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Under 20s boss Stephen Craigan praised his side for their improvement after a 1-0 win over Hamilton Accies at Fir Park.

Although the Steelmen took all three points against Partick Thistle last Wednesday, they weren’t at their fluid best.

However, against a much more experienced Accies side, who currently sit second in the SPFL Development League, the hosts carved out a sack of chances, albeit only taking the one to win the game.

Craigan, who admits the whole squad has one eye on the Youth Cup Final later in the month, was pleased with his players who completed the double over their Lanarkshire neighbours.

“I was delighted with a lot of aspects of our play,” the 54-times capped former Northern Irish skipper said.

[pullquote]As a group, we spoke about our performance last week and we felt we were slightly off it, so it was important we started the game well and showed a good appetitive for it.[/pullquote]

“You know when you play Hamilton they will test you, they will put you under pressure, they’re competitive; they’re also a good team too. They’re sitting second in the table and have players progressing into the first-team.

“It obviously helps getting the early goal, but in general, I was pleased with the improvement we made from last week.

“There’s two games until the Cup Final and for us it’s about getting consistency from them, it’s about them maintaining their form and finding their peak fitness and keeping up the good habits, and today was a good starting point.”

Motherwell edged out neighbours Hamilton Accies in a hard-fought 1-0 win at a rain-soaked Fir Park this afternoon.

The game’s only goal came before most fans inside the Phil O’Donnell Stand had even taken their seats, MacLean converting from close range.

The hosts created numerous chances in a competitive ninety minutes, but couldn’t convert again to make the match more comfortable.

That victory leaves Motherwell hot on the trail of St Johnstone, Aberdeen and St Mirren with just three games to go.

‘Well made two changes to the side that came back from behind to beat Partick Thistle last midweek. Dylan Falconer and Jake Hastie dropped out, replaced by Dom Thomas and David Turnbull.

Motherwell made an excellent start and opened the scoring after just 17 seconds. Thomas broke down the left hand side and his cross bounced all the way through to MacLean who fired home with the aid of Rico Quitongo deflection.

Astoundingly, the same two players combined just three minutes later as the Fir Parkers threatened to run riot. Again it was Thomas who created, his cross from the left bounced through to MacLean but this time Martin blocked the shot with his legs.

Luke Watt then brought out another good save from Martin as the Claret and Amber men looked for another goal, the keeper turning away his 20-yard shot.

Accies’ first chance came after seven minutes, when space opened up for Steven Boyd, but he ballooned it high and wide of target.

The game settled down though and almost twenty minutes past before it came alive again, and it was almost a bizarre own goal from Canning that doubled the hosts’ advantage. The Accies player/boss attempted to chest a Watt cross back to Alan Martin, but it missed the keeper and dropped a yard wide of the post.

Accies finished the half better thought and Tierney had a shot blocked inside the area before Redmond almost capitalised on a short Ben Hall header back to his keeper, but the midfielder lost his footing at the vital time.

Both teams emerged from the dressing rooms to a heavy downpour, but it didn’t dampen the home side’s attacking threat, and they should have doubled their lead after just three minutes.

Watt’s cross from the right rebounded out to Robbie Leitch, but he could only watch on in despair as his low shot was somehow blocked off the line by Ronan Hughes before landing fortuitously in the hands of the grateful Martin.

Five minutes later, Mackin got in behind the Accies defence, but with keeper rushing out, the striker could only slide a shot wide of target.

At the other end, Boyd curled a free kick over the bar but it wasn’t long before ‘Well were back on the attack.

A neat through pass sent MacLean racing in on Martin, but the Accies keeper again denied with a smart save. The rebound eventually worked its way to Thomas on the left, but Mackin could only head his hung up cross wide of target.

The visitors remained a threat on the counter though and on one such occasion, a Martin cannon almost had Boyd in and although he was able to knock it past Long, David Ferguson mopped up the danger on the cover.

It was the Accies keeper who would remain the busier though and he had to again save to keep Stephen Craigan’s men. Mackin did well to pinch it from Canning as the experienced defender drove out of defence. When he received the return pass, his quick-fire shot forced the 27-year old to again turn it away.

Martin’s save from Robbie Leitch ten minutes later was for more comfortable as ‘Well looked to kill the match.

However, it was Accies who almost got themselves level late on. After Redmond ballooned an effort, Long had to turn away a header from Hughes in the dying seconds to ensure the Steelmen earned all three points.

Motherwell: Long, Watt, McMillan, Ferguson, Hall, Campbell, MacLean (Moore – 89mins), Turnbull, Mackin (Falconer – 85mins), Thomas, R. Leitch

Subs Not Used: Morrison, Maguire, Livingstone

The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) has today released post-split fixture information for the remainder of the 2015/16 season.

Mark McGhee’s side will start with a home match against Hearts on Saturday 23rd April (3pm KO).

The Steelmen will then travel to Pittodrie the following Saturday (30th April) to take on Aberdeen, again with a 3pm KO.

The last home match of the season will be on Saturday 7th May when St Johnstone visit Fir Park (3pm KO) before a midweek trip to Dingwall to take on Ross County on Wednesday 11th May (7.45pm KO).

The season finále will be a Sky Live match against Celtic at Celtic Park on Sunday 15th May (12.30pm KO).

FIXTURES:

• Saturday 23rd April (3pm) vs Hearts (H)
• Saturday 30th April (3pm) vs Aberdeen (A)
• Saturday 7th May (3pm) vs St Johnstone (H)
• Wednesday 11th May (7.45pm) vs Ross County (A)
• Sunday 15th May (12.30pm) vs Celtic (A) -LIVE ON SKY SPORTS-

Ticket prices and information for all five post-split matches will be confirmed and published shortly.

The Under 20s return to action when they face a Lanarkshire derby against Hamilton Accies this Tuesday.

The young Steelmen will look to build on last week’s come-from-behind win over Partick Thistle, which keeps them within touching distance of fourth placed Aberdeen and fifth place St Johnstone.

Accies have enjoyed a terrific campaign in the Development League, currently sitting eleven points clear in second place.

The teams met as recently as early March, when Stephen Craigan’s men ran out impressive 0-3 winners at New Douglas Park.

The match will take place at Fir Park Stadium, with kick-off 3pm. Entry is free of charge.

Extended highlights from Fir Park as Motherwell lose 1-2 to Celtic but secure a top-six finish.

‘Well boss Mark McGhee lavished praise on his players after securing a top-six finish.

Despite the 1-2 loss to Celtic, results elsewhere mean the Steelmen have confirmed their place in the top half of the table for the seventh season in the last nine.

Motherwell struggled during the first forty-five and were behind via Leigh Griffiths. However, Scott McDonald levelled things up before Griffiths eventually netted the winner late on.

“We can’t complain about the defeat; that being said, we could have got something out the match,” he said.

[pullquote]We’re fourth at the split and that’s huge credit to the players for the way they’ve gone about their business over the last two months. I cannot speak highly enough of them[/pullquote]

“The second half was a lot better than the first, where I felt as if we didn’t get close enough to them. Shape, tactics, game plans and formations are irrelevant if you can’t pass the ball and I felt we did that far better in the second half.

“We had a goal disallowed which we were upset about as we felt McDonald was level with Moult when the ball was passed, and that’s gone against us.

“However, at the end of the day, we’re fourth at the split and that’s huge credit to the players for the way they’ve gone about their business over the last two months. I cannot speak highly enough of them.”

[tab:Match report]

 Phil McGhee Fir Park

Motherwell went 1-2 to Celtic at Fir Park but results elsewhere have guaranteed the Steelmen a top-six finish.

The Fir Parkers were second best during a first half where Celtic peppered the home goal, including a missed penalty from Leigh Griffiths.

However, the Scotland striker made up for that on the 44th minute, putting the visitors ahead at the break.

Motherwell were far better in the second half and looked a real threat. Scott McDonald thought he had brought the Steelmen level, but had a goal chalked off. However, he wouldn’t be denied shortly after, sweeping home from fifteen yards.

However, there would be a string in the tail when Griffiths scored the winner, drilling through the unfortunate Ripley.

Mark McGhee opted for the same team that took all three last weekend in Inverness, including last weekend’s goal scorer Marvin Johnson. The winger had a couple of early shots at goal, but nothing that would trouble Craig Gordon.

That was about it though for the home side as Celtic dominated for large spells, and the Motherwell boss would have his goalkeeper to thank for a string of saves.

Patrick Roberts, Nir Biton and Griffiths all have shots beaten away by the on-loan Boro striker.

Midway through the half, £12 million pound man Roberts was tripped in the box by Morgaro Gomis and referee Collum righty pointed to the spot. Griffiths pulled his effort wide of Ripley’s left-hand post with the keeper at full stretch.

Ripley was again in top form when he denied Colin Kazim-Richards after the Turkish was put through on goal.

Kieran Tierney and Roberts, again, forced saves from Ripley. Many of the shots were straight at the keeper, but he had still made seven saves by the time the game was 40 minutes old.

However, the resistance was finally broken on the 44th minute. Tierney received the ball in space on the left, and he picked out Griffiths in the box who drilled it low into the bottom corner.

The interval gave the ‘Well management team time to reshape and they were a far bigger threat in the second half.

Indeed, ten minutes in they had the ball in the net through Scott McDonald, but it was controversially ruled out for offside when television pictures appeared the show the Aussie was in line with Moult as he squared it across the six-yard box.

The equaliser wasn’t far away though. Chris Cadden got the better of Tierney deep in Celtic territory, and the youngster did brilliantly well to cut back for McDonald who thumped it high past Gordon to level things up.

However, with play swinging end to end, it was Celtic who would eventually grab the winning goal. Tierney and Griffiths again combined, and when the striker connected with the cross, it somehow squirmed between Ripley’s legs and into the net.

It was a bitter blow for ‘Well, who battled hard to try and get level again, but to no avail. However, results elsewhere in the day mean Motherwell’s unbelievable run of form has been rewarded with a top-six finish.

[tab:As it happened]

 Ally Reilly at Fir Park

FT | 1-2
Motherwell 1 – 2 Celtic

93′ | 1-2
Late chance for Moult but he clips his shot from Thomas’ cut back wide of the post.

91′ | 1-2
Celtic sub, Roberts off for Armstrong.

Four minutes added on.

89′ | 1-2
Motherwell sub, Thomas replaces Gomis

86′ | 1-2
Ainsworth tries a shot from range but its comfortable for Gordon.

82′ | 1-2
McManus booked for a foul on Biton.

You can vote for your Match Attax Man of the match now. Tweet your age, name and choice with hashtag #MatchAttaxMOTM

78′ | 1-2
Corner to Motherwell…Moult wins the header but nods over.

76′ | 1-2
And Cadden limps off for Ainsworth

75′ | 1-2
Motherwell sub, Lasley off for Leitch

75′ | 1-2
Goal – Tierney the supplier again for Griffiths who fires beyond Ripley.

74′ | 1-1
Kazim-Richards and Kennedy having a bit of afters off the ball there. Seemed to raise a hand to the Motherwell man?

70′ | 1-1
Celtic sub, Rogic on for Johansen

61′ | 1-1
McDONALD equalises for Motherwell!! Cadden does well down the right and pulls it back for the Aussie!!

GGGGOOOOAAAALLLL!!!

54′ | 0-1
Motherwell have the ball in the net but the linesman’s flag is up against McDonald!

49′ | 0-1
Johnson’s low cross takes a deflection and Gordon gathers under pressure from Moult.

46′ | 0-1
Chance already for Moult as he gets into the box but Gordon gathers his cutback

Celtic get it underway..

Both teams back out for the second half…

HT | 0-1
Motherwell 0 – 1 Celtic

44′ | 0-1
Goal – Griffiths opens the scoring for Celtic, getting on the end of Tierney’s cut back.

41′ | 0-0
Ripley is on fire! Another two fine saves to deny Celtic!

37′ | 0-0
Another big save from Ripley! This time he denies Kazim-Richards from 12 yards!

31′ | 0-0
Straight up the other end, McDonald sets up Johnson but both his efforts on goal are blocked. Corner to ‘Well.

30′ | 0-0
BIg save from Ripley, sliding out at the feet of Griffiths as Celtic broke away. Looked like a goal was inevitable!

29′ | 0-0
Game goes a bit crazy there with challenges flying all in over the pitch but play rages on and Johnson’s cross is turned wide

27′ | 0-0
Griffiths drags his penalty well wide of the post!

MISSED!!

26′ | 0-0
Celtic penalty! Roberts caught by Gomis’ trailing leg.

25′ | 0-0
Great chance for Celtic as Tierney pulls the ball back to Griffiths but he overdoes it and backheels straight to Lasley who clears

19′ | 0-0
Biton stings Ripley’s palms from range and Griffiths follows that up with a shot well wide of the post. Still 0-0.

16′ | 0-0
Good save by Ripley! Roberts again coming in off the left, opts for the right foot this time but Ripley is equal to his low shot.

13′ | 0-0
Hopeful effort by Johnson, from all of 30 yards, which is comfortably saved by Gordon.

10′ | 0-0
Corner to Celtic, taken by Roberts but comfortably swept clear by McDonald.

8′ | 0-0
Roberts cuts inside and the ball finds its way to Johansen just inside the box. He shoots, but its straight at Ripley

5′ | 0-0
Chance for Griffiths but his header loops just over the bar.

2′ | 0-0
Chance! Johnson cuts the ball back to Cadden on the edge of the box but he shoots straight at Gordon.

[tab:Reaction]

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee:

“We were beaten by the Champions-elect. They deserved to win the game but we are very aggrieved that once again a decision has gone against us.

“I have watched it over and over and I know the linesman has only one look at it but for me it is onside and it should have stood. But we can’t have any complaints.”

Celtic assistant John Kennedy

“It was important that we took advantage of Aberdeen slipping up last night. The first half performance was good, we had some good chances but we didn’t quite capitalise and in the second half we had to dig very deep but at this time of the season it is about results, that is the most important thing.”

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

[poll id=”270″]

Action images from this afternoon’s 1-2 defeat to Celtic at Fir Park.

Snaps courtesy of SNSPix

[svgallery name=”celtic090416″]

Mark McGhee expects no favours as he tries to guide Motherwell into the SPFL Premiership top-six.

The hosts can secure their spot in the league’s top half if they take something from Saturday’s match with Champions Celtic at Fir Park.

A run of six wins from the last seven games has pushed ‘Well into fourth, however, with Partick Thistle beating Dundee United and Dundee drawing with Celtic on Tuesday night, the Steelmen could find themselves in the bottom half of the table after the split if they lose to Celtic while the Partick, Dundee and St Johnstone all win – or Saints even manage a draw.

McGhee surveyed the top-six landscape ahead of the visit of the league leaders and said: “It reinforces what I said earlier in the week, that I wasn’t prepared to think anything other than we were going to need something against Celtic.

“You can’t trust anybody in this league, everyone is capable of beating everyone else, taking something from everyone else.

“I think that if we don’t get anything on Saturday we are in trouble. The mentality of the other three teams will be good enough to go and get wins.

[pullquote]“So I think we need something on Saturday. I haven’t allowed myself to get into any other frame of mind, so I am not caught trying to pick myself up, I am ready for it.[/pullquote]

“We also know the difficulty in that. We are playing Celtic, we are not playing one of the others similar to us. We are playing a better team than us and somehow we have to conjure a way to get something out of that.”

Motherwell won 2-1 at Parkhead in December and McGhee believes only the same level of workrate will give them the chance of the double over a side who are trying to stay ahead of second-placed Aberdeen in the title race.

He said: “That win was based on hard work and if we remember that, then that will be the starting point. We can’t have any fancy ideas of how we are going to play, the type of football we are going to play. First and foremost we have to be prepared to work harder than them.

“We’ve got to imagine that they are going to play as well as they possibly can. The stakes are huge for them as well.

“I do think the title race is genuine. I believe Celtic will win the title. They are enough points ahead at the moment that they will see it over the line eventually. But I think Aberdeen are genuine contenders.”

Stephen McManus says he relishes the pressure of a top-six battle, rather than the hell of trying to avoid a relegation battle.

The Steelmen endured a torrid season last term, eventually finishing in eleventh, meaning a Play-off double header against Rangers.

And although it ultimately proved successful, with a 6-1 aggregate win, no one at Fir Park enjoyed the experience whatsoever.

A terrific recent run has lifted ‘Well into fourth in the table, but they still require something from Saturday’s match against Celtic to guarantee a spot in the top-six when the league splits.

McManus, however, welcomed the tension that comes with trying to finish in the top half.

The 33-year-old said: “After the start we had and where we were at certain times of the season, sitting third bottom, second bottom, you would have taken staying in the division.

“But when you get so close to something you want it even more and we would love to finish in the top six.

“It would be a great achievement but if it is not to be for whatever reason, when we walked off the pitch against Kilmarnock we would have taken where we are now.

[pullquote]”If you had said to us that we would be in this situation with a game to go with the possibly of getting into the top six we would have bitten the hand off you for it, because having gone through the experience last year of playing in the play-off games, it wasn’t enjoyable.”[/pullquote]

The former Celtic and Middlesbrough defender knows the league leaders will be difficult opponents but insists the gap between all the teams in the league has reduced since he was at Parkhead as a youth player up until 2010.

McManus, who signed for Well from Boro in 2013, said: “We know it is going to be a tough game.

“I have been in the situation where you are fighting for a title and need to win every game you are playing in.

“Celtic will be looking to come to get maximum points, they know they will have to be right at it. The demands are still on Celtic players to win every game, but we have our own aspirations about the top six.

“We don’t fear anybody just now and are looking forward to it.”