Latest News

The U20s kept their first clean sheet of the season to earn a point in a game that was played almost in its entirety in a snowstorm.

The opening stages were poor as both sides struggled to adjust to the conditions. There was no doubting the effort form both sets of players but there was little in the way of goalmouth action to warm the small band of fans huddled together in the Phil O’Donnell Stand.

The visitor’s cause wasn’t helped early on when they were forced to make a change after only seven minutes. Chris Kane was injured in a tackle and was replaced by Declan O’Kane.

The first chance of the half fell to Motherwell when Bob McHugh flicked a free kick from the right just past the front post. The Pars responded and O’Kane saw a header cleared off the line by Frazer Johnstone.

Both sides then exchanges long range efforts with O’Kane firing wide from 20 yards for the Pars and McHugh driving a shot at the keeper from about the same distance down the other end.

The best chance of the half fell to Motherwell just before the break, Lee Erwin burst into the box but his shot from close range was well saved by Ryan Goodfellow. The keeper recovered well to get back on his feet to save from Dom Thomas who had collected the rebound.

With incessant snowfall during the first half, the lines were beginning to disappear. The ground staff worked hard throughout the break to sweep the lines clear and there was no danger the game wouldn’t get under way again.

The Pars were to prove the stronger side in the second half, and they almost took the lead in the opening two minutes. A corner from the left was headed goal ward by Blair Henderson but Johnstone was on hand to head clear once again.

Stewart in the home goal was getting busier and busier, as he was first called upon to make a diving save from Ross Millen and then to smother at the feet of Henderson.

With twenty minutes left on the clock ‘Well made their first chance of the half, when Lee Erwin fired in an angled drive on the turn which was turned wide by Goodfellow.

Ten minutes later the Steelmen’s goal lived a charmed life once again, Scott Gray latched on to a loose pass back he rounded Stewart before choosing to squared the ball.

With the stopper out of position, it looked as though Whittle only had to roll the ball into the empty net but the keeper got back to somehow hack the ball of the line.

Even in stoppage time the Pars should’ve sealed the three points their second half chances deserved.

A cross from the right picked out Henderson only yards out but somehow he managed to screw the chance over the cross bar.

Jonatan Johansson will have been pleased his side managed their first shut-out of the campaign but the Steelmen were way off the pace.

They will need to be much better when they take on Lanarkshire rivals Hamilton Accies at New Douglas Park on Wednesday night.

Motherwell: Stewart, Neill, Kellock, Murray, Saunders, Ashgar, McCafferty, Erwin, McHugh, Thomas, Johnstone (Shirkie)

Subs not used: Currie, Ferguson, Higgins

Booked: Ashgar

With Michael Higdon’s twentieth league goal of the campaign tonight, he joins an exclusive band of Motherwell players.

29-year old Higdon is only the sixth Steelmen striker to net 20 league goals in the country’s top division since the Second World War, and the first to do so in 36 years.

He equals Wilson Humphries in 1947/48, Ian St John in 1958/59 and Pat Quinn in 1960/61, all of whom bagged 20 league goals.

He is just one behind Joe McBride’s total of 21 in 1964/65 but still three behind Willie Pettigrew’s haul of 23 in 1975/76.

The ‘Grew also hit 21 in 76/77 in an incredible run of scoring form which seen him score an astonishing 82 goals in two-and-a-half seasons.

Jackie Hunter (25), Jim Forrest (25), Dixie Deans (30) and Willie Irvine (20) also surpassed twenty league goals in Claret and Amber, but it was in the second tier of Scottish football.

Higdon told motherwellfc.co.uk: “I am delighted that I have got to twenty league goals and it’s an honour to be named alongside some of those fantastic players in the clubs’ history.

“It’s not job done for me though. I have set myself a target of at least 25, and I will work as hard as possible to get there before the end of the current season.”

Extended highlights from Fir Park as a clinical Motherwell thrash Hibernian 4-1.

-WATCH THE FULL HIGHLIGHTS ON MFC TV-

Pictures from the 4-1 win over Hibernian in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League at Fir Park.

[svgallery name=”hibs150313″]

‘Well boss Stuart McCall was absolutely delighted with his side after they roared back from a goal down to beat Hibs 4-1.

The Steelmen went behind against the run of play to a Tom Taiwo header midway through the first-half.

However, a scintillating, James McFadden-inspired show in the second forty-five blew the Easter Road club away.

Goals from Higdon, McFadden, a Higginbotham stunner and Tom Hateley confirmed the win.

And McCall was thrilled with his men after yet another excellent showing which puts the Steelmen five ahead of Ross County.

[pullquote]Faddy will take all the plaudits, and rightly so, but there were a lot of unsung heroes out there.[/pullquote]

He told MFC TV: “I was happy with the first half performance; it was harsh to come in at half-time a goal down and to lose Lasley and Law was a worry.

“Faddy will take all the plaudits, and rightly so, but there were a lot of unsung heroes out there. His entertainment value was terrific, but the bottom line was he had end product too in his goal and some great crosses.

“From Randolph through the team they all played their part and it was a fantastic win.

“It was a really good way to go into the international break and we’ll now look forward to the next two games.”

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW ONLY ON MFC TV-

[tab:Match report]

Phil McGhee at Fir Park

A James McFadden inspired Motherwell blast four past Hibs to confirm their spot in the top six.

Despite falling behind to a Tom Taiwo goal to trail at the interval and suffer the loss of both Keith Lasley and Nicky Law in midfield, a superb second half, with Faddy the conductor, produced a performance of real style and determination.

Completing his first 90 minutes since his return to the club, McFadden capped a wonderful display with his first ‘Well goal since August 2003.

That gave ‘Well the lead after 53 minutes but even Hibs boss Pat Fenlon admitted that the Fir Park side should never have been behind.

Dominating the first 20 minutes, Michael Higdon headed over from a McFadden cross, before Henrik Ojamaa darted in behind the Hibs defence only to see his deflected shot blocked at the foot of the left hand post by Ben Williams.

Then, with eleven minutes played, a swerving free kick from Tom Hateley almost deceived the ‘keeper who dived low to his right to block the ball low at his post and then watch as the ball rebounded off the surprised Shaun Hutchison and bounce past the post.

Very much against the run of play, and in their first attack, Hibs took the lead. David Wotherspoon curled the ball in from the right and Taiwo, six-yards in front of goal, stooped to send a header past Darren Randolph.

Motherwell suffered another setback three minutes later when captain Keith Lasley limped off to be replaced by Stuart Carswell.

‘Well had a narrow escape when Hibs almost increased their lead when James McPake headed Leigh Griffiths corner into the side netting.

The home side, though, regained their composure and their attacking threat before half time.

Firstly a quickly taken free kick from McFadden sent Ojamaa racing into box before laying the ball into Hatelely’s path whose low drive flashed across the goal and narrowly past.

On the stroke of half time McFadden headed on a Nicky Law free kick with Willaims grabbing the ball under the cross bar.

If the first half was quite frustrating for the ‘Well fans, the second half was majestic.

Despite the loss of Law in the middle of the park Motherwell took the game to Hibs and were rewarded with an equaliser within three minutes.

And in a second half of notable goals, Higdon grabbed his twentieth of the season, powering a header from McFadden’s floated cross into the six yard box high beyond Williams.

While that strike leaves Higdon only three behind Willie Pettigrew’s post War record, McFadden decided to get his name on the score sheet five minutes later.

Collecting the ball just outside the box, the 48-times capped forward moved toward the box, side stepping Matt Done before sweeping a left foot shot beyond the diving ‘keeper for his first goal since his return to the club.

At the other end Leigh Griffiths’ goal threat had been well tamed by Shaun Hutchison, but the Hibs striker finally produced a save from Darren Randolph with an overhead kick.

Kallum Higginbotham then showed him how to do it as he claimed his first Motherwell goal with an outstanding strike after 66 minutes.

Stuart Carswell out on the right floated a cross to the far side of the box where ‘wee’ Higgy finished with a wonderfully acrobatic bicycle kick sent the ball back across Williams for a stunning goal; a contender for strike of the season for sure.

Hibs were finished but ‘Well were hungry for more and six minutes from time, Tom Hateley drove home the fourth from 25 yards with once again McFadden the provider.

Stuart Carswell could have made it five on full-time when Carswell got on the end of a Zaine Francis-Angol cut-back but his low shot was excellently saved by Williams.

That concluded a super performance, which not only made certain of a top six finish, but also had Stuart McCall setting his sights on a return to Europe.

[tab:As it happened]

Alastair Reilly at Fir Park

Coming Soon…

[tab:Reaction]

Motherwell manager Stuart McCall:

“If there are Motherwell fans out there who haven’t come, he’s finding his best form now and he’s getting fitter.

“Some of his foot-work, we know what he’s about and he showed that tonight. The team were excellent but he added the entertainment value, he was terrific.

“The performance as a whole merited the victory. The park is in a decent condition compared to a few that we’ve been to of late and we got the ball down and moved. All four goals were top quality.

“The next aim is trying to finish in a European spot, which is the top three. The lads have got the bit between their teeth and we’ve got to maintain second place.”

Hibernian manager Pat Fenlon:

“It’s very sore. We got what we deserved tonight; we didn’t deserve anything out of the game.

“We weren’t pleased we conceded three goals within 15 minutes.

“If you concede one it’s bad enough, but you’ve got to make sure you stay in the game and you don’t concede one quickly.

“It’s happened to us three or four times this season and it shouldn’t happen.

“Our confidence should have been good coming into tonight, we hadn’t been beaten in a long time.

“I didn’t think we played well in the first half and I didn’t think we played well for 90 minutes.

“Motherwell are a decent side, there’s no doubt about that, but our performance wasn’t good enough tonight.”

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

[poll id=”142″]

Another jam-packed edition of the 68-page Steelmen Matchday Magazine returns against Hibs tonight.

‘Well boss Stuart McCall and Captain Keith Lasley both return with the regular columns. The manager reflects on recent results and the debate around technology and the skipper outlines the hopes for the rest of the season.

The feature interview is with Jamaican International winger Omar Daley. The 31-year old former Bradford flying machine talks about his experiences with his national side and also his desire to play a part between now and the end of the campaign.

But that’s not where the features stop!

There is a 13-page section dedicated to our visitors, Hibernian.

Kris Jack goes through four players to watch from opponents, as we as a player-by-player breakdown of their squad.

Hibs defender, and former ‘Well ace Tim Clancy is the man in the spotlight in our opposition Q&A and Raymond McGrath gives us a fans-eyed view of the Hibees season so far.

We also have a scout report from the controversial Edinburgh derby where Hibs and Hearts shared a 0-0 draw.

The features and big names keep coming…

In our Interview Alumni section, we catch up with Derek Townsley. The lanky winger chats about his time at Fir Park, his move to Hibs and life after both.

Press & Media Manager Alan Burrows returns in ‘The Last Word’ and Graham Barnstaple’s Cult Heroes this week focuses on one of Motherwell’s most lethal goal-getters, Joe McBride who holds our post-war goal record for strikes in one season – 32.

But wait, there’s more! We look back at the fantastic wins against Celtic and Hearts as well as the draw at Pittodrie. There are ten tough questions in our Quiz, the latest news section as well as an in-depth statistical look at referee Willie Collum.

We have the latest from The Ticket Office, the Commercial Department, and update from the Well Society as well as the latest stats, facts and figures from the 2012/2013 campaign.

The programme is available for £3 and is currently on sale from the Club Shop as well as the usual sellers located in and around the ground pre-match.

You can also order back editions or take a season-long subscription to the magazine by visiting the website of our publishers – Curtis-Sports –http://www.curtis-sport.com/

Estonian International front man Henrik Ojamaa hopes the Steelmen can finish the season in style.

The 21-year old has played a pivotal part in another strong season for the Steelmen, with ‘Well battling a plethora of clubs for the best of the rest spot.

And the nine-times capped Ojamaa has laid the challenge down to the squad to finish the job they’ve started.

[pullquote]It would be great to stay unbeaten before the break so hopefully we can start by getting a positive result on Friday night.[/pullquote]

“We’re in a really good position at the moment and that is testament to how well we’ve been doing this season as a club,” he said.

“There is eight games left to go and I think there’s going to be a lot of tight games.

“It would be great to stay unbeaten before the break so hopefully we can start by getting a positive result on Friday night.

“Our aim now is to finish second and wining home matches.”

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW ONLY ON MFC TV-

‘Well boss Stuart McCall hopes his side can continue their recent good run when Hibs visit Fir Park tomorrow.

The Steelmen have taken seven points from the last nine available, including wins over Celtic and Hearts and a draw with Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

Pat Fenlon’s Scottish Cup Semi-Finalists visit for another Friday night showdown, Motherwell’s third of the campaign.

The previous two – Hibs at Fir Park and St Mirren in Paisley – have produced nothing in the way of points, something McCall hopes changes tomorrow.

[pullquote]We’ve had mixed fortunes in Friday night games this season. The second half against St Mirren and the first half against Hibs were decent in terms of performance but the results have been poor.[/pullquote]

Speaking to MFC TV, the former Scotland midfielder said: “For us now, the league is not about what we’ve done, it’s about what we can go on to do.

“We have put ourselves in a decent position to finish in the top-six but we won’t rest on our laurels. Once we’ve made sure we in the top half, then we’ll go on and look to finish in a European spot.

“We’ve had mixed fortunes in Friday night games this season. The second half against St Mirren and the first half against Hibs were decent in terms of performance but the results have been poor.

“Last time we played Hibs at Fir Park, everything went against us. We’ve probably played worse than that this season and got a point but we’ve put that to the back of our minds.

“I’m happier to remember the last time we played Hibs this season, coming back from 2-0 down at Easter Road when they were doing well just before Christmas.

“That showed a lot of character and we’ll be hoping for more of the same come tomorrow night.”

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW ONLY ON MFC TV-

Willie Collum will take charge of Friday Clydesdale Bank Premier League meeting with Hibernian at Fir Park.

Regarded as one of Scotland’s best officials, it will be Willie’s fifth Motherwell game of the current campaign.

The first match this season was the 1-0 defeat at Tynecastle in October when Danny Grainger’s long-range effort separated the sides.

He also took charge of both William Hill Scottish Cup clashes with Aberdeen.

In the first meeting at Pittodrie, Niall McGinn headed home a late equaliser to cancel out Jamie Murphy’s opener 10 minutes from time and there was disappointment for the Steelmen in the replay as goals from Rory Fallon and Joe Shaughnessy helped the Dons progress to the next round.

Motherwell were handed a lifeline in injury-time when Michael Higdon netted from the penalty spot, however Craig Brown’s side held firm in the final minutes.

He was the man in the middle for the narrow 3-2 win over St Johnstone in January; Michael Higdon’s hat-trick sealing a terrific three points and most recently took charge of the disappointing 3-0 defeat at Ross County.

Collum be a familiar face to most ‘Well fans having officiated at the top level for many years now, including two Motherwell matches last term.

He took charge of the 0-0 draw with Rangers at Ibrox in early May, Rangers’ last SPL fixture at their own ground. The other match was Motherwell’s Scottish Communities League Cup defeat at home to Hibs; the Easter Road men progressing through on penalties.

Incredibly, Motherwell win over Saints in January with the first league success with Willie in charge.

The only victories recorded whilst the Bellshill based whistler has been the man in the middle was the then CIS Cup win against Raith Rovers at the start of the 2007/08 season, a Scottish Cup success at Inverurie the following season and a 1-0 success over Dundee United in the League Cup – Alan Gow’s goal earning the Fir Park side a place in the last four.

His overall record in charge of the Steelmen reads four wins, eleven defeats and five draws from twenty matches.

In those games, Motherwell have scored 27 and conceded 38. 39 players have gone into the book, 17 wearing Claret and Amber, while three players have been dismissed – Ian Murray of Hibs at Easter Road a few years back, Jerard Aafjes at Falkirk four seasons ago and Paul Dixon at the end of 2009/10.

Martin Cryans and George Drummond will run the lines with Crawford Allan on fourth official duties.