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Motherwell manager Steven Hammell expects cinch Premiership newcomers Kilmarnock to put up a tough test for his side to overcome.

The Motherwell boss insists his side are taking it one game at a time and are by no means getting ahead of themselves.

Left back Matt Penney has joined Motherwell on a six-month loan from Ipswich Town. 

The 24-year-old came through the youth ranks at Sheffield Wednesday, playing nearly 30 times for the Owls in the Championship.

He had a number of short-term loans at the likes of Bradford and Mansfield before joining 2. Bundesliga club St Pauli for the Covid-interrupted 2019-20 season.

He joined Ipswich Town last summer and has 26 appearances thus far for the Tractor Boys.

“We had a number of options available to us but we wanted to wait for Matt and are absolutely delighted to have him with us,” manager Steven Hammell said.

“When Jake Carroll broke down in training and it was confirmed he was going to miss a significant portion of the season, and with Nathan McGinley still recovering from his operation, we knew we were going to have to bring someone in.

“Stephen O’Donnell has performed well out of position, so we now have real competition and cover on the side of the pitch.”

The loan is subject to registration formalities and international clearance.

Motherwell’s hot prospects for the future will be able to play it cool, thanks to a donation from the Well Society. 

The players were gifted an ice-machine which will help them treat minor injuries and cool off after training at their Braidhurst High School campus.

“Our ice machine broke quite a while back,” head of youth at Motherwell David Clarkson said.

“We reached out to the Well Society and are delighted that they’ve been able to help.

“It means that any minor knocks can be treated quickly as we will have ice to hand. The machine is in the social area and it gives the lads a focal point, as they fill up their water bottles.”

“It’s our role to support and promote the club. Our members are always keen to look after our next generation of players. This is a small gesture which goes a long way in terms of achieving that aim.” Co-chair of the Well Society Douglas Dickie said.

After defeat to Sligo Rovers in the Europa Conference League, Motherwell and Graham Alexander parted ways by mutual consent.

In the immediate aftermath, club legend and hall of famer Steven Hammell stepped up to take charge of his beloved Motherwell for the start of their 2022/23 cinch Premiership campaign.

After a win and a narrow defeat during his interim reign, Hammell among 75 other candidates, applied for the vacant manager’s role to where he was shortlisted and interviewed.

With the board agreeing together that Steven Hammell was the right man for the job, Hammell takes his first steps into management and looks to turn Motherwell’s fortunes around.

Motherwell take on table toppers Celtic on Sunday 28 August at K-Park. 

Kick-off is 4pm.

Tickets

There will be no tickets sold online before the match.

It will be pay-at-the-gate only, with tickets for adults costing £8 while children go free.

Story of the Match

Motherwell come into the match after a promising start to the season.

With four points on the board after four matches, Sunday will see Motherwell taking on three of the top four teams from last season.

The women of steel picked up their first win of the new campaign last weekend at Meadowbank Sports Centre, where they defeated Hibernian 3-2 in a famous and deserved victory.

Jo Addie broke the deadlock before Lori Gardner and Amy Anderson got on the scoresheet.

Celtic have also had a good start to the season.

After dismantling Hibernian 9-0 on the opening day, The Celts have maintained a 100% win record thus far in the league.

Kilmarnock v Motherwell

We take on Kilmarnock on Saturday at The BBSP Stadium Rugby Park.

Kick off is 3pm, Saturday 27 August.

Tickets will be available to purchase online now by clicking here.  There will be no cash gates on matchday but fans can buy online until kick-off.

Ticket prices:

Important Information

To purchase ambulant & carer tickets please contact the ticketing team – email: tickets@kilmarnockfc.co.uk Tel: 01563 545311

• For wheelchair disabled and carer tickets, please contact our disabled supporters representatives to book; Peter Orr – Chairman of KFCDSA – 01563 406390, Mae Orr – Committee Member of KFCDSA – 07909713098.
• Away End tickets will be available in the Chadwick Stand only, if an away supporter purchases a home end ticket they will be denied entry.
• Tickets are non-refundable, non-transferable and T&C’s apply.

How to Follow the Game Online

PPV and virtual season tickets options are not available for cinch Premiership matches this season. This is the case for all cinch Premiership clubs.

There will be live commentary for those in the UK, available at live.motherwellfc.co.uk

The story of the match

Steven Hammell’s men go into this game on the back of two wins, and a 100% record away from home.

It’s been a positive start to Hammell’s career as manager and he will be looking for that to continue in what is usually a tight game.

On the other hand, newly promoted Kilmarnock are still searching for their first league win, albeit with a tricky run of fixtures to start life back in the Premiership.

Derek McInnes will have two former ‘Well players to call upon, with Liam Polworth and Liam Donnelly in the Killie ranks.

Match officials

A tough test lay ahead and if we were to win, it would have to be in a different way to our previous cinch Premiership victory.

Motherwell manager Steven Hammell made it clear what Livingston would offer and how we would overcome them.

With a hearty 5100 Motherwell fans cheering the team on at Fir Park, it would take a Kevin van Veen penalty to secure the new Motherwell boss’ first home victory in charge.

Motherwell cruised to their first league victory of the 2022/23 campaign with a magnificent performance over Hibs at Meadowbank Stadium on Sunday.

Jo Addie fired Motherwell ahead early into the first half, before Lucy Parry brought the hosts level minutes later. Lori Gardner restored Motherwell’s advantage midway though the second half, before Amy Anderson added a third from the penalty spot.

Krystyna Freda’s late consolation failed to overcome what was a dominant and emphatic display from the women of steel.

Following last weekend’s late heartbreak against Glasgow City, Paul Brownlie made one change from the previous outing, with Kaela McDonald-Nguah returning to the starting 11 whilst London Pollard dropped to the bench.

Motherwell were certainly the likelier of the two sides to find the opener after the early exchanges.

Lauran Doran-Barr’s long throw was perfectly controlled by McDonald-Nguah in the box, who shifted the ball onto her right foot before firing across the face of goal, but the chance came to nothing.

Minutes later, Katie Rice’s floated cross sailed invitingly into the path of Ronald at the back post, who’s direct header forced Benne Haaland into an exceptional stop to deny the midfielder her first Motherwell goal.

Motherwell’s pressure was soon rewarded. The proceeding corner kick accurately picked out Chelsie Watson at the back post, who calmly diverted her header towards the feet of Jo Addie who scrambled home the rebound from close range.

However, Motherwell’s advantage was soon nullified as Hibs quickly found an equaliser. Nor Mustafa’s precise delivery from the right-hand side arrowed across the face of goal before being coolly converted by Parry at the back post.

As the second half resumed, the hosts almost found themselves ahead in the opening few minutes. Crystal Thomas skilfully worked her way into the box before drilling a low pass to substitute Eilidh Adams in the box, but the striker failed to anticipate the delivery and the chance slowly petered away.

Nevertheless, the women of steel’s resilience shone through as they regained the lead on the hour mark. A skilful move from Gardner left her free from her marker to divert McDonald-Nguah’s low cross into the bottom left corner.

Minutes later, Motherwell added a third in quick succession. London Pollard was hauled down as she raced through on goal, leaving the referee with no alternative but to point to the spot. A. Anderson stepped and calmly placed her effort past the keeper.

In the dying stages of the game, Hibs pulled one back. Doran-Barr was caught wrong side of her opponent who tumbled to the ground, and the referee quickly awarded the spot kick. Freda stepped up and slotted her strike into the bottom left corner.

Paul Brownlie’s side held on in the final few minutes to record a huge result on what was a momentous day for the team.

“It was a different win from last week but I thought we deserved it.”

A second half Kevin van Veen penalty was enough to give Motherwell a deserved three points against ten-man Livingston at Fir Park.

The home side dominated most of the ball and the chances at a sub-soaked Fir Park, but it took a spot kick to separate the sides.

The visitors’ attempts to get back into things were made more difficult when substitute Dylan Bahamboula was ordered off for two quick-fire bookings near the end of the match.

‘Well boss Steven Hammell made just one change from the team that beat Aberdeen at Pittodrie seven days previous, with Ricki Lamie restored the starting eleven following a two-game ban in place of Bevis Mugabi. New loan signing Stuart McKinstry was named amongst the subs.

It was a largely quiet and uneventful first 45 in the Fir Park sunshine.

The first chance came on 20 minutes when Lamie got on the end of a Sean Goss free-kick from the right, but his diving header finished the wrong side of the post.

Shortly after, Spittal, who opened his Motherwell account the previous weekend, took on a shot from distance after some neat interplay between him and Kevin van Veen, but he dragged the effort wide of target.

Livi were happy to concede territory and let their hosts see much more of the ball in the opening exchanges had their solitary effort of the half on 37 minutes. Sean Kelly shaped up a free-kick, looking to get the better of his brother Liam in the Motherwell goal, but although his effort got up and over the wall, it landed a few yards wide of the right hand post.

Motherwell started the second half of the front foot and but for a last-ditch Fitzwater block, van Veen would’ve put his side in front after the Dutchman got on the end of a long Lamie pass into the channel.

‘Well continued to probe and O’Donnell had a curling effort from distance sail over before substitute Joe Efford had a snap-shot from just inside the area blocked and out for a corner.

It was from the resulting kick from the quadrant the Steelmen would grab the winning goal. Slattery’s back post effort was met by Goss, and his header down was handled by Christian Montano. Referee Nick Walsh took his time before pointing to the spot. Van Veen stepped up and drilled it high into the net.

It was Hammell’s men who continued to ask the questions and a well-worked throw-in between O’Donnell and sub Josh Morris presented an opening for Spittal, but the midfielder’s half volley spun wide of target. Seconds later, the claret and amber men were on the attack again and Efford had a run and shot that lacked any power to trouble Shamal George.

Livingston’s day went from bad to worse when substitute was sent off for two bookings in quick succession. The first a tactical foul on Spittal, before catching Goss with a late lunge just a few minutes later.

David Martindale’s side would rarely threaten Kelly’s goal. As the game neared its conclusion, sub Esmaël Gonçalves fired high over the bar from a half volley and Ayo Obileye sent a 35-yard free kick sailing over the crossbar.

Motherwell could’ve added a second in the dying seconds with a breakaway, but neither Efford, van Veen or Goss could convert from close range, but it remained 1-0, a result that puts Hammell’s men into third.

Motherwell: Kelly, McGinn, Lamie, Johansen, O’Donnell, Spittal (Maguire – 83), Goss, Slattery, Cornelius (Morris – 54), van Veen, Shields (Efford – 54)

Subs Not Used: Oxbrough, Mugabi, Johnson, Tierney, McKinstry, Mahon

Yellow Cards: Morris

Goals: Van Veen (68 – pen)