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    Craigan: We must be ruthless

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    Dundee U20s 1 – 1 Motherwell U20s

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    Under 20s face Dundee

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    TV: Highlights from Dingwall

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    Ross County in pictures

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    Lasley: We didn’t deal with County threat

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    Ross County 3 – 2 Motherwell

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    Build-up: Ross County

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    Pro darts players visit Fir Park

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    Robinson: Confident we’ll bounce back

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    Craigan: We must be ruthless

    Under-20s boss Stephen Craigan has called for his players to be “ruthless” after tonight’s 1-1 draw with Dundee.

    The youngsters failed to capitalise on a dominant performance at Dens Park and the home side bagged an equaliser against the run of play to grab a draw.

    Speaking to MFC TV at full-time, the Northern Irishman reflected on a positive performance and a frustrating result.

    [pullquote]I patted them on the back but I wanted them to be ruthless in the second half. I wanted them to go out and take the game away from Dundee.[/pullquote]

    “We stopped doing what we were doing in the first half and we thought the game became too easy.” Craigan said.

    “We started taking extra touches, we started playing as individuals because there were a couple of opportunities when players broke forward and there was other players in better positions to pick them off to get shots off.”

    He added: “You always know when you’re one up that you need a second goal and that was the message at half time: yes, I patted them on the back but I wanted them to be ruthless in the second half. I wanted them to go out and take the game away from Dundee.”

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    Dundee U20s 1 – 1 Motherwell U20s

    Motherwell under-20s were punished for wasted opportunities as the youngsters drew for the second game running in the Development League.

    A brilliant goal from Ross MacLean was cancelled out by Jesse Curran’s second half strike on a chilly evening at Dens Park. 

    Stephen Craigan named a young starting eleven for his sides trip to Dens Park, with Russell Griffiths being called upon in goals.

    And following a blunt performance against St Johnstone, the under-20s boss was rewarded with a fine response from his team, who dominated a Dundee side featuring senior players Scott Bain, Kostadin Gadzhalov and Scott Allan.

    The only criticism could be focused on the Steelmen’s cutting edge, with as many as five or six good opportunities wasted from inside the box in the first half alone, as well as a few long range efforts fizzing narrowly over the home sides crossbar.

    The breakthrough was worth the wait though, as Ross MacLean put the finishing touch on a terrific ‘Well move on the half-hour mark.

    Working the ball around the edge of the Dee box, the youngsters found the cutting edge required when Davie Turnbull scooped the ball over the entire Dundee back-line for MacLean to thunder a volley in to the top-corner.

    One of the hosts only clear cut chances fell just moments after falling behind though, when a deep ball was put on a plate for Henvey, but the striker, who looked to anticipate a touch from Luke Watt, miscued his effort wide of the mark from just a few yards.

    The second half started largely similar to the first, and that crucial, cutting-edge remained absent from the under-20s who really should have doubled their lead in the 52nd minute.

    MacLean struck a low effort on target but it was cleared off the line before Watt weaved his way in to the area but could only prod the ball narrowly past the far post.

    And, following 70 minutes of missing golden opportunities, Dundee punished the visitors with a leveller in the 72nd minute.

    Curran, bursting forward from right back, gathered the ball in the ‘Well box before finishing past Griffiths in to the far corner.

    The Steelmen looked to hit back when Watt, bursting forward from defence, nearly capped a fine run with a neat finish back across the face of goal, but it trickled narrowly wide of the far post.

    The home side went close in the final few minutes in what would have been severe punishment for the young ‘Well side, but the two sides left Dens with a point apiece. 

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    Under 20s face Dundee

    Stephen Craigan’s Under 20s return to Development League action on Monday night, looking to return to form following a goalless draw with St Johnstone.

    The youngsters have enjoyed a fine start to the season, having only failed to pick up three points on three occasions in the league this term.

    However, a rather blunt performance against the Saints left Craigan calling for more from his youngsters.

    Dundee, who slipped from the summit of the table following a 3-1 defeat against Partick Thistle, will be keen to bounce back tomorrow night.

    The two sides, who have only lost a combined three games this season, are closely matched, with goal difference the only factor separating the Steelmen in second from Dundee in third.

    The fixture takes place at Dens Park on Monday night and kicks off at 6pm.

    If you can’t make it, you can follow all the action on the official Motherwell FC twitter, with reaction and highlights exclusively on MFC TV’s official YouTube channel. 

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    TV: Highlights from Dingwall

    Highlights from Global Energy Stadium as two second half goals wasn’t enough to overturn a poor first half.

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    Ross County in pictures

    Images from this afternoon’s game against Ross County at Global Energy Stadium.

    Snaps courtesy of SNSPix

    [svgallery name=”rosscounty041117″]

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    Lasley: We didn’t deal with County threat

    Keith Lasley admitted that threats weren’t dealt with as the Steelmen fell short in the Highlands this afternoon.

    Goals from Ryan Bowman and Louis Moult reduced the gap to one but it wasn’t enough as the Fir Parkers suffered a second successive defeat.

    Lasley, who was without ‘Well boss Stephen Robinson in the dug out, reflected on a frustrating afternoon in Dingwall.

    [pullquote]We knew that threat and we didn’t deal with it, found ourselves 3-0 down at the break and if you do that anywhere in this division, it’s going to be a tough afternoon.[/pullquote]

    He said: “It was disappointing and I thought we could have nicked a point at the end and probably should have done in terms of the chances we had near the end.

    “We just gave ourselves too much to do and set-plays played a massive part in that. It’s something that we’ve been very good at up until this point and today we just weren’t quite there.”

    He added: “We knew that threat and we didn’t deal with it, found ourselves 3-0 down at the break and if you do that anywhere in this division, it’s going to be a tough afternoon.”

  • Archive

    Ross County 3 – 2 Motherwell

    [tab:Match report]

    Lewis Irons at Global Energy Stadium

    It was a case of too little too late for Motherwell as a poor first-half ultimately led to a fifth domestic defeat this season.

    Second-half headers from Ryan Bowman and Louis Moult decreased the three goal deficit inflicted in a poor opening 45 minutes, but the Fir Parkers couldn’t muster enough to grab a point.

    Stephen Robinson, forced to spectate from the stands at the Global Energy Stadium, named three changes from the defeat to Hibs, opting for Craig Tanner, Gaël Bigirimana and Richard Tait in place of Allan Campbell, Elliott Frear and Ryan Bowman.

    And despite a positive start to the match, with Tanner causing problems playing just off frontman Moult, County took the lead with virtually their first attack when Michael Gardyne roamed in to acres of space in the box and smashed Andrew Davies knock down beyond Trevor Carson.

    Straight up the other end, Peter Hartley flicked a header off the top of the crossbar as the Steelmen looked to respond immediately.

    However, the home side punished the travelling ‘Well in the 25th minute to double their lead.

    Davis Keillor-Dunn, afforded far too much time and space, wandered in to the box and finished across goal as Robinson’s side looked uncharacteristically slack defensively.

    Matters got even worse before half time when County went three ahead through Gardyne. A low effort was cleared off the line but the home side’s tricky winger was on hand to grab his second of the afternoon.

    Two changes at the break made an immediate impact as Elliott Frear’s cross was headed beyond McCarey inside the first three minutes to set the visitors en route for what could have been an unlikely comeback given the deficit.

    It was almost a mirror image for the second goal, Cadden crossing from the opposite flank towards Moult who headed beyond the Staggies stopper to set up a grandstand finish in the Highlands.

    Cedric Kipré headed a Deimantas Petravičius throw-in straight at McCarey before a goal-mouth scramble in the final seconds, but the elusive goal could not be conjured.

    [tab:Reaction]

     Alastair Reilly at Global Energy Stadium

    FT: Ross County 3 – 2 Motherwell

    90+3 | 3-2
    So close to an equaliser as the ball bounces around the County box but nobody can finish.

    ’90+1 | 3-2
    County sub, Curran off for Mikkelsen

    ’90 | 3-2
    Three minutes added on.

    ’89 | 3-2
    Great chance from Petravicius’ long-throw but Kipré heads straight at McCarey

    ’84 | 3-2
    Frear comes in off the left but his shot hits the side-netting.

    293 ‘Well fans have made the journey up. Thank you, as always, for your support.

    ’79 | 3-2
    Moult heads in Cadden’s cross to set up a big finish here in Dingwall. Come on!

    GGOOAALL!!

    ’75 | 3-1
    County sub, Lindsay on for O’Brien

    ’66 | 3-1
    County sub, Keillor-Dunn off for Dow

    ’60 | 3-1
    Motherwell sub, Petravicius on for Tanner.

    ’58 | 3-1
    Kelly knocks the ball out for a corner but incredibly the ref gives a goal-kick.

    ’52 | 3-1
    Hartley booked for a tackle in midfield. Looked harsh.

    ’48 | 3-1
    GOAL! Bowman claws a goal back with a fine header from Frear’s cross!

    McHugh gets the second 45 underway.

    Two changes at the break, Bowman and Frear on for Rose and Dunne

    HT: Ross County 3 – 0 Motherwell

    ’41 | 3-0
    Goal – County make it 3. Gardyne firing home after the ball is knocked around the box.

    ’36 | 2-0
    Cadden gets past Kelly but is cross is routine for McCarey.

    ’29 | 2-0
    Decent chance for County as Draper’s shot is diverted goalwards but Keillor-Dunn but it lands on the roof of the net.

    ’27 | 2-0
    O’Brien tries his luck with a half-volley from distance but it’s well over the bar.

    ’25 | 2-0
    Goal – County are two up, Keillor-Dunn the scorer after finding plenty of space on the left and finishing cooly.

    ’22 | 1-0
    Hartley’s deep free-kick is headed wide for a corner. Good ball in from Cadden but it’s punched clear for another corner.

    ’12 | 1-0
    Close! Free-kick is clipped into the head of Hartley who heads off the bar!

    ’12 | 1-0
    Goal – The home side take the lead as Gardyne pokes home Davies’ cross along the face of goal.

    ’11 | 0-0
    Nice football as Bigirimana and Tanner combine. Moult sticks it in the net with a great finish but the flag is up.

    ’10 | 0-0
    McHugh plays in Tanner down the left who produces a great little turn to create some space but he can’t pick out a man with cross

    ‘9 | 0-0
    Tanner does well down the right and forces a corner…..Bigirimana plays it short to Cadden but he curls it over the bar

    ‘2 | 0-0
    Decent chance for Motherwell! Tait’s cross from the left flashes across the face of goal but Tanner just can’t get his head on it.

    We’re up and running here in Dingwall. Ross County kick off.

    Out come the two sides at a sunny but cold Global Energy Stadium.

    [tab:Reaction]

    Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson:

     

    Ross County manager Owen Coyle

     

     

    [tab:Man-of-the-match]

    [poll id=”332″]

  • Archive

    Build-up: Ross County

    Motherwell head north to face Ross County in the Ladbrokes Premiership tomorrow afternoon.

    And following last weekend’s loss against Hibs, the Steelmen are set for a showdown with Owen Coyle’s County at the Global Energy Stadium as they search for a return to winning ways.

    Eight points separate the Northerners in 9th from the ‘Well in 5th as the two sides meet for the third time this season.

    On both occasions, the Fir Parkers have emerged victorious.

    The first meeting was in the Betfred Cup, when the ten-men of Motherwell managed to bag an extra-time winner to progress to the quarter-final.

    Ten-days later, the Staggies travelled south to Fir Park, where the Steelmen notched their first league victory of the season and the first in a five game unbeaten run.

    Richard Tait’s opener was followed up by Louis Moult’s penalty to secure a 2-0 victory thanks to a much-improved second half.

    Much like the previous two fixtures against the Northerners, Stephen Robinson’s side head in to the clash on the back of defeat.

    But Stephen Robinson is confident his side can bounce back to winning ways this weekend.

    Speaking to the press this morning, the Northern Irishman said: “We’ve started well but on Saturday we stopped the things we’re very good at.

    [pullquote]We’ve trained hard this week, and we’ve had three, four good days of training so I’m confident we’ll be back on Saturday.[/pullquote]

    “We didn’t deliver enough balls in to the box to create opportunities, which was very evident, so we’ll get back to doing that again.”

    He added: “We’ve trained hard this week, and we’ve had three, four good days of training so I’m confident we’ll be back on Saturday.”

    And one player who also has his sights set on bouncing back from Saturday’s defeat is Craig Tanner.

    The 23-year-old, who scored the winning goal against Dundee, revealed that everyone thrives under the competition in the squad.

    Speaking to the broadcast press this morning, the Englishman looked ahead to tomorrows trip to the highlands.

    “It’s part of my game to create and score goals so thankfully I was fortunate enough to put one in the corner against Dundee and hopefully I can add a few more to help the team throughout the season.” The creative attacker said.

    “When you have a squad like we have here and everyone’s pushing in the same direction, I think you can’t always expect to start.”

    He added: “There’s a lot of games and the manager changes it due to tactical decisions or fitness and I think it’s working throughout the season because the lads who play give their all.”

    The Fir Parkers will need to be at their best this weekend, as they travel to the Global Energy Stadium to take on a County side who have recently picked up their first home league win of the campaign.

    The Staggies will be keen to follow that up tomorrow, but face a ‘Well side brimming with confidence and fuelled by the hunger to return to winning ways.

    Ross County V Motherwell
    Saturday 4th November 2017
    3.00pm
    Global Energy Stadium, Dingwall
    Pay at the gate.

    Admission prices are as follows:

    ADULTS £24
    STUDENTS/OVER 65 £14
    UNDER 18s £5
    • Fans who require ambulant or wheelchair access should contact Brian Davidson on 07725 917161

    If you can’t make it tomorrow, don’t miss the action by tuning in to mixlr.com/motherwellfc for live commentary or follow the match on Twitter @MotherwellFC

    You can see the match highlights on MFC TV’s YouTube channel, as well as full reaction and a match report right here on the official website.

  • Archive

    Pro darts players visit Fir Park

    Darts stars from the PDC visited Fir Park this week to take on the members of the players’ dart school.

    Kyle Anderson, who last week hit the first ever nine-darter to be shown on terrestrial television in the UK against Michael van Gerwen, was joined by Corey Cadby and Dimitri van der Bergh.

    They paired up in a pro-amateur competition with Liam Grimshaw, Richard Tait, Chris Cadden and Ross MacLean. Watch our video to see how the boys fared.

    The Ladbrokes World Series of Darts Finals will be held from November 3-5 at the Braehead Arena in Glasgow, live on ITV4.

    For tickets, visit braehead-arena.co.uk or call 0844 499 1700.

     

  • Archive

    Robinson: Confident we’ll bounce back

    ‘Well boss Stephen Robinson is confident his side will bounce back as the Steelmen head north to take on Ross County.

    The Fir Park manager looked ahead to tomorrow’s clash with Owen Coyle’s County and admitted he expects an improvement from the weekend’s defeat against Hibs.

    Speaking to the broadcast press this morning, Robinson also discussed his one-match ban following yesterday’s hearing at Hampden.

    [pullquote]We’ve trained hard this week, and we’ve had three, four good days of training so I’m confident we’ll be back on Saturday.[/pullquote]

    He said: “We’ve started well but on Saturday we stopped the things we’re very good at.

    “We didn’t deliver enough balls in to the box to create opportunities, which was very evident, so we’ll get back to doing that again.“

    He added: “We’ve trained hard this week, and we’ve had three, four good days of training so I’m confident we’ll be back on Saturday.”