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Referee for Saturday’s Sky Live clash with Celtic here at Fir Park is the experienced Willie Collum.

One of Europe’s most recognisable officials, Willie will be handling his third ‘Well fixture of the current campaign. The other two both ended in 1-2 home defeats. The first was at the hands of Aberdeen when Marvin Johnson’s early opener was cancelled out by Niall McGinn and Ash Taylor.

The second, at the end of January, ended with Ross County taking the points to Dingwall when Stephen Pearson’s late goal wasn’t enough to earn the Fir Parkers anything after Jackson Irvine and Brian Graham had put the Staggies into a commanding lead.

Those results are on the back of the six he took charge of last term too.

The first was at Rugby Park in late August, the home side running out comfortable 2-0 winners.

The second was the instantly forgettable 0-4 reverse against Hamilton Accies at Fir Park when goals from Mickael Antoine-Curier, Tony Andreu and a double from Ali Crawford gave the Accies their biggest win at Fir Park in over 80 years.

He was the man in the middle for the 2-2 draw with Ross County when Tony Dingwall’s double, including a 94th minute equaliser, cancelled out John Sutton and Henrik Ojamaa’s goals.

In January of that season he took charge of Motherwell’s 2-0 defeat to Aberdeen, in which he controversially sent off Stephen McManus; a decision which was later rescinded after an appeal.

The fifth was ‘Well’s 1-1 draw with St Johnstone at Fir Park in January. Murray Davidson gave Saints and early lead before Louis Laing saw red on his debut. 10-men Motherwell battled back and equalised through John Sutton, who fired spectacularly into the back of Alan Mannus’ net.

The last was a 3-1 win over Kilmarnock at Fir Park, with goals from McDonald, Erwin and Ainsworth doing the damage.

His overall record in charge of the Steelmen reads nine wins, seventeen defeats and seven draws from thirty-three matches (in all competitions).

In those games, Motherwell have scored 45 and conceded 60.

68 players have gone into the book, 32 wearing Claret and Amber, while six players have been dismissed – Ian Murray of Hibs at Easter Road seven years back, Jerard Aafjes at Falkirk seven seasons ago, Paul Dixon at the end of 2009/10, Henrik Ojamaa at the Caledonian Stadium and Fraser Kerr down at Rugby Park. Stephen McManus was shown a red card against Aberdeen but that was later rescinded after an appeal and Louis Laing was given his marching orders last January on his Fir Park debut.

Willie will be assisted by Douglas Ross and Alistair Mather with David Munro listed as fourth official.

Under 20s boss Stephen Craigan gives his post-match thoughts after his team came from a goal down to beat Partick Thistle.

Highlights from Excelsior Stadium as Motherwell come from behind, courtesy of  a Dylan Mackin double.

Motherwell Under 20s fought back from a goal down to beat Partick Thistle at the Excelsior Stadium this afternoon.

Thistle, who were the home side, got themselves in front after 36 minutes when Neil McLaughlin finished an excellent move with a close-range finish.

It stayed that way until the 71st minute when Mackin got on the end of a looping Ferguson free kick to head home.

Motherwell lifted their game and after being denied what looked like a clear penalty, they were eventually awarded one for a tug on sub Josh Moore. Mackin stepped up, kept his composure and slid the ball down the middle to hand the Fir Parkers all three points.

Stephen Craigan made five changes to the team that lost last midweek to Hibernian. Samson, Chalmers, Turnbull, Fletcher and Thomas all dropped out, replaced by Long, Hall, Hastie, Falconer and Mackin.

‘Well started the game on the front foot and Jack McMillan forced an early shot that Thistle keeper Conor Cullen comfortably gathered.

Thirteen minutes later, the hosts someone narrowly survived. MacLean’s looping corner was perfect for Ferguson, but his header came crashing back off the bar. The rebounded bounced up for Falconer, but his acrobatic overhead kick went wide of target.

Thistle’s first real shot of the game came on the 32nd minute when Dom Docherty, who had been booked for dissent ten minutes earlier, took on a shot from distance, but it sailed high and wide of target.

However, with their next attack, the Jags would take the lead.

A good passing move eventually found Andy McCarthy in the middle of the park and he quickly released Kevin Nisbet down the right channel. In space, the striker squared it across goal for McLaughlin who slotted home at the far post.

‘Well had an opportunity to hit back quickly when a long ball over the top had Jake Hastie racing in on goal, but his low shot was saved by the legs of Cullen. Two minutes later, the same player had another shot, but it sailed high over the crossbar.

Thistle were ahead at the interval and made the better start to the second period. Nesbit had a fine outside-of-the-right-foot shot land just the wrong side of the post before Brett Long in the visitors goal had to get down well to save from McLaughlin minutes later.

‘Well gradually started to work their way into things again and substitute Josh Moore brought out a decent save from Cullen with a hit from twenty yards. Then, eight minutes later, Jake Hastie smashed a close range effort inches over the bar and there was a sense that the team in all claret had stepped it up.

That proved to be the case when they brought themselves level after 71 minutes. A long, floated free-kick from David Ferguson looked to have been over hit, but it actually tempted keeper Cullen off his line, but that allowed Mackin to out-jump him and head the ball home into an empty net.

That gave Craigan’s men the encouragement they needed and they looked sharper and quicker to ever ball. They should have had a penalty seven minutes later when James Penrice pushed Mackin under the ball as it looked as if he was going to head home.

However, ‘Well would eventually get a penalty shortly after when the same player was adjudged to have pulled Moore’s shirt from a free kick. It looked soft, but perhaps justice for the previous incident that went unpunished.

Mackin stepped up and coolly slotted the ball down the middle to put his team ahead.

Luke Watt almost added a third as the game reached its conclusion, but his low-range effort fizzed inches wide.

Motherwell: Long, Watt, McMillan, Ferguson, Hall, Campbell, MacLean (Moore – 46mins), Falconer (Turnbull – 46mins), Mackin, Hastie, R. Leitch (Maguire – 88mins)

Subs Not Used: Morrison, Livingstone

‘Well boss Mark McGhee has won the Ladbrokes Premiership Manager of the Month award for March.

The Fir Park boss had a 100% record three wins from three games during the month, which is included in a run that includes six wins in the last seven matches that has propelled the Fir Parkers from eleventh to fourth in the table.

It’s the second time the 59-year old has won the award since his return, after earlier collecting December’s gong for an identical run of wins.

McGhee said: “I am delighted to win this award but it is every bit as much a recognition to the players and staff at Fir Park.

“Everyone deserves tremendous credit four our recent run and the aim now is to try and maintain our form though a busy April and May.”

Highlights from Caledonian Stadium as Marvin Johnson scores in the last minute to hand ‘Well all three points.

‘Well boss Mark McGhee was happy to take all three points despite not turning in a vintage performance.

There was little between the teams in a game that certainly won’t be remembered for being a classic.

Substitute Lionel Ainsworth put ‘Well in front with a scrappy goal before Iain Vigurs levelled from the penalty spot.

However, with virtually the last kick off the ball, Marvin Johnson burst clear and finished with aplomb to give the visitors an important win.

“We’ve had a few sore ones this season like that, where we’ve lost goals in that sort of time in a game.

[pullquote]It is not a game by any shape or form I can say we deserved to win, but all those ones we’re talking about we didn’t deserve to lose. So we’ll take this.[/pullquote]

The result moves ‘Well into fourth but they still have a fight on their hands to secure a spot in the top six.

“It is six wins out of seven and that’s obviously why we’re sitting fourth tonight. The reality is we’ve still got work to do,” McGhee said.

“Partick Thistle can still catch us, so the job isn’t finished. Maybe it will be by the time we play Celtic (on April 9), but we’ll see.

“We’ll be preparing ourselves until then that we need a point out of the Celtic game.

“As well as we’ve done, all we have for ourselves at this moment in time is a good position to finish in the top half.

Action images from this afternoon’s 1-2 win over Inverness Caley Thistle at Caledonian Stadium

Snaps courtesy of SNSPix

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[tab:Match report]

 Phil McGhee at Caledonian Stadium

A last-minute Marvin Johnson winner gave ‘Well their fifth win on the spin and moved the Steelmen into fourth.

After a poor first-half, substitute Lionel Ainsworth put the Fir Parkers in front with an unorthodox finish from a Johnson cross.

The hosts levelled through former midfielder Iain Vigurs, who slotted home a penalty after Keith Lasley had bundled Ross Draper to the ground.

However, in the dying seconds, Johnson raced clear from an Ainsworth pass and kept his cool to place it past the outrushing Fon Williams to win it.

Mark McGhee made just one change to the side that beat Aberdeen at Fir Park two weeks ago. Skipper Keith Lasley returned to the fold after injury with Jack Leitch having to be content with a place amongst the substitutes.

There was plenty of commitment and free-flowing football in the early stages but no end product until the 18th minute when Liam Polworth headed a half-chance over.

Liam Hughes had an even clearer chance six minutes later but his header from close range after Tremarco had delivered a cross from the left was held fairly comfortably by Connor Ripley.

Hughes was also involved when Inverness carved out a third opening in the 32nd minute, but the striker was unable to make clean contact with Miles Storey’s cross from the left and Ripley managed to gather the ball under pressure after an initial fumble.

It was not until a minute later that Motherwell bared their teeth for the first time, but it was the closest either side had come to a goal when Scott McDonald’s header from Steven Hammell’s free-kick flashed just past the far post.

Motherwell were given impetus and Johnson’s cross-cum-shot a short time later was on target until Fon Williams plucked the ball out of the air.

However, Inverness reasserted their authority on the stroke of half-time, Storey’s front post header from Andrea Mutombo’s cross from the left sneaking inches past.

Inverness began the second half with purpose and Motherwell were very nearly caught out by Mutombo in the 48th minute.

The attacking midfielder conjured up a chance out of nothing when he looked up and, spotting an opening, tried a speculative shot from 22 yards that curled just past the far post.

The match desperately needed a goal to raise it above the ordinary but both teams lacked the necessary cutting edge to grab the initiative.

Even when Josh Meekings headed just over after 59 minutes there was a lack of conviction about his finish from Mutombo’s corner kick.

Perhaps not surprisingly, when they deadlock was broken in the 62nd minute it was the scrappiest of goals.

Fon Williams failed to deal with Johnson’s cross from the left and succeeded only in palming the ball out to Moult who laid if off to Ainsworth in turn.

Even then Inverness should have retrieved the situation, but again flapped when Ainsworth, who had replaced Cadden nine minutes earlier, tried a speculative lob from just inside the 18 yard box and his miss-hit effort eluded the goalkeeper’s feeble attempt to push the ball over the bar with skipper Gary Warren positioned on the goal-line.

Inverness equalised in the 70th minute after Keith Lasley upended Ross Draper in the box to concede a spot kick, which was duly despatched powerfully into the net by Vigurs, but there was a nasty sting in the tail for the home side.

McManus hooked a corner clear, allowing Lionel Ainsworth to burst clear. With Johnson racing through the middle, the winger lifted a terrific ball over the top, allowing the former Kidderminster man to burst clear and slot beyond Fon Williams to take all three points.

[tab:As it happened]

 Ally Reilly at Caledonian Stadium

An incredible finish here in Inverness! Johnson nicks it for ‘Well with the last kick of the ball. COME ON!!!!!!

FULL TIME!!!!!

90+3′ | 1-2
JOHNSON breaks away and slots it past Fon-Williams who was on rushing. 1-2 to The Steelmen!

GGGGOOOAAALLLLLL!!!

Four minutes added on….

89′ | 1-1
McDonald booked for a foul on the halfway line

86′ | 1-1
ICT sub, Horner on for Meekings

84′ | 1-1
ICT sub, R. Williams on for Story

82′ | 1-1
Draper booked for a late challenge on Johnson.

75′ | 1-1
Great tackle from Kennedy to block Tremarco’s shot. He’d surely have netted but great covering from the big defender

72′ | 1-1
Johnson fires in an inviting low ball but Fletcher can’t quite get on the end of it.

and an ICT sub, D. Williams on for Hughes

72′ | 1-1
Motherwell sub, Lasley off for Fletcher

70′ | 1-1
Goal – Vigurs sends Ripley the wrong way to bring ICT level.

69′ | 0-1
Penalty to Inverness!

64′ | 0-1
ICT looking for a quick reply as they break through Mutombo but he shoots straight at Ripley.

62′ | 0-1
It’s an absolute shank from AINSWORTH which catches out the keeper and loops in. Incredible!

GGGGOOOOAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!

59′ | 0-0
Johnson curls in a great ball to Moult but he can’t get enough on his header to get it on target. Goal-kick.

58′ | 0-0
McManus heads Polworth’s cross wide for a corner. It’s fizzed in and headed over by Meekins. Good chance for Caley!

52′ | 0-0
Double Motherwell change, Ainsworth and Leitch on for Cadden and Gomis.

47′ | 0-0
Mutombo tries his luck from range and its not a bad effort. Flies just wide of the post.

Motherwell get the second 45 underway. COYW!

HT: Inverness CT 0 – 0 Motherwell #ICTFCvMFC

…Hammell’s delivery is towards the back post but it too high for Moult and the ball goes wide for a goal-kick.

40′ | 0-0
Late challenge by Tremarco on Cadden earns him a booking. Free-kick wide on the right….

35′ | 0-0
Johnson with a powerful run down the left but his cross us to close to Fon-Williams and the ‘keeper gathers.

32′ | 0-0
Free-kick to Motherwell in a nice area on the right, Hammell to take…..just past from McDonald! Inches away from the opener.

31′ | 0-0
Storey gets down the left and clips the ball to the front post but Ripley manages to pluck it out the air before Hughes.

23′ | 0-0
Chance for ICT. Tremarco with a good cross in which finds the head of Hughes but his effort lacks power and Ripley saves.

21′ | 0-0
Another Motherwell corner….ball finds its way to Lasley who whips it in. Fon-Williams comes to punch but misses it compltely.

17′ | 0-0
Not a lot in terms of chanes so far. Polworth has a pop from 20 yards but it is well over the bar.

10′ | 0-0
Cadden’s cross is deflected wide for the first corner of the game……headed wide by Draper for a second corner.

4′ | 0-0
Johnson collects a throw-in, cuts inside and gets a shot away which travels through a ruck of bodies but Fon-Williams gathers

Inverness get the action underway. COYW!!

Out come the teams, usual colours for both sides… #ICTFCvMFC

[tab:Reaction]

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee:

“We’ve had a few sore ones this season like that, where we’ve lost goals in that sort of time in a game.

“It is not a game by any shape or form I can say we deserved to win, but all those ones we’re talking about we didn’t deserve to lose. So we’ll take this.

“It is six wins out of seven and that’s obviously why we’re sitting fourth tonight. The reality is we’ve still got work to do.

“Partick Thistle can still catch us, so the job isn’t finished. Maybe it will be by the time we play Celtic (on April 9), but we’ll see.

“We’ll be preparing ourselves until then that we need a point out of the Celtic game.

“As well as we’ve done, all we have for ourselves at this moment in time is a good position to finish in the top half.”

Inverness CT Manager John Hughes

“Once again, we beat ourselves. If we keep conceding those kind of goals, we can’t expect to win a football match.

“I thought the two of them were poor goals. We needed to work harder to stop the cross for the first one and then it was a catalogue of errors.

“For the second one, maybe we lost it because we all want to be heroes and go and win it. Nobody has the nous to say ‘what if?’. What if that comes out, especially at that minute of the game, when someone has to say ‘hold it now’.

“Next thing, it’s in the back of the net, so two poor goals. That’s just how it has gone this year. All credit to Motherwell, but nobody’s going to win a football match defending like that.

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

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‘Well fans should note the following additional opening hours of the Fir park Ticket Office.

These additional hours are:

Saturday 2^nd April 10 – 1pm
Thursday 7^th April until 7pm
Saturday 9^th April – matchday open from 9am

Tickers will be available for next weeks game against Celtic at Fir Park (Saturday 9th April, 12.30pm kick-off) with prices as follows

• Concessions are listed as 60 and over and full time students with a valid matriculation card
• Juveniles are listed as 15 & under
• The Cheaper priced ticket is for the East Stand only
• Celtic fans will be allocated the Maxim Office Park Stand and a Family section in the Phil O’Donnell stand. Tickets can be purchased from Celtic Park. A limited amount of Celtic tickets will be available from the Fir Park Ticket Office for those who have purchased before.
• Fans who require ambulant or wheelchair access should contact Sharon or John McCaskie on 07745 494631/ 07711 992161 or email disabledfans@motherwellfc.co.uk