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  • Archive

    McManus: Next two games are winnable

  • Archive

    McGhee: Next spell is pivotal

  • Archive

    Cook in the middle for Caley

  • Archive

    Festive ticket office opening hours

  • Archive

    Scottish Cup: Ticket Information

  • Archive

    Competition: Design Our Mascot

  • Archive

    TV: Highlights from Fir Park

  • Archive

    Aberdeen defeat in pictures

  • Archive

    McGhee: We gifted goals

  • Archive

    Motherwell 1 – 3 Aberdeen

  • Archive

    McManus: Next two games are winnable

    ‘Well defender Stephen McManus wants to go in to the winter break in a positive frame of mind – starting with a good result tomorrow night.

    And during the busy schedule, the centre-back focussed on the positives of being able to put the loss against Aberdeen right tomorrow.

    Speaking to the press this morning, he said: “The games are coming thick and fast which is great as a player, you want to play in the games and you don’t mind when it goes Saturday-Wednesday, Saturday-Tuesday because there’s not a lot of training to be done and it’s just about recovery.

    “It’s also about putting the right things in your body and that’s the biggest problem when you need to walk past the Lindor chocolates!”

    He added: “It’s a great time though to spend with your family, the fans enjoy it too and the Christmas period is always that wee bit special I feel.

    [pullquote]The games are coming thick and fast which is great as a player, you want to play in the games and you don’t mind when it goes Saturday-Wednesday, Saturday-Tuesday.[/pullquote]

    “We’re coming in to a break as well so we’ve got two games to go and it’s two games that we feel are winnable.”

    Tomorrow’s opponents find themselves in a similar position to the Steelmen – hungry to bounce back to winning ways – and McManus admits that the Caley Jags will be up for tomorrows match.

    He said: “It’s going to be difficult and Inverness will be feeling the same, Hamilton will be feeling the same too but in the past few weeks our performances have been fine.

    “We’ve just been missing that wee bit of quality, that wee bit of something different in the final third to turn the draws in to wins, and the defeats like on Friday night in to draws.”

    With a mere four points separating sixth placed Ross County from 12th placed Inverness, matches like tomorrow and the upcoming Lanarkshire Derby can prove to be hugely important.

    [pullquote]The campaign this year is going to be very tight and at the moment in every match, whether you win, lose or draw, you seem to be moving position in the table.[/pullquote]

    McManus said: “The campaign this year is going to be very tight and at the moment in every match, whether you win, lose or draw you seem to be moving position in the table.

    “You want to go in to the break with your form being decent and psychologically you want to look at the table and, now that it’s taking shape, you want to go in with a few more points on the board to give you that bit more belief coming back in to the Rangers games towards the end of January.”

    Ahead of tomorrow night, the defender added: “We’ll do our video analysis on Inverness in their last few matches and we’ve already looked at our own performance against Aberdeen and looked at the aspects which were positive and negative too.

    “At this period of time when the games are coming thick and fast if you have a bad result you don’t need to wait a week or ten days to put it right.”

  • Archive

    McGhee: Next spell is pivotal

    ‘Well boss Mark McGhee believes the next few days are “pivotal” in the Steelmen’s hunt for a top six finish this season.

    Inverness Caley Thistle await the Fir Parkers tomorrow night before a trip to local rivals Hamilton will wrap up the calendar year.

    And with his sights set on another top half finish, Mark McGhee admitted that positive results could give his side belief for the remainder of the season.

    Speaking to the press this morning, he said: “We had the break over the weekend after the game on Friday and then of course we’ve only got two games then we have a lot of time to recover.

    “I think that this spell is pivotal and can define our season in a way because I think if we can get two good results, even a win and a draw, will allow us to look forward to the end of January and then February with a positive attitude and aim for the top six.

    “And then if we don’t I think we have to roll up our sleeves and accept that we’re in a bit of a scrap.”

    [pullquote]This spell is pivotal and can define our season in a way because I think if we can get two good results, even a win and a draw, will allow us to look forward to the end of January and then February with a positive attitude and aim for the top six.[/pullquote]

    He added: “Regardless of whether we feel we’ve done well or not in some games – we probably should have won against Kilmarnock, should have won against St Johnstone and I don’t think we should have been beaten against Aberdeen but ultimately we’ve drawn two and lost one.

    “I also see this next spell as an opportunity; it’s a chance to make that step up in to a position where you’re able to challenge seriously for the top six.

    “If we don’t get enough from these games we may not be able to sit here realistically and say we’re a top six team, but if we do get results then I will be sitting here saying that.”

    The manager also feels that as well as pushing his team up the table, points on the board will boost spirits in the dressing room.

    He said: “It’s more important about how much belief it can give us. For instance, if we were to go out and beat Inverness and Hamilton, I think we’d come back here with no fears.”

    It won’t be an easy couple of games for the ‘Well though, with the manager admitting that Inverness pose a particularly physical challenge for his side.

    It is one he thinks they are more than ready for though.

    [pullquote]We should have no fears physically when we face Inverness because we have become a team that is robust and can scrap our way out of it as well.[/pullquote]

    He said: “I always think Inverness are difficult and we’ve struggled to play against them at times. Their shape, the way they play, physically they’re a good size, their three midfield players are 6 foot plus so even that’s a challenge.

    “But one of the compliments for me is that when Derek McInnes came here on Friday he played his strongest physical team because he knows that we are physically capable.”

    He added: “So we should have no fears physically when we face Inverness because we have become a team that is robust and can scrap our way out of it as well.

    “Inverness can mix it up – they have that physical challenge but they have players in good positions, they have players who can score goals and they’re a threat from set plays and if you go behind against them you can find it difficult.”

    When asked about team news, McGhee said: “Keith Lasley is the only one who has picked up any form of injury – he hurt his shoulder so he’ll be going up to training today to try it out.

    “Las is a soldier, he’ll always try it out, but I’m not quite sure he’ll be quite right but he’s the only one.”

  • Archive

    Cook in the middle for Caley


    Barry Cook will take charge of his second Motherwell match on Wednesday when the Fir Parkers travel to face Inverness in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

    Inverness away is the penultimate match of 2016 and is the officials sixth top flight appointment – his third this season.

    The referee may be new to Premiership fixtures but has established himself as an experienced official in the lower divisions.

    The first time Cook took charge of a Steelmen fixture was their trip to Firhill back in February.

    A late, late goal cost ‘Well a point that day when ex-Fir Park man Steven Lawless’ deflected shot gave Thistle the win.

    On a miserable night for football, neither side deserved three points as both sets of fans must have wished the pitch had failed its late inspection.

    A stark statistic of only two saves, one in each half from Connor Ripley, summed up a match best forgotten – and especially from a Motherwell side which didn’t deserve to win, but certainly didn’t deserve to lose either.

    ‘Well fans will be hopeful of a more exciting match this time around.

    Barry will be assisted by Graham Chambers and Graeme Stewart, with Stephen Finnie on Fourth Official duties.

  • Archive

    Festive ticket office opening hours

    Fans should note the festive opening hours for the Chapman Building and Ticket Office.

    The Office will be open/closed on the following dates:

    Day Opening Times
    Saturday 24th December 9am – 12.00 noon
    Christmas Day Closed
    Boxing Day Closed
    Tuesday 27th December Closed
    Wednesday 28th December 9.15am – 4.30pm
    Thurday 29th December 9.15am – 7pm
    Friday 30th December 9.15am – 3.30pm
    Saturday 31st December Closed
    New Years Day Closed
    Monday 2nd January Closed
    Tuesday 3rd January Closed
    Wednesday 4th January 9.15am – 4.30pm

    If you have any enquiries, you can contact us on the following:

  • Archive

    Scottish Cup: Ticket Information

    Tickets for the William Hill Scottish Cup 4th Round clash with Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday 21st January have gone on sale.

    The Steelmen have been allocated just short of 2,000 tickets for the game and they will go on sale to 2016/17 Season Ticket holders and ‘Well Society members (please bring either Voucher C from your Season Book or Well Society membership card when purchasing) on Thursday 22nd December at 9.15am priced at:

    ADULTS:    £20 
    CONCESSIONS:                           £15
    UNDER 16s:                           £7

    * Concessions are listed as Over 65s and 16 and 17 year olds.

    Any remaining tickets will then go on full general sale from Monday 9th January 2017 up to the Friday (20th January) before the match.

    Additional Ticket Office opening hours throughout January will be announced shortly.

  • Archive

    Competition: Design Our Mascot

    Motherwell Football Club are sad to announce that mascots Claret and Amber are to go into semi-retirement after around 100,000 high fives and 16 years of service!  The loveable bears are to go into semi-hibernation and they will pass over the baton to a new cuddly favourite. Young fans may still see them out and about occasionally but they are all set for a much deserved retirement and we wish them well!

    This does now mean that we have THE most exciting competition EVER for the young people of Lanarkshire as we now need a new mascot!!!

    We are calling on our young supporters, the local community and the schools of Lanarkshire to design us a new mascot. That’s right we want you to be the brains behind our new club mascot who then could be your best buddy for life!

    Any child that enters the competition will receive one free ticket to a Motherwell FC game and the child who designs the winning entry will also receive this fantastic stack of prizes.

    • The mascot will be your best buddy for life.
    • You will be the first ever fan to meet them.
    • You will be the first fan to walk out the tunnel with the new mascot at a game
    • You will meet the first team
    • You will meet the first team manager
    • You will be invited by the mascot here for your next birthday VIP style
    • You will receive a full Motherwell Kit
    • A signed ball from the team
    • A visit by a first team player and the mascot to your school
    • One adult and one child ticket for the remaining games of the 2016/17 season.
    • Hero status amongst all of your friends!!!

    So here is what to do

    Get the form.

    Download the form, print it and draw your design.


    Terms and Conditions

    Where do I send my design?

    Please email your designs to us at MyMFCMascot@motherwellfc.co.uk , post them to My MFC Mascot,, Motherwell Football Club, The Chapman Building, ML1 2QN

    The deadline for all designs to be received by will be the 5pm on 7th January 2017.

    What happens next?

    We will have an internal judging panel who will look at all the designs and form a short list for each age group.

    • Under 7’s
    • 8 – 10
    • 11 –16

    A winner and a runner up from each age group will be selected and one winner from each age group will then go before a final judging panel. The winners in each age group will receive a signed ball. One of these winning designs will then become the Motherwell FC official mascot.

    T’s and C’s


    Terms and Conditions

  • Archive

    TV: Highlights from Fir Park

    Extended highlights from Fir Park as Motherwell lose 1-3 to Aberdeen.

  • Archive

    Aberdeen defeat in pictures

    Images from today’s 1-3 defeat to Aberdeen in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

    Snaps courtesy of SNSPix

    [svgallery name=”aberdeen231216″]

  • Archive

    McGhee: We gifted goals

    ‘Well boss Mark McGhee felt his side “gifted” Aberdeen their goals tonight in their final clash before Christmas.

    On a blistering night at Fir Park, the manager was disappointed with some of the decisions from the match officials, but even more disappointed to see his side concede cheap goals.

    Speaking to MFC TV after the match, he said: “I think we gifted them tonight. The third goal is irrelevant because we’re pushing on trying to get an equaliser.

    “The two goals we concede are ridiculous, so ridiculous. We’re in control of the game, we’re looking like the more likely team to take the lead and then we concede the two goals like we did.”

    He added: “To equalise like that through a fantastic finish, to then go 2-1 down and then miss the penalty, which I don’t even think about, is disappointing.

    [pullquote]I think we gifted them tonight. The third goal is irrelevant because we’re pushing on trying to get an equaliser.[/pullquote]

    “I actually said to Moulty when I went in to the dressing room that I’d forgot about the penalty because it was the two goals that we’d conceded in the first half that were playing on my mind.”

    Aberdeen went 2-1 up through a controversial penalty when Adam Rooney appeared to tumble due to the slightest touch from Craig Samson.

    And the Fir Park boss admitted he was disappointed with the decisions from the officials.

    He said: “There was a bit of controversy about their penalty kick, he went down a bit easily and prior to that I think there should have been two free kicks against Scott McDonald.

    “I was disappointed with some of the decisions but overall, while I’m satisfied that we’re a decent team, I’m very disappointed with the nature of the goals.”

    [pullquote]When we went 2-1 down I still thought we were going to get something out the game, right through to when they scored the third goal I thought we were going to get something out the game.[/pullquote]

    He added: “Ryan Jack was about six yards inside the box when the penalty was taken and the referee didn’t see it but it’s his job to see it.”

    Looking ahead to his side’s clash with Inverness on Wednesday, the manager said: “I think we’ve got to play as well as we did tonight because there were long spells of the game and lots of aspects of the game which were really, really good, so we’ve just got to take that to Inverness and not make the mistakes that we made in the first half.

    “When we went 2-1 down I still thought we were going to get something out the game, right through to when they scored the third goal I thought we were going to get something out the game because we were in the game the whole time and if anything we did look like being the next team to score.”

    He added: “Overall, disappointed with the nature of the two goals but not too disappointed with the performance.”

  • Archive

    Motherwell 1 – 3 Aberdeen

    [tab:Match report]

    Motherwell slipped to a home defeat at a rainy and wind swept Fir Park tonight as they fell 1-3 to Aberdeen.

    But having survived Storm Barbara, ‘Well paid the penalty when Adam Rooney tumbled to the ground softly inside the Motherwell box and dispatched his spot kick via the rebound.

    Down the other end Louis Moult missed his penalty before half time and was denied a rebound by the clearly encroaching Ryan Jack, which referee Bobby Madden failed to spot.

    Scott McDonald’s stunning equaliser cancelled out Graeme Shinnie’s opener, but having conceded two soft goals and despite a determined first half showing, the Steelmen failed to recover in the second forty-five.

    ‘Well made two changes with Stevie Hammell returning from injury and Lee Lucas making his first league start in a four man midfield.

    While Fir Park had survived the downpour, the swirling wind played havoc with both sets of players.

    And after Craig Clay had nodded Louis Moult’s cross just wide of the post, ‘Well were the first victims of the weather. Craig Samson’s ball out to Ben Henegan gained speed to put the central defender under pressure. His clearance was blocked allowing Jonny Hayes to race into the box before cutting the ball back to Graeme Shinnie who swept it past Samson to put the Dons in front after only seven minutes.

    A couple of corners from Richard Tait floated over Joe Lewis but the ‘keeper was saved when Ash Taylor cleared off the ‘keeper’s line.

    The Dons’ goal was finally breached but it had nothing to do with the wind but simply a touch of brilliance from Scott McDonald. Tait whipped a low ball towards the six-yard area and the Aussie striker, with his back to goal, hooked the ball over his own shoulder and off the underside of the bar for a fabulous equaliser.

    Motherwell looked the likelier to nick the next goal but against the run of play and in controversial circumstances Dons regained the lead. Samson could only palm out Kenny McLean’s grounder and as the ‘keeper raced out to recover the ball, Adam Rooney tumbled with little contact from Samson.

    After the ‘Well protests, Rooney’s spot kick was brilliantly blocked by Samson but the Dons’ striker followed up to slam the rebound high into the net.

    Six minutes from half time the Fir Park side had a great chance to draw level again from a disputed penalty. There seemed little doubt though that Mark Reynolds caught Keith Lasley across the thigh as he tried to jink past his former teammate.

    However, Moult’s attempt to claim his 11th goal of the season was denied when Lewis beat out his penalty. That sparked off a goal mouth melee as Moult’s follow up was forced onto his own post by Andy Considine before McDonald hammered the loose ball out of a sea of red jerseys on the goal line.

    Just before the half time whistle Considine was denied at the other end when Samson got down smartly to turn his header round the post.

    Still suffering from Reynold’s challenge, Lasley failed to return for the second half allowing Dom Thomas forty-five minutes to impress.

    It was Moult who came close ten minutes into the half with a dipping free kick which the Dons’ ‘keeper held firmly with McDonald homing in on a slip.

    Neither team really tamed the elements and consequently the second half produced few chances.

    Midway through the half Moult was again on target but his powerful header from Tait’s free kick crashed against the crossbar. Craig Clay then hammered the ball into the net but the offside flag was raised against Stephen McManus.

    It was then Aberdeen’s turn to rattle the bar when Ash Taylor’s header rebounded much to ‘Well’s relief.

    With ten minutes remaining Lionel Ainsworth replaced Cadden just in time to see Samson pull off a stunning save low to his left to push Hayes’ shot beyond the post.

    Mark McGhee then went on the hunt for an equaliser, throwing on Ryan Bowman for McManus.

    But before the big striker could force a header across goal the Pittodrie side had snatched a third. A poor cross field ball from Lucas allowed Hayes to set off on a 70 yard dash before setting up Niall McGinn to sweep the ball beyond Samson and send the hardy 760 Aberdeen fans back up north in the best of festive moods.

    [tab:As it happened]

     Alastair Reilly at Fir Park

     

    FT: Motherwell 1 – 3 Aberdeen #MFCvAFCTranslate from German

    91′ | 1-3
    Three minutes added on.

    89′ | 1-3
    Goal – Aberdeen counter and McGinn curls home from 18 yards.

    84′ | 1-2
    Motherwell sub, Bowman on for McManus

    83′ | 1-2
    McManus rises well at the back post but can’t test Lewis with his header.

    80′ | 1-2
    Great save from Samson, diving low to beat away Hayes’ shot after he drove into the box.

    MATCH ATTAX | Young ‘Well fans can vote now for your Man of the Match. Tweet us now with your name, age, selection and #MatchAttaxMOTM.

    78′ | 1-2
    Logan manages to get on the end of a deep ball intoo the box and manages to force a save from Samson.

    77′ | 1-2
    McDonald booked for obstructing Taylor as he rose to head.

    75′ | 1-2
    Thomas can only clear as far as McLean who works some space but fires over the bar from just outside the box.

    …Hammell’s front post delivery is headed clear and eventually swept away.

    71′ | 1-2
    Thomas curls a fine ball in from the left and it takes a touch. Corner to Motherwell….

    70′ | 1-2
    Considine heads off the bar! A let-off.

    68′ | 1-2
    Lucas has the ball in the net but flag goes up against McDonald. More positive from ‘Well now.

    66′ | 1-2
    Moult heads off the bar!! Hammell puts it deep into the box and the striker is unlucky to see it come back off the woodwork!

    61′ | 1-2
    Clay booked for pulling down McGinn wide on the left.

    56′ | 1-2
    A let-off as Hayes gets down the left and fizzes a ball across goal which evades Rooney and goes out for a goal-kick

    …Moult hits it but doesn’t really trouble Lewis, who dives low to gather.

    54′ | 1-2
    McLean bundles into the back of McDonald which gives ‘Well a free-kick about 30 yards out…

    Lee Lucas gets the second 45 underway, COYW!!!

    Half time switch for ‘Well, Dom Thomas is on for Keith Lasley

    HT: Motherwell 1 – 2 Aberdeen #MFCvAFCTranslate from German

    46′ | 1-2
    Close! Ash Taylor’s header is well saved by Samson then from follow-up, he heads just past!

    40′ | 1-2
    Saved!! Moult goes low and left and so does Lewis. Moults rebounded effort is cleared by Reynolds.

    25′ | 1-2
    Lasley gets past Reynolds whose knee takes him out. Moult steps up…..

    38′ | 1-2
    Penalty to Motherwell!!

    33′ | 1-2
    McGinn plays a short free-kick to McLean but thankfully he blazes it over the bar from 16 yards.

    28′ | 1-2
    Heneghan booked for a rash challenge on Shinnie

    25′ | 1-2
    Goal – Samson saves but Rooney converts the rebound.

    24′ | 1-1
    Penalty to Aberdeen! Rooney goes down under a challenge from Samson

    18′ | 1-1
    Half chance there for Moult! Lucas diagonal ball out to McDonald who slides it across goal but Moult’s touch is deflected away

    16′ | 1-1
    What a goal!!!! Tait whips a great ball in to McDONALD who overhead kicks it in off the bar!!! 1-1!

    GGOOOAALLL!!

    12′ | 0-1
    Chance! Clay knocks the ball down inside the box but McDonald can’t get the touch on it and Considine sweeps clear.

    11′ | 0-1
    McLean goes close with a right-footed snap-shot from 20 yards. Had Samson beat but flashes wide of post

    9′ | 0-1
    Good ‘Well move down the right , Dons hit it out for a corner. Tait whips it in, but the visitors head it off the line & clear.

    6′ | 0-1
    Goal – Hayes gets in behind and squares it to Shinnie who fires past Samson.

    2′ | 0-0
    Decent chance! Moult gets down the right and clips in a great ball to Clay who heads just wide!

    Aberdeen get the first half underway. COYW!!!

     

    [tab:Reaction]

    Motherwell manager Mark McGhee:

     

    Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes:

     

    [tab:Man-of-the-match]

    [poll id=”302″]