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Motherwell staged another two-goal comeback to take a point in a 2-2 draw at Dundee United.

Tyler Magloire replaced Declan Gallagher in defence in the only change to the starting team, with Scott Fox returning on the bench after missing the vast majority of the season through injury.

Graham Alexander’s men headed to Tannadice looking to exorcise the demons from the last-gasp draw inflicted on them on Boxing Day, but would suffer an early blow.

Allan Campbell appeared to twist his ankle in a 50-50 challenge and, despite treatment, was forced off after six minutes in what was due to be his penultimate appearance for the club before a summer departure.

With ‘Well missing him, it would be the visitors who would take the lead soon after. Chalmers’ shot from distance took a hit off Shankland on the way to goal, wrongfooting goalkeeper Kelly and nestling in the net.

Motherwell would continue to push. Hastie curled an effort wide from inside the box, and Long’s running was carving him out chances, one which dropped particularly close past the far post.

Then, with 17 minutes gone, ‘Well would undo their positive work. A defensive lapse saw Magloire fell his man in the area, giving Shankland the chance to make it two from the spot.

The Scotland international however saw ‘keeper Kelly guess correctly but his dive was not required, with Shankland dragging the ball past the left post.

A facial blow to Campbell replacement Crawford left Motherwell down to 10 men for spells in the midway point of the half but the men in blue held firm against waves of United pressure.

That dam would burst shortly after the half-hour mark.

Quick play down the right from United led to youngster Meekison being in space outside the box on the right. Picking his spot, he curled well past Kelly into the bottom-left corner of the net.

Motherwell continued to push, with Long’s running causing particular trouble, but the two teams would go in at the break having suffered contrasting fortunes.

The second half would start more positively. Long’s tireless endeavour continued to take the visitors up the park, and he would get his rewards 10 minutes into the half.

Advancing into the area, he tied his man in knots on the left before rifling a shot from 10 yards in at the near post through the ‘keeper.

Both sides would continue to trade blows, with Hastie coming closest in the mid part of the match, seeing his shot from a tight angle blocked.

Then, in stoppage time, the breakthrough came. With most in the box, goalkeeper sent a free-kick from the halfway line into the area.

Lamie rose brilliantly to flick it on and Cole stole in to smash the ball home to equalise and earn a hard-fought point.

“The players have kept their foot to the floor. We want to continue that.”

Motherwell make one last Premiership trip in the 2020/21 season when they head to Dundee United on Wednesday night.

If you’re in the UK or Republic of Ireland, a live stream of the game is available to buy on a pay-per-view basis from Dundee United for £12.50.

International-based supporters can watch via their usual subscription at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

Kick-off at Tannadice is at 6pm.

It’s time to pick your Motherwell FC player of the year for the 2020/21 season.

The award for our top player is our main award out of the four on offer, in conjunction with our partners Paycare.

To make your selection, just fill out our quick voting form.

Voting for our goal of the season will also open soon, while there will also be awards for our players’ player of the year and top goalscorer.

Motherwell’s final away match of the 2020/21 Scottish Premiership season comes on Wednesday at Dundee United.

Kick-off at Tannadice is at 6pm.

Watch live

If you’re in the UK or Republic of Ireland, a live stream of the game is available to buy on a pay-per-view basis from Dundee United for £12.50.

International-based supporters can watch via their usual subscription at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

Tale of the tape

The two teams have faced each other three times since United’s return to the top flight last summer.

The Terrors won the first, in a 1-0 victory at Fir Park back in August.

‘Well then conceded a last-second equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Tannadice on Boxing Day, before a 2-1 win for the Steelmen at home in February.

Form guide

Graham Alexander’s Motherwell have won seven of their last 10 matches, drawing one, losing one and suffering defeat on penalties in the other.

Away from home, the Steelmen have three wins and two losses in their last five.

Dundee United lost 2-0 in the Scottish Cup semi-final at the weekend, with Hibernian instead booking their spot in the final.

In the last five in all competitions, Micky Mellon’s men have won two and lost three.

Declan Gallagher has signed a pre-contract agreement with Aberdeen FC.

He will leave Fir Park when his contract expires at the end of June.

We thank Declan for his contributions across the last two years.

We will wish him well for the remainder of his career when he departs.

Graham Alexander hails the character of his side as Motherwell put on a performance to beat Kilmarnock 2-0.

A fine, controlled team performance saw on-form Motherwell record their third consecutive win since the league split.

Goals from Devante Cole and Stephen O’Donnell at the beginning and end of the second half earned the Steelmen a fully deserved three points, which elevated them to seventh place in the league and enhance their claim to be top of the bottom six.

Kilmarnock created a couple of chances after falling behind but otherwise the Ayrshire men were largely second best as their relegation worries deepened.

Both clubs entered this game having to pick themselves off the canvas after the trauma of crashing out of the Scottish Cup on penalties last weekend.

In Kilmarnock’s case they also needed an immediate response to keep their escape from relegation on track.

Conversely, Graham Alexander’s men, now safe from relegation, were motivated by avenging the heavy defeat inflicted on them at Rugby Park five weeks ago.

The ‘Well boss made three changes from the side which lost the penalty shootout at Easter Road last Saturday. Jake Hastie, Steven Lawless and Sam Foley, for his first start, came into a revamped midfield.

The Steelmen were aiming to make it five league wins from their last six games, an impressive record that earned Alexander the league’s Manager of the Month award for April.

Motherwell looked determined to continue that winning run pressing the Rugby Park men deep into their own half from the start.

Within three minutes Christopher Long tried his luck with a powerful drive from wide on the left but Danny Rogers was untroubled as the ball raced into his goal’s side netting.

The next move was better constructed and deserved a goal. After a swift five-man move which started with Stephen O’Donnell on the right, his opposite number Nathan McGinley whipped in a cross which Haste nodded over the bar from around six yards.

Another fine passing move followed only for Long to be adjudged offside as he was about to pull the trigger from 10 yards.

Hastie, working hard on the right flank, earned a corner which was only cleared as far as Foley but from 25 yards he sliced his shot wide of goal.

As the torrential downpour watered the manicured pitch and made the cries of players and coaches inaudible, Killie finally made their presence felt around Liam Kelly’s goal.

After 35 minutes Ricki Lamie conceded a free-kick to the right of the penalty area and the ‘Well ‘keeper made the first save of the game, comfortably holding Alan Power’s rather tame effort on goal.

As half-time approached ‘Well regained the majority of possession but despite carefully working the ball towards the visitor’s box the final pass lacked conviction and the precision

Although the rain had stopped at the interval the pitch was left greasy.

Within two minutes ‘Well were equally slick as they opened the scoring.

Foley fed a low pass to Cole who slipped the ball in front of Long at the edge of the area. And although he slipped as he dragged the ball into the box, Cole latched onto the loose ball and curl in beyond Rogers to bag his 11th goal of the season.

Long, lying deeper was involved in the next couple of moves setting O’Donnell down the right before taking a pass from Cole and setting up Hastie at the corner of the box.

As Killie pressed forward in pursuit of an equaliser it almost came in the 56th minute.

It would have been a fluke, though, when Lafferty’s harmless drive from 20 yards clipped Gallagher to send the ball spinning within a metre of Kelly’s left-hand post.

With relegation results elsewhere going against his men, Tommy Wright made a triple substitution on the hour mark.

And almost immediately they carved out an opening. Declan Gallagher could only nod Chris Burke’s cross towards Lafferty and his thumping volley from 12 yards forced Kelly into a fine acrobatic save diving to his right to punch the ball away.

With Motherwell hoping to catch the committed Killie on the break, Burke came close to grabbing the equaliser when from 25 yards his measured shot clipped the top of Kelly’s crossbar.

As the crosses into the box mounted, Bevis Mugabi and Barry Maguire came on to bolster the home defence.

However, with five minutes remaining, ‘Well’s defence turned into attack as the Fir Park doubled their advantage.

Cole did well to wriggle away from a couple of defenders at the corner of the box. When he toe-poked the ball across the visitor’s penalty area it found O’Donnell racing in to drive the ball low and hard beyond the exposed ‘keeper and wrap up another three points.

Motherwell: Kelly, O’Donnell, Gallagher, Lamie, McGinley, Campbell, Foley, Lawless, Hastie, Cole, Long.

Subs: Chapman, Dunne, Mugabi, Magloire, Carroll, Crawford, Maguire, Cornelius, Watt.

“We need to show that we need the points just as much as Kilmarnock.”

Graham Alexander has been named as the Scottish Premiership Glen’s Manager of the Month for April.

The Motherwell boss has been recognised for guiding his team to back-to-back league victories in the month.

Consecutive 1-0 wins over St Mirren and Hamilton Academical secured the club’s Premiership status, and provided the platform to push on for seventh spot in the remaining fixtures.

“I’m delighted to receive this award on behalf of all the staff and players at Motherwell Football Club,” said the Motherwell boss.

“Their combined efforts have seen us win big games to secure our Premiership status.

“I’m proud of the commitment and togetherness everyone has shown over the last few months.

“I’d like to thank everyone who has contributed to those results and this award.”

Colin Matthews, CEO of Glen’s owner the Loch Lomond Group, added: “It’s great to see Motherwell finishing the season on a high with Graham Alexander picking up his first Glen’s Manager of the Month award after his side picked up maximum points in April.

“Congratulations to him and his team and good luck to them for the remaining games.”