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    McGhee: Bad start led to heavy loss

  • Archive

    Aberdeen 7 – 2 Motherwell

  • Archive

    Aberdeen: A closer look

  • Archive

    Update: Replacement Dons tickets

  • Archive

    TV: Highlights from Excelsior Stadium

  • Archive

    Gordon: Happy with performance

  • Archive

    Craigan: Always room to improve

  • Archive

    Motherwell U20s 3 – 1 St Johnstone U20s

  • Archive

    McGhee: Focussing on positives

  • Archive

    Lucas: Bringing something different

  • Archive

    McGhee: Bad start led to heavy loss

    ‘Well boss Mark McGhee admitted that a poor start to the match led to tonight’s heavy defeat against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

    Speaking to MFC TV at full time, the manager reflected upon a difficult 90 minutes.

    He said: “It was a bad start losing a goal in the first minute like that with people switching off at the back.

    [pullquote]It was a bad start losing a goal in the first minute like that with people switching off at the back.[/pullquote]

    “It was everything that we’d talked about that didn’t need to happen.”

    He added: “We wanted to keep it simple, we wanted to get in behind them and play our longer game, but they did it better than us.”

    You can watch the manager’s full post match interview exclusively at <a href=”http://www.youtube.com/user/OfficialMotherwellFC”>MFC TV’s YouTube channel</a>.

  • Archive

    Aberdeen 7 – 2 Motherwell

    [tab:Match report]

    Motherwell slumped to a heavy 7-2 defeat away to Aberdeen in the Ladbrokes Premiership tonight. 

    An extremely poor first half left the Steelmen with a four goal deficit to overcome, with Ryan Bowman’s header and Stephen Pearson’s volley in the second half acting as mere consolations on a terrible night up north.

    Mark McGhee named three changes to the side that lost to Hearts at Fir Park, bringing in Stephen Pearson and Lee Lucas, as well as handing a full debut to January signing Elliott Frear – with Zak Jules and Lionel Ainsworth dropped to the bench and Carl McHugh missing through suspension.

    But it was a disastrous start for the Steelmen, who found themselves one down inside two minutes.

    Jonny Hayes, fresh off the back of penning a contract extension, was afforded far too much time as the ball broke to him in the box, and the Dons number eleven laced a powerful low shot through a crowded six yard box and past Craig Samson.

    Motherwell did settle for the ten minutes that followed, but failed to create much going forward and were limited to a handful of corners.

    Elliott Frear swung some good balls in to the area, but Aberdeen stood strong to clear any potential danger.

    The deficit remained at just one until the 31st minute, and the fifteen minutes which followed left McGhee’s side with virtually no hope of taking away much from the game.

    Andrew Considine finished off a fine corner for the home side from an in swinging delivery to double the home side’s advantage, before a calamitous bit of defending lead to a tap in for Adam Rooney.

    Ryan Christie capped a strong first half for the Reds with a stabbed finish from outside the box in to the far top corner and Alan Muir’s half time whistle was simply relief for Motherwell.

    In truth, the glaring difference had been the pressure applied by Aberdeen all over the park. Lasley, Lucas and Pearson were afforded no time on the ball and McGhee’s men couldn’t settle in to the match .

    The second half was slightly improved from a Motherwell perspective but Aberdeen still managed to add more goals.

    An Adam Rooney penalty was followed by a header from the striker to put the hosts 6-0 up and secure his hattrick.

    Mark McGhee was sent to the stands after an exchange with fourth official John McKendrick, but not before his half time change had made an impact on the game.

    Ryan Bowman, introduced to the action in place of Lee Lucas, grabbed a consolation when he headed home from a freekick, before Stephen Pearson made it 6-2 with a volley following a flick on from a corner.

    Peter Pawlett made it seven to wrap up the three points and condemn the Steelmen to a terrible defeat, who face Celtic next on Saturday.

     

    [tab:As it happened]

     Alastair Reilly at Pittodrie

     

     

    FT: Aberdeen 7 – 2 Motherwell #AFCvMFC

    83′ | 7-2
    Goal – Aberdeen break straight away and Pawlett finishes past Samson.

    81′ | 6-2
    Bowman does well down the left and forces a corner….Goal! Pearson knock home at the backpost.

    79′ | 6-1
    Aberdeen sub, Storey on for Christie

    76′ | 6-1
    Samson with a superb save to deny McLean from close range

    75′ | 6-1
    Good effort from Bowman, coming in off the right and seeing his shot fly inches over the bar.

    74′ | 6-1
    Goal – Bowman heads in from a free-kick. 6-1.

    72′ | 6-0
    And another sub, McGinn off for Pawlett.

    71′ | 6-0
    Aberdeen sub, Rooney off for Stockley

    69′ | 6-0
    Goal- It’s 6. Rooney heads home from a corner.

    66′ | 5-0
    Motherwell sub, Clay on for Frear

    64′ | 5-0
    Goal – Rooney sends Samson the wrong way.

    63′ | 4-0
    Penalty to Aberdeen…

    58′ | 4-0
    Taylor booked for a trip on Bowman as he broke clear.

    50′ | 4-0
    Considine booked for handball wide on the ‘Well right. Free-kick hooked in but easily gathered by Lewis.

    Lasley gets the second 45 underway.

    Half time sub for ‘Well, Lucas off for Bowman.

    HT: Aberdeen 4 – 0 Motherwell #AFCvMFC

    40′ | 4-0
    Goal – Aberdeen work a short corner which finds Christie and he finds the top corner with the outside of his boot.

    34′ | 3-0
    Goal – It’s three nil. ‘Well defence fail to clear and that leaves Rooney with plenty of space 6 yards out to score.

    32′ | 2-0
    Goal – Corner is whipped into the back post where Considine has plenty of space to nod home.

    30′ | 1-0
    Lucas booked for hauling down Jack inside the Motherwell half.

    25′ | 1-0
    Ambitious chip from Moult about 25 yards out doesn’t come off, sailing well over the bar.

    21′ | 1-0
    McManus does well to dispossess Hayes but it falls kindly to Christie whose first time shot curls over the bar.

    19′ | 1-0
    Dons get the break of the ball which sets Hayes free down the right but thankfully his cross slices wide of the post.

    13′ | 1-0
    Chance for Rooney as he goes for the spectacular overhead-kick 10 yards out but gets it all wrong and it’s wide of the post.

    7′ | 1-0
    Cadden gets down the right and clips in a ball which just misses Frear at the back post.

    5′ | 1-0
    ‘Well have a free-kick wide on the right which Lucas whips in but its headed clear for a corner.

    2′ | 1-0
    Goal – Aberdeen open the scoring straight away. Ball breaks the way of Hayes inside the box and he fires it past Samson.

    Aberdeen get the action underway. COYW!!!

    Out come both teams, full red for Aberdeeen, full white for the Steelmen. #AFCvMFC

    [tab:Reaction]

    Motherwell manager Mark McGhee:

     

    Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes:

     

    [tab:Man-of-the-match]

    [poll id=”310″]

  • Archive

    Aberdeen: A closer look

    Motherwell travel north to face Aberdeen in the Ladbrokes Premiership tonight.

    And the midweek clash, rearranged after December’s fixture was abandoned due to floodlight failure, is an important one for both sides.

    The Fir Parkers could move in to the top six with anything other than a loss, while the Dons could strengthen their bid for second place with a positive result tomorrow.

    Derek McInnes’ men sit level on points with the Rangers and, amid constant links with the vacant managers position at Rangers, ‘Well boss Mark McGhee believes the Reds gaffer has done a fantastic job.

    Speaking to the press this morning, McGhee said: “As someone who’s been at Aberdeen and knows how difficult it is to manage, I think he’s done a brilliant job.

    “I see Tommy Wright has been linked with the job too and I would love to see one of these guys get the opportunity.”

    Focussing on the positives of a weekend off as his side prepare for tomorrow night, the manager also said: “We’ve had a couple of reserve games, we’ve got another one tonight and Jacob Blyth will get another bit of that – he had his first game back.”

    He added: “It’s also allowed Hammy and Taity to recover a bit because if they had of played on Saturday they wouldn’t have been fit for tomorrow. Pearo’s had a good week too, he got a game with the under 20s.”

    The ‘Well boss admitted that he was disappointed not to have a game, but was in a positive frame of mind.

    [pullquote]I felt that even after the Hearts game we were in a good frame of mind so I would’ve liked another game on Saturday but it wasn’t to be – so we will accentuate all the positives because we’ve got something out of the short break.[/pullquote]

    He said: “With these sort of things you always accentuate the positives. I felt that even after the Hearts game we were in a good frame of mind so I would’ve liked another game on Saturday but it wasn’t to be – so we will accentuate all the positives because we’ve got something out of the short break.

    “We’re learning that this season is going to be punctuated by these breaks so we just have to make the best of it.”

    With the split approaching, McGhee revealed he plans to approach the remainder of the season one game at a time.

    He said: “I think we can start to build now. We’ve got enough games left now to focus on to get ourselves in to the top six.

    “If we don’t get beat tomorrow night we’ll go in to the top six, so we’ll just approach it incrementally.”

     

    Midfielder Lee Lucas hopes to bring something different to the team every time he steps on the pitch. 

    Ahead of the Steelmen’s clash with Aberdeen and after a recent break through suspension, Lucas is fired up for tomorrow night’s league fixture and hopes to rediscover his match sharpness.

    Speaking to the press this morning, the Welshman said: “The past few months have been good, I worked my way in to the team in the few games before Christmas but then had that two match suspension after the Hamilton game so that was a bit frustrating.”

    He added: “That meant that I missed the two Rangers games which was unfortunate and with the winter break in between all of that it felt even longer.

    [pullquote]When I play, that’s just what I hope to do – add something different and that’s what the manager has brought me in for.[/pullquote]

    “Now I’m just trying to get back playing and get that match sharpness back. We’ve got a competitive squad now and we’ve got strength throughout– everyone wants to play.”

    ‘Well boss Mark McGhee described Lee Lucas as “the best footballer” among his midfield options.

     

    And when asked about those comments, the 24-year-old admitted that his tyle of play is something he has developed from a young age.

    He said: “It’s always nice to hear that and that’s just the way I’ve been brought up from my time at Swansea – that’s just what I know.

    “When I play, that’s just what I hope to do – add something different and that’s what the manager has brought me in for.”

    He added: “Whenever I get the chance that’s what I hope to do and help the team.”

     

    Aberdeen head in to tonight’s match in fine form, having won five of their last six league games – losing once to runaway leaders Celtic.

    The Dons will be without suspended left-back Graeme Shinnie for Wednesday’s Premiership meeting while defender Mark Reynolds and forward Niall McGinn are nursing knocks as the Dons seek to go three points clear of third-placed Rangers.

    Tonight’s opponents form is even more impressive given the fact that they have only conceded once in their last six matches, in their loss to Celtic. In the other five wins, they have kept clean sheets.

    The most recent was in the Scottish Cup on Saturday, when a deflected Shay Logan effort was enough to see Aberdeen progress to the quarter-finals.

    The clubs season so far is yet another impressive one for manager Derek McInnes, who is being heavily linked with the Rangers job for good reason.

    ‘Well boss Mark McGhee agrees, and admitted that McInnes deserves credit for the job he has done at Aberdeen.

    McGhee said: “As someone who has managed Aberdeen I know just how difficult a club it is to manage; I think he’s done a brilliant job.”

    The Reds have a good record against Motherwell in recent seasons, winning six of the last eight head-to-heads.

    However, both teams have scored in the last six Scottish Premiership meetings between these two sides.

    There is likely to e goals tonight, and in Niall McGinn, Aberdeen possess one of the most in-form attackers in the league.

    The Dons star has been directly involved in five of Aberdeen’s last six league goals, scoring twice and providing three assists.

    Ahead of the game tonight, Derek McInnes spoke to the press.

    He said: “We’re keen to keep the run going. It’s seven wins out of the last eight games. The 1-0 defeat at Celtic apart, it’s been very strong result-wise.

    “I still want us to have more, still want us to find even better performances, but if the results keep coming the way they’ve been coming, I’ll be delighted.”

    He added: “We won a game down at Motherwell not so long ago. Just because we’re in good form doesn’t give us any guarantees. It’ll be a tough game.

    “Mark’s a shrewd manager, he knows exactly how to get results for his club and we’re going to have to overcome that.

    “The challenge is there clearly to try and go three points clear. It’s important we try and take opportunities when they come along and tomorrow’s an opportunity.”

  • Archive

    Update: Replacement Dons tickets

    Motherwell supporters who made the trip to Pittodrie in December are reminded to take their tickets to the game tonight where they will be issued with a free of charge replacement.

    ‘Well fans must hand their ticket over at the turnstile to collect the replacement as well as an additional ticket which will ensure complimentary travel to the next match with Aberdeen in March.

    Further transport details will be announced nearer the fixture on March 11 and all supporters are reminded to make sure they keep hold of their tickets.

    Please note, this does not apply to any complimentary tickets.

    The club would like to thank Aberdeen for their help with this matter and would like to wish you all a safe journey to and from the game.

  • Archive

    TV: Highlights from Excelsior Stadium

    Extended highlights from Excelsior Stadium as the under 20s defeat St Johnstone 3-1 with goals from Blyth, Turnbull and Gordon.

  • Archive

    Gordon: Happy with performance

    Shea Gordon scored his first goal in a Motherwell jersey after completing his January loan switch.

    And after the under 20s won 3-1 against St Johnstone, the youngster caught up with MFC TV.

    He said: “I thought it was really good but it was a tough test too. In the first half I feel we did really well and although they had their spells – I think we deserved it in the end.”

    For more exclusive content, subscribe to MFC TV’s YouTube channel.

  • Archive

    Craigan: Always room to improve

    A pleased Stephen Craigan admitted there is always room for improvement after his side won 3-1 against St Johnstone in the Development League tonight.

    The Northern Irishman was pleased with the result and the first half performance, as well as bouncing back to winning ways.

    Speaking to MFC TV, he said: “I was pleased with the first half, and I think we deserved to be in front more than we actually were.

    “We got in behind, they had a few blocks from our shots on the edge of the area, so I was pleased with it.

    [pullquote]I was pleased with the first half, and I think we deserved to be in front more than we actually were.[/pullquote]

    “We don’t normally play 4-4-2 but because of the personnel available we had to try and go that way.”

    After a difficult, busy week, Craigan expressed the importance of his team bouncing back to winning ways.

    He said: “In the second half we obviously got ourselves three nil up and then we just had to see it out.

    “We didn’t play particularly well in the last 20-25 minutes but it’s been a long week for the boys because they’ve played three games in a week.”

    He added: “There’s always things to work on but ultimately we’ve won the game and that’s the most important thing.”

  • Archive

    Motherwell U20s 3 – 1 St Johnstone U20s

    Motherwell under 20s returned to winning ways tonight with a 3-1 win over St Johnstone in the Development League.

    A Jacob Blyth penalty, a Davie Turnbull strike and a Shea Gordon lob was enough for the Steelmen who looked comfortable as they picked up all three points at the Excelsior Stadium.

    Jacob Blyth started his second match in a row for the under 20s, while Stephen Craigan also called upon the suspended Carl McHugh for his side’s third game in a week.

    The visitors started positively and Oliver Pain had to be alert from the first whistle. A thumping effort from Michael Coulson from the edge of the area forced the keeper to turn the ball round his post with a terrific, diving save.

    From the resulting corner, Smith got a strong header on target which beat Pain but was cleared off the line by Tom Fry.

    Motherwell grew in to the game fairly quickly though and in the tenth minute had an effort of their own cleared off the line. Dylan Mackin and Jake Hastie linked up well down the left and a neat one-two released the latter into the box, but his stinging low ball across the face was hooked away from danger.

    Shea Gordon found himself in an advanced position when Mackin’s header down fell neatly for the midfielder, but he took a fraction too long to adjust and his effort from six yards was blocked by Daniel Jardine.

    The Steelmen passed up a terrific chance just a minute later when Blyth slipped in Hastie. The winger had support to his left in Davie Turnbull who, if he received it, would have been one-on-one, but the crucial pass was intercepted.

    Just after the 20th minute, Motherwell took the lead from a penalty.

    St Johnstone failed to clear a ball in to the box from the right and Blyth, who attempted to bring it down, tumbled to the deck after a blatant push. The forward stepped up and made no mistake from the spot, thundering his penalty past McKenzie.

    The cliché “you’re most dangerous when you’ve just scored” was nearly summed up by the immediate chance for the visitors.

    Racing forward from centre, George Hunter received the ball and struck a powerful effort on target, forcing a fantastic save from Pain to keep the Steelmen in front.

    Motherwell dominated most of the ball from then on, but neither side created too many chances.

    Blyth nodded a header on target but it didn’t have enough on it to beat McKenzie, while down the other end Coulson had an effort denied comfortably by Pain.

    A neat through ball from Mackin towards the advancing Gordon nearly produced a fine ‘Well goal after 35 minutes, but the Saints keeper was quick off his line and smothered the danger.

    The Northern Irishman did find the back of the net though in the second half, but not before Davie Turnbull doubled ‘Well’s lead.

    Hastie slipped in the youngster down the right flank, he cut on to his left foot just inside the box and struck an unstoppable finish in to the top corner.

    With the next chance, Motherwell had their third – and what a tremendous goal too.

    A pinpoint ball over the top of the Saints defence left Gordon with just McKenzie to beat. He let the ball bounce once before lifting it over the keeper with the inside of his boot. Tremendous goal which involved just two touches.

    St Johnstone responded immediately though, and it was a good goal for the visitors too. A deep cross in to the box found the full-back Smith, who rose high to head down past Pain.

    Stephen Craigan made his first change just before the 70th minute, replacing Mackin with the pacey forward Alfie Agyeman. Saints followed suit immediately and brought off Coulson to bring on Jamie Docherty.

    The game fizzled out somewhat after that, with neither side really testing either keeper.

    Substitue Docherty should have reduced the deficit in the final seconds though, firing over from six yards. Maguire did enough to force him off balance and keep the two goal lead.

     

    Motherwell: Pain, Fry, Livingstone, Maguire, Armstrong, McHugh, Blyth, Turnbull, Mackin (Agyeman ‘69), Hastie, Gordon

     

    Unused subs: Pettigrew, Scott, Semple, McDonald

  • Archive

    McGhee: Focussing on positives

    Mark McGhee is focussing on the positives of a weekend off as his side prepare for Aberdeen tomorrow night.

    Injured defenders Richard Tait and Stevie Hammell have been able to recover from knocks while Jacob Blyth, Elliott Frear, Joe Chalmers and Stephen Pearson got some game time under their belts recently with the under 20s.

    Speaking to the press this morning, the manager said: “We’ve had a couple of reserve games, we’ve got another one tonight and Jacob Blyth will get another bit of that – he had his first game back.”

    He added: “It’s also allowed Hammy and Taity to recover a bit because if they had of played on Saturday they wouldn’t have been fit for tomorrow. Pearo’s had a good week too, he got a game with the under 20s.”

    The ‘Well boss admitted that he was disappointed not to have a game, but was in a positive frame of mind.

    [pullquote]I felt that even after the Hearts game we were in a good frame of mind so I would’ve liked another game on Saturday but it wasn’t to be – so we will accentuate all the positives because we’ve got something out of the short break.[/pullquote]

    He said: “With these sort of things you always accentuate the positives. I felt that even after the Hearts game we were in a good frame of mind so I would’ve liked another game on Saturday but it wasn’t to be – so we will accentuate all the positives because we’ve got something out of the short break.

    “We’re learning that this season is going to be punctuated by these breaks so we just have to make the best of it.”

    With the split approaching, McGhee revealed he plans to approach the remainder of the season one game at a time.

    He said: “I think we can start to build now. We’ve got enough games left now to focus on to get ourselves in to the top six.

    “If we don’t get beat tomorrow night we’ll go in to the top six, so we’ll just approach it incrementally.”

  • Archive

    Lucas: Bringing something different

    Midfielder Lee Lucas hopes to bring something different to the team every time he steps on the pitch.

    Ahead of the Steelmen’s clash with Aberdeen and after a recent break through suspension, Lucas is fired up for tomorrow night’s league fixture and hopes to rediscover his match sharpness.

    Speaking to the press this morning, the Welshman said: “The past few months have been good, I worked my way in to the team in the few games before Christmas but then had that two match suspension after the Hamilton game so that was a bit frustrating.”

    He added: “That meant that I missed the two Rangers games which was unfortunate and with the winter break in between all of that it felt even longer.

    [pullquote]When I play, that’s just what I hope to do – add something different and that’s what the manager has brought me in for.[/pullquote]

    “Now I’m just trying to get back playing and get that match sharpness back. We’ve got a competitive squad now and we’ve got strength throughout– everyone wants to play.”

    ‘Well boss Mark McGhee described Lee Lucas as “the best footballer” among his midfield options.

    And when asked about those comments, the 24-year-old admitted that his tyle of play is something he has developed from a young age.

    He said: “It’s always nice to hear that and that’s just the way I’ve been brought up from my time at Swansea – that’s just what I know.

    “When I play, that’s just what I hope to do – add something different and that’s what the manager has brought me in for.”

    He added: “Whenever I get the chance that’s what I hope to do and help the team.”