| 7 | Motherwell | 36 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 1 | 43 |
| 8 | Hibernian | 35 | 10 | 12 | 13 | -6 | 42 |
| 9 | Aberdeen | 35 | 10 | 11 | 14 | -12 | 41 |
| 10 | Ross County | 36 | 8 | 9 | 19 | -25 | 33 |
| 11 | St Johnstone | 36 | 7 | 10 | 19 | -26 | 31 |
| 12 | Livingston | 36 | 5 | 9 | 22 | -37 | 24 |
Blair Spittal knows it’s not been good enough results wise of late for Motherwell but insists that this team have the quality to turn that around.
The midfielder says the team have been working hard behind the scenes and doing that little bit extra to try and spark the turnaround in fortunes.
Assistant manager Stephen Frail says they will need to access the fitness of Calum Butcher and Brodie Spencer, as both sustained broken noses against Kilmarnock on Saturday. He says they are waiting on the scan results for Paul McGinn to determine whether he will be able to feature in the near future or not.
Frail declared that there is no panic within the ranks at the club as the team know they have the qualities to not only win football matches, but to also go on a run of form. He said it may take that one win for that run to ignite.
There were no fireworks on display for the women of steel, as a clinical Aberdeen side punished attacking complacency, with Motherwell left to rue their squandered opportunities on a disappointing evening at K-Park on Sunday.
Bayley Hutchinson strengthened her goalscoring pedigree for the season, firing four goals past Emily Mutch, with youngster Darcie Miller also finding the target. Carla Boyce and Kayla Jardine both netted, but the visitors cruised to a commanding three-goal advantage in South Lanarkshire.
Head Coach, Paul Brownlie made two changes from the defeat to Hearts at the Oriam prior to the International break, with Tara McGonigle and Carla Boyce both returning to the starting XI, as Murron Cunningham and Kaitlyn Canavan were made available from the bench.
Motherwell came the closest to breaking the deadlock in the opening few minutes, as Bailley Collins latched onto Kayla Jardine’s incisive through ball, bending a threatening effort towards the bottom-left corner, but Annalisa McCann reacted quickly to produce a smart stop.
The hosts continued to threaten and almost found the breakthrough moments later, as Gill Inglis’ floated cross-field pass sailed invitingly into the Aberdeen penalty area, with Jo Addie lurking in the box, but the defender couldn’t apply the finishing touches.
Paul Brownlie’s side were denied what proved to be the first of many notable penalty claims, as Tara McGonigle was hauled down directly on the 18-yard line. The winger darted across the face of goal from the right-hand side and looked to have been impeded with a late-lunging tackle, but the referee waived play on despite the adamant pleas of the Motherwell squad.
Motherwell were left to reflect on their numerous chances on goal, as the Dons netted the opener late into the first-half, with Bayley Hutchinson finding the target from close-range.
Motherwell again thought they might’ve had an instant route back into the game, with their second penalty claim of the evening, as McGonigle’s chipped cross from the right clearly struck an Aberdeen arm in the penalty area, but the referee ruled against awarding the penalty.
Nevertheless, Motherwell pressed forward and deservedly found the breakthrough through Boyce, with a close-range finish moments before half-time.
As the second half resumed, Motherwell struggled to pick up from where they left off, and the visitors capitalised with two quickfire goals.
A quick counter-attack left Hutchinson racing through on goal, and the striker fired a low delivery across the face of the six-yard box, which Miller calmly converted from a few yards out.
Moments later, the striker was through again, coasting past numerous claret jerseys before placing a composed effort into the bottom-left corner.
In the latter stages of the second-half, Hutchinson secured her hat-trick with a replication of her second. The striker coasted across the face of goal unchallenged and applied the finish to match, leaving Mutch with no chance.
Hutchinson netted her fourth with less than a minute left, as Amy Anderson was pickpocketed on the halfway line and one incisive through ball cut through the Motherwell backline, and the forward calmly dispatched her effort into the bottom-left corner.
Motherwell secured a late consolation, as Jardine’s strike from distance sailed over the head of McCann in the Aberdeen net, but the visitors were able to hold out a three-goal advantage to secure all three points.
Motherwell travel to take on St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Tuesday night, in the re-arranged date.
Kick off is 7.45pm.
How to follow the game
| Away section | |
| Adults | £25 |
| Concessions (Over 65’s/Students/Under 20) | £15 |
| Family Adult (1 adult + up to 2 U12) | £18 |
| Under 12 (no admission without adult) | Free |
| Disabled Adult (must be in receipt of PIP/DLA) | £25 |
| Disabled Concession (must be in receipt of PIP/DLA) | £15 |
| Personal Assistant (No admission without disabled supporter) | Free |
Tickets are available to purchase online.
For the £18 family deal, all ticket holders must enter via turnstile 5 – strictly 1 adult and a maximum of 2 Under 12s only.
There will be a limited amount of accessible parking bays for visiting supporters to book in advance (£5 – payable on the day.)
Please email dao@perthsaints.co.uk with your name and vehicle registration to book.
If you are outside the UK, you can watch the game via Motherwell TV.
Should you be in the UK, it will be live commentary only.
We will be wearing our away kit for this match.
Jon Obika won’t be available, as he edges closer to full recovery. Pape Souare will be missing for four months due to an ankle injury.
Lennon Miller was missing for the most recent match against Kilmarnock, and will so again on Tuesday due to a knee injury.
Calum Butcher and Brodie Spencer picked up broken noses at Rugby Park on Saturday and they will monitored prior to Tuesday night. Paul McGinn has a suspected broken cheekbone on Saturday and will also be a doubt for the match.
Motherwell were beaten 1-0 against Kilmarnock on Saturday, meaning it’s been seven games without a win. In that run, they have faced the top four sides in the league table and will look to turn their form around on Tuesday.
These two sides haven’t met this season but last time out in May, Motherwell secured their Premiership safety with a 2-0 win at McDiarmid Park thanks to goals from Kevin van Veen and Mikael Mandron.
St Johnstone are currently looking for a new manager after Steven MacLean vacated the post after a 4-0 defeat to St Mirren in Paisley.
In their first match since, the Saints picked up a 2-1 win over Kilmarnock thanks to goals from Nicky Clark in the first half.
The striker has missed a large portion of the season and has already became the second highest Saints goalscorer this season, with just two appearances under his belt.
After the disappointment of the Aberdeen defeat midweek, Motherwell were on the road to Ayrshire come the weekend to try and pick up their first win in seven.
With four changes of personnel and a formation alteration, Stuart Kettlewell was trying something different to make the 600 travelling fans in the away stand happy.
It was a tight opening half, but both sides had chances. The front three of Theo Bair, Mika Biereth and Conor Wilkinson all had efforts but none of them would be on target.
Liam Kelly made a sensational save from a Kilmarnock corner that meant neither side found the back of the net in the first 45.
Innes Cameron was brought off the bench in the first half due to injury to Vassell and he netted the opener early in the second period.
Paul McGinn looked to find the leveller, he picked the ball up and made space for himself but could only manage a fairly comfortable save out of Dennis.
Liam Kelly was kept busy but kept his side in the game, although the outfield 10 couldn’t capitalise.
Motherwell continued their run without a win with a 1-0 defeat to Kilmarnock on Saturday.
Innes Cameron’s goal in the 48th minute was all that separated the two sides at Rugby Park.
Stuart Kettlewell made four changes to the side that lost to Aberdeen midweek, with O’Donnell, Mugabi, Slattery and Miller being replaced by Blaney, Butcher, Biereth and Bair.
The Steelmen had an early chance as Dan Casey’s deep ball into box found Theo Bair but he headed over the bar from seven yards.
The first forty-five then proved to be a stuffy encounter with chances few and far between.
Liam Kelly was called into action, producing an incredible save from Deas’ close range header in what was the home side’s best first-half chance.
The Steelmen had a couple of chances to go into the break with a lead but neither Wilkinson nor Biereth could find the target. Wilkinson was first to have a go from the edge of the box, with his left footed strike going just wide of the mark. Biereth held the ball up before acrobatically smashing the ball just over the bar on the break.
Minutes after the break the home side took the lead.
A shot from range was parried by Kelly before Watson picked up the rebound and squared it to Cameron who fired into the net.
Motherwell had a great chance to equalise as full-back Paul McGinn broke forward and skipped past his man but his shot on his left foot never looked like beating the goalkeeper on the hour mark.
From then on, the game had very few chances with Motherwell chasing down an equaliser.
Cameron was presented with a golden chance to double the hosts’ lead, but his header at the back post was saved by Kelly again.
Stuart Kettlewell discusses Kilmarnock defeat.
• Tried to change shape
• Quick turnaround
• Fans right to be aggrieved
He has made an instant impact at Motherwell but Mika Biereth is remaining composed as he builds up his match sharpness.
The Dane has just recovered from a knee injury and has said he doesn’t want to rush back too soon. He says he is thriving in a good group of players and remains confident that results will soon follow for the team.
Lennon Miller has been named in the Scotland’s Under 19 squad.
The group head to Bulgaria for three matches this month in UEFA Under 19 Championship 23/24 Qualifying Round action.
Taking on Bulgaria on Wednesday 15 November, the youngsters will face Andorra on Saturday 18 November. They then face Serbia on Tuesday 21 November before travelling back to Scotland.
Stuart Kettlewell isn’t getting to down about the recent run of form. The manager references keeping a level head and refers back to when he first came, the team went on an exceptional run. Back then, he didn’t get too high.
He discusses the potential impact of playing on a astroturf pitch against Kilmarnock in the cinch Premiership on Saturday and how that does play into discussions with regards to team selections.
