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Calum Butcher is your Paycare February player of the month. 

Signed at the start of February, Butcher has won both votes, comfortably, on Twitter and Facebook.

He has been playing at the heart of a back five under new manager Stuart Kettlewell, alongside Paul McGinn and Dan Casey.

Winning Sky Sports man of the match against Hearts and making the SPFL Team of the Week following wins against St Mirren and Hearts, Butcher has quickly established himself as one of the first names on the teamsheet and a leader on the pitch.

It was the start of a new era at Motherwell, with Stuart Kettlewell taking the reigns for the first time as permanent manager of the club. 

Travelling south to take on a Kilmarnock side who had picked up 93% of their points total this season at Rugby Park, Motherwell would need to be at their best to get something out of the game.

Kettlewell described the match as ‘a game of two halves’.

The first period, Kilmarnock would be on top and took the lead on 17 minutes through Scott Robinson.

A stern half time team talk done the trick and the Steelmen came out flying for the second half.

Jon Obika, Kevin van Veen, Paul McGinn and Stephen O’Donnell were all denied by man of the match Sam Walker in the Killie goal.

With the clock in stoppage time, Motherwell were awarded a free kick 25-yards out where it was simply now or never.

Up stepped Slattery who fired the ball into the top corner to send a 900 away support into rapture.

It’s time to pick your Paycare Motherwell FC player of the month for February.

Kevin van Veen, Blair Spittal, Calum Butcher and Dan Casey are all in contention.

To vote, head over to our Facebook page.

February matches

• Motherwell 0-2 St Johnstone
• Aberdeen 3-1 Motherwell
• Raith Rovers 3-1 Motherwell
• Motherwell 2-1 St Mirren
• Motherwell 2-0 Hearts
• Kilmarnock 1-1 Motherwell

Kevin van Veen

The Dutchman took his tally for the season to 15, netting three goals this month.

He dispatched a penalty against Aberdeen and gave the Steelmen some hope against Raith Rovers before scoring the vital opening goal against St Mirren.

Blair Spittal

A man also bang in form is midfielder Blair Spittal.

Spittal played a sublime pass through for Kevin van Veen who opened the scoring in the match against St Mirren.

He was also on hand to score against Hearts to secure three points against the Jambos.

Calum Butcher

A rock at the centre of the defence, new recruit Butcher has settled in quickly to life at Fir Park.

Playing as a makeshift centre back, he has added steel to the backline with commanding performances against St Mirren, Hearts and Kilmarnock.

He picked up the man of the match award from Sky Sports in our win against Hearts.

Dan Casey

Casey has hit the ground running in his four appearances since arriving from American side Sacramento Republic FC.

The Irishman was thrown straight into the starting eleven due to injuries to Lamie and Blaney, with no game time since late October, and has shone on the left side of the back three.

With a clean sheet against Hearts, he was also particularly impressive against Kilmarnock, dispossessing Doidge as he looked certain to double Killie’s lead.

The Women of Steel snatched all three points in a tense SWPL1 encounter with local rivals Hamilton at K-Park on Sunday.

A sensational equaliser from Kaela McDonald-Nguah and a late Carla Boyce penalty was enough to secure Motherwell’s second successive Lanarkshire Derby win this season.

Manager Paul Brownlie made one change from the side that racked up five goals in Scottish Cup action against Montrose last weekend. Louisa Boyes returned to action, with Leanne Crichton dropping to the bench.

Despite dominating the early exchanges, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock midway through the first-half. Marie Gardiner’s floated delivery from the right sailed into the path of Giard, who bulleted her header beyond the reach of Emily Mutch.

Looking for a quick response, Motherwell swarmed the opposing box, but couldn’t capitalise when it mattered and the visitors held firm until half time.

The hosts were certainly in the ascendency as the second half resumed, and eight minutes after the break, they finally found their reward.

Finding space at the edge of the penalty area, McDonald-Nguah shrugged off several lacklustre challenges before shifting the ball onto her stronger right-foot, and coolly chipped the ball over the goalkeeper to bring her side level.

Second-half substitute, Carla Boyce came close to a second moments later. A quickly-taken throw from Doran-Barr fell kindly to the feet of the striker deep into the penalty area, but she was unable to add the finishing touches.

Motherwell sealed the tie in the dying stages of the game, with Boyce again causing the Hamilton defence problems.

The striker pickpocketed Sinclair’s mis-controlled touch at the edge of the penalty area, and the defenders late-lunging tackle left the referee no alternative but to award the spot kick.

Boyce stepped up and calmly placed her strike into the bottom left corner to ensure all three points for Paul Brownlie’s side.

The Women of Steel extend their unbeaten run to five games, with three successive victories before facing high-flying Glasgow City midweek.

“The fact their goalkeeper got man of the match tells its own story.

“We deserved a point.”

Callum Slattery’s last minute free kick eared Motherwell a crucial point in 1-1 draw in Ayrshire against Kilmarnock. 

Scott Robinson got the hosts ahead in the first half but Motherwell put a spirited and much improved second half performance to earn a point in Stuart Kettlewell’s first match as permanent Motherwell manager.

It would be a strong start for Kilmarnock in the game and with their first real opportunity in the game, they opened the scoring. A corner was swung in and after Liam Kelly made a decent save but the ball was eventually prodded home by Scott Robinson after a scramble in the box.

Rory McKenzie looked to double Kilmarnock’s lead before Calum Butcher was able to head the ball off the line.

At half-time, a goal down, Motherwell needed to improve quickly and they did just that.

Almost at the beginning of the second period, Jon Obika was put through on the goal after a slack back pass from Ash Taylor. The striker tried from a tight angle but Sam Walker was on hand to save.

James Furlong found himself in an an unfamiliar position on the right wing when Motherwell broke on the counter. The ball ended up at the left-back’s feet and his strike was also well saved by Man of the Match Walker.

Kevin van Veen worked some space on the edge of the box before trying to curl one into the corner with his right foot but again found no way past Walker.

It looked like it was going to be another frustrating near miss for Motherwell when Stephen O’Donnell managed to get a strike away in the box and Walker was out to block but a free-kick was awarded on the edge of the box with seconds remaining.

Up stepped Calum Slattery who fizzed an exquisite effort into the top corner to give Motherwell a well deserved point on the road.

Paul McGinn has been a mainstay in a somewhat turbulent Motherwell team that has been dealing with a number of injuries this season. 

The Scottish International says that the Raith Rovers game, in the Scottish Cup, was one of the lowest moments in his career but two wins under caretaker manager Stuart Kettlewell has helped the team gain the confidence they badly needed.

A versatile defender this season, McGinn is delighted that Kettlewell is the new manager and that players are happy to get the clarity they need to move forward this season as they look to steer there way away from the drop zone.

Stuart Kettlewell was named Motherwell manager 24 hours ago and his first task is an away trip to Kilmarnock.

The former Ross County gaffer set out his long term and short term visions for the club and what he wants to bring to the club.

He wants to see a strong work ethic from his players, whether you are playing or not. Kettlewell knows that his two games in interim charge were positive ones but wants everyone to remember that we are nowhere near where we need to be and that focus must be the priority.

Stuart Kettlewell is the new manager of Motherwell Football Club.

Joining the club in the summer initially as the Lead Development Coach, Kettlewell took charge of first-team duties following the departure of Steven Hammell.

Picking up two wins, against St Mirren and Hearts, in his two games in charge, the 38-year-old was subsequently offered the job on a permanent basis, with his deal running initially to May 2024.

“Stuart impressed the board, not only with how he has got the team going in the last two games against St Mirren and Hearts, but with his vision for the club,” Chairman Jim McMahon said. 

“We took time to speak to a number of impressive candidates, each of whom had their own strengths, but Stuart was, in our eyes, the best person to take Motherwell forward.

“He has managed at this level, he’s already won a league title and a domestic cup and we could sense from him a real desire and determination to take this role on and improve us across all areas of the football department.”

He retired in 2016, having made over 300 appearances in his career turning out for Ross County, Clyde, Queen’s Park and Brora Rangers.

After announcing he was hanging up his boots in 2016, he began his coaching journey with Ross County at Under 17 level.

Working his way up the ranks, Kettlewell became Under 20s manager at Ross County, winning the 2016-17 SPFL Development League.

When Owen Coyle resigned as manager of The Staggies in March 2018, Kettlewell and then academy director Steven Ferguson were appointed co-managers of Ross County.

In their time in charge, they brought silverware to County, winning the 2018/19 Challenge Cup. They were also promoted straight back to the top flight, winning the Championship, at the first time of asking.

Alongside promotion, Kettlewell was instrumental in generating money for the club through player sales and helped steer the club through the coronavirus pandemic and behind-closed-door matches.

In June 2020, Kettlewell was placed in sole charge of the Dingwall side before leaving in December of that year.

Joining Motherwell in August, Kettlewell has been working closely with the Under 18s and Development Team to continue the progress of our young and exciting youth prospects.

“I’m immensely proud,” manager Stuart Kettlewell added.

“It’s been a whirlwind eight or nine days.

“I had a burning desire to take the job to see if I can take this club forward and be a catalyst to what we hope will be a good chapter for the football club.”

“I genuinely think I come to Motherwell a better manager than what I was previously and I hope that is something that appeals to the Motherwell supporters.

“There’s some real good players here. I wouldn’t have taken the job had I felt there was a real issue with the playing squad.

“This is a community club. It’s important that we join that up. I think this club is unique. It now becomes my job to drive it forward.”

Stuart will name his assistant manager in due course. The vacant lead development coach role will also be filled in the near future.