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Jonatan Johansson was frustrated after a late penalty denied his side a share of the spoils against Aberdeen.

‘Well had twice trailed, but equalised with five minutes left on the clock and looked good for a hard-earned point.

It was doubly irritating for the Fir Parkers, with the call looking decidedly dubious.

Speaking to MFC TV, he said: “Giving away two penalities is a little tough to take, particularly as both were a little controversial.

[pullquote]I’ve had a look at it again with our analyst and the second one is definitely not a penalty and I didn’t think the referee has to give it.[/pullquote]

“I’ve had a look at it again with our analyst and the second one is definitely not a penalty and I didn’t think the referee has to give it.

“It was really unfortunate for the boys who had worked hard to get back into the game. When the wind died down, we started to play some decent football and created some chances with a very young side.

“I felt, all things into account, we deserved a point from the game and it makes it a difficult pill to swallow when we lose it in the manner we did.”

-WATCH STUART’S INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV–

A controversial stoppage time penalty prevented Motherwell from taking a point from their trip to Arbroath to take on Aberdeen.

Dale Shirkie and Morgyn Neill had pulled Motherwell level on two occasions before Declan McManus took the points for the Dons when he scored the injury time penalty.

Jonatan Johansson made three changes to the side that beat St Mirren two weeks ago. Trialist, Jack Leitch and Craig Moore dropped out, replaced by the returning Danny McNulty, Frazer Johnstone and Steven Higgins.

The Dons thought they had a penalty in the opening minute when Nicky Low went down in a challenge with Euan Murray, but the ref adjudged the midfielder had dived and showed him a yellow. The home side followed this up when Declan McManus was sent clear but Lee Hollis denied him with a decent stop.

At the other end Steven Higgins blasted over from a good position before Dale Shirkie bent a free kick over from 25 yards out.

Minutes later the Dons took the lead, Murray was penalised for a push on inside the area. It looked a softish call, but it didn’t bother Low who tucked the ball low to Hollis’s left as the keeper dived the other way.

Nicky Weaver in the home goal had performed well to keep out a couple of wind assisted in-swinging corners before he was finally beaten in 31 minutes. Shirkie picked up the ball 25-yards out and this time his shot left Weaver helpless as it crashed in off his left hand post and into the net.

Each side had one more chance before the break with McManus lobbing over from close range under pressure from Hollis whilst at the other end, Shirkie blasted over after being released by some fine passing between Higgins and Dom Thomas.

Motherwell looked lively at the start of the second period and Paul McCafferty made space for himself in the opening five minutes but fired his shot well wide. Dom Thomas then went on a tremendous 50-yard solo run only to be denied by a last minute tackle by Scott McKenna.

Despite that pressure, it was the Dons who took the lead just before the hour mark. Low picked up a loose ball just outside the Well box, his cross found Cameron Smith whose effort was blocked on the line by David Ferguson. The rebound fell kindly to Scott Wright who slammed home from close range.

Motherwell battled hard to get back into the game and Shirkie was only denied by a fine stop by Nicky Weaver. Thomas also a shot from 25 yards slip just wide of the keeper’s left hand post.

With just five minutes left, the young ‘Well were rewarded for their efforts. Shirkie’s deep cross from the left flank was met brilliantly by the head of Morgyn Neill and the ball looped over the head of Weaver.

Just as it looked the sides would take a point each, the Dons were awarded a second penalty of the game deep into stoppage time, this one was even softer than the first award.

A cross from the left sailed over the head of Ferguson and Markus Campanile, the Aberdeen man hit the deck and the ref awarded the penalty despite there being little contact between the two.

Declan McManus took the kick and smashed the ball straight down the middle to give the home side all three points in controversial circumstances.

Motherwell: Hollis, McNulty (Watt – 62mins), Ferguson, Murray, Neill, Cadden, McCafferty, Shirkie, Higgins, Thomas, Johnston (McCall – 62mins)

Subs: Long, Hall, Mackie

Referee for Saturday’s Scottish Professional Football League clash with Hearts at Fir Park is John Beaton.

John will be handling his fourth Motherwell match of the campaign so far.

His first was the league game against the Dons, when they travelled to Fir Park back in August; Derek McInnes side taking all three points in a 3-1 win.

The game wasn’t without controversy with Beaton, a late replacement for Kevin Clancy, awarding the Dons two spot kicks, although it was certainly a win the visitors deserved for their second half showing.

His next was also against the Dons, when ‘Well disappointingly crashed out despite dominating for the majority of the match.

Most recently, he was the man in the middle as ‘Well smashed four past St Johnstone without reply on New Years Day.

The 32-year old also took charge of two Motherwell matches last term too. The first was a 1-1 draw with Dundee at Fir Park; Michael Higdon rescuing a point after Nicky Reilly had given the Dark Blues a surprise lead midway through the first half.

His other match that campaign was against Dundee United at Tannadice, the Steelmen running rampant in the City of Discovery, confirming second spot with a superb 3-1 win.

Not only did Michael Higdon open the scoring with a peach from distance, the big striker surpassed Willie Pettigrew’s post-war record for most top-league goals in a single season when he netted the third midway through the second half.

His overall record reads two wins, two defeats and a draw from five matches. ‘Well have scored nine and conceded seven. Eighteen players have gone into the book, eleven of them wearing Claret and Amber, with just one red card (Joe Shaughnessy in that Dons League Cup tie earlier this season).

It has been a busy season for Beaton both domestically and in European competition.

Today will be his fifteenth Premiership tie of the season, his most recent was Dundee United’s 3-2 win over Kilmarnock at Tannadice two weeks ago.

Abroad, he oversaw Poland U19s 1-0 home defeat by Armenia as well as Norway U21s’ 2-1 success over Macedonia.

In European action, he looked after BATE Borisov against Celtic’s eventual Champions League opponents Shakhter Karagandy, as well as the UEFA Youth Champions League match between Arsenal and Napoli, the Gunners running out 4-1 winners.

John will be ably assisted by Stuart Stevenson and Andy Tait with Don Robertson on Fourth Official duties.

Fancy trading in your seats for some of the best in the house? Convert Your Seat is back for this weekend’s game against Hearts.

For your chance to sit within touching distance of the players, enter your details at the Cash Converters Football Facebook page now: CLICK HERE.

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Entries will close at 5pm on Thursday 27th February 2014.

*Please note: You must be aged over 18 to take part, and proof of age will be required on the day. You must also already possess a match ticket.

Do you own or run a business? Could you offer any discounts or extra value to Motherwell FC Season Ticket Holders?

For the last couple of years we have included money off discounts and extra value offers for season ticket holders as part of their season ticket.

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To be part of our Season Ticket Holder discount and value scheme, please contact Diane Harvey at commercial@motherwellfc.co.uk or tel 01698 333 333

The benefits for your business are that you’ll be included online on the Motherwell FC website, in the printed Season Ticket Renewal litrature as well as promoted locally.

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Extended highlights from McDiarmid Park as flat Motherwell lose 3-0 to St Johnstone.

-WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV–

Action pictures from the 3-0 defeat by St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park in the SPFL Premiership.

Snaps courtesy of SNSPix.

[svgallery name=”stjohnstone250214″]

Stuart McCall criticised his side after they turned in a poor performance as St Johnstone ran out comfortable 3-0 winners.

It was as disappointing as the Steelmen have been all season, with Tommy Wright’s men thoroughly deserving of all three points.

Steven McLean’s double had the home side well in command before Gary Miller added a late exclamation point to compile the misery for the ‘Well fans inside McDiarmid Park.

And McCall wasn’t holding back when he spoke to MFC TV after the match saying: “Yet again we come at half-time and are two goals down. It’s not good enough.

[pullquote]All over the park we lost too many battles. Only Hutchinson and Reid come out the game with any credit and you can’t have that in this league. [/pullquote]

“The talk prior to the match was about keeping it solid, giving us a base to work from but we’ve given away two goals that, yet again, the opposition haven’t had to work hard to get.

“All over the park we lost too many battles. Only Hutchinson and Reid come out the game with any credit and you can’t have that in this league. You need at least seven or eight players on the top of their game if you are going to come to a place like this and take all three points.

“That’s two really disappointing results and performances, albeit two difficult places to come. Both the staff and I always praise the characters we have in the dressing room, well, this is the time we all need them to stand up and be counted and show everyone what we can really do.”

-WATCH STUART’S INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV–

[tab:Match report]

 Alan Burrows at McDiarmid Park

A poor Motherwell crashed to a disappointed 3-0 defeat at McDiarmid Park this evening.

Steven MacLean, who was returning from knee surgery, grabbed his first of the evening when goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen parried a ball into his path after saving a Stevie May free-kick.

He then scored his and the Saints’ second when Brian Easton’s cross from deep on the left found him nipping in between Stevie Hammell and Stephen McManus at the back post in a first half dominated by the home side.

The points were secured for the Perth side late on when Gary Miller ran down the left unchallenged before cutting inside and lashing an unstoppable shot into the net.

MacLean’s inclusion was one of four changes following Saints’ home defeat against Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Saturday, with Lee Croft, James Dunne and Miller all coming in, while Craig Reid made his first start for Motherwell and manager Stuart McCall also gave a start to Henri Anier.

Motherwell created the first real chance of the game when Anier spun away from Steven Anderson on the edge of the area and hit a first-time shot that bounced just wide.

It was St Johnstone however that took the lead after six minutes.

May took aim 30 yards from goal and his free-kick bounced a yard in front of Nielsen, who could only palm the ball out and into the danger area. ‘Well failed to react but it was the former Rangers who would tuck home from close range.

Impressive play by May on the right then saw him cut a ball back for the onrushing Nigel Hasselbaink but his sliding attempt to connect was cut out well by Shaun Hutchinson.

Motherwell were contributing very little to the game but Iain Vigurs brought out a fingertip save from Alan Mannus in the St Johnstone goal to deny the former Ross County man.

St Johnstone extended their lead after 34 minutes with MacLean again on target.

Easton’s delivery ran through to MacLean who somehow got in front of got between two ‘Well defenders to head home his second.

The visitors should have pulled a goal back on the stroke of half-time when a free-kick from Vigurs found its way to the unmarked Stephen McManus at the back post. He skewed the ball wide from four yards with a sliding John Sutton unable to connect at the back post.

Clearly upset with his side’s first-half showing, Motherwell manager Stuart McCall threw on James McFadden and Lionel Ainsworth for Stevie Hammell and Vigurs in an attempt to salvage something from the game.

Again, though, it was St Johnstone who started the brighter and Nielsen had to look smart to beat away a fierce 25-yard drive from Lee Croft.

Nielsen looked to be trying to atone for his first-half error, and he got down well to fingertip away a May drive from the edge of the area, and then made another flying save to deny David Wotherspoon.

Two-goal MacLean was replaced by former Scotland striker Chris Iwelumo with 19 minutes left, and within seconds of coming on he missed a glorious chance to put Motherwell out of sight.

Terrific wing play from fellow substitute Wotherspoon found the striker unmarked inside the six-yard area and somehow he managed to shoot straight at the goalkeeper rather than burst the net with his shot.

Four minutes from time, Miller secured the points for St Johnstone after bursting 50 yards down the right before cutting in and under no pressure firing the ball home.

It was a very poor showing from the Steelmen who now need to bounce back when Hearts visit Fir Park on Saturday.

[tab:As it happened]

 Ally Reilly at McDiarmid Park

FT: St Johnstone 3 – 0 Motherwell #SJFCvMFC

3 minutes added on #SJFCvMFC

86mins:GOAL! Millar makes it 3-0. A miserable night #SJFCvMFC

82mins: Hutchinson hits it on the turn from just inside the box. Good effort, just over #SJFCvMFC

81mins: St Johnstone sub, Croft off for Millar #SJFCvMFC

79mins: Motherwell sub, Shirkie on for Anier #SJFCvMFC

73mins: From 8 yards out, Iwelumo drives it straight at Nielsen #SJFCvMFC

72mins: St Johnstone sub, McLean off for Iwelumo #SJFCvMFC

70mins: Wotherspoon curls it just wide from a central position 20 yards out. #SJFCvMFC

67mins: Croft is booked for a tackle on Francis-Angol. Ainsworth’s Free-kick in a wide position goes wide #SJFCvMFC

64mins: St Johnstone sub, Hasselbaink off for Wotherspoon #SJFCvMFC

63mins: ‘Well have came back into a little. Nothing much in the way of chances though apart from some McFadden long-throws #SJFCvMFC

59mins: Corner to ‘Well…..Saints break and with Croft in acres of space, Hasselbaink slides it straight to Nielsen #SJFCvMFC

58mins: Good save from Nielsen to deny May from 18 yards. #SJFCvMFC

56mins: Great chance as McFadden heads the ball back across goal. No-one’s there to knock it in though! #SJFCvMFC

53mins: Free-kick to Motherwell in a good position out left….McManus inches away from connecting at the backpost #SJFCvMFC

51mins: Corner to St Johnstone…..Nielsen has to be sharp to deny Anderson! #SJFCvMFC

Motherwell subs, Ainsworth on for Vigurs, McFadden on for Hammell. Second half underway #SJFCvMFC

HT: St Johnstone 2 – 0 Motherwell #SJFCvMFC

45mins: Free-kick from wide on the left now. McManus pokes it just wide! #SJFCvMFC

44mins: Free-kick to ‘Well out wide on the right but Lasley’s delivery is headed clear #SJFCvMFC

41mins: May booked for dissent. #SJFCvMFC

40mins: 5 minutes left of the first half. Need a big performance in the second 45 if we’re to take anything here #SJFCvMFC

34mins: GOAL! It’s 2-0, MacLean with a header from Easton’s cross #SJFCvMFC

25mina: MacLean gets in at the front post and his flicked-on header goes just wide #SJFCvMFC

24mins: Ambitious effort from Vigurs as his 25 yard effort is palmed past the post by Mannus. A little more promising #SJFCvMFC

18mins: Another corner to Saints after Dunne’s shot is deflected wide #SJFCvMFC

16mins: Very poor start here from ‘Well. Second to everything so far #SJFCvMFC

6mins: GOAL! MacLean opens the scoring, poking home from Nielsen’s save from May’s free-kick #SJFCvMFC

5mins: Good break-away from Anier. He shrugs off his man and gets a left-footed shot away which flies just wide #SJFCvMFC

2mins: Second corner in succession for Saints….Francis-Angol heads clear #SJFCvMFC

1min: Early penalty claim for Saints after MacLean looked to have been hauled down in the box. Ref waves it away #SJFCvMFC

Carswell and Lasley get the game underway #SJFCvMFC

[tab:Reaction]

Motherwell manager Stuart McCall:

“Yet again we’ve come in at half time 2-0 down from two really poor goals.

“As much as St Johnstone were far better than us tonight in every department we can’t give goals away.

“We lost too many individual battles. The pitch wasn’t perfect to play football on but they (St Johnstone) moved it far better than we did.

“With a thin squad there’s not a lot we can do at the moment – we probably could be doing with pulling a few people out at the minute and we’ll have a look to try and do that.”

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright:

“They (Motherwell) are one of the best teams in the country and I thought we dominated from start to finish.”

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

[poll id=”181″]

Following discussions with North Lanarkshire Council, the MFC Community Trust has secured funding from the Big Lottery to carry out a community-wide consultation and transform the existing Muirhouse pitches into a vibrant new community facility to include a new 3G sports pitch, grass pitches, upgraded pavilion, and a new Learning Centre which will include multi purpose rooms, café, gym, and other community facilities.

The new facility will create employment, training, and volunteering opportunities for local people and will also provide a focus for a wide range of activities delivered by existing organisations in the area.

A new access road is also proposed through to the site.

Commenting on the new proposals, General Manager of the Community Trust Charlie Bennett said: “We are really excited by these new proposals and would like to thank North Lanarkshire Council for the supportive stance they have taken towards the project and to the Big Lottery Fund for funding the community consultation and the creation of the business plan.

“The new facility will provide a focus for community activity in the area and already we have identified a wide range of programmes that can be delivered from it covering health and wellbeing, lifelong learning, employability and inclusion.

“However, the community consultation will allow local people their say on what they feel they facility should be doing, what activities should be taking place there, and how local people can get involved in its development.

“This community consultation process will start in the next couple of weeks and we want everyone in Muirhouse to have the opportunity to have their say through the roadshows, meetings, and questionnaires that will be set up.”

For further information on the proposals please contact the Community Trust at community@motherwellfc.co.uk.

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