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[tab:Match report]

Motherwell started their 2017/18 league campaign with a 2-1 loss at home to Rangers this afternoon. 

A Graham Dorrans brace either side of a first ‘Well goal for Ben Heneghan dealt the Steelmen a frustrating blow on a dull day in Lanarkshire. 

Stephen Robinson included five summer signings in his starting line-up, with Trevor Carson, Cedric Kipré, Charles Dunne, Andy Rose and Craig Tanner.

Similarly, Pedro Caixinha named a number of new faces, who looked to bounce back from a disappointing European exit.

And it was the ideal start for the visitors, who found themselves ahead inside five minutes when the ball broke kindly for Dorrans on the edge of the box – who duly side footed beyond Carson courtesy of two deflections.

And in what was a frantic opening period, surprisingly, neither side registered a shot on target until late in the first half.

Prior to that, Louis Moult was presented a golden opportunity just before the 20^th minute when some hard work down the right allowed Chris Cadden to send in a terrific cross for the forward, who side-footed well wide of the target from a few yards out.

However, the Steelmen drew level with five minutes remaining in the half, when an inswinging cross from Tanner was nodded in by Heneghan for his first goal in a claret and amber shirt.

The start of the second period got off on a similar foot to the first, and before too long the Gers went back in front when Bobby Madden pointed to the spot following a collision in the box between Moult and Fabio Cardoso.

Dorrans stepped up and slotted the ball just inches beyond the fingertips of Carson in front of the packed McEwan Fraser Legal Stand.

But as Motherwell started to up their game, Rangers switched formation and replaced striker Kenny Miller with defender Danny Wilson.

That didn’t halt the home side’s momentum, and in the final ten minutes it looked like the ‘Well would be rewarded with an equaliser.

Another superb cross from the right was tapped towards goal by substitute Ryan Bowman, but clipped agonisingly off the far post and wide for a goal kick.

Two minutes later, the ball broke kindly for fellow sub Alex Fisher, who was denied by a tremendous close range save by Wes Foderingham as the ball, yet again, clipped the post.

It was very much a case of Motherwell not having luck on their side as the visitors left Lanarkshire with all three points after a dramatic league opener.

[tab:As it happened]

 Alastair Reilly at Fir Park

FT: Motherwell 1 – 2 Rangers

Three minutes added on.

..nodded out for a second corner….Heneghan heads over the bar at the back post!

89’| 1-2
Corner to the Steelmen….

88’| 1-2
Great break away but Tanner doesn’t release the ball to Newell who had made a great overlapping run!

86’| 1-2
Close! Fisher gets the break of the ball but his shot deflects off Foderingham then out off the post for a corner.

83’| 1-2
Rangers sub, Herrera off for Morelos

79’| 1-2
Dorrans booked for hauling down Cadden as he broke away from him

79’| 1-2
Final Motherwell change, Rose off for Newell

78’| 1-2
Heneghan booked for a challenge on Herrera

77’| 1-2
Rangers sub, Miller off for Wilson

74’| 1-2
So close!! Cadden’s ball is whipped in and touched on by Bowman but it goes out off the base of the post.

73′ | 1-2
Motherwell sub, Moult off for Fisher

68’| 1-2
Cardoso slides wildly through the back of Moult and is rightly booked

64’| 1-2
Motherwell sub, Frear off for Bowman

62’| 1-2
Rangers sub, Tavernier on for Hodson

….Dorrans converts.

67’| 1-1
Penalty for Rangers…

51’| 1-1
Candeias beats Dunne on the line and cuts it back to Miller but he scoops his shot over the bar.

49′ | 1-1
Dunne goes into the ref’s book for a challenge on Candeias

Tanner gets the second half underway. COYW!!!!

HT: Motherwell 1 – 1 Rangers

41′ | 1-1
Close! Windass again hits the woodwork, this time with a fine curling effort from the edge of the box.

40′ | 1-1
Heneghan with his first Motherwell goal!! Outstanding ball in from Tanner headed home at the back post!!

GGOOOAAALLL!!!!!

38′ | 0-1
Claims for handball there against Hodson in the box but looked more like ball to hand

31′ | 0-1
Rose and Frear combine down the left and from the ball in, Tanner is inches away from making proper contact. Chance trickles away

26′ | 0-1
Cadden’s cross is knocked out for a corner…

….Tanner’s ball in is far too deep and goes out for a throw-in.

25′ | 0-1
Frear wins a free-kick wide on ‘Well’s left….

20′ | 0-1
Windass with a burst of pace gets past his man and into the box. Curls his shot off the base of the post!

18′ | 0-1
What a chance! Cadden with a great ball in to the back post but Moult puts his effort wide of the post from close!

8′ | 0-1
Windass does well and gets in behind the defence but thankfully Kipré is on hand to stick it out for a corner.

4′ | 0-1
Goal – Alves clips the ball back into the box and Miller’s knock down is converted by Dorrans

3′ | 0-0
Free-kick to Rangers on their right-hand side….

We are now underway. COYW!!!!

Both sides out the tunnel. Great atmosphere here at Fir Park. COYW!!!

[tab:Reaction]

Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson:

Rangers manager Pedro Caixhaina

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

[poll id=”327″]

‘Well boss Stephen Robinson says his squad are determined to get off to a good start in the SPFL Premiership.

The Steelmen have won four from four to qualify from their Betfred Cup group ahead of this weekend’s big kick-off in the league.

And Robinson is under no illusions about what will be required and what the benefits of a positive start could be.

Speaking to the broadcast press at the weekly pre-match news conference, the Northern Irishman said: “It’s really important to make a good start and use it as a platform to build upon.

Last year our home record was poor and we want to try and turn this place [Fir Park] into somewhere that teams don’t want to come.

“We don’t want teams to come here thinking it’s easy-osy, on a beautiful pitch and they enjoy coming here. We want to make it tough, we want people to know exactly what they’re going to get when they come here.”

[pullquote]It’s really important to make a good start and use it as a platform to build upon.[/pullquote]

Sunday’s opponents Rangers have put disappointment in the Europa League qualifiers behind them to put together and impressive run of pre-season results.

Pedro Caixinha’s men have drawn with French giants Marseille and followed it with wins away at Watford and Sheffield Wednesday.

And although Robinson knows it will be a stern test, he says there is a confidence in his ranks after four successive wins.

“We’ve watched a lot of Rangers, including their recent pre-season matches and we know the sort of test this will be.

“They’ve had some good results in those matches, but we’re coming into the match on the back of four wins ourselves, so we’re feeling confident.”

Motherwell Football Club is delighted to announce our new mascot, “Steelman” after a club and MFC Community Trust competition that saw 1000’s of entries from the children of Lanarkshire and beyond.

Steelman will make his debut with his miniature assistant “Raven Steel” when we face Rangers here at Fir Park on Sunday (1.30pm Kick off). The children that designed each of our mascots were the first ever supporters to meet the new Motherwell heroes earlier today and were very excited about it. Abbi Kilgour (7) from Newmains designedRaven Steel Whilst Freddie Hughes (10) of Wishaw was the brains behind Steelman .

AAAAA

The winners will each receive a bundle of prizes including a kit and meeting the players for their efforts, whilst the schools of all those that entered the competition will be invited to a game this season as the guests of the Community Trust. Other runners up and winners of the age group categories will be announced shortly.

Marketing and Fan Engagement Manager Ryan Murrant said “This competition reached out to 1000’s of children across Lanarkshire and got them involved with the club. That was our aim alongside the community trust. It really did capture the imagination of the children and we are so pleased with the relevance of the winning designs, the back stories to them and we thank both Abbi and Freddie for what they have helped create for our supporters. There is a lot planned that we can do with these mascots on matchdays and beyond and we can’t wait to see them out and about on in the wider community promoting the club, the community trust and the Well Society”.

The new mascots can be seen around the ground on Sunday for the first time and will be at the club shop from 12.30pm-1pm to meet with supporters and to pose for pictures. Next week they will both be visiting the MFC Community Trust football camps to join in with the fun and games. You can book on to the camps by visiting https://www.motherwellfcct.co.uk

Motherwell Football Club has agreed a new back-of-shirt sponsorship deal with Bet Park.

The initial one-year deal with the Caribbean-based gaming company will see the Bet Park brand feature on the back shoulders of the club’s kits – meaning the shirt carries two separate sponsors on the back, the other being charity partner North Lanarkshire Suicide Prevention.

Bet Park will also feature on the club’s advertising interview backdrop boards and their brand will be in and around the ground at Fir Park Stadium.

We are delighted to welcome Bet Park to Motherwell Football Club and are thrilled they have chosen us to become their first partnership.

This is the first ever partnership Bet Park has entered into and the company’s Project Manager Zafer Doruk said: “This is a very proud moment for us, entering into our first partnership.

“We love football and are delighted to be a sponsor of Motherwell FC. We have already formed a strong partnership with the club which can only go from strength to strength over the coming years.

Motherwell’s Head of Commercial and Marketing, Suzanne Reid added: “We are delighted to welcome Bet Park to Motherwell Football Club and are thrilled they have chosen us to become their first partnership.

“It is fantastic that we are attracting partnerships from across the globe and can only be a positive for the club. We will continue to look at new and innovative ways to offer brands exposure at one of Scotland’s most established football clubs.”

Motherwell FC has today signed defender Ellis Plummer on a deal until the end of the season.

The 22-year old former England youth international has spent the last eleven years at English giants Manchester City.

Plummer, who can also operate at left-back, has had loan spells with Oldham Athletic back in 2013 and, more recently, in the SPFL Premiership with St Mirren in 2014-15, where he made his Saints debut at Fir Park against ‘Well.

He will compete with the likes of Ben Heneghan, Cédric Kipré, Stephen McManus and Charles Dunne for a starting spot at the Steelmen.

[pullquote]”I’m delighted. I was desperate for a new challenge and I think this is the perfect place for me.”[/pullquote]

Plummer, who will wear the number 14 shirt this season, said: “I’m delighted. I was desperate for a new challenge and I think this is the perfect place for me.

“I had a taste of Scottish football from my time at St Mirren and I really enjoyed it. It’s very competitive but I think that suits me.”

‘Well boss Stephen Robinson added: “I think Ellis will definitely add to our squad – he can play in a number of different positions, left back, left centre back or holding midfield.

“He is a boy with a massive point to prove – there were very high hopes for him when he was younger but he has had a few injury problems and we are picking up and hoping to give him a platform to get back to where he was.”

Season Ticket sales for the 2017/18 campaign are up by 20% overall with an increase of 40% for the under 16’s.

With just five days to go until the new season kicks off here at Fir Park supporters both old and new have snapped up over 3,400 season tickets. This is an incredible 20% up on last season as fans back Stephen Robinson and his staff as they assemble their brand new squad.

One area of significant growth is in the junior supporters where the club have seen an increase of 40%, many of which taking advantage of the new £20 season tickets and the fantastic ‘WellEVATE offers. Both these offers can be found at MyMFC.co.uk

Marketing and Fan Engagement Manager Ryan Murrant said “The positivity around the club in the offices, on the training pitch and the buzz being created by our supporters is significant and that is shown in these figures. The club had a tough season last time out and the support, loyalty and enthusiasm being generated by our supporters as we approach the first league game is truly incredible. We thank all those that have committed to the club for the new season and we look forward to seeing you all here”.

For those that have not yet secured their seat there is still time to do so. The ticket office is open every day this week from 9am until 5pm with extended hours on Thursday until 7pm and on Saturday from 10am – 1pm.

Season tickets are ready for collection now, and the club would strongly advise not leaving collections or the purchasing of season tickets until Sunday due to the expected large crowd.

All the season ticket information can be found at MyMFC.co.uk and the ticket office can be contacted on 01698 333 333.

Match information and admission prices for the Betfred Cup 2^nd Round clash with Ross County can now be confirmed.

The game will take place at the Global Energy Stadium on Wednesday 9^th August 2017 with kick-off 7.45pm.

Admission, available on the gate on the day of the match, will be priced at:

Adults: £15
Concessions: £10

• Concessions are listed as Under 18s and Over 65s

Motherwell have been drawn to play Ross County at the Global Energy Stadium in the last sixteen of the Betfred Cup.

Stephen Robinson’s men came through Group F with a 100% record which granted them a place seeded pot, with the Staggies being the opposition being plucked from the hat.

The tie will be played on Wednesday 9th August, with full ticket information announced in due course.

FULL DRAW

St Johnstone vs Partick Thistle
Hibernian vs Ayr United
Rangers vs Dunfermline
Ross County vs Motherwell
Falkirk vs Livingston
Hamilton Accies vs Aberdeen
Celtic vs Kilmarnock
Dundee vs Dundee Utd

Extended highlights from Fir Park as for the second game in a row Elliott Frear strikes late to earn Motherwell all three points.

Images from this afternoon’s 1-0 win over Berwick Rangers in the Betfred Cup.

Snaps courtesy of SNSPix

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