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“The game management was outstanding throughout the game.

“But we can’t get carried away. We’re still in a dogfight.”

A superb 2-0 win over third placed Hearts moved ‘Well six points clear of the foot of the table.

Another hard working and well managed performance from the Fir Park men saw them earn a second win in five days and demonstrated a strong case for working under Kettlewell on a permanent basis.

To highlight the significance of the win Robbie Neilson’s side are the third most consistent side in the cinch Premiership with only one defeat, since the sides last met at Tynecastle in November.

And while it was only a last minute penalty that denied Motherwell a hard earned a point on that occasion, Kettlewell’s men were determined to take all three points after goals from Jon Obika and Blair Spittal either side of the interval put them in the driving seat.

Not surprisingly, ‘Well’s interim manager made stood by the same starting eleven which made such a dynamic start against St. Mirren before ultimately claim three precious points.

Fir Park fans hoping for a repeat against third placed Hearts were disappointed as the Edinburgh side, backed by a travelling support of 2,400 that packed the Tommy McLean stand, started the game on the front foot.

For the opening six minutes ‘Well were pinned back in their own half as the Tynecastle side controlled the game with almost complete possession and forcing a couple of early corners.

The first foray into the Hearts’ half came after seven minutes Jon Obika and Kevin van Van combined on the right but the final ball into the box was too far in front of ‘Well’s Dutch striker.

A minute later van Veen lifted the ball over Alex Cochrane providing Max Johnston with a chance to claim his second goal of the week but from an offside position he dragged the ball wide of target.

Gradually the Steelmen became the side to take control of possession and with Hearts pressed into their own half for a lengthy period James Furlong, who a great 90 minutes, on a few occasions found himself with time to cross into the box but his final ball was misplaced.

After 20 minutes the visitor’s finally made a break towards the home goal but from 20 yards Stephen Humphreys fired his shot well wide of Liam Kelly’s goal.

At the other end in a congested box Obika nudged the ball to Blair Spittal and his firm drive towards goal was blocked by Jim Hill.

There were claims for a penalty when van Veen dragged the ball past Robert Snodgrass before tumbling to the deck but referee Don Robertson waved play-on.

Snodgrass then turned provider, when after winning the ball at the edge of the box he clipped a delightful ball towards the unmarked Lawrence Shankland. The league’s top scorer looked to be adding to his tally until his well placed downward header across Kelly rebounded from the foot of ‘keeper’s right hand post.

Seven minutes from half-time a terrific save from Zander Clark rising high to his right hand corner to turn a 20 yard drive from Sean Goss over the crossbar denied ‘Well the opener.

The goal was only delayed until the resultant corner from Furlong came into a packed box. When the ball was cleared only as far as Goss at the edge of the box his drive was again on target but Obika’s touch from six yard made sure the ball ended up beyond Clark to silence the Hearts’ support behind his goal.

As the Fir Park men pressed to double their lead before half-time Neilson’s men came close to an equaliser.

Callum Butcher, who was a rock at the heart of the home defence, was adjudged to handle the ball 25 yards from goal. Stephen Kingsley with an impressive record of free kicks from that area curved the ball over the defensive wall only to watch it clip the top of the crossbar and leave Motherwell holding on to a slender lead at the break.

In a dramatic start to the second half, though, ‘Well doubled their advantage within a minute.

Again Obika and van Veen worked well on the left before the latter’s inswinging ball was backheaded by Spittal. And when the ball rebounded from Clark’s left-hand post it was the former Ross County man who followed it up to calmly whip the ball into the net and make it 2-0.

Encouraged by the vociferous home support, ‘Well chased a third and it almost came when Obika laid the ball into Dean Cornelius and his low drive took a slight deflection to carry it just wide of goal.

With the equally vocal Hearts’ fans demanding a response from their side, the visitor’s passed up a great chance to pull one back after 55 minutes. From a Hearts’ corner, Hill’s header towrds the back post found Toby Sibbick a yard from goal but he tamely rolled the ball to the waiting Kelly.

In an attempt to get back into the game Neilson made double substitution but it was Motherwell who looked more likely to extend their lead.

And Goss typified the Steelmen’s determination and tenacity when he held off three opponents before winning a free kick on the left side of the visitor’s box.

From Spittal’s inswing free kick Clark was forced to turn the ball over the bar before van Veen was flagged offside.

Hearts looked more menacing around Kelly’s goal and the ‘Well stopper had a couple of comfortable saves to claim efforts from George Grant and Shankland.

It was the home side who came close agin, with Clark turning Butcher’s header over the bar before Dan Casey, who had set up the chance was flagged offside.

As the game entered its last 10 minutes, Kettlewell aiming to keep a firm hold of his side’s two goal lead, brought on Slattery and Stephen O’Donnell.

Three minutes from time Slattery produced a well timed sliding tackle to deny Shankland a clear shooting chance from six yards.

The six minutes additional time provided Hearts with some hope of taking something from the game.

But with Bevis Mugabi replacing Butcher in the centre of the home defence, Motherwell looked assured and in control as they enjoyed a standing applause from the appreciative home fans at the final whistle.

It was a win against St Mirren but that’s all it was. That was the message from Stuart Kettlewell as he takes his second game in temporary charge of Motherwell against Hearts on Sunday.

Kettlewell wants the team to get the fundamentals correct again and insists that any chat about the next permanent Motherwell manager, is at the back of his mind and the players should be thinking the same.

Jon Obika says Wednesday night’s win against St Mirren in the cinch Premiership was long overdue and what this team needed.

He recognised the importance and meaning of the win for supporters and wants to repeat that again on Sunday against Hearts.

We are at Fir Park once again, taking on Hearts in the cinch Premiership.

The game takes place on Sunday 19th February and kick-off is 12pm.

Tickets

Supporters are able to buy tickets online here or visit the ticket office at Fir Park.

Ticket Office open from 9am – the ticket office is open until kick-off with no pay gate facility

Away supporters can purchase tickets in the Tommy McLean stand from the ticket booth up until kick-off (cash and card available)

Ticket office opening times
Monday – Thursday 9am – 5pm and Friday 9-4pm, matchday 9am – kick-off.

Hospitality

There are still hospitality places available for this match in the Centenary Suite.  Watch the game in style with prices starting from just £35pp.

Call 01698 338008 or book online.

Cooper Bar
We’re open from 11am on the first floor of our Cooper stand. Fans and children of both clubs are welcome to join us for food and drink.

How to follow game online

The game will be live on Sky Sports.

If you are outside the UK, you can watch the game via Motherwell TV.

Should you be in the UK, it will be live commentary only.

The Story of the Match

Motherwell halted a run of three straight league defeats with an encouraging 2-1 win over sixth placed St Mirren on Wednesday.

That win pushes Motherwell up to ninth and will provide some confidence ahead to a tough game against third placed Hearts.

The visitors are in fine form, with only one defeat in their last 13 games.

Hearts came out on top in the last meeting at Fir Park, with a 0-3 win, but it was a game that ‘Well would be scratching their heads at how they never got anything out the game, let alone a heavy defeat on paper.

Match Officials

• Referee: Don Robertson
• AR1: David McGeachie
• AR2: Craig Ferguson
• Fourth Official: Chris Graham
• VAR: Steven McLean
• AVAR: Gary Hilland

It has been a difficult period at Motherwell Football Club, heightened by Steven Hammell and Brian Kerr departing the club three days ago. 

With Stuart Kettlewell taking charge of first-team duties on an interim basis, the former Ross County manager spoke openly in the lead up to the game against St Mirren in the cinch Premiership about requiring the full team to be together and ready to fight for each other.

Opening a two goal lead through Kevin van Veen and Max Johnston, Kettlewell knew that he got the reaction that he wanted out of the players.

Ryan Strain pulled one back for St Mirren in the first half but in the end, Motherwell got their first win at Fir Park since August with a fighting victory.

Kettlewell enforced the message this win won’t define how our season ends up but it certainly builds a foundation.

“It’s a good feeling to get the three points.

“But it’s what this team brings from now, into the remaining games, that will define their season.”

Motherwell finally celebrated their first league home win since August with a solid and deserved win over St Mirren.

It was a perfect start to Stuart Kettlewell’s spell in the dugout with two goals from Kevin van Veen and Max Johnston inside the opening 18 minutes.

When Ryan Strain pulled back one for the Saints midway through the first half there was an uneasy expectation that it might be a case of ‘Well throwing away a lead for the third time in four home matches.

However, the Steelmen looked organised and determined in a second half where they restricted Stephen Robinson’s men to few chances and the players and ‘Well’s interim manager took a richly merited ovation at the final whistle.

Stuart Kettlewell’s first team selection showed minimal change in personnel, from outgoing boss Steven Hammell. From those who lost out to Raith Rovers in the Scottish Cup, ‘Well’s interim manager changed the starting line-up with Max Johnston, James Furlong, Dean Cornelius and Sean Goss coming in.

That allowed ‘Well to line-up with a back three of Paul McGinn, Callum Butcher and Dan Casey.

Former ‘Well boss Robinson, also looking for his team to overcome a cup exit on Saturday, named a Saints side which included five players returning to Fir Park to face their former club.

Ex-strikers Tony Watt and Curtis Main posed the main threat of inflicting more pain on the Steelmen and making it a quick double for Saints especially after the latter’s winner in Paisley three weeks ago.

It was Motherwell, though, who made the brighter and energetic start as they pressed the visitors from the kick-off.

And the Fir Park men were rewarded for their positive opening after eight minutes when they opened the scoring.

Blair Spittal’s long ball over the top found van Veen chasing the ball into the box with Richard Taylor closing him down as they approached the corner of the six-yard box. Somehow the Dutch striker stayed on his feet to toe poke the ball low across Trevor Carson and into the corner of the goal to give Kettlewell the start he hoped for.

Unbelievably the home the Fir Park fans were on their feet 10 minutes later as ‘Well doubled their lead.

Another long ball this time from Sean Goss found Johnston running down the right flank and after leaving Scott Tanser in his wake his shot drifted beyond Carson and inside the ‘keeper’s far post to make it 2-0.

It took Saints until the 22nd minute to test Liam Kelly although Main’s low shot from the edge of the box was straight at the ‘Well ‘keeper.

Two minutes later, though, Saints pulled a goal back. Watt fired the ball across goal and although it was missed in front of goal Strain raced in to fire the ball Kelly and get Robinson’s men back into the game.

That gave the visitor’s a lift but although they had some possession around the home box the ‘Well players defended Kelly’s area extremely well for the remainder of the first half.

At the other end Carson was idle until three minutes from the break when the former Northern Ireland ‘keeper was happy to hold Dan Casey’s powerful header from Spittal’s corner.

The home fans were optimistic of their side earning a long overdue home win and just before the hour the Steelmen had a chance to extend their lead.

Obika who had a strong presence against his former team exchanged a quick pass with van Veen but from a tight angle ‘Well’s top scorer fired the ball into the side netting.

In the 65th minute Strain’s drive from the edge of the box raced through a packed box but the ball was firmly held by Kelly.

The ‘Well ‘keeper then had another routine save this time from ex-team mate Mark O’Hara before Kettlewell made his first substitution with 13 minutes remaining.

Van Veen had played his part and was roundly applauded by the Fir Park faithful as he was replaced by Jack Aitchison.

And five minutes later the former Celtic player almost killed the game when he jinked past three players in the Saints’ box before firing over Carson’s bar.

In the added four minutes ‘Well, for the first time in recent home games, looked comfortable in a lead they held for three deserved points which lifts them up to ninth in the league table.

Stuart Kettlewell has stepped up to take the first-team following Steven Hammell’s departure.

The former Ross County manager said he had an open and honest conversation with the players where he made it clear that he only wants players who are with him during this tough period.

He emphasised the importance of Wednesday night’s cinch Premiership match against St Mirren and how he wants to see a reaction from this group of players.

Captain Liam Kelly says the players aren’t naive and know that they have caused the club to part company with manager Steven Hammell.

He says they must focus on the game against St Mirren and that talking is worth nothing at this stage of the season.

The skipper is aware of the fans’ frustrations and insists that the players must do right by interim manager Stuart Kettlewell.