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Emmanuel Longelo believes staying level headed and calm during this difficult run will stand the team in good stead going forward.

The full-back explains the manager’s impact and how he’s helping the squad during this losing run.

Alfred Johansson says he’ll draw on previous experience in Norway to help guide his squad through this bump in the road. Motherwell are looking to end a losing run of five matches against Hearts on Sunday in the William Hill Premiership, with the Motherwell boss citing a difficult run at Rosenborg as an example of what can happen when you turn things around.

Johansson is looking forward to facing Hearts, and wants to see the squad as a collective improve this weekend.

Checking in on our boys out on loan. 

Olly Whyte

Olly Whyte has continued his 100% record of starting matches for Ayr United this season, with the midfielder now on seven appearances for the season.

In those four games since our September report, Ayr have won one and drawn one. The Honest Men are on 12 points after 11 games and sit seventh in the standings.

• Appearances: 7
• Starts: 7
• Goals: 0 

Luca Ross

Luca Ross has played five games for Alloa Athletic since our report four weeks ago, starting four of those five matches. Alloa lost two of the league matches Ross played in but has faired much better in the KDM Evolution Trophy, beating Hibernian B and drawing with Gala Fairydean Rovers and Annan Athletic.

Ross registered an assist in the 4-1 win over the Hibees last month, his first in Alloa colours. After ending a losing run against East Fife last weekend, Alloa are now sixth in the table on 12 points after 11 games, four points away from the promotion playoffs.

• Appearances: 7
• Starts: 5
• Goals: 0

Lucas Weir

Lucas Weir made his debut for Cowdenbeath at the start of the month in the Scottish Cup, coming on as a sub with ten minutes to play in a 4-0 win over Berwick Rangers.

Weir was on the bench for Cowdenbeath’s 2-2 draw with Bonnyrigg Rose as he continued to play for Motherwell B in the KDM Evolution Trophy.

• Appearances: 1
• Starts: 0
• Goals: 0

Aaron Thomson

Aaron Thomson came on as a second-half substitute for Spartans last weekend, as he made his debut for the League Two side against Spartans.

Thomson has continued to play for Motherwell B during their KDM Evolution Trophy campaign, whilst also missing games as he represented Scotland’s Under 19s.

• Appearances: 1
• Starts: 0
• Goals: 0

Zander McAllister

Zander McAllister also made his debut for Spartans in October and played a second time against Edinburgh City in a 3-1 win.

Spartans sit fourth in the table, on 15 points after 11 games.

McAllister has continued to play for Motherwell B during their KDM Evolution Trophy campaign, whilst also missing games as he represented Scotland’s Under 19s.

• Appearances: 2
• Starts: 0
• Goals: 0

Nine years ago, Motherwell fans made the trip to the south side of Glasgow hoping to see their team reach their first domestic cup final since 2011.

A dominant and memorable 3-0 win over Aberdeen at Fir Park had given Stephen Robinson’s side the opportunity to make history and offered the Motherwell faithful hope of lifting silverware for the first time since 1991.

As always when facing one of Glasgow’s big two, the odds were stacked firmly against the claret and amber. But in the build-up, optimism was certainly high in the Motherwell camp.

In the league, Motherwell and Rangers were close. Robinson’s men sat fourth in the table heading into the semi-final, with Rangers just a point ahead in third. Pedro Caixinha’s side created chances in the early stages, but goalkeeper Trevor Carson remained calm under pressure.

Louis Moult and Ryan Bowman led the line for the Steelmen, continuing to cause the Rangers defence all manner of problems with their physical presence and high work rate. As the first half progressed, however, Motherwell’s confidence grew and the pressure on Jak Alnwick began to mount. Moult, Chris Cadden and Cedric Kipre all had chances, with the latter seeing his effort cleared off the line.

A strong start to the second half was crucial, although the momentum initially appeared to swing in Rangers’ favour, with Alfredo Morelos, Eduardo Herrera and Josh Windass all threatening for the Ibrox side.

But when Cadden’s corner caused chaos in the Rangers penalty area on 52 minutes, Peter Hartley connected with a header but couldn’t convert. Moult reacted quickest to the rebound, only to see his effort crash against the crossbar. Given a third opportunity, however, he made no mistake, smashing the ball into the roof of the net to give Motherwell the lead and put them within touching distance of the final.

Tempers would flare on the touchline, with both managers sent to the stands following a coming together involving Bowman and a Rangers player. Keith Lasley assumed his position in the technical area, but any concern that Robinson’s absence might negatively affect proceedings was firmly dispelled moments later.

Rangers tried to respond and fashioned a few half-chances. In the Motherwell end, nerves were beginning to take hold as supporters contemplated the possibility of their side letting this huge opportunity slip away.

Then came a moment of history.

Charles Dunne sent a high ball forward down the left, and Moult was on hand to meet it as it dropped. Showing remarkable audacity, he chipped the goalkeeper to score a second and create a lasting memory for Motherwell fans everywhere, while all but securing their place in the cup final.

The final 20 minutes or so passed in a blur of celebration for the Motherwell supporters, who were firmly in party mode as they looked ahead to a second trip to Hampden, this time for the Scottish Cup final against Celtic the following month.

Matchday nine awaits the women of steel this Wednesday evening, as Motherwell return home to face Partick Thistle under the lights of the Bumblebee Stadium. 

Iain Robinson’s side will make their swift return to action following last weekend’s three-nil defeat to Glasgow City. Wednesday evening marks the opening to an energy-draining week of football, with Motherwell set to face the Jags before a difficult visit to league leaders Rangers. 

As Motherwell set their sights on restoring their status as a top-six side, securing victory over Partick Thistle will be essential. 

The Tale of the Tape 

Motherwell 

The women of steel will face the Jags for the first time since a narrow 2-1 defeat at Petershill Park last December. Kodie hay broke the deadlock for Motherwell in the second-half, but a double from Rachel Donaldson and Jo Love sealed victory for the hosts on that day. 

Despite numerous close encounters, Motherwell have been able to overcome partick Thistle since a dominant 6-1 victory in 2020. 

Goalkeeper, Rowena Armitage, may feature in the matchday squad after missing out last weekend through injury. 

Partick Thistle

Thistle will be determined to respond following a heavy defeat at the hands of Hearts last weekend. A six-one defeat in the Scottish capital followed a narrow defeat to league leaders Rangers. 

Ticket Information 

Tickets can be purchased through the matchday turnstiles at the Bumblebee Stadium at K-Park. Both cash and card payments are accepted. 

• Adult – £10.
• Concession (Over-65s and Under-17s) – £5.
• Under-11 – FREE TO ENTER. 

Additional Information – no pets allowed within The Bumblebee Stadium – previously named The Ross Commercial Finance Stadium at K-Park. 

Matchday Travel 

• Sunday 21st October 2026, kick-off 7.30PM. 

• The Bumblebee Stadium at K-Park, Calderglen Country Park, East Kilbride, G75 0QZ. 

• First Glasgow service No.21 stops at Jura Slip Road, a 10-minute walk from the stadium. East Kilbride railway station is approx. 20 mins away on foot. 

• Free on-site parking is available, with overflow parking signposted at the park entrance. Please follow the one-way system upon your exit. 

• Selection of hot food, baking, confectionary and both hot and cold drinks available at the kiosk before and during the match. 

Follow our live matchday coverage on the Motherwell Women X (formerly Twitter) account. 

Motherwell are in more Sunday action this weekend against Hearts in the William Hill Premiership. 

Kick off is 2pm at Fir Park.

How to Follow the Game

You can buy tickets online by CLICKING HERE.

• Young Adults tickets are ages 13-17.
•  Concessions are classed as, Over 65, Full Time Students
• Child is 12 and Under

On Match days, the Ticket Office is open from 11am – the ticket office is open until kick-off with no pay gate facility.

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 match is being shown live on Premier Sports.

What else is happening?

The Cooper Bar will be open from 11am until kick-off. It will re-open for one hour post-match for those looking to avoid the traffic.

The Centenary Suite is open from 12pm, and will also be open for one hour post-match. The 91 Lounge is open from 12:45pm and will be open for one hour post-match.

Mrs Baillie’s Fanzone opens at 11am. Bean 2 Work Coffee Cart will be available, as they trial selling hot drinks.

St Andrews will be collecting money via bucket collection.

Block E are holding a food collection outside the Cooper Stand from 12:30pm. They are looking for non-perishable items that will be donated to Motherwell foodbanks.

Weather Forecast

There will be gusty winds of up to 48 mph on Sunday in Motherwell, with spots of rain. Temperatures will be nine degrees.

Motherwell’s Fortunes

Motherwell’s 3-2 defeat on Saturday afternoon was the Steelmen’s fifth defeat in a row. That was the first time Motherwell lost five consecutive games since February 2025, when they lost six.

Johnny Koutroumbis made his first appearance since August on Saturday, following his spell on the sidelines. Alfred Johansson is hoping to have more faces back from the treatment room, with the likes of Oscar Priestman, Callum Hendry and Regan Charles-Cook all edging closer to their returns.

Hearts were one of two sides Motherwell failed to beat last season in the William Hill Premiership. Motherwell registered two points from a possible 12. It’s been over two years since Motherwell tasted victory over the Jambos. Goals from Tom Sparrow, Stephen O’Donnell and Paul McGinn saw the Steelmen defeat Hearts 3-1 back in August 2024 at Fir Park.

Opposition Report

Hearts came agonisingly close to winning the Scottish Premiership for the first time since 1960 last season, only to miss out on the final day. Derek McInnes’ side finished with 80 points, just two behind champions Celtic, after a campaign that saw them emerge as title contenders. Since that defeat, however, it has been a period of significant change in Gorgie. McInnes departed for Rangers, with Belgian coach Wouter Vrancken recruited as his successor.

There have also been major changes on the pitch. Club captain Lawrence Shankland joined McInnes at Ibrox after scoring 16 league goals last season, leaving a significant void in Hearts’ attack. Last season’s leading scorer Claudio Braga remained at Tynecastle despite reported interest from elsewhere. Drawing on their data-led recruitment strategy, Hearts added new faces from across the globe, but two of their summer signings who have made particularly strong starts arrived from much closer to home.

Josh McPake joined from St Johnstone after rebuilding his career through Scotland’s lower leagues, having previously come through the ranks at Rangers. His performances quickly caught the eye, with three goals and eight assists in his first 14 appearances this season earning him his first Scotland call-up and senior international cap. Calvin Miller arrived from Falkirk following their top-six finish in the Premiership last season. The versatile attacker has also made an impressive start to life in Gorgie, establishing himself as an important part of Vrancken’s attacking options and attracting attention as a potential Scotland international.

The Tynecastle side have also had to balance their domestic campaign with European football. Defeats to Sturm Graz and Benfica during Champions League and Europa League qualifying saw Hearts drop into the Conference League play-off round. A penalty shootout victory over Rapid Vienna ultimately secured their place in the league phase. Hearts made a promising start to that campaign against Nordsjælland at Tynecastle, taking the lead through Oisin McEntee before conceding a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw.

Domestically, Hearts collected 16 points from their opening nine league matches, winning five, before their latest outing brought a painful return to Celtic Park. Having come so close to denying Celtic the title on the final day of last season, Vrancken’s side were comprehensively beaten 7-1 on their return to Glasgow. The result was a setback for a team that had started the campaign with ambitions of challenging near the top of the table, but remain in the mix.

Hearts must now put that defeat behind them quickly as they travel to Turkey to face Trabzonspor on Thursday night in their second Conference League league-phase fixture. The Jambos will be looking to respond positively in Europe, but their domestic away form remains another area of concern. Despite their strong overall start to the season, they have struggled to secure league victories on the road outside Edinburgh, with their two away league wins since the start of the year both coming at Easter Road. Vrancken will be hoping his side can put their Celtic disappointment behind them and deliver a response on their travels.

Motherwell travelled to Ayrshire looking to avoid a fifth straight defeat in the William Hill Premiership, with Kilmarnock looking to move level on points with the Steelmen. 

And inside one minute, it was the hosts who moved closer to their target. A goal from Greg Kiltie could have knocked the stuffing out of Motherwell, but the squad rallied and subsequently levelled through Alex Lowry 20 minutes later.

Motherwell continued to create chances, and when Seb Palmer-Houlden converted to make it 2-1 early in the second-half, the visitors looked like they could end their losing streak. But Kilmarnock had other plans and scored their second and third goals thereafter, ensuring Motherwell lost five on the bounce for the first time since February 2025.

Motherwell registered their fifth defeat in as many matches on Saturday, following a 3-2 defeat to Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. 

The Steelmen found themselves behind inside two minutes as Greg Kiltie capitalised on a defensive mistake. Alex Lowry levelled the game just shy of 20 minutes after a lovely move, before Seb Palmer-Houlden scored his second of the season in the second-half to give his side the lead.

That advantage didn’t last long, however, as Tyreece John-Jules was able to slot home to level the game. Kiltie grabbed his second of the afternoon following a long ball forward as Neil McCann’s side moved level on points with Motherwell.

Following the 2-0 defeat to Champions Celtic last Sunday, Alfred Johansson made two alterations to his starting 11. Tawanda Maswanhise and Ibrahim Said were both brought back into the team, with Dylan Levitt and Willy Vogt dropping to the bench.

And as Motherwell looked to get back on track after a four-game losing run, inside 60 seconds, they found themselves up against it. Goalkeeper Alex Paulsen looked to play out from his six-yard box; he tried to find Lukas Fadinger, but the pass was intercepted by Kilmarnock, who pressed high. Jon-Jules slipped the ball to Kiltie on the left-hand side, who saw his first effort blocked, but the ball landed back with the Killie skipper, and he made no mistake at the second attempt.

And Joe Hugill could have added a second just a couple of minutes later. Martin Moormann was dispossessed, and the forward raced towards the goal; he tried to find the far corner, but the effort trickled past the post.

The reaction to the slow start was a positive one from Motherwell, who began to show signs of life across the pitch. Long spells of possession and high pressure were beginning to pay dividends, and just before the 20-minute mark, the game was level. Fadinger picked up the ball in the middle of the pitch and saw Emmanuel Longelo charging up the left flank; the Austrian clipped a lovely ball over to the full back, who brought the ball down and into his stride effortlessly. He curled a ball into the box which found Palmer-Houlden; his effort was saved by the keeper, but Lowry was on hand to slot home with his left foot on the rebound.

Motherwell had their tails up, and Palmer-Houlden had a couple of half-chances that he couldn’t convert before Tawanda Maswanhise struck the post from his left-footed effort from outside the penalty area.

Callum Ferrie had to make a smart stop to prevent an own goal after 25 minutes, as Michael Schjonning-Larsen nearly scooped the ball into his own net following an Ibrahim Said cross.

The pressure on the Kilmarnock goal continued to rise. Said stole possession and drove into the space; the Nigerian shifted the ball onto his left foot and struck towards the goal, but Ferrie was able to save it down to his right-hand side, with the rebound just too far in front of Palmer-Houlden.

Maswanhise got on the end of Lowry’s cross-field pass on 39 minutes; the Zimbabwean tried to find the corner with the strike but didn’t get the desired connection with the ball.

Paulsen was called into action before the interval, as John-Jules’ powerful strike needed to be saved, before Martin Moormann could make the block from the rebound.

After a lively first-half, the second started in the same manner. George Stanger was shown a straight red card for a high tackle on Lowry on the knee. VAR paused play to assess and recommended an on-field review, which subsequently saw the red card reduced to a yellow.

But the intervention didn’t stop Motherwell’s momentum as they got their noses in front for the first time in the match after 56 minutes. Patient play on the edge of the box saw Fadinger play the ball out right to Said; his cross was perfect for Palmer-Houlden, who darted between defenders to get on the end of the cross. His effort was saved by Ferrie, but the striker’s momentum took him over the goal line, and as Ferrie spilt the ball, the ball trickled over the goal line with Palmer-Houlden knowing very little.

That lead would only last two minutes, however. Jamie Brandon headed forward from the halfway line. Stephen O’Donnell and Jon-Jules battled for the ball, with the Kilmarnock man holding O’Donnell off. He got goal side of the defensive line and slotted home.

Neil McCann’s men scored their third of the afternoon with 20 minutes to go. Brandon’s long ball forward was missed by Hugill, but Kiltie continued his run behind and got on the end of the ball and made no mistake from close range.

Johansson made substitutions as the Steelmen tried to get back into the game. Joe Hodge had a go from distance, but the save was comfortable for Ferrie. Johnny Koutroumbis, who was making his first appearance since August, was threaded through on the right edge of the box, but the full-back couldn’t beat Ferrie, who clutched onto the ball.

Motherwell Team: Paulsen, Sparrow, O’Donnell, Moormann, Longelo, Fadinger, Hodge, Lowry, Maswanhise, Said, Palmer-Houlden. 

Motherwell Subs: Connelly, Koutroumbis, McGhee, Knight-Lebel, Girdwood-Reich, Levitt, Vogt, Kanga, Bjørgolfsson.

All the information you need for today’s William Hill Premiership match against Kilmarnock. 

Kick off is 3pm at Rugby Park.

Tickets

You can buy your tickets online by CLICKING HERE.

Pricing: Online Digital Ticket Purchases

• Adult: £28
• Concession (O65s / U21s / Students): £23
• Under 18s: £16
• Under 16: £11
• Under 5: 1 Free with any full paying Over 18 – (MUST contact the ticket office prior to purchase to arrange.  MAX 1 per full paying over 18. Please note this MUST be done 24hrs prior to matchday)

Pricing: In Person Ticket Purchases at our Ticket Office

• Adult: £31
• Concession (Over65/Student/Under21): £26
• Under 18: £21
• Under 16: £13
• Under 5: 1 Free with any full paying Over 18 – (MUST contact the ticket office prior to purchase to arrange – MAX 1 per full paying over 18)
• Under 5 (Not purchased at the same time as a full paying over 18/In addition to a free under 5): £5

• Ambulant & Carer tickets: £25 (Carer Free of charge if in receipt of carer’s allowance)
• Under 18 Ambulant & Carer tickets: £16 (Carer Free of Charge, if in receipt of carer’s allowance)

To purchase ambulant & carer tickets please contact the ticketing team on tickets@kilmarnockfc.co.uk or 01563 545311.

Watch Online

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.

Weather Forecast

Saturday is to be sunny in Kilmarnock, with light winds and temperatures of 11 degrees.

Travel

Use KA1 1UR as the postcode if you are travelling to Rugby Park by car, this will take you to Dundonald Place and the south entrance to Rugby Park.

Please note that there is restricted access on match days. There is also no access to Rugby Park by way of Rugby Road (KA1 2DP) on match days.

The stadium is located less than one mile from Kilmarnock train station.

Other Fan Information

Turnstiles will open at 2pm throughout the stadium – one hour prior to kick-off.

Numerous kiosks will be open before and during the match for fans in attendance, but please note these are card only.

Referee: Calum Scott

Assistant Referee 1: Scott Anderson

Assistant Referee 2: Alastair Taylor

Fourth Official: Jordan Curran

VAR: Don Robertson