Rovers the respect they deserve ahead of tomorrow’s Cup tie.

    The Steelmen take on Rovers for the first time in 26 years when they lock horns at New Douglas Park in the 4th Round of the William Hill Scottish Cup.

    Despite three leagues separating the sides, McCall is taking nothing for granted and will ask his players to be professional as they battle for a place in Monday’s 5th Round draw.

    Speaking to MFC TV at today’s pre-match press conference, McCall said: “We’ve had tricky games in the past where we’ve been outstanding favourites, so we know it’s all about the approach.

    [pullquote]We’ll need to be at our best and really put them under pressure early in the game.[/pullquote]

    “You’ve got to start well and mentally look at it as being two teams of eleven. This will be one of their biggest matches of the season so we’ve got to take that into account.

    “There’s been Cup upsets before and we have to make sure we’re not on the end of one, particularly with the added spice of being a local derby.

    “It’s a good surface over at Hamilton. Technically, our lads should be better and fitter, but certainly at the start of the game, they will match us for energy and commitment so we have to meet that head on, be ready for it, and then start to move the ball like we know we are capable of.

    “We’ll need to be at our best and really put them under pressure early in the game.”

    -WATCH HIS INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV

    MFC TV

  • Archive

    Anderson in charge against Albion

    Referee for Saturday’s William Hill Scottish Cup 4th Round clash with Albion Rovers at New Douglas Park is Euan Anderson.

    Anderson will be handling his first ever Motherwell match.

    Indeed, it will be the first time ever the 30-year old will handle a Premiership side in competitive action.

    He has been fourth official at several top-flight matches as well as Motherwell’s Scottish Cup success against Queen’s Park a few seasons back.

    The Dumbarton-based whistler was promoted to category one in the summer of 2011 and is cutting his teeth in the lower leagues.

    This season, he has handled Championship games at Dumfries, Hamilton and Falkirk as well as League One matches at Stenhousemuir, Brechin, Airdrie and Stranraer.

    He was also the man in the middle for the Ramsden’s Cup clash between Annan Athletic and Highland League side Formartine United.

    Euan will be assisted on the day by Brian Templeton and Ralph Gordon with Iain Brines as fourth official.

  • Archive

    Under 20s game off

    Tonight’s Under 20s match has been postponed as the pitch at McDiarmid Park is frozen.

    No date has as yet been confirmed for the rearranged tie.

    Jonatan Johansson’s men are back in action this Sunday when they face Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in the 4th Round of the SFA Youth Cup – kick-off is 1.30pm.

  • Archive

    TV: Highlights from Rugby Park

    Extended highlights from Rugby Park as goals from John Sutton and Henri Anier edge out Kilmarnock 2-0.

    -WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV

    MFC TV

  • Archive

    Kilmarnock win in pictures

    Pictures from the 2-0 win over Kilmarnock in the SPFL Premiership at Rugby Park.

    Snaps courtesy of SNSPix.

    [svgallery name=”kilmarnock231113″]

  • Archive

    TV: McCall pleased with reaction

    Stuart McCall was delighted with the reaction from his players after their 2-0 win over Kilmarnock.

    Following the heavy home defeat by Dundee Utd two weeks ago, the Steelmen boss asked for better concentration, communication and organisation from his men.

    He got all three, with ‘Well solid at the back, industrious in midfield and threatening in attack.

    John Sutton and Henri Anier scored the goals, but it could have been even more convincing with several chances not taken.

    McCall praised his players after their eighth win in fourteen SPFL Premiership matches, propelling them to third in the table.

    [pullquote]I was so happy with a number of our individuals performances and we had some real firepower from the bench too. I asked the players for a reaction, and we got it.[/pullquote]

    “There’s no doubt we could have had more goals, but then, Killie probably had a couple of good chances to score too,” he told MFC TV after the match.

    “We are pleased with how we played, the three points and a clean sheet. We’ve got to get back to the situation where we’re mean in defence. Okay, Boyd got a chance in the either half but other than that, we restricted them to very little.

    “I was so happy with a number of our individuals performances and we had some real firepower from the bench too. I asked the players for a reaction, and we got it. All in all, it was a really good days work.”

    -WATCH HIS INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV

    MFC TV

  • Archive

    Kilmarnock 0 – 2 Motherwell

    [tab:Match report]

     Phil McGhee at Rugby Park

    Motherwell returned to winning ways with a comfortable victory at Kilmarnock and moved up to third in the table.

    Second half goals from John Sutton and Henri Anier sealed the points but it was a good performance from back to front from Stuart McCall’s men.

    The only criticism would be that the win could have been more emphatic. Indeed, Craig Moore making his first league start, might have grabbed a hat-trick inside the opening 22 minutes as ‘Well dominated the early proceedings.

    Despite the two week international break, injuries still kept Simon Ramsden, Stevie Hammell and Stuart Carswell sidelined, the latter two starting on the bench. Shaun Hutchinson, though, returned from suspension to bolster the back four.

    Second bottom Kilmarnock were chasing a third consecutive home win and with striker Kris Boyd boosted by his Scotland call-up, the understrength Fir Park defence should have faced a difficult afternoon.

    Anier after his midweek exertions with Estonia also started on the bench allowing Craig Moore to start, partnering John Sutton in attack.

    And the ‘Well youngster almost made it a dream start after six minutes when he latched onto a loose ball in the home box only to curl his shot over Craig Samson and the ‘keeper’s cross bar.

    Motherwell’s passing and pressing game, with the both fullbacks pushing forward, gave the home defence some anxious moments.

    In the 16th minute a terrific run from Zaine Francis-Angol carried him to the goal line before sweeping the ball into the six yard box. Sutton’s effort was blocked but the ball rebounded to Moore who slashed his shot wide of goal.

    Then after 22 minutes the teenage striker passed up his third and best chance. Paul Lawson’s long pass bounced past Mark O’Hara allowing Moore to race in on goal unchallenged but he lacked a bit of composure as he dragged his shot across Samson and inches past the post

    ‘Well almost paid for that miss when Boyd tried to dribble the ball towards Gunnar Nielsen but Hutchison and Stephen McManus combined to block him as the Killie man looked certain to strike.

    ‘Well were in control and the Killie fans largely subdued and eight minutes from half-time only Samson’s reflexes denied the visitors a deserved lead. Kerr burst down the right before drilling in a perfect cross for Sutton whose powerful header was racing under the bar until the Kille keeper stretched to push it over.

    Nielsen was finally called into action three minutes from half-time. Boyd’s angled drive looked destined for the far far corner until the ‘Well keeper, at full stretch low to his left palmed the ball out.

    Probably frustrated that their possession and chances hadn’t been converted into goals, Stuart McCall made one change at the interval replacing James McFadden with Lionel Ainsworth.

    And his introduction almost had an immediate effect as Moore held off Manny Pascali before setting up the substitute with a cute back-healer only to watch Ainsworth screw his shot wide of goal from 12 yards.

    Even the home fans sensed that a Motherwell goal was long overdue and it finally arrived after 53 minutes.

    Francis-Angol sent Ainsworth down the right and although his ball across goal found no takers, Iain Vigurs returned it from the left side finding Sutton stooping to head the ball low past Samson from six yards.

    That produced an immediate response from Killie and a thundering 20 yard drive from Michael Gardyne forced another fabulous one handed stop from Nielsen.

    A deflected Clingan shot almost bounced inside thepost as the home fans sensed a fight back. Boyd failed to test Nielsen as Killie had their best spell of the game, but ‘Well remained tight and commanding at the back.

    Moore, who proved to be a real handful for the experienced Pascali, was given a rousing ovation from the travelling support after a thoroughly committed and encouraging 78 minutes.

    Anier, who came off the bench to claim two goals for Estonia in midweek was eager for something similar but it was Sutton who came within a metre of grabbing his second when he connected solidly with Ainsworth’s cross sending the ball dipping just over the bar.

    But with three minutes to go Anier claimed his goal using his strength to turn O’Hara before slipping the ball under Samson to tie up the points and round off a great day’s work for the Fir Park men.

    [tab:As it happened]

    Ally Reilly at Rugby Park

    FT: Kilmarnock 0 – 2 Motherwell

    88mins: Anier does fantastically to spin past O’Hara and poke the ball past Samson to make it 2-0!!!

    GGGGGGOOOOAAALLLL!!

    85mins: Final Killie change, Winchester on for Clingan

    81mins: Killie sub, Gros on for Gardyne

    81mins: Good work from Kerr to get down the right wing and swing in a ball. It’s awkward for Sutton but he gets a shot away. Just over.

    79mins: Gardyne booked for leaving a boot in on Lasley.

    78mins: Motherwell sub, Moore off for Anier.

    78mins: Lawson booked for tumbling into Johnston

    77mins: Pascali’s header is straight at Nielsen from the Killie corner. Should have done better.

    75mins: Sub McKenzie cuts in from the left and lets fly. Just past the right hand post

    72mins: Killie sub, McKenzie on for Nicholson

    67mins: Pascali booked for hacking down Moore. Good position for the FK…..Vigurs shoots just over

    65mins: Boyd passes up a great chance to level. Perhaps the cross was a fraction deep for him and he headed over from 6 yards

    60mins: Francis-Angol’s cross slithers under Samson for a corner. From that Hutchinson heads wide.

    55mins: Almost the equaliser! Nielsen reacts well to deny Boyd with a strong hand then Slater’s cross flashes across goal with no takers!

    54mins: Sutton opens the scoring with a slow motion diving header!!! Vigurs with the assist!! 0-1

    GOOOAAALLLLLL!!!

    49mins: Motherwell counter and from Moore’s backheel, Ainsworth can only drag his shot wide of the left post. Good chance

    48mins: Johnston tries his luck from 25 yards but shoots straight at Nielsen.

    Half-time sub, McFadden off for Ainsworth

    HT: Kilmarnock 0 – 0 Motherwell

    42mins: Good save from Nielsen to deny Boyd on his left foot from a narrow angle. Francis-Angol mops up.

    41mins: Moore wins a corner after his shot is deflected wide…..McFadden delivers but Nicholson clears

    38mins: Glorious chance for Sutton! Gets a powerful header on target but Samson is equal to it and palms over!

    31mins: Boyd gets the break of the ball in the box and as he looks to pull the trigger, McManus and Lawson do enough to put him off.

    24mins: Gardyne wins Killie a free-kick 25 yards out, central. Clingan gets it over the wall, but it also clears the bar. Still 0-0

    22mins: Third good chance of the day for Moore! O’Hara slipped and let him in 1v1. Dragged it just wide with his weaker foot!

    17mins: Another corner to ‘Well after Lawson’s volley was deflected wide.

    15mins: Another good chance as the ball falls to Moore from Franci-Angols cross which evaded Sutton. Youngster slices it wide.

    12mins: McFadden curls in a ball first time from the right. Vigurs can’t quite get enough on it to get it on target.

    10mins: Francis-Angol wins the first corner of the game… McFadden’s delivery is hooked clear by Gardyne

    6mins: Great tenacity from Moore to battle and win the ball to create a shooting opportunity. Just over from 16 yards!!

    3mins: Johnstone wins a free-kick 30 yards out in a crossable position. And from that, Pascali heads straight at Nielsen from Clingan’s delivery

    1min: Boyd and O’Hara get the game underway. #kfcvmfc

    [tab:Reaction]

    Motherwell manager Stuart McCall:

    “We set up to play in a slightly different way and after taking a little while to settle we got into a good pattern. The full-backs got high and wide and got some really good balls in.

    “We were disappointed to come in at half-time and not be ahead. But we had a clean sheet and a really strong, positive performance.

    “Sometimes when you miss chances it comes back to haunt you. Thankfully that wasn’t the case and Henri’s goal put the icing on the cake.

    “The last four games, even though we beat Hibs, we have not performed at a great level. Today we were back more like ourselves. We were strong and resolute when we needed to be and also played some good football.”

    Kilmarnock manager Allan Johnston:

    “When you look at the performance, I don’t think it merited a 2-0 defeat. But how many times can we keep saying the same thing?

    “We created a few good chances but teams don’t need to work hard to score against us and that’s been a problem since we came in.

    “There were loads of mistakes for the first goal. It came from our corner. They have got one striker up the park and we have two back and he manages to hold the ball in.

    “Then the ball gets played across the face of goal, comes out the other side and comes back in again and Sutton is still standing by himself, and we have three or four players round about him. It’s just basic defending, you pick someone up.

    “And the second goal we just got bullied. It’s very poor defending.”

    [tab:Man-of-the-match]

    [poll id=”166″]

  • Archive

    TV: Vigurs keen to rediscover form

    Iain Vigurs has become his own harshest critic as he waits for his Fir Park career to really take off.

    Vigurs was sensational for Ross County last year, pitching in with nine goals and nine assists in the Scottish Premier League, helping Derek Adams’ men to an impressive top half finish.

    By his own admission, the 25-year old hasn’t quite hit top gear in Claret and Amber although, in his defence, he has been used in a variety of roles across a changing Steelmen midfield.

    Appraising himself, the former Inverness and Elgin star spoke openly and honestly and told MFC TV he will double his efforts in training and matches to try and recapture some of last season’s form.

    [pullquote]Maybe I haven’t found my feet on the pitch as yet but I’ll work hard and put in good hours on the training field and hopefully that will show on game day.[/pullquote]

    He said: “My own performances have not been up to par, either for my own or the club’s standards.

    “I don’t mind playing in different positions; I’ve done that before so it’s not like it’s new to me, but I’ve been unhappy with my own performances.

    “Maybe I haven’t found my feet on the pitch as yet but I’ll work hard and put in good hours on the training field and hopefully that will show on game day.

    “My aim is to get a goal as quickly as possible. It’s disappointing not to have scored yet and I can imagine that also disappoints both the fans and the gaffer too.

    ‘I know I’ve not played as well as I can but I know I have a lot more to give.

    “In saying that, from a the team’s perspective, although everyone accepts we’ve not got into top gear, we’re still just three points behind second place and that gives us room for optimism.”

    -WATCH HIS INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV

    MFC TV

  • Archive

    TV: Back to basics for McCall

    Stuart McCall has urged his side to get back to basics as the Steelmen aim to recapture the form of late August and September.

    ‘Well went six weeks unbeaten during that run, including five wins and a draw from six matches,

    Recent form has been patchier though; four defeats in the last six outings, with just two victories.

    Conceding cheap goals has been an Achilles heel and that is something the Fir Park boss has focused on in recent training sessions.

    [pullquote]We’ve got to cut that out; it’s down to concentration, communication and organisation and that’s what we have been working on.[/pullquote]

    “As much as the Dundee United game is out our system now, we have to learn lessons from it,” he told MFC TV ahead of Saturday’s SPFL Premiership match against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

    “If you look at the first two we conceded [against Dundee Utd], they are extremely poor goals to lose in terms of communication and decision-making. That gave them a boost and deflated us a little.

    “Over the last four or five matches, we’ve dropped our standards a little bit, both in terms of creating and taking chances and defending. We’ve not really been ripped open by many teams but we’ve given away far too many sloppy goals.

    “We’ve got to cut that out; it’s down to concentration, communication and organisation and that’s what we have been working on.”

    -WATCH HIS INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV

    MFC TV

  • Archive

    Finnie’s in charge at Rugby Park

    Referee for Saturday’s SPFL Premiership clash with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park is Stephen Finnie.

    It will be Stephen’s first ‘Well match of the 2013/14 campaign after officiating the Fir Parkers twice last term.

    The first was, ironically enough, at Rugby Park as a Jamie Murphy double secured all three points in a 2-1 win.

    The other was the rearranged match against Dundee United at Fir Park last February. Johnny Russell scored the game’s only goal in a 1-0 win for the Terrors.

    Prior to that match at Rugby Park last season, Stephen had almost gone two years without a ‘Well fixture; you have to go all the way back to the Steelmen’s narrow defeat to Celtic in Glasgow the day before Stuart McCall took up the hot seat at the club in December 2010.

    In the same season, he was also the man in the middle as ‘Well crashed 4-1 at Ibrox. Nick Blackman had actually put the Fir Parkers ahead but second half strikes from Steven Naismith, Steve Davies, Kenny Miller and Vladimir Weiss gave the home side a comfortable victory.

    In actual fact, since taking matches in the top-flight of Scottish football, Stephen has only ever officiated seven Motherwell matches.

    Other than those Old Firm defeats, there was a 3-1 home win over Hearts in March of 2010 (Goals from Mark Reynolds, John Sutton and Jim O’Brien), a 1-0 defeat at Tannadice in October 2007 (Darren Dods heading home the games’ only goal) and a 2-0 win over Dunfermline in March 2007 courtesy of a Scott McDonald brace.

    In those seven matches, he has dished out 32 cautions, eight of which flashed at a player wearing Claret and Amber. Only one player has been sent for an early bath and that was Scott Brown for a second bookable offence in that match at Parkhead in 2010.

    Stephen will be ably assisted on the day by Stephen Mitchell and Stuart Hodge with John McKendrick assigned as fourth official.