fbpx
News

Latest News

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Craigan wants more from reserves

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Loan Watch: Hastie nets for Alloa

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Reserves win at Queens

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Reserves in action on Monday

  • First team

    Watch highlights from Livingston draw

  • First team

    Players react to Livingston draw

  • First team

    Robinson: We stopped the rot

  • First team

    Motherwell 1 – 1 Livingston

  • First team

    Andy Rose looks ahead to Livingston clash

  • First team

    Headlines from the manager’s press conference

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Craigan wants more from reserves

    Stephen Craigan says he expects his reserve side to step up and perform better when they face Sligo Rovers in the IRN-BRU Cup on Saturday.

    The youngsters were 1-0 winners in the Reserve Cup at Queen of the South on Monday, with George Newell getting the only goal from the spot.

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Loan Watch: Hastie nets for Alloa

    Loan Watch: Hastie nets for Alloa

    Jake Hastie was on the scoresheet for Alloa Athletic as they drew 3-3 with Queen of the South at the weekend.

    The Motherwell loanee scored the second for the Wasps as they raced into a three-goal lead at Palmerston within 25 minutes, netting a header from a deep cross from the right.

    But Stephen Dobbie went on to net a hat-trick to pull the game back for the Doonhamers, taking his tally for the season to 24.

    Also in the Championship, Ross MacLean came on 10 minutes into the second half for Morton as they drew 1-1 at Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

    The Ton had taken the lead early on through Charlie Telfer, before Jordan White equalised on the stroke of half time.

    In League Two, PJ Morrison was in goal for Albion Rovers as they lost 3-1 at Annan, while Neil McLaughlin was a second half substitute in Stirling Albion’s 1-0 defeat at Cowdenbeath.

    Picture: David Glencross

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Reserves win at Queens

    Reserves win at Queens

    Motherwell picked up all three points in their Reserve Cup group stage clash with Queen of the South at Palmerston.

    George Newell’s penalty gave the Steelmen a 1-0 victory against the Doonhamers, edging what was a rather quiet encounter in Dumfries.

    It was surprising that the game remained goalless for the opening half hour, with a whole host of chances falling for the travelling reserves.

    James Scott went closest, sending a neat effort past the keeper from a narrow angle, but missing the target by inches.

    It was a well spotted foul by the referee’s assistant which afforded Motherwell a glorious chance to break the deadlock.

    Kyle MacDonald threaded a neat pass through for the run of Newell, who couldn’t get on the end of it due to Queen’s defender Dan Harvey dragging him to the deck just inside the 18 yard box.

    Newell made no mistake from the spot, sending Jack Leighfield the wrong way to put ‘Well one up after 35 minutes.

    In a game largely dominated by Craigan’s side, the hosts should have levelled and went extremely close to doing so.

    With just three minutes remaining, David Norman sent in a terrific cross which right back Ewan Gourlay got his head to, but his effort flashed narrowly past the far post.

    With two wins from two in the group stage, the reserves’ next group game is at home to Dunfermline Athletic on Monday, 15 October.

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Reserves in action on Monday

    Reserves in action on Monday

    Stephen Craigan’s reserves side travel to face Queen of the South on Monday, 8 October.

    The Reserve League Cup match against the Doonhamers at Palmerston Park in Dumfries will kick off at 2pm.

    Motherwell won their opening match in the competition, defeating Dundee 3-1.

  • First team

    Watch highlights from Livingston draw

    Watch back the best of the action as Motherwell end their run of defeats with a hard-fought draw at home to Livingston.

  • First team

    Players react to Livingston draw

    Richard Tait, Tom Aldred and Ryan Bowman reflect on this afternoon’s 1-1 draw against Livingston.

    “We’ve got to build on this,” Tait said. “It’s a point against a difficult side, and we’ve ended that losing run.”

  • First team

    Robinson: We stopped the rot

    Stephen Robinson says there’s plenty room for improvement but was satisfied his team ended their losing run against Livingston.

    The manager saw his team take the lead through Ryan Bowman’s goal. But Keaghan Jacobs’ wonder goal was followed up by a potentially game-changing red card for Carl McHugh.

    “The important thing is we stopped the rot,” he said.

    “We showed resilience but we need to be better on the ball.”

  • First team

    Motherwell 1 – 1 Livingston

    Motherwell 1 – 1 Livingston

    Motherwell collected a hard-earned point from a tough, scrappy affair against high-flying Livingston.

    However, having taken an early lead through Ryan Bowman, the Fir Parkers were left fighting to take a point after Keaghan Jacobs struck a stunning equaliser and ‘Well were left with 10 men for the final 15 minutes after Carl McHugh received a second yellow card.

    After three punishing games on the road, Stephen Robinson made a few changes for their return to Fir Park. Peter Hartley returned from injury to form a back three with Tom Aldred and Liam Donnelly. Allan Campbell resumed his midfield role along with Andy Rose in a five-man midfield.

    Third-placed Livi looked intent on extending their super form and pressed the home goal from the start. The under pressure ‘Well defence was happy to see Scott Robinson’s shot deflected wide of Trevor Carson’s goal before Dolly Menga’s header drifted on to the top of the net.

    The first save though came at the other end in the 14 minute and although McHugh controlled his 20 yard volley well, Liam Kelly comfortably held his shot.

    Two minutes later, the Livingston ‘keeper was beaten. Campbell broke to the edge of the visitor’s box before laying the ball into Bowman’s path. And although his shot was on target as Craig Hackett slid in to block, his deflection carried the ball beyond his ’keeper to put the hosts ahead.

    The West Lothian defence then survived a bout of pressure, blocking successive shots from Chris Cadden and McHugh, before Curtis Main nodded the ball wide.

    After 23 minutes, Livi fans celebrated what they thought was equaliser when Keaghan Jacobs’ corner into a packed six-yard box ended with the ball rolling over the goal line. But celebrations were cut short, when referee Willie Collum awarded ‘Well a free kick as Carson had been impeded.

    Livingston’s direct route from their keeper still kept the ‘Well back three occupied but in truth Carson was never tested.

    Despite having the bulk of the play, the visitors were lucky not to concede another goal amidst appeals for penalty six minutes from the break.

    Andy Rose had his effort blocked eight yards from goal and as the ball bounced around the box Bowman had two efforts on goal blocked, the second coming off a defender’s arm but claims for a penalty were waved aside by the referee.

    The pattern of play continued after the break as ‘Well’s careless use of the ball provided Livingston with plenty of possession and the opportunity to put the home defence under almost constant pressure.

    Despite a couple of crosses and corners from Cadden the flow of play was one way and Livi were finally rewarded with an equaliser after 62 minutes.

    Hartley tugged Menga’s jersey five yards outside the box. The ‘Well captain was booked but worse was to follow when from the resultant free kick Jacobs superbly curled the ball over the defensive wall and into Carson’s top left hand corner.

    There was plenty of time for the Steelmen to regain the lead and with 18 minutes remaining, Robinson made a double substitution in the hope that Gael Bigirimana would bring composure and Danny Johnson a winning goal.

    However, before either could make an impact, ‘Well were reduced to 10 men when Carl McHugh was shown his second yellow card inside seven minutes.

    Motherwell reverted to a back four but showed some grit and urgency as they chased a winner. A minute from time, some pressure on the visitors gave Bowman possession but his ambitious drive from 30 yards was straight into Kelly’s arms.

    Then in injury time, a Steven Lawless corner was directed towards goal but the combined efforts of Carson and Campbell cleared the ball of the line and leave both teams settling for a share of the points.

  • First team

    Andy Rose looks ahead to Livingston clash

    Andy Rose says Motherwell’s players have spent the week reviewing what’s going well and what needs worked on, as they look to bounce back against Livingston.

    After losing from leading at Kilmarnock last weekend, the midfielder says it’s been a case of working hard on the training pitch to rectify things.

  • First team

    Headlines from the manager’s press conference

    Manager Stephen Robinson spoke to the broadcast media ahead of the weekend match with Livingston.

    Here’s the headlines from what he had to say.

    On the mood in the camp

    We’ve played seven games and of course it has not been the start we wanted. There are fine lines in football and obviously goals change football matches.

    For example, we’re 1-0 up last Saturday at Killie and miss a penalty and when things aren’t going for you, that’s what happens.

    Over and above that, we’ve had four or five decisions in the last lot of games that have affected the results. That said, there are a lot of things we can do better.

    There’s a positivity around the place because we know we are not far away. We’ve had to change, what with injuries we’ve had to play players out of position and perhaps taken that solidity out our team. We’ve spoke this week about getting that back, the team and the personnel that won a lot of games last season and took us to two cup finals.

    Of course it’s frustrating, because I know how close we are, and of course everything is dictated by results. Emotions around the club, the mood of the fans are all dictated by results, but I believe there are positives and we need to ensure we use that to turn in results sooner rather than later.

    On the everyone taking collective responsibility for form

    We pulled everyone together at the start of the week to make sure we didn’t have a situation where people are walking about feeling sorry for themselves. We also have to give the players a plan on how we turn those little percentages in our favour and into wins.

    The biggest thing for me is to get back to keeping clean sheets. Circumstances with the personnel may have impacted that but I feel we are getting closer to putting a team that I think is more recognisable from last season and straight away, that gives everyone a lift.

    We’ve also got a bunch of boys who are very conscientious. They know when they’ve played well but they also know when they can do better. What I can never question is their work rate or their commitment to this football club and with that mindset our luck will change.

    We need to keep working hard and that was reiterated to everyone, including the staff.

    On the level of training despite difficult run of form

    We’ve got strong characters. People were constantly saying last season that we had a good dressing room.

    It’s this season where that will be tested as it’s easy when you’re winning football matches and getting to cup finals. Now you see who the characters are, you see who the strong boys are and I think the vast majority of them in that dressing room are.

    We expect criticism but and can deal with it, we batten down the hatches and make sure you stick together and that’s very much been the talk around the place.

    From the 11 on the pitch, the subs and the boys not involved, there’s never a complaint from them, the train hard and we prepare meticulously for every match.

    On the temptation to ‘change it up’ versus the need for perseverance

    If I am honest, due to injuries and available personnel, we probably did try and change it up. Because we didn’t have that electric pace of either Kipré or Dunne, we perhaps had to take that extra pass which maybe slowed our tempo down a little bit, which for the vast majority of our players, it doesn’t suit.

    I feel the Hearts game and 35 or 40 minutes of the Kilmarnock match that we got back to that level of intensity, back to being in people’s faces and back to putting balls into an area of the pitch that can hurt people. I know what works for the vast majority of our squad, but we have had to try and change things slightly.

    As I said earlier, I think we’re close to getting the personnel back into the right positions that will hopefully start affecting results.

    On whether Livingston have surprised everyone with their early-season form

    I think many may have been surprised, but they’re not embarrassed about their style and why should they be? They’re getting results. I hear everyone say that you’ve got to play a certain way.

    You play to the strengths of your squad and the level your budget allows you to do. Livingston have done that and credit to them.

    After we beat them in the Betfred Cup, our boys came off and said it was one of the hardest games they had played in, because they have a never-say-die attitude which they’ve carried on from last season. We have to match that and we will match that and it’s very much a game I am looking forward to.

    On taking confidence from that cup win earlier in the season

    We obviously played them and won, but I am not sure how relevant that will be. It’s a cup competition, a one-off game whereas they’ll probably go into this game as favourites given where they sit in the table and their start.

    It’ll be tough, but first and foremost, we have to match their desire and their energy, then we can get the ball down in play, in that order.

    Perhaps we’ve tried to do that slightly different because of the injuries and who we’ve had available to us. Now people are returning, now we can get players back into their strong position, I want us to get back to that.

    On team news

    We’re hopeful both Andy Rose and Peter Hartley will be available for selection. Charles Dunne has started light jogging in training, that’s a huge boost for everyone around the place.

    Craig Tanner had a setback, but he’s on the road to recovery, so we’re getting people back and hopefully we can start turning the corner.