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  • First team

    Motherwell 2-1 Aberdeen

  • First team

    Graham Alexander previews Aberdeen cup clash

  • First team

    Joe Efford on settling in and preparing to face Aberdeen

  • Women

    Georgie Rafferty joins Kilmarnock on loan

  • First team

    Next up: Aberdeen

  • First team

    Rangers tickets now on sale

  • First team

    Graham Alexander reacts to loss at Dundee United

  • First team

    Dundee United 2-0 Motherwell

  • First team

    Graham Alexander looks ahead to Dundee United

  • Women

    Settling in to new surroundings

  • First team

    Motherwell 2-1 Aberdeen

    Motherwell 2-1 Aberdeen

    Motherwell pulled off a battling comeback to progress to the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup.

    Christian Ramirez’s early goal was cancelled out by Kevin van Veen’s exceptional strike, before Connor Shields won it in first-half stoppage time.

    Mark O’Hara returned to the fold for the first time since appearing at Pittodrie in November. Van Veen, Connor Shields and Jake Carroll also came into the side, with Nathan McGinley out completely, and Callum Slattery, Jordan Roberts and Kaiyne Woolery dropping to the bench.

    Within the first minute, it was almost a dream start for the Steelmen.

    A ball over the top found Efford in the right channel. In behind the defence, he slotted away cooly past Woods but was ruled to be in an offside position.

    Aberdeen responded in kind. Finding space on the right, McCrorie stood up a ball to the back post where Ramirez, having got away from Ojala, rose to power his header past Kelly with three minutes gone.

    Worse almost followed four minutes later. Ojala again found Ramirez tough to deal with and the American got in behind his man on the right side of the box.

    Thankfully, his chip over Kelly bounced in front of goal and then past the left-hand post.

    Motherwell rallied, with Van Veen seeing a 30-yard free-kick deflected over and then, from the resulting corner, Shields heading just wide from Ojala’s flick.

    Alexander’s men kept coming, establishing a physical superiority over their opponents higher up the pitch.

    Goss’ free-kick from the right saw Solholm scoop a shot over the bar, although the flag was up, before the equaliser came.

    Van Veen was proving a menace all half and got his rewards with 10 minutes left to play.

    Twisting and turning against three men on the right side of the box, he got the ball out of his feet and sent an unstoppable shot into the top-left corner of Woods’ net.

    ‘Well thought they had their second five minutes from half-time. The ball broke kindly on the edge of the box for Goss and, needing to take the shot first time, came agonisingly close but found the left side netting.

    They should have been ahead on the stroke of half-time.

    Goss free-kick from the left was headed back across goal by Solholm and, sliding in, Donnelly made contact five yards out but somehow poked it past the left post.

    But the reward for all the effort to get back into the match would arrive in the final seconds of the half.

    Goss’ corner from the right was spilled by Woods and, with Mugabi getting his body in the way first, Shields arrived to power the ball home from near in and send the home crowd wild.

    It was exactly what Motherwell deserved for how they fought to get back into the match.

    Motherwell started the second half in similar vein and had the perfect chance to make it three early on.

    A great driving run inside from Efford saw him tee the ball for Van Veen. The Dutchman had work to and spun away well from Gallagher, but saw his fierce effort parried away by Woods.

    The sting went out of the game in the middle part but both sides continued to have chances.

    Efford saw an attempt at replicating Van Veen’s goal deflected over and O’Hara’s 30-yard piledriver clipped the bar, while Ramirez sent a half-volley wide from the left side for the visitors.

    Van Veen should have put it out of sight with 15 minutes to go.

    The Dutchman did all the hard work on the edge of the area, twisting himself into space but his attempt to bend a left-footed shot inside the left post dropped wide.

    Aberdeen threw everything at it with four minutes of stoppage time, but Motherwell stood firm to pull off a big win and reach the last eight of the competition.

  • First team

    Graham Alexander previews Aberdeen cup clash

    “We’re still fighting on both fronts in the cup and the league. There’s plenty to be optimistic about and compete for.”

  • First team

    Joe Efford on settling in and preparing to face Aberdeen

    The recent recruit speaks about adapting to life in ML1, and the tests which still lie in front this season, starting with Saturday’s Scottish Cup fifth round tie with Aberdeen.

  • Women

    Georgie Rafferty joins Kilmarnock on loan

    Georgie Rafferty joins Kilmarnock on loan

    Motherwell defender Georgie Rafferty has joined SWPL2 side Kilmarnock on loan for the remainder of the season. 

    The 24-year-old centre half has featured on the bench twice this season since recovering from a cruciate injury she picked up almost two years ago.

    “This is an ideal move for Georgie right now,” head coach Paul Brownlie said.

    “With her mostly recovered from her serious injury, it is now time for her to get some game time and build up her match fitness.

    “We will be monitoring her progress closely and look forward to see how she gets on.”

  • First team

    Next up: Aberdeen

    Next up: Aberdeen

    It’s Scottish Cup weekend at Fir Park, as Aberdeen visit in the fifth round.

    Kick-off is at 3pm.

    Ticket information

    Tickets are now available to buy online or from the Fir Park ticket office.

    All tickets are now on general sale. The season ticket seat reservation period has now ended.

    Our prices, agreed between both clubs, are:

    • Adults: £18
    • Over 60s, full-time students and 16-18 year-olds: £12
    • 15 and under: £6

    Pay at the gate is not available. Alternatively, call 01698 333333 or email tickets@motherwellfc.co.uk.

    Aberdeen fans are asked to buy directly from their club.

    Covid restrictions

    Due to a change in legislation by the Scottish FA, Covid-19 certification checks will not be in place.

    Only venues with over 10,000 in attendance are required to carry out checks.

    We advise that all fans take a lateral flow test before travelling to the match, regardless of their vaccination status.

    Watch live online

    In the UK and Ireland, you can buy a pay-per-view pass for £12. To buy, go to ppv.motherwellfc.co.uk.

    If you’re based abroad, you can watch via subscription at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

    Form guide

    Both sides are in a challenging spell of form going into the fixture.

    Motherwell are now six league games without victory, drawing two and losing four, with the most recent defeat coming at Dundee United on Wednesday.

    Aberdeen are without a win in five league matches, losing 3-2 to Celtic in midweek.

    Both Motherwell and Aberdeen did taste victory in the cup in January, defeating Greenock Morton and Edinburgh City respectively.

    Tale of the tape

    Motherwell have the upper hand in encounters so far this season.

    Two 2-0 victories have come the Steelmen’s way. Kevin van Veen and Juhani Ojala were on target at Fir Park earlier in the campaign, before Van Veen scored two more to seal the win at Pittodrie.

  • First team

    Rangers tickets now on sale

    Rangers tickets now on sale

    We head to face Rangers in the cinch Premiership on Sunday 27 February.

    Kick-off at Ibrox is at 3pm.

    To buy tickets, you can get them from us now, or visit the ticket office at Fir Park.

    Prices are:

    • Adults: £29
    • Over 65s and Under 18s: £22
    • Under 16s: £11
    Covid restrictions

    Covid-19 certification checks will be in place. Venues with over 10,000 in attendance are required to carry out checks. Please bring vaccine certification with you.

    We also advise that all fans take a lateral flow test before travelling to the match, regardless of their vaccination status.

  • First team

    Graham Alexander reacts to loss at Dundee United

    “We have to look inside ourselves and ask if we really want a good season or be in a bang average position. That’s the challenge for us.”

  • First team

    Dundee United 2-0 Motherwell

    Dundee United 2-0 Motherwell

    Motherwell were punished for a lack of cutting edge as Dundee United ran out 2-0 winners in the cinch Premiership.

    Goals from Dylan Levitt and Tony Watt sealed the win for United in a game where ‘Well should have been out of sight with their spurned chances in the first half.

    Motherwell saw four changes from the team which lost to Celtic at home at the weekend.

    Juhani Ojala, Kaiyne Woolery and Jordan Roberts were restored to the side, with Joe Efford making his first start. Stephen O’Donnell, Jake Carroll, Dean Cornelius and Kevin van Veen dropped to the bench.

    It was almost an incredible dream start for ‘Well.

    With just 10 seconds on the clock, Slattery’s pass inside to Goss saw the midfielder unleash a shot on goal from 30 yards.

    Siegrist was completely beaten, but Goss saw his shot rattle the crossbar and bounce clear.

    Seconds later, Goss had another chance on goal with a free-kick from 25 yards, but the ball just wouldn’t come down quick enough as it landed on the roof of the net.

    ‘Well were by far the brighter but almost came undone with 10 minutes on the clock.

    Harkes’ defence-splitting pass through the middle caught Ojala on his heels and allowed McNulty in behind.

    The forward shrugged off the desperate late attentions of the Finn, before sending his shot on an angle from the left into the side netting.

    Motherwell continued positively, sending bodies forward and looking to get crosses into the box for the forwards to attack.

    Donnelly would see a half-volley from 20 yards blocked as he tried to smash it through a sea of bodies while, at the other end, a superb last-ditch intervention from Mugabi denied Niskanen as he went to pull the trigger.

    A clear chance would also fall the way of Efford at the midway point. Bursting forward and with Woolery and Roberts other side to assist, the American elected to shoot from just inside the area after getting free, but saw his effort fly over.

    The chances kept coming. Next, Woolery took flight down the left, squaring to the penalty spot for Roberts, but he flashed his effort wide.

    Remarkably, a sucker punch would arrive on the half-hour mark.

    A cross from the right was cleared to the edge of the box where Levitt was waiting unopposed. With a challenging ball to get under his spell. he smashed it straight into the t0p-left corner of the net to leave ‘Well scratching their heads at how they found themselves behind.

    Motherwell persisted, with Slattery firing over from distance and with the attacking players consistently linking together high up the park.

    The second half started slower but the visitors came out with the same intent.

    A Goss free-kick from the left brought the first chance of the half, with Mugabi being blocked as he tried to steer it in at the back post, and then Slattery’s placed follow-up being diverted away from goal.

    United would, however, go two ahead on the hour mark.

    Niskanen was able to maraud all too freely down the left and – firing across the face of goal – he found Watt at the back post who just had to get something on it to double his team’s advantage against his old side.

    Motherwell struggled to get back in it after that, despite the introduction of four substitutions, as United saw the game through.

    Headers from Tierney and Solholm troubled the United goal, but it would end with another defeat for the Steelmen.

    Motherwell: Kelly, Mugabi, Solholm, Ojala, McGinley, Donnelly (Shields), Goss, Slattery (Cornelius), Woolery (Tierney), Roberts (Van Veen), Efford.

    Subs not used: Fox, O’Donnell, Carroll, Grimshaw, Shaw.

  • First team

    Graham Alexander looks ahead to Dundee United

    The boss speaks as his team go in search of a first league win in 2022 and keep up their pace at the top end of the cinch Premiership table.

  • Women

    Settling in to new surroundings

    Settling in to new surroundings

    From coming through the ranks at boys’ clubs to playing for Scotland, 18-year-old Paige McAllister has come a long way since she first started playing football at the age of five.

    McAllister signed for the women of steel in 2021 after an impressive period at Hearts while out on loan from Celtic.

    The defender’s defensive efforts with Motherwell haven’t gone unnoticed as she was called up to January’s Scotland training camp, meaning she has now been called up for every national level she has been eligible for apart from the main adult team.

    “When I started playing women’s football, I was with Celtic’s under 17s at 14 years old. I was a bit nervous because I was playing and training with the older ones but once I went in for my first trial I felt alright, and over time I became more confident in my ability and myself as a player.

    “Once I got accepted by Celtic and I settled into the squad I got my first Scotland call ups. I’ve now been called up for the under 15s, under 16s, under 17s and under 19s, and I received my first call up when I was around 14 or 15.

    “Since then, I have been involved with various training camps spanning the different age group. I joined the under 17s team in the Championship and I even got a goal.”

    When discussing what it was like to be invited to take part on international duty McAllister added: “It’s always an honour to be called up to play for your country but I wasn’t expecting to be called up to the January training camp. I had picked up a really bad injury and I thought the under 19s campaign was finished.

    “It was a brilliant feeling being invited to the camp. It’s a huge honour to be considered and an even bigger one to be invited away.

    “It’s great being away with the girls, it lets you meet and talk to players you may not have had the chance to engage with before, especially if there are new faces in the squad because it lets you form some good friendships and create memories.

    “This year it was a bit different because of Covid, you had to stay in your hotel rooms when you weren’t training, and we had to make sure we were social distancing and keeping to the Covid protocols in place but those bonds you make on the pitch stick with you.

    “I never take it for granted, I never expect it, so every time feels just as good as the first.”

    McAllister may have only scored two goals in the SWPL overall, but she got her first-ever professional goal for Scotland which saw her country win 4-1 against Northern Ireland in October 2019.

    “I think I blacked out after I scored it to be honest,” she explained. “I scored the goal, and everyone started running to me to celebrate and I kind of just stood still. I was in complete shock. It was so unexpected, and it easily became one of the best days of my life.”

    International duty can show players different tactics and styles they may not have utilised while playing at their clubs. It is something McAllister is keen to draw on.

    Having the likes of Leanne Crichton, who has been to major tournaments with the Scotland national team, alongside her will undoubtedly help in her development, and she is also looking to draw on the experience of others.

    “International football is obviously different from club football,” she said, “I’ve felt myself improve after being away as it gives you different perspectives and ways of developing your game.

    “I definitely encourage the other girls to try to push themselves so they can have the opportunity to be called up. I would say to young players to keep working hard as it is possible.

    “Getting game time is so important, which is why I’m extremely grateful for Motherwell giving me the opportunity. Our improved form this season has definitely contributed.”

    This summer, former Scottish internationalist Crichton joined both the coaching and playing staff at Motherwell.

    Hailed as one of the most influential female players of her generation, the 34-year-old earned 72 caps and has been a hugely inspirational figure for the Women of Steel.

    “Paul [Brownlie] and Crichton have been great at taking me on board and helping me advance as a player,” said McAllister.

    “They are all about helping youth players with game time and becoming the best that they can be by giving me experience. That then helps me prove to both myself and the Scotland coaches that I am a strong player, and I am good enough to be playing.

    “I definitely believe that Crichton’s experience, as well as being an internationalist, has rubbed off on to the rest of the team. She has brought so much to the group, and the older more seasoned players, as well as the younger ones, have all learned something from her.

    “I have also learned things on international duty that I’ll try to show the rest of the team so we can all progress as one unit.

    “Crichton has experienced a lot over her playing career and being able to learn from a player of her calibre is honestly amazing. She is a great inspiration to us as players and to a lot of young girls overall. Having her as a team-mate and coach is wonderful.

    “I’ve learned a lot during my time at Motherwell and I hope I can continue to improve and keep our good run of form going for the rest of the season.”