| 6 | Dundee | 31 | 10 | 9 | 12 | -10 | 39 |
| 7 | Hibernian | 32 | 9 | 11 | 12 | -7 | 38 |
| 8 | Motherwell | 32 | 8 | 12 | 12 | -5 | 36 |
| 9 | Aberdeen | 32 | 8 | 10 | 14 | -5 | 34 |
| 10 | St Johnstone | 32 | 7 | 10 | 15 | -20 | 31 |
Trevor Carson played 45 minutes for Northern Ireland on Tuesday night as they defeated Israel 3-0.
The goalkeeper earned his fourth cap for his country as he started the friendly match at Belfast, before being replaced at the interval by Michael McGovern.
Michael O’Neill’s team return to action in October, as they face a UEFA Nations League double header.
Both games will be played away for the green and white army, as they take on Austria and then Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Liam Donnelly was on the scoresheet for Northern Ireland as he marked his record-breaking appearance with a win over Spain.
The defender picked up his 22nd cap for the Under 21s on Tuesday night, becoming the record cap holder at that age level.
His night got even better as he scored a penalty to put his nation 2-0 up in Albacete.
Northern Ireland went on to concede in stoppage time but held on for a big 2-1 victory.
On his record breaking 22nd U21 appearance, Liam Donnelly puts us TWO up against Spain! 😍 #GAWA pic.twitter.com/KrvmNt7Y4J
— Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) September 11, 2018
Chris Cadden and Allan Campbell both started for Scotland Under 21s as they defeated the Netherlands on Tuesday.
Fraser Hornby netted a double to keep the young Scots in the hunt for a qualification spot for the UEFA European Under 21 Championships next year.
Cadden played the full 90 minutes in the win, which was sealed through Hornby’s late penalty.
The Everton man had earlier netted from 40 yards into an empty goal after a mistake by the Dutch goalkeeper, before Teun Koopmeiners levelled.
Campbell was forced off late in the first half with a knock, having started the match.
Motherwell’s reserve side continued their unbeaten start to the 2018/19 season with victory in their Reserve Cup match with Dundee.
Neil McLaughlin, Jamie Semple and Conor Sammon netted for Stephen Craigan’s side at Forthbank.
Stephen Craigan was pleased to see his side pick up a 3-1 victory over Dundee in Group D of the Reserve Cup.
The Northern Irishman still wants more from his players though, as he continues to guide them on an unbeaten start to 2018/19.
He said: “Naturally I’m happy that we won, but I still feel that the standard of our play at times didn’t reach the levels that we did on Thursday night.”
Motherwell Reserves produced an assured display as they defeated Dundee 3-1 in group D of the Reserve Cup on Tuesday afternoon.
Stephen Craigan made a late change to his team, replacing Akeal Rehman with Neil McLaughlin in the starting eleven. The Northern Irishman also named Conor Sammon in his side due to the forward being ineligible to play against parent club Hearts on Saturday, and the experienced striker nearly made an immediate impact.
Charging down Dee stopper Samuel Jackson inside the opening five minutes, the Irishman’s lunging block looked set to turn the ball home, but some wicked spin denied the opener and allowed the keeper to gather without too much trouble.
He had a lot more to do in the 20th minute though, producing a fine stop to keep the scoreline level at Forthbank Stadium. James Scott, partnering Sammon up front, showed fine composure to shift the ball on to his left foot before firing an effort towards the roof of the net, only to see it tipped on to the crossbar.
Shortly after though, the Colts took the lead. Captain Barry Maguire burst in to the box, but instead of going for goal, showed terrific composure to turn and tee up the more central Neil McLaughlin, who slid the ball home from just inside the box with a very neat finish.
Despite controlling much of the first half, the second got off to a poor start when an aimless cross was sent in to the box and looked set to be gathered by Rohan Ferguson. However, the keeper made a rare mistake by his high standards, allowing the ball to slip from his grasp before seeing it be prodded in to an empty net by Dee striker Matthew Henvey.
Just after the hour mark, Colts boss Craigan made his first change of the afternoon, calling on Jamie Semple to replace goalcorer McLaughlin. And within minutes, the decision paid off as Semple put the Fir Park side 2-1 up.
Ghosting in at the back post, the youngster turned home a terrific cross towards the back post with his knee after the flight of the ball was misjudged by the Dundee defence. Semple showed terrific reactions to get enough on the ball to turn it inside the post and regain control of the Reserve Cup tie.
With just minutes remaining of the group D fixture, Alfredo Agyeman did terrifically well to beat his man in the box before being bundled to the deck. The referee had no doubts, pointing to the spot immediately. Sammon stepped up and confidently dispatched the spot kick, sending Jackson the wrong way and wrapping up proceedings in Stirling.
Motherwell’s colts side will play Sligo Rovers in the third round of the 2018/19 IRN-BRU Cup.
Stephen Craigan’s young team will take on the Irish opponents at home on the weekend of 13 and 14 October.
The youngsters have already defeated East Stirlingshire and Dundee Colts in this season’s competition, becoming only the second-ever colts team to reach the third round stage.
Sligo Rovers defeated Livingston’s colts team 4-1 in their second round match last weekend.
A confirmed date, kick off time and venue will be announced in due course.
Motherwell return to action on Saturday when Hearts come calling in the Ladbrokes Premiership.
There were a succession of exciting clashes between the two teams last campaign, especially at Fir Park, and this weekend promises to be no different.
Carl McHugh’s wonder strike to defeat the Gorgie side on their last visit to ML1 will live long in the memory, as will the atmosphere that day as we booked our place in the William Hill Scottish Cup semi final.
You can buy your tickets online now. You can then choose to print them at home, have them delivered or collect from the ticket office at the stadium.
Adult prices start at £20, while we also have a host of great prices for concessions and children. Kids go for just £3 all season long at Fir Park.
Hearts supporters can also get their tickets through our online platform. Away fans will be accommodated in our south stand.
Fancy watching the game in a bit more style? We’ve a whole host of hospitality options, whether you’re looking for some pre-match food and drink or even fancying seeing the match from the comfort of one of our corporate boxes.
Stephen Craigan’s reserve side are back in action on Tuesday as they come face to face with Dundee again.
With the two clubs’ Colts teams having faced last week in the IRN-BRU Cup, a clash in the newly-formed SPFL Reserve Cup lies in wait next.
Kick off at Forthbank Stadium in Stirling is at 2pm.
Motherwell are in a five-team group with Queen of the South, Dundee, Dunfermline Athletic and Morton. There are three other groups, all consisting of four teams.
The four group winners progress to the semi finals, which will be played on 25 February 2019.
As is the case in the Betfred Cup, group games which finish in a draw will go to penalties, with a bonus point on offer for the winners.
The club will host the first of a number of suicide prevention and awareness events at Fir Park on Monday, 10 September.
Organised by the SIWY Fanzine, in partnership with the Motherwell FC Community Trust and North Lanarkshire Council, the hour-long event will start at 7pm in the Community Trust offices in the Davie Cooper Stand.
You can book your place online now. The talk is designed to offer support to you, or someone you know, who is affected by this topic.
