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We have five players away during this international window. Let’s find out where they will be playing. 

Alex Paulsen

Following their World Cup campaign, New Zealand are in friendly action four times over the next fortnight. This squad sees the inclusion of some of their World Cup stars but also some faces who missed out on the trip to the USA last summer.

The four matches will see New Zealand take on opposition from both ends of the FIFA World Rankings. First up is a match against Palestine in China, before facing China three days later.

The squad then take on Panama before rounding their camp off against either Japan or Ecuador. Alex Paulsen has eight caps already and will be looking to add more over the next two weeks.

• New Zealand v Palestine
• Friendly 
• Thursday 24 September 
• Chongqing, China

• New Zealand v China
• Friendly 
• Sunday 27 September
• Chongqing, China

• New Zealand v Panama 
• Friendly 
• Thursday 1 October
• Yokohamo International Stadium

• New Zealand v Japan/Ecuador 
• Friendly 
• Monday 5 October
• Tokyo International Stadium

Tawanda Maswanhise

Ramon Catala was named the new manager of Zimbabwe in August, and he has named Tawanda Maswanhise in his first squad as head coach.

It’s the start of a new qualifying campaign for the Africa Cup of Nations, with the Warriors placed in Group E alongside Sierra Leone, DR Congo and Equatorial Guinea. Maswanhise was a key component to Zimbabwe’s success in their last AFCON qualifying campaign.

They take on Sierra Leone away from home in their first match on Thursday 24 September, before facing DR Congo on home soil in their second match on Monday 28 September.

• Sierra Leone v Zimbabwe 
• Thursday 24 September
• 8pm Kick Off
• Location TBC

• Zimbabwe v DR Congo
• Monday 28 September 
• 5pm Kick Off
• National Sports Stadium, Harare

Aaron Thomson & Zander McAllister

It’s also been a period of transition at the Scotland National Team, which has seen a number of new appointments within the coaching ranks at various age groups.

For the Under 19s, Tam Courts will take the reins, accompanied by Lee Wallace. They have named their first squad since arriving last month, with Aaron Thomson and Zander McAllister both included.

This camp will see Scotland play three friendly matches, providing the opportunity for the squad to gel and get up to speed. Scotland face Finland, Czech Republic and Ukraine over the course of a week.

• Scotland U19s v Finland U19s
• Thursday 24 September 
• 11.00am
• Estadio Municipal Guillermo Amor

• Scotland U19s v Czech Republic U19s
• Sunday 27 September
• 3pm Kick Off 
• Estadi Olímpic Camilo Cano

• Scotland U19s v Ukraine
• Wednesday 30 September
• 11.00am Kick Off 
• La Nucía Mini Estadi

Jamie Knight-Lebel

Jamie Knight-Lebel has earned international recognition, with the defender named in the latest Canadian squad.

Knight-Lebel has three caps for his country already, and will be looking to add to that tally later this month.

Canada have three friendly matches lined up, taking on Chile first on Sunday 27 September. They then take on Peru on Saturday 3 October, before rounding off the international window with a game against the United States on Wednesday 7 October.

• Canada v Chile
• Sunday 27 September 
• 12am Kick Off
• BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario

• Canada v Peru
• Saturday 3 October
• 7pm Kick Off
• Stade Saputo, Montréal, Québec

• USA v Canada
• Wednesday 7 October
• 1am Kick Off
• Allianz Field, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of former club and Well Society chairman Brian McCafferty, aged 79.

Brian died peacefully at home over the weekend, surrounded by his family, following a battle with cancer.

Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with his wife Linda, daughter Lynne, son Gavin, daughter-in-law Helen and grandson Ross, and Brian’s wider family and many friends.

Brian played a hugely significant role in the modern history of Motherwell FC. His leadership helped steer the club through a particularly challenging period, helped lay the foundations for fan ownership and, in more recent years, helped ensure the club’s history was preserved and brought to life for future generations.

He was one of the original four Well Society Board members elected in October 2012 and, in April 2013, became one of the Society’s first two representatives on the Motherwell FC Board alongside Graham Barnstaple.

Brian succeeded Graham as Well Society chairman in September 2014, at a critical moment for the club. Earlier that year, the Society had been challenged to raise a further £400,000 as Motherwell faced a significant cash shortfall.

Brian subsequently led the Well Society’s negotiations with Les Hutchison, majority shareholder John Boyle and the club. Those discussions culminated in the rescue deal signed in January 2015.

Under the agreement, both the Well Society and Les invested in the club, with Les acquiring John Boyle’s majority shareholding for £1. Brian became chairman of Motherwell FC that same month.

He stepped down from both boards towards the end of 2015, less than a year before Motherwell FC formally moved into fan ownership in October 2016.

“Everyone at Motherwell Football Club is deeply saddened by Brian’s passing,” chairman Kyrk Macmillan said.

“Our thoughts are first and foremost with Linda, Lynne, Gavin and everyone who knew and loved him. Brian gave an enormous amount to Motherwell FC. At a crucial point in our history, he was one of those who stepped forward, took responsibility and helped create the conditions for the progress we have subsequently seen, both on and off the field.

“What is particularly remarkable is that Brian’s work on behalf of the club continued right until the end. Brian reached out to me when I became chair, to offer his guidance and we maintained contact which I greatly appreciated and through his work with the Heritage Trust, he continued giving his time, energy and experience to Motherwell FC.

“Brian will be greatly missed, but his presence will continue to be felt around Fir Park, through the work of the Well Society, the Heritage Trust and in the club he helped shape.”

“Brian was not only a gentleman but also a giant of Motherwell Football Club and its fan ownership movement,” Well Society chairman Derek Watson added.

“At a time when the future of our club faced enormous challenges, Brian showed real leadership. He gave his time, energy and expertise to the Well Society and Motherwell FC and played a hugely important role in the journey which ultimately delivered fan ownership.

“Those of us involved in the Well Society today, and all those who value fan ownership are beneficiaries of the foundations laid by people like Brian.

“I had the honour and privilege of being co-opted to the Well Society board by Brian back in 2012 during my first spell as a Director. Brian’s guidance, and stewardship was invaluable back then, but more recently his advice and wisdom has been hugely beneficial in my role as Chair.

“He will be sadly missed by his family, friends and all who knew him, but his work will never be forgotten. On behalf of everyone at the Well Society, I send our deepest condolences to Linda, Lynne, Gavin and the whole family.”

“Brian brought tremendous warmth, energy and enthusiasm to everything he did,” Motherwell FC Heritage Trust’s Nick Mackie stated.

“He loved Motherwell Football Club, he loved its history, and he was passionate about bringing that history to life so that new generations of supporters could understand and celebrate the people and moments which made our club what it is today.

“Brian continued to play an active role in the Trust until very recently, chairing our meetings and providing the advice, encouragement and wise counsel that we valued so greatly. He was closely involved in our work to create a new heritage installation in the Davie Cooper Stand concourse and was determined to see it completed.

“When that work is finished, it will stand as part of Brian’s remarkable legacy and his lifelong contribution to the club he loved. Above all, though, we will miss Brian himself – his friendship, his warmth, his enthusiasm and his presence enormously.”

“My dad’s final trip to Fir Park was for the Hearts game in May,” Brian’s son Gavin McCafferty and Well Society director said.

“It was a fitting farewell: the biggest crowd for 21 years, a huge occasion, a big step towards European football, and some more great football.

“Seeing the football on display over the past 12 months or so helped him through his treatment and gave him a lot of satisfaction after all the hard work that he and many others put in over a long number of years to maintain Motherwell’s status as a top-flight fan-owned club.

“He was latterly involved with MFC Heritage Trust and was always keen to stress the importance of fan ownership in the club’s history plus the generosity and sacrifice of John Boyle in making it possible, and the commitment, patience, generosity and effort of Les Hutchison in keeping the dream alive.”

Details of Brian’s funeral arrangements will be shared in due course.

It was Motherwell’s third straight defeat in the Premiership, as the Steelmen struggled to create enough at the top end of the pitch despite large spells of possession. 

A two-week international break now provides time to recover, reset and work on the training pitch before the Champions come to town.

Alfred Johansson reacts to a 2-1 defeat to Dundee at Dens Park.

Motherwell returned from Dens Park empty-handed after a 2-1 defeat to Stephen Pressley’s Dundee. 

Joe Westley opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Bradley Fink doubled the host’s advantage with a header. Alex Lowry pulled one back before the interval, but the Steelmen were unable to find the leveller in the second-half.

Following the disappointment of Tuesday night, the Motherwell side had two changes. Ibrahim Said and Seb Palmer-Houlden were brought into the attack, with Jardell Kanga and Regan Charles-Cook dropping to the subs bench.

The early signs were positive for Motherwell, as they settled on the ball quickly. Owen Goodman was tested inside five minutes when Lukas Fadinger struck well from the edge of the box with his left foot, but the goalkeeper was a match to the strike as he dived across to his right-hand side.

Beyond that effort, the 20 minutes brought little action in front of the goal. But when Dundee earned a corner, they kept the play alive on the right-hand side with Emmanuel Longelo coming across to defend the cross. The ball struck Longelo’s arm from close-range, with VAR ordering the referee to review the footage, and he subsequently pointed to the spot.

Westley stepped up and rather unconvincingly managed to get the ball past Paulsen, despite the keeper going the right way and almost making the save. But Dundee had the advantage after 22 minutes.

Longelo looked to redeem the penalty by causing the Dee defence problems at the other end of the pitch. The full-back cut the ball back to the edge of the box from the byline. Tawanda Maswanhise walked onto the effort, but his left-footed drive was wide of the target.

Despite dominating possession, Dundee continued to look threatening going forward. Jack Moorhouse sent a ball forward for Bradley Fink to chase onto; he out-paced the defence and tried to guide the ball into the far corner. Unfortunately for him, the ball ricochet off the woodwork and away from danger.

But after 40 minutes, Dundee did get their second, and Fink got his goal. A long throw-in was only cleared as far as Drey Wright, who volleyed a powerful cross back into the box. Fink was able to get his head and the ball squeezed in off the post with a fortunate bounce off the turf, which deceived Alex Paulsen.

It looked like there would be a mountain to climb for Motherwell as they trailed by two, but Lowry cut the deficit in half as he converted from Tom Sparrow’s cross just before the half-time whistle.

Hope was restored for Motherwell, and they began the second-half searching for the second. A miscommunication from the Dundee players allowed Maswanhise to pick up the ball 25-yards from the goal, but the Zimbabwean couldn’t capitalise fully on the situation.

Paulsen was called into action twice shortly after. He produced a great save from Westley following a Dundee counter, before denying Ryan Astley as the centre-back got on the end of a corner kick.

Joe Hodge saw his strike from distance sail over the bar on 79 minutes, as Johansson’s side continued to push. The introduction of Eythor Bjørgolfsson would bring a more aerial threat for Motherwell, and when the Norwegian was wiped out by Goodman after a cross into the area, the referee and VAR took time to review the situation but deemed it not worthy enough of a penalty kick, as Dundee would then hold out for the 2-1 win.

Motherwell Team: Paulsen, Sparrow, Girdwood-Reich, Moormann, Longelo, Hodge, Fadinger, Lowry, Said, Maswanhise, Palmer-Houlden. 

Motherwell Subs: Connelly, O’Donnell, Knight-Lebel, Williams, Levitt, Kanga, Bjørgolfsson, Vogt, Charles-Cook. 

All the information you need if you’re attending Dens Park this afternoon. 

Kick off between Motherwell and Dundee is at 3pm.

Tickets

You can buy tickets online by CLICKING HERE.

Prices:

Watch Live

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.

Other Fan Information

Motherwell fans will be able to buy alcohol in the Bob Shankly Stand between 13.00 and 14.30. All kiosks and bars are card only.

Purchased alcohol must be consumed within the concourse area.

Additional turnstiles open at 14:00 hrs. Turnstiles 33/35 for away support.

Travelling By Car

Approaching from a westerly direction, (eg Glasgow or Edinburgh)

As you approach the roundabout, continue on the A90 (Kingsway) for about 2 miles, take the second flyover exit (B960) and follow the signs for ‘Football Traffic’ until you reach the stadium.

Travelling from the south (via Tay Road Bridge)

Exit the Tay Road Bridge in the right hand lane then stay in the left hand lane on the inner ring road. You will approach a set of traffic lights (Arnold Clark Garage on your right) turn left at the lights, straight through the next roundabout. Stay in the left hand lane which will split in two as you approach the next roundabout (Ladywell). Keep in the second lane from the left, and you will be directed up Victoria Road. Continue up this road which becomes Dens Road after about 1 mile. Turn right at the second mini roundabout into Arklay Street and take the second street on your left.

The stadium is approximately 400 yards on your left.

Weather Forecast

It’s to be dry on Saturday in Dundee, with temperatures hitting 16 degrees.

It was a sickening end to an outstanding display from the women of steel, as Celtic struck late into stoppage time to seal victory under the floodlights of the Kirkintilloch Sports Complex on Friday evening. 

An intensely fought performance had Motherwell pushing for the decisive winner in the latter stages, but they ultimately couldn’t resist the Celtic breakthrough. The hosts countered with the final opportunity of the game, converting from a fortuitous mis-hit delivery into the box – consigning the visitors to defeat. 

Head Coach, Iain Robinson named six changes to his starting XI, with Emergency-loanee Jeni Currie lining up in goal ahead of youngster Kayla Scott, who impressed last weekend. The backline remained unchanged, with Shannon Leishman, Chelsie Watson, Ellie MacDonald, and Leah Sidey completing the back-four. 

Lucy Ronald, Eva Thomson and Lucy Sinclair all returned into the midfield three, with Mason Clark and Kodie Hay occupying either flank. Carla Boyce returned ahead of Morgan Anderson to lead the line. 

Despite Celtic’s early grip on possession, Motherwell carved out numerous opportunities in the first-half. Boyce recorded the first opportunity of the contest, cutting onto her stronger right-foot, before striking towards goal, but goalkeeper Adelaide Gay calmly gathered. 

Minutes later, Boyce again forced Gay into a smart save. A whipped delivery across the face of goal was met by Boyce, who rose highest in the box, but her headed effort was parried clear. 

Motherwell continued to thrive on the counter-attack, with Thomson recording Motherwell’s third opportunity and Gay’s third save in the opening 10-minutes, after striking from the edge of the box. 

It took until the half hour mark for Celtic to create their first opportunity on-goal, with Mono Nakao’s strike falling wide of the post. The hosts came close to breaking the deadlock seconds before the break, with Currie producing an exceptional last-ditch save to deny Isabella Fisher. 

As the second-half resumed, Motherwell continued to threaten, and should’ve deservedly taken the lead. 

Defender Chelsie Watson’s strike sailed over the head of Gay before rattling the crossbar, as Motherwell continued to push for an historic result. 

Substitute, Sophie Rutherford again tested the palms of the Celtic stopper minutes later, with gay parrying the youngsters attempt. 

As Motherwell pressed for a decisive winner, Mary Stanić-Floody almost netted a magnificent breakthrough. The Serbian international caught Gay far from her goalline, and attempted to chip the Celtic goalkeeper, but the American quickly recovered. 

In the dying stages of the game, Motherwell’s resistance was eventually broken. Shannon McGregor’s mis-hit delivery from the right flank sailed over the head of Currie before nestling into the bottom-left corner. 

A sickening end for the women of steel, who merited a point from the game at the very least. 

We can confirm that we have entered into a Cooperation Agreement with League Two side Spartans. 

The system allows young Scottish players to join a club on loan, increasing their chances of gaining valuable first-team experience while allowing them to move freely between their parent club and the loan club throughout the season.

The club also has an agreement with the Lowland League side Cowdenbeath.

As part of this newly formed alliance with Spartans, Zander McAllister and Aaron Thomson will join Mixu Paatelainen’s side for the season.

“I’m pleased we have this agreement with Spartans,” academy director David Clarkson said.

“This new system has been a success so far for Motherwell, with young players gaining valuable experience during their time away from Fir Park.

“Zander and Aaron are the next two players to move under this agreement, and we look forward to seeing their progress this season. With increased minutes, the experience of being in that first-team environment will be crucial for them.”

Good luck, lads.

Lukas Fadinger is aiming for a stronger performance tomorrow against Dundee, as he says the last two games have maybe fell short of their expectations.

Fadinger breaks down Tuesday night’s game and what went wrong against Aberdeen.

Alfred Johansson is looking forward to Saturday’s match against Dundee. With everyone moving on from the disappointment of Tuesday, the Motherwell manager believes in the long-term strategy at the club and insists nobody is getting too down about the defeat. 

Johansson expects a positive reaction from his players as they travel to Dens Park.