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  • Women

    Women fall to late cup defeat

  • Women

    Women in cup action at Rangers

  • First team

    Highlights: Dundee 0 – 1 Motherwell

  • First team

    Players react to win over Dundee

  • First team

    Robinson: We showed true desire

  • First team

    Dundee 0 – 1 Motherwell

  • First team

    Selfless Tait focused on top six

  • First team

    Preview: Dundee v Motherwell

  • First team

    Robinson: Top six push not over

  • First team

    Tanner: Three points all that matters

  • Women

    Women fall to late cup defeat

    Motherwell suffered SWPL Cup heartache as Rangers scored eight minutes from time to claim a 1-0 victory at New Tinto Park.

    Eddie Wolecki Black’s side more than held their own in a fiercely contested affair, that saw the hosts reduced to ten when Chelsie Watson was shown a red card for bundling over Suzanne Mulvey as the striker raced clear on goal.

    ‘Well made a bright start and could have been ahead in the opening minute. Sophie Gallagher forced Rangers keeper Khym Ramsay into an excellent low stop.

    The hosts grew into the game after a quiet start, however chances were at a premium, with the ‘Well defence coping brilliantly throughout periods of sustained pressure.

    Three minutes before the break there was controversy when Carla Boyce hit the deck inside the box. Instead of awarding a penalty the referee adjudged the striker to have taken a dive and showed her a yellow card.

    The second half began with two half chances for Mulvey, before Lauren Davidson sent a shot sailing over the bar as Rangers began to threaten.

    Both sides were showing they were more than happy to get stuck in and there were bookings for Emma Black and Kerry Montgomery as the game became increasingly scrappy.

    Boyce brought out a good save from Johnstone with 19 minutes remaining and a magnificent sliding challenge from Stephanie Knox denied Hannah Coakley an excellent scoring opportunity.

    With very little to separate the two sides, extra time was looking increasingly likely, but it was the home side who would strike late to clinch the game.

    With Motherwell temporarily down to 10 due to a knock to Montgomery, Rangers seized on their numerical advantage. A quickly taken short corner caught the ‘Well defence off guard and Chantelle Brown’s low drive evaded all in the penalty box and found the far corner.

    Mulvey tested Ramsay as Black’s side tried desperately to find a way back into the game. And with two minutes remaining it looked like the striker was just about to do so before being cynically pulled to the ground on the edge of the box, resulting in a red card for a Rangers defender.

    From the free kick, Cunningham was denied by an excellent save from Ramsay and the resulting corner was scrambled clear.

    The late defeat was harsh on Motherwell who had performed superbly against their opponents from the league above. Their attentions will now turn to league matters, with their next fixture taking place after the international break,  a home fixture against Central Girls on March 11.

  • Women

    Women in cup action at Rangers

    Motherwell’s women’s team continue the start to the new season with a trip to face Rangers in the SWPL Cup on Sunday.

    Eddie Wolecki Black’s side are looking to build on last week’s emphatic 8-0 victory over Edinburgh University Hutchison Vale in the league by aiming to take a top flight scalp.

    Kick off at New Tinto Park in Govan is at 2pm.

  • First team

    Highlights: Dundee 0 – 1 Motherwell

    Craig Tanner’s fourth goal in four games against Dundee secured all three points for the Steelmen.

  • First team

    Players react to win over Dundee

    Craig Tanner, Tom Aldred and Cédric Kipré speak after the 1-0 win away to Dundee in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

  • First team

    Robinson: We showed true desire

    Stephen Robinson praised the passion and commitment of his players as they picked up a crucial 1-0 victory away to Dundee.

    Despite being pegged back for large periods of the game, the Steelmen defended resolutely for large periods of their Ladbrokes Premiership encounter.

    Speaking at full time, the Northern Irishman expressed his delight as his side got themselves back to winning ways.

    “If we want to be a top six side then that was a really important win for us,” he said. “But we can be better than that.

    [pullquote]The resilience, organisation and character the boys showed for 90 minutes was excellent.[/pullquote]

    “Dundee had a lot of the ball, they dominated possession in front of us without hurting us, similar to what we did to Killie last weekend.”

    He added: “Our back five and Trevor Carson were outstanding, Carl McHugh as well.

    “If I was a fan and I was travelling back down the road having seen that kind of passion and commitment – throwing themselves in front of the ball, winning headers and tackles – I’d be absolutely delighted.”

  • First team

    Dundee 0 – 1 Motherwell

    Lewis Irons at Dens Park

    Motherwell returned to winning ways with a determined performance away to Dundee in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

    Craig Tanner’s fourth goal in four games against Neil McCann’s side proved to be the difference as ‘Well clung on to a 1-0 lead for over an hour.

    And it was almost a mirror image of the Steelmen’s defeat to Kilmarnock, with Robinson’s men stepping up to deliver on his calls to be clinical in front of goal.

    The Northern Irishman made two changes from the side that lost 1-0 to Killie, recalling Cédric Kipré following his suspension and bringing Allan Campbell back in to the midfield in place of Andy Rose.

    The home side sent a warning shot wide of the post mid-way through the first half when Sofien Moussa side-footed across goal from a corner, but it flashed narrowly wide.

    And almost immediately down the other end, Motherwell punished the hosts emphatically.

    A terrific ball over the top from Carl McHugh released Curtis Main in behind the Dee back line, and the striker fizzed the ball across goal for Tanner, who made no mistake from inside the six-yard box.

    Two glorious chances in two minutes were squandered by McCann’s men as ‘Well began to be put under serious pressure early in the second half.

    First up was Genseric Kusunga in the 51st minute, who blazed the ball high over the bar from eight yards when it broke kindly for the centre-back.

    Two minutes later, Josk Meekings was afforded too much space from a corner and sent a downward header wide of the far post as Dundee piled forward in search of an equaliser.

    Robinson responded to that pressure with the introduction of Ryan Bowman and Andy Rose in place of Nadir Çiftçi and Craig Tanner, and ‘Well’s determined showing raged on for the 30 minutes remaining.

    A vicious Simon Murray effort from a tight angle forced a decent stop from Carson, but the Northern Irishman remained largely untested as the ten Steelmen in front of him stood up to the challenge. As always, the stopper showed his assured composure to collect a number of crosses from the home side.

    It was a near complete away performance from Motherwell. Hard-fought, determined and, crucially, clinical.

  • First team

    Selfless Tait focused on top six

    Richard Tait is second top on the Ladbrokes Premiership assists chart this season.

    But when the defender is asked to comment on that achievement so far, his response sums him up.

    “I don’t pay attention to that,” he shrugged. “The only thing that bothers me is where Motherwell Football Club sit in the table. That’s it.”

    Modest, selfless and with a sheer hunger to succeed, Tait epitomises the hard work and desire encouraged by manager Stephen Robinson.

    And while he may have been deployed in a number of different positions this term, the Scot has been ever present for the side.

    It is clear to see that there is a huge element of trust in the defender, who is equally adept going forward as he is defensively.

    If that isn’t summed up by his two goals and six assists this season, you just need to watch the ground Tait covers on a weekly basis.

    Up and down the right or left flank for 90 minutes must take its toll. But the 28-year-old, who works tirelessly on his fitness, thrives when he works hard.

    “I have to be able to do that,” he says. “If I couldn’t run as much for 90 minutes then I doubt I’d be able to play for this team.

    “We pride ourselves on our hard work. We put in everything for the manager and for each other. If you didn’t have that attitude, you wouldn’t be here very long.”

    Don’t let that hard work fool you though. Tait isn’t just a pair of lungs. The defender has trained himself since a young age to ensure he is as two footed as possible.

    “My Dad always made sure I’d work on both my right foot and my left foot,” the Galashiels-born lad said. “It’s paid off for me a bit I guess.

    [pullquote]I pride myself on being able to defend first and foremost, but also create chances too.[/pullquote]

    “So the fact that I’m not limited to using one foot plays a huge part in helping me go forward, and I try to use that to the best of my ability.”

    In his second season with the club, Tait say he has enjoyed the relative success the club have had so far.

    “I obviously still enjoyed myself last season. It was my first season in the Scottish Premiership and it was special for me, but obviously we’ve hit some heights this season that have been more memorable.

    “Getting to Hampden twice and the cup run we’re on at the moment have been huge for us both on and off the pitch. You can see what it’s done for the fans and it’s done something similar in the dressing room too, we have a confidence.”

    Ahead of some important fixtures coming up, particularly at home, Tait looked ahead to what’s coming up.

    “We have some really big games coming up,” the defender said, “Hearts in the cup and then Rangers and Celtic before the split, it’s going to be important to go in to them with a bit of confidence.

    “If that can build up some confidence among the supporters too, then that’s huge for us.”

  • First team

    Preview: Dundee v Motherwell

    Motherwell return to Dens Park for the second time in three weeks in a bid to pick up three important points in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

    Stephen Robinson’s side head in to the fixture on the back of a 1-0 defeat against Steve Clarke’s Killie, a first defeat at Fir Park since the turn of the year.

    It will be the third trip to Dens Park this season, and Robinson will be keen to see his side maintain their strong record against Neil McCann’s side.

    The Northern Irishman believes three points against Dundee could put his side back on track to push for the top six, but the manager admits the primary focus is to pick up the points required to remain in the top flight.

    “We need to get back to winning ways,” he said. “We have a great chance on Saturday and if we can pick up the win, it’s game on again to push for the top six.

    “First and foremost, we need to make sure we get the points we need to stay in the division though, after that, we can look up the way.

    “We played Dundee recently and as Neil said afterwards, there wasn’t a lot in the game. Unlike Saturday against Killie, we took our chances against Dundee and that’s the story of football sometimes.”

    [pullquote]Dundee play some good football, they get the ball down and play and they have some very good individuals who can win games. It’s going to be a tough game.[/pullquote]

    The manager will be without Peter Hartley through injury, whilst Elliott Frear and Liam Grimshaw will be assessed ahead of Saturday’s game.

    Ryan Bowman, Stephen Hendrie, Deimantas Petravicius and George Newell all featured for Stephen Craigan’s under 20s mid-week, and they too could make the squad.

    For Craig Tanner, the prospect of facing Dundee could not have come around quick enough for the 23-year-old, who has scored in each of the past three clashes with the Dens Park side.

    And ahead of Saturday’s trip to face Neil McCann’s side, the 23-year-old is eager to see the Steelmen return to winning ways.

    Speaking to the broadcast press, Tanner reflected on his strong run of form against the Dark Blues, and spoke about the positive attitude around Stephen Robinson’s squad.

    “I’ve got three goals in three games against Dundee which is nice personally,” the Englishman said. “But most important is that we go there and get the three points.

    “It may be luck or maybe it’s fallen right for me on the day, but if it doesn’t fall for me on Saturday hopefully it falls for someone else.

    “You can see in this division that anyone can beat anyone, so we’ll need to be on our toes and be ready with our game plan to hope that we succeed against them.”

    Essential bridge maintenance works are planned for the M90 Friarton Bridge starting in the evening on Friday 23 February for one weekend.

    The work will involve replacing some of the bridge components on the northbound carriageway at both the north and south ends of the bridge. The maintenance will help ensure the bridge continues to operate safely for road users.

    To enable the works to be completed safely, the northbound carriageway will be closed to all traffic from 8pm on Friday 23 February until around 5 am on Monday 26 February. A contraflow system will instead be in place, with single lane traffic running in both directions on the southbound carriageway.

    Supporters are advised to allow for delays and to adjust their travel plans accordingly.

    Dundee v Motherwell

    Saturday 24th February 2018
    3.00pm
    Dens Park
    Tickets available on the gate.

    Admission prices are as follows:

    ADULTS £24
    STUDENTS / OVER 65S £16
    UNDER 18s £10

    If you can’t make it along, 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.

  • First team

    Robinson: Top six push not over

    Stephen Robinson believes three points against Dundee could put his side back on track to push for the top six.

    But the manager admits the primary focus is to pick up the points required to remain in the top flight.

    And with a big game awaiting the Steelmen on Saturday, the Northern Irishman is eager to see his players tale their chances at Dens Park.

    “We need to get back to winning ways,” he said. “We have a great chance on Saturday and if we can pick up the win, it’s game on again to push for the top six.

    [pullquote]First and foremost, we need to make sure we get the points we need to stay in the division. After that, we can look up the way.[/pullquote]

    “We played Dundee recently and as Neil said afterwards, there wasn’t a lot in the game.

    “Unlike Saturday against Killie, we took our chances against Dundee and that’s the story of football sometimes.”

  • First team

    Tanner: Three points all that matters

    Craig Tanner has enjoyed playing against Dundee this season, with three goals in three games against the Dens Park side.

    And ahead of Saturday’s trip to face Neil McCann’s side, the 23-year-old is eager to see the Steelmen return to winning ways.

    Speaking to the broadcast press, Tanner reflected on his strong run of form against the Dark Blues, and spoke about the positive attitude around Stephen Robinson’s squad.

    “I’ve got three goals in three games against Dundee which is nice personally,” the Englishman said.

    “But most important is that we go there and get the three points.

    [pullquote]”It may be luck or maybe it’s fallen right for me on the day, but if it doesn’t fall for me on Saturday hopefully it falls for someone else.[/pullquote]

    “You can see in this division that anyone can beat anyone, so we’ll need to be on our toes and be ready with our game plan to hope that we succeed against them.”