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  • Archive

    Remembering Phil O’Donnell

  • Archive

    TV: McCall looks ahead to Jags test

  • Archive

    McLean in charge against Thistle

  • Archive

    Firhill Ticket Information

  • Archive

    2013/14 Half Season Ticket

  • Archive

    TV: Highlights from Pittodrie

  • Archive

    Aberdeen win in pictures

  • Archive

    TV: McCall hails battling Steelmen

  • Archive

    Aberdeen 0 – 1 Motherwell

  • Archive

    Clancy in charge at Pittodrie

  • Archive

    Remembering Phil O’Donnell

    Motherwell Football Club remembers our captain, Phil O’Donnell, who sadly and so tragically passed away six years ago today.

    A Motherwell Cup-winning legend, Phil died on the 29th December 2007 during a match with Dundee United at Fir Park.

    His untimely and tragic death had a massive impact on the club and he is still fondly remembered and much missed by everyone, including our supporters, who are once again planning a tribute by applauding during the tenth minute of today’s match with Partick Thistle to celebrate his life.

    Today, the thoughts and prayers of everyone at Motherwell Football Club are with Eileen, Megan, Christopher, Olivia and Luc and the rest of Phil’s family and friends, as we cherish a true gentleman and family man taken way before his time.

    Phil O’Donnell, brave as a lion, may you forever rest in peace.

  • Archive

    TV: McCall looks ahead to Jags test

    ‘Well boss Stuart McCall expects an extremely tough test against Partick Thistle tomorrow.

    The Steelmen will travel to the Glasgow’s west end for the first time in ten years on the back of three consecutive away wins in the SPFL Premiership [at Kilmarnock, Ross County and Aberdeen].

    However, the Jags have shown they’re a match for just about everyone in the league, particularly on their own patch, and the Fir Park boss is well aware of their capabilities.

    [pullquote]Our main focus is on how we play. We’ve had a variety of different performances on the road, even in recent weeks, and we will go there trying as hard as we can to keep our decent run of form going.[/pullquote]

    In a wide-ranging interview on MFC TV, the Fir Park boss said of tomorrow’s opponents: “I’ve seen their last few games; they certainly should have won at Kilmarnock and against Inverness on Boxing Day, on chances created, they will certainly feel disappointed not to have picked up all three points.

    “They are playing well even though the results they’ve had and where they are in the table don’t quite marry up.

    “They have a number of really talented players who we will need to keep an eye on including three in particular that we know well [Forbes, Lawless and Higginbotham].

    “But, as always, our main focus is on how we play. We’ve had a variety of different performances on the road, even in recent weeks, and we will go there trying as hard as we can to keep our decent run of form going.”

    -WATCH STUART’S FULL INTERVIEW ON MFC TV

    MFC TV

  • Archive

    McLean in charge against Thistle

    Referee for this Sunday’s SPFL Premiership clash with Partick Thistle will be Steven McLean.

    McLean, the brother of former ‘Well defender Brian, is handling his third Motherwell game of the current campaign – his other two won’t live long in the memory.

    The first was back in November when a depleted Steelmen crashed 4-0 at home to Dundee United.

    One month later, as ‘Well were hurting from a Scottish Cup exit, he was the man in the middle for Celtic’s 5-0 win at Fir Park.

    He is a very familiar face to most Motherwell fans having taken charge of six matches last term too.

    His first was the exceptional 5-1 success over Inverness CT back 12 months ago. Henrik Ojamaa, Adam Cummins, Omar Daley and a Jamie Murphy double completed the rout.

    His second was perhaps even more memorable as Motherwell came back from 2-0 down at Easter Road to win 3-2. A Doyle double had the home side in a commanding position but a Murphy brace and a late Bob McHugh winner handed the Steelmen all three points.

    Third was the New Year fixture against today’s opponents Celtic when a brave ‘Well went down 1-0 after Tom Hateley had missed a second half penalty.

    Fourth was the instantly forgettable 2-0 defeat at Rugby Park in February whereas the fifth was a comfortable 3-0 win at Dens Park – Michael Higdon heading home before a Nicky Law double sealed the three points.

    His last was the season finale at McDiarmid Park as the Steelmen went down 2-0 to a Saints side that won the race for Europe ahead of Inverness and Ross County.

    His overall record in charge of Motherwell reads nine wins, five defeats and zero draws from fourteen matches. In those games, ‘Well have scored 29 and conceded 24. 37 cautions have been dished out, 23 flashed at those wearing Claret and Amber. Four people have been sent off, two for ‘Well (Fraser Kerr and Keith Lasley in the same match against Killie last year).

    He has had an extremely busy start to the season already – handling thirteen SPFL Premiership matches in the first twelve weeks.

    He has also had two League Cup matches, both at the Falkirk Stadium, and two Europa League Qualifiers – Omonia Nikosia’s 1-2 defeat by Romania’s Astra Giurgiu and Serbian side FK Vojvodina’s 2-2 draw with Bursaspor.

    Recently, he also handled the Europa League Group game between Standard Liège and IF Elfsborg Boras.

    McLean will be ably assisted by Alan Mulvanny and Raymond Whyte with John Beaton on fourth official duties.

  • Archive

    Firhill Ticket Information

    Tickets for Sunday’s match against Partick Thistle will be available on the turnstiles at Firhill.

    Admission is priced at:

    ADULTS:    £20 
    CONCESSIONS:                        £14
    JUVENILE:    £5
    • Concessions are listed as Over 65s and Full Time Students with a valid matriculation card.
    • Juveniles are listed as Under 16s.
    • Fans who require wheelchair access should contact Sharon or John McCaskie on 07745494631 / 07711 992161 or email disabledfans@motherwellfc.co.uk.
  • Archive

    2013/14 Half Season Ticket

    The club is urging ‘Well fans to guarantee their seat for the remainder of the season by buying a 2013/14 Half Season Ticket.

    By purchasing a Half Season Ticket, fans can ensure they will definitely play a part in this season’s story, as the Steelemn look to consolidate their top-six and battle for the European places against some of the best teams the Scottish Premiership has to offer – starting with the Inverness CT match on 4th January.

    There are some great value prices in all areas of the stadium and none more so than for a Juvenile half season ticket, which works out at just £4 per game.

    Whether it is for an adult or child a half year season ticket makes a great Christmas present for any ‘Well fan and as with 2013/14 season tickets; remember, up to two under 16s go free with a full paying adult or OAP in the Cooper Stand.

    You can save almost 64% on what you would pay on a similar ticket by paying at the gate each week.

    As a Season Ticket holder, you can use it to earn a host of discounts in a number of well-known businesses throughout Lanarkshire has also been extended.

    The likes of M&D’s, Tony Macaroni, Hamilton Palace, Knockhill Racing and Esporta all return and join a 35 strong list which already contained the likes of McDonalds, KFC, Pizzahut, LivingWell Health Club, Evans Halshaw and many, many more.

    What better time of the year to save some money than now with Christmas not far away. Take advantage of these great offers in the knowledge that the seat is yours for what promises to be an exciting finish to the campaign.

    There are three easy ways to book your seat and enjoy all the fun in 2014.

    1. Phone our Box Office enquiry line on 01698 333333

    2. Pop into the Fir Park Ticket Office

    3. Buy online at motherwellbuyonline.co.uk

    2013/14 Half Season Ticket Prices:

    PHIL O’DONNELL STAND PRICE
    Adult £195
    Concessions* £110
    Juvenile (16 and under) £40
    Family (x1 Adult & x1 Juvenile) £195
     
    DAVIE COOPER STAND PRICE
    Adult £150
    Concessions* £90
    Juvenile (16 and under) £40
    Family (x1 Adult & x2 Juvenile) £150
    EAST STAND PRICE
    Adult £140
    Concessions* £80
    Juvenile (16 and under) £40
    Family (x1 Adult & x1 Juvenile) £140

    *Please note, concessions are applicable to over 60s and full-time students with a valid matric card.

  • Archive

    TV: Highlights from Pittodrie

    Extended highlights from Pittodrie as Lionel Ainsworth’s 49th minute goal gives ‘Well a 1-0 win.

    -WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV

    MFC TV

  • Archive

    Aberdeen win in pictures

    Action pictures from the 1-0 win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie in the SPFL Premiership.

    Snaps courtesy of SNSPix.

    [svgallery name=”aberdeen261213″]

  • Archive

    TV: McCall hails battling Steelmen

    Stuart McCall praised the character of his team after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

    The only goal of the game had come on the break; Henri Anier raced forward as the Dons were caught short following a corner, and he squared for Lionel Ainsworth to stroke home at the back post.

    The home side saw most of the ball, but only really made Dan Twardzik work twice in the ninety minutes, blocking twice from McGinn.

    The win maintains Motherwell’s five-year unbeaten run at Pittodrie and the former Scotland midfielder was quick to pile praise on his side.

    Speaking to MFC TV, he said: “We had a hard couple of weeks after going out of the cup and lesser teams would have crumbled after what had happened.

    [pullquote]”It’s a good boost to come and take three points from what is a difficult place to come to.[/pullquote]

    “But I said at the time that we have some good strong characters in the dressing room and those are the times you have to stand up and be counted.

    “We were getting flak, which was rightly deserved at the time, but those are the times you have to show a bit of steel and character. It gets a monkey off our back in terms of having not beaten a side in the top six this season.

    “It’s a good boost to come and take three points from what is a difficult place to come to.

    “Aberdeen started well and we were forced to dig in a bit but, the longer we went on, the better we started to play and we started to get on the ball a bit.

    “It was a hard-earned three points and I’m not saying we didn’t deserve them but we’re certainly thankful for them.”

    -WATCH STUART’S FULL INTERVIEW ON MFC TV

    MFC TV

  • Archive

    Aberdeen 0 – 1 Motherwell

    [tab:Match report]

    Phil McGhee at Pittodrie

    A Lionel Ainsworth goal saw ‘Well leapfrog Aberdeen as they climbed into second spot in the Scottish Premiership with a 1-0 win.

    The on-loan Rotherham winger netted early in the second half of a game and although the home side had a lot of possession for long stages, they found a ‘Well defence in mean form.

    The Dons had been forced into a change of formation in the absence of a recognised left-back, lining up 3-4-3 with Johnny Hayes coming in on the left of midfield to replace Mark Reynolds, who had started in the full-back position in the 4-3 win at Inverness.

    Motherwell continued with on-loan goalkeeper Dan Twardzik in goal, the Dundee man having moved to Fir Park after injuries to regular keepers Gunnar Nielsen and Lee Hollis.

    McCall made two changes to the side that beat St Mirren 3-0. Stephen McManus missed out with an ankle injury and was replaced by Fraser Kerr, while Paul Lawson took the place of Iain Vigurs in midfield.

    After an even opening period, the Dons could have taken the lead when Niall McGinn popped up on the right to send in a cross for Hayes, who threw himself at the ball but who could only head wide of the target.

    John Sutton was forced from the field twice in the opening quarter after a clash of heads with Joe Shaughnessy, the initial treatment the big striker received not quite having stemmed the flow of blood, with stitches eventually required.

    That allowed the Dons an advantage, but Stuart McCall’s side did a fine job of containing them and forcing them into shots from distance.

    Indeed, it was nearly the half-hour mark before Twardzik was forced into serious action, and even then it was a comfortable hold from McGinn’s 20-yard effort.

    The Steelmen were always a threat, though, and when Michael Hector’s burst up the pitch left Aberdeen short at the back, Jamie Langfield did well to hold onto Lawson’s long-range effort.

    The best chance of the half fell to McGinn in injury time, the striker sent clear by Peter Pawlett and rounding Twardzik, only to see the Czech react well to save his effort.

    But just four minutes after the restart, it was the visitors who took the lead following an incisive counter-attack.

    Estonian striker Henri Anier broke following a Dons corner, and with the equally pacy Ainsworth providing support, they had the Dons caught two-on-one.

    The sole man back, Hayes, did not know whether to stick or twist, eventually moving to block off Anier who calmly squared for Ainsworth to stroke home for the second time in as many games.

    Aberdeen responded, and when Ryan Jack slipped in Pawlett, the midfielder went down after a coming together with Kerr. It looked rather innocuous, but it led to furious claims, all of which were waved away by the referee, though, and Russell Anderson picked up a booking for dissent in the aftermath.

    It also sparked a reaction from the home support who were suddenly loudly behind their team, roaring for every decision and urging their side forward.

    And their support was almost rewarded when Shaughnessy popped up on the edge of the area to send a left-foot volley off the outside of the post from 20 yards.

    The home side changed formation, but were almost caught by another counter, Twardzik’s clearance finding Anier who was denied only by a desperate block from Shaughnessy.

    That would be the striker’s last involvement, as he was replaced in attack by Craig Moore.

    Trading changes, the Dons brought on Josh Magennis for Shaughnessy, before Motherwell’s Zaine Fracis-Angol took the place of Ainsworth.

    Aberdeen’s last throw of the dice saw them replace Scott Vernon and the injured Barry Robson with Craig Murray and Calvin Zola after 84 minutes.

    The visitors battled for every scrap, but they had a scare deep into injury time when the crowd thought McGinn had levelled matters with a free-kick which had in fact only hit the side-netting.

    It’s a super three points for the Steelmen who now face another tough test against Partick Thistle at Firhill on Sunday.

    [tab:As it happened]

    Ally Reilly at Pittodrie

    FULL TIME!! Aberdeen 0 – 1 Motherwell #afcvmfc

    92mins: Corner to Aberdeen….’Well clear but again when Moore is fouled, Aberdeen get the free-kick! #afcvmfc

    91mins: Moore booked for being pushed over. Ref says he dived…. #afcvmfc

    90mins: 4 minutes added on..#afcvmfc

    89mins: Close! Pawlett heads inches past in the dying minutes #afcvmfc

    84mins: Aberdeen subs, Murray and Zola on for Robson and Vernon #afcvmfc

    83mins: Pawlett slices well wide from inside the box with only Twardzik to beat. Lawson booked in the process. #afcvmfc

    82mins: Corner to Aberdeen…..gathered by Twardzik #afcvmfc

    75mins: Into the last fifteen and McGinn has just passed up another good chance at the back post. Blasts over from 12 yards #afcvmfc

    70mins: Motherwell sub, Francis-Angol on for the goalscorer, Lionel Ainsworth #afcvmfc

    69mins: Aberdeen sub, Magennis on for Shaughnessy #afcvmfc

    65mins: Motherwell sub, Anier off for Moore #afcvmfc

    63mins: Excellent chance for Anier again on the counter. Just can’t quite get his shot away and the Dons sweep clear #afcvmfc

    58mins: Shaughnessy strikes one off the post! #afcvmfc

    56mins: Free-kick right on the edge of the ‘Well box….Lawson sweeps clear #afcvmfc

    54mins: Withstanding a wee bit of pressure here. Half hearted penalty claims waved away by the ref #afcvmfc

    48mins: ‘Well counter from a Dons corner and AINSWORTH pokes home Anier’s cutback! 0-1 #afcvmfc

    GGGOOOOAAALLLL!

    Second half underway #afcvmfc

    Teams are back out. #afcvmfc

    HT: Aberdeen 0 – 0 Motherwell #afcvmfc

    43mins: Corner to Motherwell….Lawson’s delivery flashes across goal and Hutchy is inches away from connecting #afcvmfc

    37mins: Lawson stings Langfield’s palms with an ambitious 28 yards strike. #afcvmfc

    33mins: Dangerous free-kick for Aberdeen…McGinn bends it just wide. Dons fans though it was in. #afcvmfc

    30mins: Great chance for a counter attack there but Anier seems a bit impatient and needlessly strays well offside #afcvmfc

    26mins: Sutton loses his footing at the vital second as he latched onto Lasley’s reverse pass. Wee half chance #afcvmfc

    23mins: Robson finds a bit of space in midfield and gets a shot away from 25 yards. Well wide though #afcvmfc

    17mins: Corner to ‘Well…….cleared by The Dons. Sutton heads down the tunnel for treatment on a cut #afcvmfc

    13mins: Hayes passes up a glorious opportunity! McGinn swung it and from 8 yards his diving header goes wide #afcvmfc

    3mins: Corner to Aberdeen….Twardzik has to be sharp and punch clear at his front post #afcvmfc

    2mins: Aberdeen have a FK out wide but Robson’s inswinger has no takers. #afcvmfc

    McGinn and Vernon kick-off #afcvmfc

    [tab:Reaction]

    Motherwell manager Stuart McCall:

    “We had a hard couple of weeks after going out of the cup and lesser teams would have crumbled after what had happened.

    “But I said at the time that we have some good strong characters in the dressing room and those are the times you have to stand up and be counted.

    “We were getting flak, which was rightly deserved at the time, but those are the times you have to show a bit of steel and character.

    “It gets a monkey off our back in terms of having not beaten a side in the top six this season. It’s a good boost to come and take three points from what is a difficult place to come to.

    Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes:

    “There’s no shame in losing to Motherwell. They’re a good team and you don’t always get what you deserve.

    “We lost a really untidy goal which gave Motherwell something to hold on to and, from that perspective, it feels a bit smash-and-grab.”

    [tab:Man-of-the-match]

    [poll id=”173″]

  • Archive

    Clancy in charge at Pittodrie

    Referee for the Boxing Day clash against Aberdeen at Pittodrie is Kevin Clancy.

    It will be Kevin’s second ‘Well appointment of the current campaign after previously taking charge of the swashbuckling 2-2 draw with Dundee United in September.

    Henri Anier had ‘Well ahead at the interval but two quick-fire goals from United had McNamara’s men ahead. Step forward substitute Lionel Ainsworth, who smashed home a brilliant leveller to give the Steelmen a deserved point.

    It would have been his third game, but John Beaton replaced him at the last minute ahead of the Aberdeen match back in August, after a hectic midweek European jaunt.

    Prior to the match at Tannadice, his last Motherwell match was against Aberdeen at Pittodrie (again), back in March, when the teams drew a blank in a 0-0 draw.

    It was one of two ‘Well fixtures the 30-year old took charge of last season, his other being the 2-1 away win at Dundee when Michael Higdon bagging a double as Stuart McCall’s men came back from a losing position to pick up all three points.

    His only other Motherwell match was in the 2011/12 Scottish Cup, where he was the man in the middle as the Fir Parkers demolished Queen’s Park 4-0, a certain Henrik Ojamaa smashing home a debut goal.

    His overall record in charge of Motherwell reads four matches in total, Motherwell winning two and drawing two. ‘Well have scored eight and conceded three. There have been eleven cautions dished out in those four matches, eight of them to a man wearing Claret and Amber and zero dismissals.

    He’s had a busy season in 2013/14, with some high profile matches including on Europa League duty when he handled Lokomotiva Zagreb’s match with Dinamo Minsk, managed by ex ‘Well defender Bob Maaskant. The Belarusian side ran out 3-2 winners.

    Coincidentally, Kevin was in Russia the same time ‘Well faced Kuban Krasnodar. He was appointed to take charge of FC Rubin Kazan vs Randers in the second leg tie of the 3rd Qualifying Round of the Europa League.

    He was also the man in the middle for the UEFA Under 21 Qualifier between Montenegro and Germany as well as the UEFA Youth Champions League matches Real Madrid vs FC Copenhagen and Man Utd vs Real Sociedad.

    Kevin will be ably assisted by Charlie Smith and Frank Connor with Mat Northcroft on 4th Official duties.