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Manager Jens Berthel Askou adresses the Motherwell support ahead of his first home match this evening against Peterhead.

Hi everyone,

Welcome back to Fir Park for the first official game of the 2025/26 season. This summer has brought many changes to the club, both among the staff and the players, and that change is still ongoing. I expect we will see a few more new faces arrive before the window closes.

Having been appointed recently myself, I am extremely honoured to have been trusted with the responsibility of managing Motherwell Football Club. Many changes bring new impulses and fresh energy, creating an atmosphere of excitement and optimism. I’ve felt that since the day I arrived, and now I look forward to sharing that feeling with you all.

I promise that we will do our very best to lift this fantastic club to new levels of performance and competitiveness. I hope the way we express ourselves on the pitch will bring enthusiasm, inspiration, and pride to the community –just as this club has done for generations before my arrival.

We might do things a little differently from what you are used to seeing. We will certainly make mistakes along the way. But we will NEVER give up. We will be brave, optimistic, aggressive, and daring. I believe this approach will develop us further and bring new success to the club.

We will need your support and your voices behind us. I am absolutely positive that together we will share big moments and achieve things over time that will resonate with everyone invested in Motherwell FC.

Keep the faith.

Jens Berthel Askou

Manager

Winger Tawanda Maswanhise reflects on the tough test against Clyde on Saturday, but is now looking forward to the next challenge against Peterhead on Tuesday night. 

In the 30+ degree heat, Jens Berthel Askou and his squad travelled to New Douglas Park to open up their Premier Sports Cup campaign against Clyde. 

Playing on a dry and sticky surface, the Motherwell squad had to overcome the tricky conditions when they conceded on the 16th minute to their opponents. Tawanda Maswanhise sparked the turnaround, netting either side of half-time to put his side in the driving seat.

However, the Steelmen were pegged back once again by Clyde, and the match ended 2-2 after 90 minutes. Five perfect penalties ensured Motherwell came away with the bonus point, as the squad now turn their attention to their first home match of the season against Peterhead.

Jens Berthel Askou is looking forward to his team upping the tempo on Tuesday night against Peterhead. The Motherwell boss knows his team have room for improvement but believes his squad are in a good spot at present. 

The Dane says there will be more movement in the transfer window before the league opener against Rangers, and also provides updates on Aston Oxborough and Lennon Miller.

Motherwell play their first competitive home fixture against Peterhead on Tuesday 15 July. 

Kick off is 7:45pm.

How to follow the game

You can buy tickets by clicking here.

Supporters can buy tickets by visiting the ticket office at Fir Park.

Ticket Office will be open from 9am until kick-off.  This match is not included on season tickets.

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.

What else is happening?

The Centenary Suite will open at 5.30pm tomorrow serving hot food and drink pre-match with the bar open at half-time and one-hour after kick-off. Home and away supporters welcome.

The Cooper Bar and Beer Garden will be closed.

Motherwell’s Fortunes

Motherwell kicked off their Premier Sports Cup campaign with a penalty shootout victory over Clyde. Tawanda Maswanhise got his season off to a flyer, netting twice at New Douglas Park.

Earning the bonus point after five perfect penalties, the Steelmen are currently second in the standings behind Morton.

Eseosa Sule, Emmanuel Longelo, Elliot Watt, Lukas Fadinger, Calum Ward and Elijah Just all made their debuts against Clyde.

Opposition Report

Competitive matches between Motherwell and Peterhead are not common. There has been only one competitive fixture, which came back in January 1950.

Peterhead had a very successful season in League Two last year, finishing top of the tree and earning promotion to League One.

But there will be big boots to fill over the summer period. Club legend Rory McAllister has left the club, having joined in 2011 and becoming just the third player in Scotland to reach 250 goals since the Second World War.

Scott Ross will not be returning for season number ten for the Blue Toon, with the central defender off to pastures new.

Last season’s top goalscorer Kieran Shanks finished on ten goals in 28 games and is under contract for next season, as is former Aberdeen man Peter Pawlett.

The summer recruitment is well underway at Balmoor, with Adam Carnwath and Fraser Mackie arriving on permanent deals.

In their first match against Morton, Peterhead were defeated 4-2 at home, with Seb Ross and Oliver Colloty getting on the scoresheet.

Motherwell opened their 25/26 Premier Sports Cup campaign with a penalty shootout win over Clyde at New Douglas Park. 

A Tawanda Maswanhise double was cancelled out by goals from Hilton and Scullion to take the game to penalties for the bonus point. Motherwell were flawless from the spot, dispatching all five spot kicks, with Calum Ward saving former Motherwell academy player Logan Dunachie to secure the extra point.

Jens Berthel Askou named a strong starting 11 in his first competitive match in charge, handing first starts to summer signings Lukas Fadinger and Elliot Watt.

In over 30-degree heat and an ever-drying astro, the Steelmen settled into the game and started brightly. Apostolos Stamatelopoulos got on the end of a ball over the top early on, before dinking the on-rushing keeper to find the back of the net; however, the linesman’s flag was raised for offside.

But it was the hosts who took the lead after 16 minutes. A stray pass was intercepted and punished by James Hilton, who lobbed Ward from distance.

The Clyde advantage wouldn’t last long. Five minutes later, the game was level. Motherwell’s patient play on the edge of the Clyde penalty area paid off when Callum Slattery’s powerful volley came crashing off the bar and bounced to Tawanda Maswanhise, who leaped to head home.

For the rest of the half, there wasn’t anything in terms of clear-cut chances. But the second-half started with a bang. Motherwell’s number nine Stamatelopoulos pressed the goalkeeper who was in possession, won the ball back on the six-yard line before teeing up Maswanhise for his brace. Just three minutes into the second-half and Motherwell were in front for the first time.

Clyde didn’t give up and looked to respond. Scullion looked to get his side back on level terms, but his driven effort smacked off the post. Stamatelopoulos threatened again when he latched onto a ball over the top, but the Aussie fired high and wide in what turned out to be his final action of the match.

The hosts were level just before the hour mark. Scullion was left free at the back post to convert with his head from a chipped cross. 53 minutes gone, 2-2.

Jens Berthel Askou looked to get his side back in front, introducing Eseosa Sule, Elijah Just and Emmanuel Longelo for their debuts.

The Steelmen continued to push forward, and Slattery looked to have set up Maswanhise for his hat-trick, but his near-post effort was saved by the keeper and post to deny the Zimbabwean.

The final chance came in the latter stages. A well-taken corner wasn’t dealt with by Clyde, and the ball fell kind of to Slattery at the back post, but he couldn’t get his effort on target, so the match went to a shootout.

Flawless from the spot, Motherwell’s Andy Halliday, Tom Sparrow, Sule, Just and Slattery all converted. With the pivotal moment coming when Ward denied Dunachie to secure a 5-4 win in the shootout.

Motherwell Team: Ward, Koutroumbis (Just, 62), Gordon, Balmer, O’Donnell (Sparrow, 83), Halliday, Watt, Slattery, Fadinger (Longelo, 62), Maswanhise (L. Ross, 83), Stamatelopoulos (Sule, 54).

Motherwell Subs: Connelly, Wilson, McGinn, Sparrow, Sule, Just, Whyte, Ross, Longelo.

Jens Berthel Askou reacts to two points to start the 2025/26 Premier Sports Cup campaign.

A Tawanda Maswanhise double wasn’t enough to take all three points but a 5-4 win on penalties secured the bonus point.

Ibrahim Said is the latest player to make the switch to Fir Park, joining on a two-year deal from Viborg FF for an undisclosed fee, with the club holding the option of a further year. 

The move is subject to international clearance.

“I am happy to be in the door,” Ibrahim Said explained.

“This move has been long in the making, and I’m excited about what the manager is trying to build here. There are good players in the squad, and I hope I can excite everyone who comes to watch us play.”

Said is a product of the Dabo Babes Academy in Nigeria. He made the move to Denmark in 2021 at the age of 18. Interest in Said was high at the time of the move, with Club Brugge, İstanbul Başakşehir, Liverpool and Manchester City all having reportedly offered him a contract.

Having chosen his next destination, he signed a four-year deal with Viborg FF and shortly after, made his first-team debut. He helped his side earn promotion back to the Danish top-flight in 2022.

Said has played over 100 games for Viborg FF, scoring 11 goals in his time in Denmark. Capable of playing at either side of the pitch, he has also represented his country at Under 17 level.

“Ibrahim is a versatile winger who excels both in wide 1v1 situations and in tighter spaces within the opposition’s structure,” manager Jens Berthel Askou said.

“He has made a big impact at Viborg in the Danish Superliga over several strong seasons, and we’re very excited to have him joining us at Motherwell.

“He will bring speed, dribbling ability, high-intensity pressing, and good finishing qualities to the team, and we’re looking forward to getting him involved.

“We will need to be patient with his full integration into matches, as he is a few weeks behind the rest of the squad, but we have a clear plan to bring him up to speed.

“At 23, Ibrahim is still young and has plenty of potential to grow and develop further. I’m confident he will thrive in our environment and become a very exciting player for our supporters to watch.”

Motherwell kick off their Premier Sports Cup campaign on Saturday 12 July against Clyde. 

Kick off is 3pm and you are able to watch the match online.

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.

Premier Sports will be broadcasting over 75 live games from the William Hill Premiership, Scottish Cup and the Premier Sports Cup, featuring exclusive Motherwell games including the following Premier Sports Cup Group stage games, with more to follow:

• Clyde v Motherwell (12 July – live on streaming only)
• Motherwell v Peterhead (15 July – live on streaming only)
• Stenhousemuir v Motherwell (19 July – live on streaming only)

   

• Motherwell v Greenock Morton (22 July – live on Premier Sports 1)

There is a limited time annual offer for fans, which will allow you to watch all Premier Sports coverage live & on-demand for £99, saving almost 50% on our standard rate.

Click here to subscribe.

Manager Jens Berthel Askou believes his players are taking on board all the information and ideas he’s trying to implement. The Motherwell boss says he’s looking forward to seeing how his team shapes up on Saturday against Clyde. 

The manager addresses recent rumours regarding Lennon Miller, and also states there will be more incomings at Fir Park before the end of the window.