Latest News

Motherwell FC can today confirm Theo Robinson has left the club to join English League One side Port Vale.

Robinson was signed by former boss Ian Baraclough in late August 2015, but only managed three starts over the next five months.

He has left to join the Valiants on a deal until the end of the season.

[pullquote]This is a good opportunity for us to try and reshape the squad a little during the January window.[/pullquote]

‘Well boss Mark McGhee said: “It’s not quite worked out for Theo here at Fir Park, but that can happen, particularly if the manager who signs you leaves so soon after you arrive.

“This is a good opportunity for us to try and reshape the squad a little during the January window.”

Everyone at Motherwell FC would like to thank Theo for his contribution at Fir Park and wish him every success in his future career.

Extended highlights from Fir Park as despite a late Stephen Pearson goal, Motherwell lose 2-1 to Ross County.

Mark McGhee was left hugely frustrated after watching his side slip to their first home defeat in two and a half months.

‘Well went behind to Jackson Irvine’s effort, frustrating given the Aussie was only a last-second inclusion in the starting eleven after Martin Woods took ill during the warm-up.

The Steelmen created, but missed, numerous chances during the first-half and in their eagerness to get level, at times fell victim to the County counter-attack.

One of them brought about a Brian Graham goal that double the Staggies lead, and it looked game set and match.

However, to their credit, the hosts continued to push and eventually reduced the arrears when Stephen Pearson smashed home from close range.

[pullquote]We’re hugely frustrated and hugely disappointed to lose a game which, at the very worst, we should’ve had a point.[/pullquote]

Scott Fox then bailed his side out with a number of excellent saves in the dying seconds, to give Jim McIntyre’s men their first ever victory in North Lanarkshire.

“I thought we deserved to take something from the game,” McGhee told MFC TV after the match.

“We’ve lost two goals, one from a set-play which was hugely disappointing and the other being suckered by a stereotypical counter-attack, but we continued to probe and press and dominated possession for large spells.

“I suppose the big frustration is that for all that territorial advantage, it wasn’t until late on before we turned that into clear cut chances.

“So overall we’re hugely frustrated and hugely disappointed to lose a game which, at the very worst, we should’ve had a point.”

Action images from today’s 2-1 defeat to Ross County in the Ladbrokes Premiership at Fir Park.

Snaps courtesy of SNSPix and Ian McFadyen.

[svgallery name=”rosscounty230116″]

[tab:Match report]

 Phil McGhee Fir Park

Motherwell slipped to their first home defeat in six games despite having the bulk of the play around the Ross County box.

It was an improved performance after the hammering by Hearts, but it took County’s opener through Jackson Irvine to spark ‘Well into action.

Then having created a host of openings, Brian Graham’s second midway through the second half appeared to have settled the game before Stephen Pearson pulled one back to ensure a grandstand finish.

However, despite peppering the County goal, Scott Fox was in no mood to conceded the second and ‘Well lost a home match to the Staggies for the first time ever.

With his men looking to make an immediate recovery from their Tynecastle trouncing, McGhee made three changes with Keith Lasley returning from suspension. Kieran Kennedy came in at right back and did well to restore the shape of the back four. But it was 19-year old Chris Cadden, on his first start, was deservedly man of the match with his tireless running and an eye for goal.

Although ‘Well’s early play was tidy in the middle of the park, it lacked a cutting edge in attack. Indeed neither ‘keeper was involved in the action until the first corner of the game arrived after 20 minutes and sadly from Motherwell’s point of view the opening goal.

Local lad Ian McShane whipped in the corner, which found Jackson Irvine unmarked at the back of the box and his shot across a packed six-yard area took a deflection sending the ball inside the post.

That sparked an immediate response from the home side as the County goal came under some sustained pressure.

A measured lob from Scott McDonald found Louis Moult in front of goal and his header sent the ball dipping under the bar until Scott Fox palmed it over. Then, from the other side, Marvin Johnson’s quick footwork created space to whip in a low cross, which Moult met with a diving header to send the ball inches wide of target.

Young Cadden, who did a power of work on the right latched onto a loose pass before unleashing a low drive which Fox, at full stretch, pushed round the post.

After Connor Ripley made his first save of the game, comfortably holding Alex Schalk’s low shot, the Steelmen passed up their best chance of the half. Stephen McManus nodded on Johnson’s in-swinging free kick, but both Kennedy and McDonald failed to nudge the ball over the line.

Just before the break and from yet another Johnson cross Cadden climbed above Andy Davies only to nod the ball down and beyond the post.

While Motherwell deserved to be level at the interval it took a smart save from Ripley at the start of the second half to beat out McShane’s back post header and prevent County from doubling their lead.

The action around the visitor’s goal was resumed with teasing crosses just begging to be converted. Another fine delivery from Johnson was completely missed by McDonald before the Aussie striker prodded Moult’s tempting cross into the side netting.

While the pressure on the County goal was immense, the Highlander’s were always threatening on the counter. And they came close to a second goal after 63 minutes when from another McShane corner Davies’ header was sailing home until Johnson popped up on the line to head the ball clear.

County sensed that a second decisive goal was on the cards and Michael Gardyne had plenty of space and time to finish but his drive from 12 yards was well blocked by Ripley.

After 66 minutes injury forced a change with Stevie Hammell being replaced by Joe Chalmers. Within two minutes, and before the fullback could settle, Stewart Murdoch’s cross from the right picked out Brian Graham who slammed the ball high into the net and virtually kill the game.

With 15 minutes remaining and in attempt to re-energise the side McGhee sent on Lionel Ainsworth and James McFadden.

It looked to have no effect as the game drifted towards a tame end until four minutes from time when ‘Well grabbed a lifeline.

Ainsworth’s corner found Kennedy beyond the back post and his nod setup Stephen Pearson who lashed the ball home to set up a tense finale.

Within a minute ‘Well were almost level when McFadden tried to lob the advancing ‘keeper but Fox stretched to claw the ball away.

As the crowd urged another goal the Fir Parkers were denied a stunning equaliser. With County hemmed in their own box Keith Lasley collected the ball 25 yards out and his terrific strike was destined for the top corner until Fox matched it, flying high to his right to palm the ball away.

Despite pressing towards the visitor’s goal for the additional four minutes County held out for the three points.

[tab:As it happened]

 Ally Reilly at Fir Park:

FT: Motherwell 1 – 2 Ross County

92′ | 1-2
Curran booked for time wasting.

4 minutes added on…

87′ | 1-2
Fox with a spectacular save to deny Lasley who shot from 25 yards!!

86′ | 1-2
Pearson hammers it home from Kennedy’s knock back. Come on!!

GOALL!!

81′ | 0-2
County sub, Schalk off for Morrison

76′ | 0-2
Motherwell subs, Cadden and McDonald off for McFadden and Ainsworth

70′ | 0-2
County sub, Curran on for Graham

69′ | 0-2
Goal – Graham doubles County’s lead, firing home from Murdoch’s cut-back.

66′ | 0-1
Motherwell sub, Hammell limps off for Chalmers

65′ | 0-1
Cadden whips in a great ball which Fox misses. It cannons off Boyd’s head and goes over for a corner.

64′ | 0-1
County on a rare break into the ‘Well half and win a corner. From that, Davies’ header is cleared off the line by Johnson!

63′ | 0-1
Ross County sub, Franks off for Murdoch

54′ | 0-1
Another cross and another good chance! This time it is Moult to the front post but McDonald gets too much on it and puts it wide

52′ | 0-1
Johnson gets into the box and drills in a low cross which McDonald can’t quite react to and the ball runs out of play.

50′ | 0-1
Good chance for Franks after County break and Gardyne clips a ball to the back post but Ripley makes the stop.

Second half is underway. COYW!!

HT: Motherwell 0 – 1 Ross County #MFCvRCFC

37′ | 0-1
Moult clips in a cross to the front post. Cadden rises well but can’t get his header on target, under pressure from Boyd.

34′ | 0-1
CHANCE! Johnson swings in a great free-kick, is McManus flicked on and just missed McDonald by an inch at the back post.

26′ | 0-1
Cadden tries his luck from outside the box and Fox has to dive low to his left to makes the stop. Corner to ‘Well.

24′ | 0-1
Johnson does well down the left and fires in a great cross which Moult gets his head on but can’t direct goalwards.

23′ | 0-1
Fox pulls off a great save, tipping Moult’s looping header over the bar for a corner.

19′ | 0-1
First corner of the game for County….Goal! Irvine fires in at the far post. Really poor goal to conceded.

18′ | 0-0
Moult and Johnson work the ball down the left but Fraser gets enough on the cross to take the sting out it and Fox gathers.

12′ | 0-0
Foster collects a loose ball and whips in a great ball from deep which thankfully had no takers.

11′ | 0-0
Cadden intercepts and slides in Johnson whose shot from outside the box is fired straight at Moult and it deflects wide.

9′ | 0-0
Johnson twists and turns, getting past Fraser but Gardyne gets back and makes a vital covering interception.

County get the game underway. COYW!!!!

[tab:Reaction]

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee:

Ross County manager Jim McIntyre:

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

[poll id=”257″]

Mark McGhee says no one at Fir Park can afford to dwell on last week’s disappointing defeat at Tynecastle ahead of Saturday’s clash with Ross County.

The Steelmen had been on a run of almost two months without defeat, but the heavy loss in the Capital six days ago.

However, the 58-year old Scotland Assistant says the side can take inspiration from their previous defeat, coincidentally against County in the Highlands in mid November, and how they responded to that.

He said: “When you go back to Ross County and Inverness games, before we started our good run, we went into the next game against Hearts very much thinking we could win.

[pullquote]”You cannot afford to dwell on it and we know that before the end of the season we will win games and lose games, so we don’t lose a beat. With Lasley back and another week to get used to losing Liam Grimshaw, we can get better[/pullquote].

“I have no doubts about the character of each player and the defeat last week didn’t change my opinion of them.”

County have enjoyed an impressive season thus far, confounding many pre-season doubters with a terrific first half under Jim McIntyre and Billy Dodds.

McGhee thinks anyone who under-estimated the Dingwall club previously have been well and truly silenced.

“I don’t think anyone is surprised by Ross County anymore,” he explained.

“We all know they are a competitive team and I’ve been watching a lot of their footage and the one thing that stands out is their sheer effort and determination.

“All over the pitch they compete and don’t give you time on the ball. There are no airs and graces about them, they play good, effective football which we will need to be prepared for.”

If you are coming to the Ladbrokes Premiership game with Ross County on Saturday, here is some information you may find important.

Match day Mascots :  Fionn Graham, age 11, Glasgow Gaelic School, Maili Graham, age 7, Glasgow Gaelic School

Ticket Office: Open 10am until 3pm

The Well Shop: Open 9.30am until 5.15pm though is closed during the game

Match day programme: Available from The Well Shop & externally at the Stadium priced at £3

50/50 raffle: Tickets are available from sellers outside the stadium and within the hospitality suites

Cooper Suite: Open from 12pm with the bar & hot food available to supporters

Cooper Stand: Face painters are located within the stand’s internal concourse from gates opening at 1.45pm

Centenary Suite: Open from 12.45pm for hospitality members

The club shop have a fantastic match day offer available online and instore but only for a limited period.

Starting at midnight Thursday 21st January and running until midnight on Saturday 23^rd, you can pick up this fantastic Copa 70s retro shirt half price.

Usually £35, ‘Well fans who love the style or want to reminisce about the era can pick the shirt up for £17.50.

This shirt comes boxed and is available online at www.motherwelldirect.co.uk or via the Club shop.

The shop, located at the Cooper Stand, is open Friday 9.30am – 4pm and on match day, 9.30am until kick off then for 30mins after the game.

Under 20s boss Stephen Craigan was left with mixed emotions as his side were held to a 2-2 draw with Dunfermline this evening.

The Steelmen found themselves trailing by two going into the last third of the match, but clawed their way back into the match before equalising late on.

However, the Fir Parkers created and missed countless chances in an enthralling night’s entertainment, and Stephen Craigan, althought delighted to have watched his team fight back into the match from a losing position, left thinking what might have been.

He told MFC TV afterwards: “Despite the fact we’ve come back from two behind, it almost feels like a defeat.

“We played so well for the last sixty minutes of the game and indeed, the second half was complete one-way traffic. They tried to play on the counter, which is fine, but I was impressed with the power and the presence we showed and how we moved the ball.

[pullquote]“I should be reflecting on a win, no doubt about it, and how we’ve not won, I’ve no idea, but when you’re 0-2 down with 25 minutes left to go and still take something from the match, the players certainly deserve credit.”[/pullquote]

“Today’s not the first time I’ve spoke after a match about my team creating chances and it’s a similar story tonight. That comes with its own frustrations as we’re trying to get the players, particularly the younger lads, into the mind-set of winning football matches.

“Sure, that needs to be paired with good play; at this level, I’d not want to win every week but not play well, but it’s about finding that balance.

“I should be reflecting on a win, no doubt about it, and how we’ve not won, I’ve no idea, but when you’re 0-2 down with 25 minutes left to go and still take something from the match, the players certainly deserve credit.”

Extended highlights from Excelsior Stadium as goals David Clarkson and Dylan Mackin earn Motherwell U20s a point.