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The third addition of the summer transfer window, defender Tegan Browning has since cemented her place as a consistent presence in the heart of the Motherwell backline.

Despite her youthful age, the highly-rated young Scottish centre-back arrived in ML1 with a strong pedigree after receiving a wealth of professional experience in her short footballing career.

The 22-year-old spent a season stateside, crossing the pond to San Antonio, Texas where she received a scholarship to play college football before returning to the Scottish capital, spending two-seasons with Edinburgh-side Spartans.

Browning’s ambitions of restoring Motherwell’s top-six status would unfortunately be extinguished last weekend, after the women of steel were narrowly defeated two-nil by defending champions Hibernian.

“We are gutted to be missing out on the top-six,” Browning said.

“It was a frustrating game as I think throughout large spells, we defended resolutely and created chances, but the finer details at both ends of the pitch ultimately cost us. Full credit where its due to Hibs, who showed that as current SWPL champions, they capitalised when it mattered, and that was the difference.

“We have a very strong team and whilst we are disappointed to be in the bottom-half of the split, our focus has to quickly shift onto confirming that 7^th-placed spot.”

The challenges won’t come any easier for the women of steel, who must face league leaders Glasgow City in the final pre-split fixture before several crucial encounters to confirm their Scottish Power Women’s Premier League status next season. Despite the pressurised environment awaiting the women of steel, Browning insisted the togetherness of the group will be vital in the split.

“We have a real togetherness as a group,” Browning added.

“Togetherness is key to our success. We’ve had a tough run and whilst it’s been hard, throughout we have supported each other, which will only make us stronger and as a group; hungrier for the results we feel we deserve.

“Despite the loss [to Hibernian], we have to take what positives we can from the performance. The coaches message to the players after the game was about instilling the belief that they have in us as a group, and recognising the talent in the dressing room.

“[Glasgow City] are undoubtedly the toughest of tasks, as they are still unbeaten domestically this season, so it’ll be a tough game, especially with them strengthening further in the January window.

“However, we have a belief in the squad that we can take points in these games by being defensively solid and clinical at the top end of the pitch, so I’m looking forward to making K-Park a tough place for them to come.

The women of steel sit eighth in the SPWPL table, ahead of Aberdeen in the relegation playoff spot on goal-difference. Motherwell will face Hamilton, Aberdeen, and either Partick Thistle or Montrose both home and away, with every point potentially making the difference between retaining their top-flight status.

“The league has been more competitive than ever,” Browning explained.

“With three teams being relegated last year, and the league changing from having twelve teams to ten, it has made every game and point so influential.

“We have had some great performances this season, but one too many times we’ve been punished by a last-minute winner or equaliser. At times, when we have been dominating matches we haven’t managed to put the game to bed.

“We’ve discussed this as a squad, and that is definitely a key aspect which we are working hard to change. We have a very talented squad, and I’m sure this will shine through during the split.

After exiting both the Sky Sports League Cup, and Scottish Cup this season to both Hibernian and Glasgow City respectively, Motherwell will have a fortnight break from competitive action, with the additional time on the training pitch ahead of their final pre-split fixture in East Kilbride.

“Having a fortnight to prepare is definitely beneficial,” Browning noted.

“When you face the full-time sides, who have more time to rest and recover, and have that additional time on the training pitch, it can be difficult at times to prepare.

“Having that additional time on the training pitch to fully understand our roles will be key to success and the fortnight allows us plenty of time to prepare.

“I’m really looking forward to the game, and we will give it everything to achieve a monumental result.”

Matchday 18 of the 2025/26 SWPL campaign awaits the women of steel this weekend, as they contest their final pre-split fixture against league leaders Glasgow City at The Ross Commercial Finance Stadium at K-Park.

Refreshed and rejuvenated following a fortnight-long hiatus from competitive action, Motherwell will be motivated to separate themselves from the relegation-playoff position below after last weekend’s narrow defeat to defending champions Hibernian mathematically denied the women of steel their second consecutive top-six finish.

Head Coach, Iain Robinson will have his sights set on earning his first point since taking charge in ML1, but the challenges won’t come any easier with the visit of the league leaders.

The Tale of the Tape 

Motherwell 

Head Coach Iain Robinson will be keen to break their recent winless run, with Motherwell without victory in their last six competitive encounters.

The women of steel remain eighth in the Scottish Power Women’s Premier League table, level on points with the Dons, who occupy the relegation playoff position below.

Victory could be a vital result for the women of steel, who seek to close the narrow four-point deficit to Montrose ahead.

Glasgow City

The visitors have remained unbeaten in a remarkable invincible campaign thus far, with City securing 13-victories in their 17 competitive fixtures this season. The Glasgow-side have scored 45-goals across the campaign, whilst conceding only six.

Their last victory came against Partick Thistle, with Leanne Ross’ side defeating the Jags by three-goals to nil.

Ticket Information 

Tickets can be purchased through the matchday turnstiles at K-Park. Both cash and card payments are accepted.

• Adult – £10.
• Concession (Over-65s and Under-17s) – £5.
• Under-11 – FREE TO ENTER.

Additional Information – no pets allowed within K-Park.

Matchday Travel 

• Sunday 22^nd February 2025, kick off 2PM.
• The Ross Commercial Finance Stadium at K-Park, Calderglen Country Park, East Kilbride, G75 0QZ.
• First Glasgow service No.21 stops at Jura Slip Road, a 10 minute walk from the stadium. East Kilbride railway station is approx. 20 mins away on foot.
• Free on-site parking is available, with overflow parking signposted at the park entrance. Please follow the one-way system upon your exit.
• Selection of hot food, baking, confectionary and both hot and cold drinks available at the kiosk before and during the match.

Follow our live matchday coverage on the Motherwell Women X (formerly Twitter) account.

Academy graduate Matty Connelly has extended his contract until the end of the 2026/27 season, with the club holding the option of a further year. 

“This is a great feeling,” Matty Connelly said.

“This season I feel like I’ve done well when given my opportunity and to make my first appearance for this club will remain with me forever.

“I’ve always tried to work hard behind the scenes and improve my game. Between the loan moves and training here, I feel as though my development has been positive this season. I’ll keep my head down and continue to put in the work.”

Having made the journey through the youth levels within the MFC Academy, the young shot-stopper made the step up from our youth academy in 2019 and remained patient.

Loan spells at Falkirk, Gretna, Stranraer, East Kilbride and, most recently, Airdrie had him well prepared for the first-team. Connelly made his debut for Motherwell in the group-stage of the Premier Sports Cup, playing against Peterhead and then Stenhousemuir.

He then played his third match for the club in the 1-0 win over Ross County in the Scottish Cup in January and now extends his stay at the club until next summer.

“Matty’s development has been very impressive this season, where he has taken some big steps through his loan spell with Airdrie as well as with us,” Jens Berthel Askou stated.

“He has had his first team debut and has shown several times now that he is more than capable of stepping in and keeping the level we need at the back.

“His distribution is at a very high level, and his skills as a shotstopper and leader are growing week by week. I’m positive that Matty has a very bright future ahead of him as a very modern goalkeeper with a broad skillset.

“We’re extremely happy to extend his time and continue his development here with us and look forward to him pushing the competition in the goalkeeper group to the next level.”

This would be the first match between Motherwell and Aberdeen in the space of four days. With the first fixture taking place at Fir Park in the William Hill Premiership, the Steelmen were looking to stretch their unbeaten run to 11 games on home turf. 

A refreshed Aberdeen lineup took to the field, which consisted of four players making their debuts, and both sides would have chances. Ibrahim Said, Elijah Just and Tawanda Maswanhise went close, but when Just eventually made the breakthrough midway through the first-half, many would have thought it would become a comfortable afternoon.

But Aberdeen continued to fight and would count themselves unlucky not to have drawn level in the second period. But when Tom McIntyre got the final touch on the ball before it nestled in the Aberdeen net, the points were sealed for Jens Berthel Askou’s side, which made it one defeat in 17 matches, thus moving onto 47 points.

Motherwell lock horns with the Dons for the fifth time this season, this time travelling to Pittodrie on Wednesday 18 February in the Scottish Cup fifth round. 

Kick off is 7:45pm.

How to follow the game

You can buy your match tickets by clicking here.

Disabled: Age appropriate rate & free PA.

This match will be physical tickets only. The match will be shown live on Premier Sports.

Uncollected tickets and reprints will go to the Away Ticketing Pod prior to kick-off, this will be manned by Aberdeen security.

What else is happening?

The Club is running Supporters Buses to this match. The buses will be leaving the Cooper Bar at 3pm.

You can secure your seat on the bus for £25 by clicking here.

Motherwell’s Fortunes

Motherwell made it seven games unbeaten with Sunday’s win over Aberdeen. That 2-0 victory was the Steelmen’s 19th clean sheet of the season.

Elijah Just netted his fifth goal of the season in the first-half, before a Tom McIntyre own goal made sure of the points.

Opposition Report

It may have been a 2-0 defeat at Fir Park last time out, but Aberdeen will take positives from their display in North Lanarkshire.

There were debuts for January signings Dennis Geiger, Tom McIntyre, Per Kristian Bratveit and Afeez Aremu. Toyosi Olusanya was also handed his first start in a refreshed Aberdeen lineup.

It’s looking likely that Peter Leven will continue in the dugout in interim charge until the end of the season. Leven strengthened his staff with the addition of Tony Docherty as assistant manager last week.

Jens Berthel Askou gives his thoughts on the 2-0 win over Aberdeen at Fir Park.

Motherwell ground out a 2-0 win over Aberdeen on Sunday afternoon at Fir Park to make it 11 games unbeaten on home turf. 

Elijah Just broke the deadlock in the first-half, but it would take until stoppage-time in the second-half before Motherwell made sure of the points when Tom McIntyre was the unfortunate Aberdeen defender as the ball hit off him before nestling in his own net.

There were two changes to the Motherwell side that drew with Rangers midweek. Tom Sparrow replaced Stephen O’Donnell in the starting 11. Lukas Fadinger served the first of his two-match suspension in the Premiership following his red card and was replaced by Oscar Priestman.

The Steelmen faced off against an Aberdeen side who hadn’t played a competitive match in 15 days due to three games being postponed consecutively and, as a result, were looking to catch the Dons cold early on.

In the fourth meeting between these sides already this season, Jens Berthel Askou’s men started brightly and controlled possession from the early stages as they looked to stamp their authority on the match.

A miserable afternoon and sodden pitch could have hindered Motherwell’s free-flowing football. However, the Steelmen were immediately into their stride, threatening the Dons three times in the opening minutes.

Emmanuel Longelo’s run and cutback found Priestman 15 yards from goal, and his thumping drive was repelled by Per Kristian Bratveit. The Dons goalkeeper was then relieved when Tawanda Maswanhise’s drive across goal was diverted behind as Just waited. Callum Slattery’s low-angled drive gave the ‘keeper a comfortable save before the visitors found their feet and provided some threat towards the Motherwell goal.

In the 17th minute it took a crucial touch from Calum Ward at full stretch to touch Kevin Nisbet’s 30-yard drive onto the outside of his left-hand post.

After that, though, the bulk of the action was around the Dons’ penalty area. Longelo had another low drive held by Kristian Bratveit before the keeper was beaten in the 28th minute.

Aberdeen failed to clear their lines from a packed box, and when the ball fell for Welsh, he superbly picked out Just who had time to turn and flash his left shot across the keeper and into the far corner of the goal.

It was almost two for Just minutes later when his touch from Longelo’s cross into the six-yard box brought a great reflex from the ‘keeper.

It really should have been two nil ten minutes from half time when a swift break presented Ibrahim Said with the easiest of chances. Maswanhise’s clever through ball sent Just racing towards the visitor’s box. But rather than having a pop at goal, he unselfishly rolled the ball across the six-yard box to the Nigerian, who only needed to tap the ball into an unguarded goal but instead scooped his effort wide.

The immediate thought was that Motherwell might regret letting Aberdeen off the hook. And the pattern of Motherwell passing up chances to kill the game continued in the second half.

However, it was Aberdeen who passed up the best after 50 minutes when Kyle Cameron’s free kick found the unmarked Liam Morrison, who could only guide his diving header wide of the helpless Ward.

Maswanhise, working tirelessly to keep the Dons’ defence busy, had a couple of attempts at Kristian Bratveit.

Motherwell’s failure to extend their lead gave Aberdeen encouragement, and suddenly it was Ward’s goal which was under threat.

And a rare fumble from the keeper gave Toyosi Olusanya a great chance from 10 yards, but he smashed his shot off the post much to Ward’s relief.

With 65 minutes played, Regan Charles-Cook and Eythor Bjorgolfsson replaced Just and Watt. And the subs almost combined immediately when Charles-Cook fired the ball across the goal face, with the Norwegian striker just unable to get a touch.

As Motherwell made further substitutions, it failed to alter the balance of the game as play became a bit frenetic.

With five minutes of additional time announced, the game was still in the balance, with both sides eager to grab the next goal.

Two minutes later, Motherwell finally got their second with a little help from the Dons and the Motherwell subs. Clever work on the right touchline by Charles-Cook let Sam Nicholson work his way along the byline. His ball to the near post was stabbed off by Tom McIntyre facing his own goal, and as the ball rebounded into the Aberdeen net.

Motherwell Team: Ward, Sparrow, McGinn, Welsh, Longelo, Watt, Priestman, Slattery, Maswanhise, Said, Just. 

Motherwell Subs: Connelly, O’Donnell, McGhee, Gordon, McAllister, McColm, Bjørgolfsson, Nicholson, Charles-Cook. 

Elliot Watt was delighted to get back to the action on Wednesday night following his short spell on the sidelines and is now looking for a strong finish to the season. 

The Motherwell midfielder is also questioned on his Scotland ambitions.

Jens Berthel Askou says although the progress has been exciting, he doesn’t want it to stop and expects his side to continue pushing in a forward direction. 

The Motherwell boss was delighted to welcome Elliot Watt back on Wednesday night, and Askou also explains the impact the supporters are having on his side.

It’s been 18 months of change at Motherwell FC. Tom Sparrow has been here through it all. The ups of scoring at Ibrox to secure back-to-back wins for the first time in the club’s history in the league. The lows of winning one game in 12 matches. 

A utility player who is appreciated by the support for his continual endeavour and tenacious attitude, the 23-year-old reflects with fondness on his journey as a Motherwell player so far and appreciates the development as a player he has experienced so far.

“There’s obviously been a lot of change,” Sparrow explained.

“I’ve had three managers here so far, and each of them has brought their own ideas and philosophies to the table. It’s helped me develop and understand different ways football can be played. I’ve played in various positions and roles within the team.

“Jordan [McGhee] and I have spoken at length about this because he’s played in a number of positions as well. He’s a bit older than me and has experienced a lot in football but I do think you just get used to it. Throughout the week you know you could be playing anywhere on a Saturday but I see that as a positive.

“It means I have more chance of playing if I can slot into anywhere in the side. I like the fact that I can help the team anywhere on the pitch and that they might need be suddenly somewhere. I’ve had managers or people in the past say to me that I need to nail down a position on the pitch. It’s almost an insinuation of ‘jack of all trades and master of none’ kind of thing. But I just think playing in different positions will help me in the long run.

“I like to think I’ve got a decent understanding of different positions. I know I’m just 23 and when I signed, it was to be a midfielder. But I’ve been doing this for a whole now. When I came through the Academy, I played different positions too. It’s just attributes I have that can be placed at different spots on the park and you know I’ll do ok there. It’s natural at this point for me but maybe not centre-back, I’m not so sure about that one!”

Sparrow had a brilliant first season at Fir Park. Joining from Stoke City in the summer of 2024, Sparrow impressed from the start and worked his way into a regular starter for the team in the early parts of the season. His appearances would largely be from the bench from October until January but when new manager Michael Wimmer arrived, the Welshmen really began to motor forward.

Deployed as a right-wing back in the system, Sparrow’s attacking nature saw him double his goalscoring tally from March until the end of the season, finishing on six goals and as the joint top scorer for the team. His regular run in the team earned him a new deal at Fir Park and his footballing career really was thriving.

But the sudden departure of then manager Wimmer through an air of uncertainty towards Sparrow initially. But having got over the surprise of the event, Sparrow applied himself immediately so he could impress whoever the new boss would be.

“You always know in football that a manager can come and go at any stage,” Sparrow stated.

“But I’d just signed a new deal and everything was going really well for me. I was bit like ‘oh, this could be a problem’ as everything was kind of taking off for me. But as soon as the new manager came in, all the players were impressed with his demeanour and approach. Everything has came to fruition now with the way we’ve been playing.

“The big thing for me was that I got held back a bit because I got injured quite early in the season. I missed eight weeks which with this style and the way the manager wants us to play, is a lot and you need time to work on your game. The time on the training pitch is so important because it’s how you learn the style, the scenarios and the plan.

“When I was out, the boys were brilliant which you’re buzzing about because you want the club to do well. But you are sat in the stand wondering if you’re going to play. Not because of me but more because the boys are doing so well and deserve to stay in the team.

“You just have to keep working hard and I tried to make sure I still went to all the team meetings and asking what was going on while I was injured so I had a good understanding of what was needed once I got fit. I think Stephen [O’Donnell] has spoken about this already but when you’re injured and watching the game in the stand, you’re sat above it and it is a good watch. We were going out and dominating games and it was sort of what is going on here?

“But when I’m watching those games, the full game I’m thinking about what I’d do in that position, or in different scenarios that are occurring in the game. That probably helped me to be honest because once I got fit and had watched so many games, I was dying to play in the system and I knew exactly what I needed to do.”

He may have been dying to play in the system, but that system has been constantly evolving and changing. Sometimes four at the back, sometimes five. Sometimes more midfielders, sometimes a front three. Sometimes four changes to the personnel, sometimes six.

And that approach has allowed Sparrow to display those attributes he has mentioned at right-back, right-wing back, left-back, centre-mid and even as part of the attacking front three. And as long as he’s on the pitch playing, he’ll feel comfortable carrying out his instructions.

“I think my favourite position changes depending on the formation and how we’re playing,” he laughed.

“I’d say with the way we’re playing at the minute, and I think the manager would agree, that right-back is my preferred spot but I’m more than comfortable in any of the positions but I think my preference can change depending. But that’s where the manager is brilliant. We’ve got different players with different attributes for every position depending on who we’re playing. I’m a bit more of an attacking right-back so in games we think we can get into attacking areas, I really enjoy being out there.

“The manager didn’t sit down at the start of the season and chat through how I may be used in the team. Things can change with injuries, suspension or form. He explained where he thought I’d mainly be playing, but to be honest, I just come in on a Monday morning and find out where I’ll be playing that week and get on with it.”

“I’ve been saying to a couple of the lads recently that I think if you watch Motherwell, you’d think the way we play and the style would be dead difficult but the manager makes it that easy that you know what’s going on at all times on the pitch. It then becomes easier than other ways we’ve played in the past. Wherever I play, I know exactly what he wants me to do and we’re working so well as a team that it’s just enjoyable.”

Despite the sudden change during summer, the project at Motherwell has been going from strength to strength under Jens Berthel Askou. When Sparrow casts his mind back to those early days under Askou, he could never have envisaged what would have followed.

A thin squad, new faces required and brand new daring style that had to be implemented, the road ahead looked like it would be a long one, with various and inevitable bumps along the way. But now in February and sitting pretty going into the remaining games before the split, Sparrow and his teammates can be proud of what they have achieved to this stage.

“He was a new manager, and we didn’t have much of a squad going into the start of the season,” Sparrow recalls.

“We were all kind of sitting there waiting to see who was going to come in, and now we can see that all those new faces have been amazing. Hats off to the club and the manager because the process can’t have been easy. The players are playing well, and it comes from the repetition we do on the training pitch.

“Most weeks look the exact same. It just becomes second nature to you and we’ve done it that much now you just know what’s going to happen during the phases of play on the park. The lads will probably agree with me when I say, sometimes training can be harder than matches because it’s much tighter games during training. It just makes it that bit more difficult when it’s those small-sided games in tight spaces.

“I’ve said to the manager already that I can feel myself getting better and even when I was just back from injury and not playing that often, I wasn’t too frustrated because I could feel myself getting better every day through the training and analysis.”

With the run into the split firmly under way, some of Motherwell’s upcoming opponents have ambitions of lifting the league title. But with more crucial matches coming up, Sparrow and the team are focused on picking up more headline results.

“We’ve said against all the so-called bigger teams in the league, we’ve been right in the match,” Sparrow added.

“Sometimes I’d say we’ve been the better team, but we’ve not got the results to show for that. I think that was one of the big messages going into the match against Celtic here in December. The performance that night was top-notch, and it’ll kind of be the same mindset going into this one. If we really want to push on, these are the games that we need to go to win.

“There was some chat before that Celtic game about us needing that statement win. The manager dealt with that brilliantly by saying every win is a statement win. We know we can compete, but we know we can also beat anyone in the league. That’s that stuff of the chest now and we can press on.

“I think back to that night and Fir Park was bouncing. It’s been like that so many times this season at home. I don’t think fans realise how big a difference they can make. They’re enjoying what they’re seeing but their support has been amazing, and that includes on the road too. It’s all going well just now but one of the things that was drilled into me when I was younger was never get too high and never get too low.

“Football can change really quickly so it’s important we enjoy this but we do need to keep our heads so this progress can continue. In house or in the team, we don’t have a target of we want to finish here or there. It’s just every game is important and we want to win every match we go into. There’s confidence that we’re a good team but, we need to keep going and the games are going to get harder, and there is more at stake.”