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  • First team

    Next up: Hapoel Beer-Sheva

  • First team

    ‘Being clinical the difference’

  • First team

    Aberdeen 0-3 Motherwell

  • First team

    Next up: Aberdeen

  • First team

    Robbie Crawford joins on loan

  • First team

    Harry Robinson loaned to Queen of the South

  • First team

    UEFA Europa League play-off round draw

  • First team

    Motherwell to face Hapoel Beer-Sheva

  • First team

    ‘We showed character’

  • First team

    Motherwell progress on penalties

  • First team

    Next up: Hapoel Beer-Sheva

    Next up: Hapoel Beer-Sheva

    Motherwell’s European adventure continues on Thursday with a trip to take on Hapoel Beer-Sheva in the UEFA Europa League.

    Kick-off on Thursday 24 September 2020 is at 6.30pm BST.

    Watch live

    Our match with Hapoel Beer-Sheva will be broadcast live online.

    Priced at £10, the game is now available to buy for supporters in the UK and Republic of Ireland at ppv.motherwellfc.co.uk.

    Supporters based outside of the UK/Ireland can watch via their normal subscription at live.motherwellfc.co.uk. If you’re based in Israel, you will not be able to see the game.

    Kick-off in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round match is at 6.30pm BST. Please buy your pass and log in early to avoid a last-minute surge.

    PLEASE NOTE that if you are an existing season ticket holder in the UK or Ireland, your existing log in will not work. You must create a new account at ppv.motherwellfc.co.uk.

    Due to the complex technical logistics of getting a video feed from Israel, we unfortunately will not have commentary on the feed. You will hear the noise from the stadium instead.

    Form guide

    Hapoel Beer-Sheva postponed their weekend match in preparation for the tie, having won one and lost one of their two league matches this season.

    In Europe, a 3-0 home win over Dinamo Batumi was followed by a trip to Albania to take on Laci last midweek.

    Trailing 1-0 in the 90th minute, late goals from Agudelo and Varenne sealed progression.

    For the Steelmen, victory over Aberdeen was a fourth win in five matches. That result followed wins over Glentoran, St Johnstone and Coleraine.

  • First team

    ‘Being clinical the difference’

    “We’ve now won four out of five. The difference between now and earlier in the season is how clinical we were.”

    Stephen Robinson reacts to the win over Aberdeen.

  • First team

    Aberdeen 0-3 Motherwell

    Aberdeen 0-3 Motherwell

    An incredible first half blitz saw Motherwell claim all three points against in-form Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

    Goals from Mark O’Hara, Christopher Long and Bevis Mugabi had Motherwell on easy street with only half of the first 45 gone.

    A brilliant defensive showing then got the win over the line in an outstanding showing from every ‘Well man on the park.

    Stephen Robinson made two changes to the side which went the distance against Coleraine in Europe in midweek. Liam Grimshaw and Christopher Long came into the side, replacing Nathan McGinley and Callum Lang, who both dropped to the bench.

    Motherwell started positively, with Christopher Long’s early shout for a penalty going unheard.

    The spot kick would come in the fourth minute. A Polworth free-kick was headed back across goal by Gallagher and met by the head of Bevis Mugabi.

    His goalbound effort was handled on its way through, giving O’Hara the chance to open the scoring from the spot.

    The midfielder, who netted in the UEFA Europa League shootout in Coleraine, made no mistake, cooly slotting home.

    Incredibly it was 2-0 before the 10th minute arrived.

    Under pressure, goalkeeper Joe Lewis made a mess of a clearance and it fell to the feet of Long on the left of the box.

    The striker still had work to do as Lewis scarpered back towards goal but Long picked his spot well to make it two.

    The Motherwell juggernaut kept on going, with bodies piling forward with intensity and speed.

    After a series of well-worked attacking moves, the third would arrive from a set play with just 23 minutes gone.

    Polworth’s exceptionally weighted corner from the right was met by Mugabi, who hit his header at Lewis but with enough force to see it nestle into the net.

    Aberdeen changed their shape to go more attacking in the second half, with Motherwell working to contain them high up the pitch and hit on the counter.

    The Steelmen had a raft of opportunities when they stole the ball but Long and Polworth saw chances go begging.

    Motherwell: Carson, Gallagher, Mugabi, Lamie, Grimshaw, O’Hara, Campbell, Polworth (Maguire), Watt (Lang), Long (White).

    Subs not used: Morrison, McGinley, Crawford, Lang, Seedorf, Hylton, Hastie.

  • First team

    Next up: Aberdeen

    Next up: Aberdeen

    It’s a return to Premiership action on Sunday as we travel to take on Aberdeen.

    Fans in the UK and Ireland can watch through Aberdeen’s pay-per-view service at ppv.afc.co.uk.

    Supporters based abroad can watch through our subscription service as normal at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

    Kick-off is at 3pm BST.

    Tale of the tape

    The two sides were last due to meet on 13 March 2020, a game cancelled on the day due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

    That match was never played – with the Premiership season later being called with ‘Well in third spot and the Dons in fourth.

    Before that, Motherwell won 1-0 on their last trip to Pittodrie, with Liam Donnelly scoring the decisive goal.

    Aberdeen have won three of the last five, two at home and one away, while the Steelmen won the other in a resounding 3-0 home win in November 2018.

    Form guide

    Both sides won in Europe in midweek.

    Motherwell took penalties to overcome Coleraine in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League, while Aberdeen were 2-0 winners at Viking Stavanger.

    In all competitions, the Dons have won six in a row since their opening day defeat to Rangers.

    Wins over St Johnstone, Livingston, NSI, Hibernian and Kilmarnock, coupled with the midweek victory in Norway, have resulted in 13 goals and only one conceded, including five clean sheets.

    Motherwell have won three of their last four, having toppled Glentoran and Coleraine in Europe, and defeated St Johnstone at home in the Premiership.

  • First team

    Robbie Crawford joins on loan

    Robbie Crawford joins on loan

    Robbie Crawford has joined Motherwell on loan until January.

    The central midfielder arrives from Livingston, where he has made 26 appearances since moving from Ayr United in the summer of 2019.

    “It was important we added competition for places in midfield,” manager Stephen Robinson said.

    “Having lost Liam Donnelly to injury, and sold David Turnbull, we have been short in numbers in that area.

    “With the number of games we are facing in the league, in Europe and in cup competitions, it was vital we increased our pool.

    “He comes with Premiership experience and, along with Barry Maguire, brings competition to the midfield.

    “Robbie is a player we’ve watched for a number of years. He gives us a bit of bite and tenacity. He has good quality on the ball and is more game ready than some of our younger boys, who have been unable to gain vital game time with no reserve games.

    “Bringing in Robbie allows us the chance to put boys out on loan, particularly Jamie Semple, Harry Robinson, Ross MacIver and Dean Cornelius.

    “They can gain vital experience doing that and hopefully come back fighting for a place, as we develop the next crop of young players.”

    Crawford, 26, played 225 times for Ayr United after coming through the youth ranks at the club, before earning his move to the Premiership.

    He will go straight into the squad for Sunday’s trip to Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership, and the selection for the trip to Israel to take on Hapoel Beer-Sheva in the UEFA Europa League.

  • First team

    Harry Robinson loaned to Queen of the South

    Harry Robinson loaned to Queen of the South

    Harry Robinson has been loaned to Queen of the South for the 2020/21 campaign.

    The forward heads to the Scottish Championship club to gain first team experience with Allan Johnston’s side.

    “It’s vital that we get some of our younger boys game time out on loan,” said manager Stephen Robinson.

    “They’ve been unable to get those vital minutes with no reserve games to play. We are committed to developing young players and this is the best way to get them games at this moment in time.

    “Harry joins Jamie Semple in going out on loan, and it is likely that others will follow.

    “We want them to come back game ready and fighting for a place in the side.”

    Harry, 19, made his Motherwell debut against Dundee United in the Premiership in August 2020, and followed that up with an outing in the UEFA Europa League against Glentoran.

  • First team

    UEFA Europa League play-off round draw

    UEFA Europa League play-off round draw

    FC Viktoria Plzen or SønderjyskE potentially lie in wait at home in the play-off round of the 2020/21 UEFA Europa League.

    The winners of the third qualifying round match between Motherwell and Hapoel Beer-Sheva will play in the final hurdle before the group stages on Thursday 1 October 2020.

    Before that, Stephen Robinson’s side head to Israel on Thursday 24 September.

  • First team

    Motherwell to face Hapoel Beer-Sheva

    Motherwell to face Hapoel Beer-Sheva

    Motherwell will face Hapoel Beer-Sheva in the third qualifying round of the 2020/21 UEFA Europa League.

    Stephen Robinson’s side will travel to take on the Israelis on Thursday, 24 September 2020.

    Provisionally, the game is due to be played at the HaMoshava Stadium in Petah Tikva with an 8.30pm local time kick-off (6.30pm BST). This is subject to change.

    In line with UEFA regulations, supporters will unfortunately not be able to attend.

    Be’er Sheva came from a goal down to win 2-1 late away to Albanian side Laci on Thursday night, while Motherwell came through on penalties at Coleraine.

  • First team

    ‘We showed character’

    “It was a banana skin. We showed character and got through.”

    Stephen Robinson reacts to the win over Coleraine.

  • First team

    Motherwell progress on penalties

    Motherwell progress on penalties

    Motherwell progressed in the UEFA Europa League on penalties, after being pegged back from two goals up at Coleraine.

    Callum Lang and Tony Watt appeared to have the Scots with one foot in the third qualifying round. But a second half penalty double from Ben Doherty took the game to extra time and eventually spot kicks.

    Trevor Carson would then ultimately prove the hero, keeping all three of Coleraine’s efforts out to send the Steelmen through.

    Motherwell started with aggressive attacking intent. Lang, McGinley and Watt all went close in the opening exchanges, before the deadlock was broken.

    O’Donnell’s header back into the area from Watt’s blocked cross found Lang. His spin and shot was blocked at the first attempt by the ‘keeper, but he was able to fire home at the second attempt.

    Declan Gallagher saw a close range chip over the goalkeeper hacked off the line as Motherwell continued to press, while the hosts went close through a McLaughlin header and a Carson volley which sailed well over.

    Then, with 10 minutes left in the first half, it was two. Lang’s powerful cross from the right found Polworth, who laid into the path of Watt.

    He still had work to do to sort his feet, before finding the bottom right corner of the net from 10 yards.

    Motherwell went into the second half looking to put the result beyond doubt but almost immediately found themselves on the back foot.

    A bemused Mark O’Hara could only look on as the referee awarded a spot kick for an apparent push in the box, allowing Doherty the chance to step up and half the deficit.

    Coleraine, who eliminated Maribor in the previous round, grew in confidence and stature and kept Motherwell pinned in for large spells, before their chance came with two minutes to go.

    Bevis Mugabi found himself on the wrong side of his man and hauled down Bradley as he looked to pull the trigger, resulting in another spot kick and a red card for the Ugandan.

    Doherty made no mistake from 12 yards, levelling the tie and sending it to another 30 minutes.

    There was precious little to separate the two in extra time and the match went to penalties to decide who would face Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the third qualifying round.

    O’Hara, Watt and O’Donnell all cooly converted for Stephen Robinson’s men, with Carson diving to keep out all three Coleraine kicks and send Motherwell through.