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Assistant manager Max Rogers has thoroughly enjoyed working with manager Jens Berthel Askou, and believes the team will remain humble throughout the season.

Rogers has been impressed with Falkirk this season, and also discusses the importance of Stephen O’Donnell to the team too after the defender played his 200th game for the club.

The last line of defence. The fine margins between victory and defeat. Goalkeeper Chloe Logan has already made those principles clear in her brief stint in ML1.

Stricken with injuries amongst their goalkeeping department, summer acquisition Emma Thomson returned to the Scottish capital one-month into her loan spell from parent club Hearts, leaving Motherwell with one senior goalkeeper following the conclusion of the summer transfer window.

Following the 17-year-old’s departure, Head Coach Paul Brownlie sought to implement an experienced top-flight shot-stopper within the ranks. Step forward Chloe Logan – the 29-year-old Scottish international, who completed a season-long loan deal from Celtic.

“I’ve loved my time at Motherwell so far,” Logan said.

“The team have been really welcoming and have made the process of settling in very easy. Becky [Cameron] has been brilliant to have alongside me as a goalkeeper. Becky keeps me right and the fresh environment is something that I’ve really loved since joining the club.

“It makes the transition so much easier when there is a strong relationship between the two goalkeepers. We’re both competing to play, but it’s really healthy, and we both continually push each others standards.”

Logan etched her name into the history books of Celtic, with the SWPL and Scottish Cup title winner becoming the first player in the history of the club to graduate and play through every age group of the Celtic youth academy before making her professional debut for the Glasgow-side in the Old Firm derby.

Logan soon established herself as the number one in Glasgow, before earning a place in then Scotland National Team Manager, Pedro Martinez Losa’s 26-player first-team squad at the Pinatar Cup.

However, a serious knee injury left her sidelined until 2023. The prospect of earning regular competitive action attracted Logan to North Lanarkshire.

“One of the main attractions of coming to Motherwell was to compete for the chance to earn regular game time.

“Injury setbacks have prevented me from receiving consistent match action in recent years, but I felt that I could contribute to the squad. Before coming to Motherwell, I had only played around 10-league matches since the start of 2022.

“Motherwell gave me that opportunity to return to the pitch, compete, and to contribute in any way I could.

“When you’re on the sidelines, you really miss that feeing and that excitement of playing. I’ve missed that feeling of supporting the players ahead of me, and I’m really grateful to have that opportunity.

After four years at the helm, Head of Women & Girls, Paul Brownlie took to the K-Park dugout for the final time to mark the end of an illustrious era in Lanarkshire.

The highest recorded league position in the history of the club, two Scottish Cup Semi-Final appearances, and the foundation of the Motherwell FC Girls academy are few of the many accolades achieved in the experienced Scotsman’s tenure at the club.

Despite Brownlie’s forthcoming departure, Logan insists the squad are determined to replicate their recent successes.

“We just simply have to focus on our job on the pitch,” Logan added.

“I have a lot of appreciation or Paul after supporting my development, and giving me the opportunity to play at the club. Ultimately, we have to perform regardless of who is in the dugout, and we have a huge cup tie on the horizon.

“It’s vitally important for us to use the international break to recharge and get ready for the game against Glasgow City.

“The cup draws this season haven’t been the most favourable, playing the SWPL champions Hibs in the Sky Sports Cup before being drawn against Glasgow City in the Scottish Cup, but we’ll be doing everything we can to try and cause an early upset.

“City have been brilliant this season, but we have to head to Springburn with the belief and confidence that if we work and support each other collectively as a group, we can achieve a very positive result.

Logan instantly impressed in ML1, recording several player of the match performances in only her first two months at the club, but the experienced shot-stopper insists that she still has more to deliver.

“I’m really pleased with my performances so far but I still feel like I’ve a few levels to build up to,” Logan explained.

“I still feel that slight bit of rustiness, with the lack of regular match action before this loan spell and don’t feel near my best, but recent performances have given me confidence and belief that I’m working and heading in the right direction.

“The collective performance of the team have together given me some belief that I can continue to improve here and hopefully help the team as much as possible.

The women of steel are at the halfway stage of the SWPL campaign, with sights set on restoring their status as a top-six club, but individually Logan isn’t setting targets for herself.

“Goal setting for me has been really simple. Improve each week and enjoy every minute on the pitch, Logan emphasised.”

“I’ve been so short of time on the pitch over recent years that I am just embracing any moment I have with my boots on.

“That being said, I hate conceding goals and although I’m here to enjoy my football, I’m also here to perform and win each week.

“This is a goal shared in the dressing room, we all want to win and finish as high up the table as possible, and compete in the cup competitions. We have that opportunity next month to try and cause an upset. I can’t wait to see you all there.”

League leaders Hearts arrived at Fir Park looking to bounce back from their first league defeat of the season last weekend against Aberdeen. 

But they were coming up against a Motherwell side who were in good form. Adopting their usual style of play, Motherwell controlled possession and limited Hearts to very few attacking openings.

Callum Hendry would find the back of the net, but a VAR check concluded he was marginally offside. The chances kept coming for the Steelmen, Tawanda Maswanhise also scored but offside again would get in the way.

Elijah Just, Lukas Fadinger and Callum Slattery all had good chances but the Hearts keeper would stand in their way, with the shot-stopper also picking up the man of the match award.

In the end, it was points earned for Motherwell, although the performance deserved more. With a trip to Falkirk up next, Motherwell move up to third in the standings.

Motherwell travel to Falkirk on Wednesday 3 December in the William Hill Premiership. 

Kick off is 7:45pm.

How to follow the game

You can buy tickets online now by clicking here.

We have very limited availability in the away end.

Motherwell’s Fortunes

This is Motherwell’s first trip to Falkirk since January 2010, and the Steelmen are in top form heading into the match.

Saturday’s draw with league leaders Hearts has meant Motherwell have now picked up 14 points from a possible 18 and are six games unbeaten in the league.

Jens Berthel Askou’s men travel to the Falkirk Stadium looking to keep hold of third place in the table.

Opposition Report

Falkirk picked up the win in the first match between these two sides earlier in the season. Despite Tawanda Maswanhise putting the Steelmen ahead in the first half, John McGlynn’s side scored twice in the second period to pick up the win.

McGlynn’s side has also been on a strong run recently. Falkirk have only lost one of their last seven matches, with that defeat coming against Celtic at Parkhead.

Calvin Miller continues to impress for Falkirk. The forward has stepped up to the Premiership seamlessly and is Falkirk’s joint top goalscorer in all competitions on five goals.

We will play Ross County at home in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.

Ties are due to be played on the weekend of the 17th January.

All relevant match and ticket information will be communicated in due course.

A dominant display, which produced a number of clear-cut chances, was only enough for Motherwell to earn a point against league leaders Hearts on Saturday at Fir Park. 

Jens Berthel Askou once again altered his starting 11. The Dane made four changes, bringing in Emmanuel Longelo, Callum Slattery, Lukas Fadinger and Callum Hendry from the start. Tom Sparrow, Liam Gordon, Oscar Priestman and Regan Charles-Cook made way.

Stephen O’Donnell returned to the squad for the first time since the defender picked up an injury against Dundee United at the end of October. Apostolos Stamatelopoulos also returned to the bench, having missed out on Tuesday night’s 2-0 win over Hibernian.

League leaders Hearts arrived in North Lanarkshire having lost their first league match of the season against Aberdeen last weekend, although the result still meant Hearts were four points clear at the summit coming into this match.

There was a terrific atmosphere to the proceedings with a fabulous crowd of almost 11,000 crammed into Fir Park.

It didn’t take the Steelmen long to find their possession rhythm, as their intricate play kept Hearts pinned in their own half for lengthy periods.

An early slip from Stuart Findlay gave the ball to Elijah Just, but his angled snapshot wasn’t enough to worry Schwolow in the Hearts goal.

With play pretty condensed, there were few chances created until the 23rd minute, when the Hearts’ goal was breached.

Looking for options 30 yards from goal, Elliot Watt floated a pass towards the visitor’s six-yard box, where Hendry slid between two defenders and poked the ball low into the keeper’s left-hand corner to the acclaim of the home fans.

However, the celebrations were curtailed, as after VAR’s interventions, it was decided that the ‘Well striker was in an offside position.

That decision failed to unsettle ‘Well, as they maintained their patient build-up and pressing game, which forced the Tynecastle side to go long or, on some occasions, hoist the ball out of play.

Three minutes from the break, Schwolow was forced into the first save of the game, diving low to his right to smother Just’s curling shot at the end of a slick move from the home side.

At the opposite end, Calum Ward’s only involvement was playing his customary auxiliary role beyond his box. The keeper was not even required in Hearts’ first real threat on his goal just before the interval when Cammy Devlin blasted the ball high over the keeper’s bar.

While Motherwell dominated the first half, there was a sense that Hearts would improve after a half-time talk from Derek McInnes.

And it took the Tynecastle side only four minutes into the second half to finally get the Hearts fans packed into the Tommy McLean stand on their feet. Claudio Braga tried his luck with a drive from 20 yards which took a deflection before the ball rippled the net on the outside of Ward’s right-hand post.

‘Well’s reply was immediate, and when Tawanda Maswanhise’s cross picked out the inrushing Just, the New Zealander’s downward header was on target but comfortably saved by the ‘keeper.

However, as Hearts at last upped their game, the home side were required to do a bit more defending in their box.

Twenty minutes into the half, it was end-to-end action.

Lawrence Shankland’s looping header was drifting under the crossbar until Paul McGinn acrobatically cleared the ball off the line. Motherwell raced straight upfield, where Maswanhise lifted the ball past the advancing ‘keeper and into the empty net only to be ruled offside.

Having worked tirelessly to keep the Hearts’ defenders on their toes, Hendry made way for Ibrahim Said in the hope that the Nigerian winger could do likewise.

It was Just, though, who bamboozled the visitor’s defence after 78 minutes as his quick feet carried him through a pack of players at the edge of the box before his powerful drive was blocked by the ‘keeper.

Within a minute Schwolow once again came to Hearts’ rescue, this time stretching high to his left to palm Fadinger’s wonderful curling shot over the bar.

The keeper then made it a hat-trick of superb saves when Slattery’s free kick took a slight deflection, and Schwolow somehow got his fingertips to the ball and turned it over his bar.

With six minutes remaining and Hearts desperately holding on, ‘Well made a triple substitution, bringing on Sparrow, Charles-Cook and Stamatelopoulos.

Motherwell Team: Ward, Koutroumbis, McGinn, Welsh, Longelo, Slattery, Watt, Fadinger, Hendry, Maswanhise, Just.

Motherwell Subs: Connelly, O’Donnell, Sparrow, Gordon, Balmer, Priestman, Stamatelopoulos, Charles-Cook, Said. 

The manager shares his thoughts on taking a point from the league leaders at Fir Park.

Ahead of our match against league leaders Hearts, manager Jens Berthel Askou speaks about the potential this afternoon holds. 

Welcome to hopefully another very exciting game at Fir Park today. Hearts have had a fantastic season so far.

We haven’t done so badly ourselves. So it could turn out to be a very exciting game to watch this afternoon.

Last time we met, it was a fantastic game against two teams who pushed and drove the game forward. We enjoyed plenty of momentum the first 65 minutes but suffered enormously for the last part of the game, where Hearts gave us a lesson in how to not give up but keep chasing a result from a very difficult position.

They have been outstanding, having lost only one league game. And we know that this game will be a massive test on how far we have come since our first clash at Tynecastle.

Hearts are a team with fantastic physicality and intensity. They have individual quality in abundance and players with confidence and momentum. I expect a game of high tempo and hard, tough duelling to win dominance and control. From what I’ve heard the stands will be very crowded today. It will bring even more intensity to the game.

The scene is set for a top game between two strong sides.

I hope you’ll all enjoy. We can’t wait for it to kick off.

Jens Berthel Askou
Manager

Tawanda Maswanhise is in red hot form in the Scottish Premiership and he is now setting his sights on continuing that run against league leaders Hearts. 

Maswanhise discusses the manager’s approach during the week, and how he has shifted mindset and style of play at the club.

Jens Berthel Askou has encouraged supporters to get down to Fir Park on Saturday, to help his players face off against Hearts who have a sold-out away crowd behind them.

The Motherwell manager discusses the culture he has implemented at the club, his thoughts on how quickly he has changed the style of play and how his players look to avenge the previous meeting between the sides.