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Stephen Craigan’s Under 20s were held to a 1-1 draw by Dundee United at Montrose this afternoon.

The Steelmen had taken an early lead when Josh Moore smashed home his first goal of the 2015/16 campaign.

It stayed that way until the 63rd minute when Brad Smith rifled home a leveller from long range.

‘Well could have won it late on, but the Terrors held on for a share of the spoils.

Craigan once again named an extremely young side, with just one change from the win over Rangers last week. Ross MacLean, suspended following his red card in that match, was replaced in the starting eleven by Josh Moore.

Motherwell made a positive start to the match and could have taken the lead inside three minutes when Dylan Falconer and Robbie Leitch combined on the edge of the area, only for the latter to drag a shot narrowly wide.

It was a warning the hosts failed to heed as with their next attack, Motherwell got their noses in front.

Moore charged towards the box after industrious play on the right from both Turnbull and McMillan. The winger attempted to play a one-two with Falconer, but got a fortuitous bounce back and showed no mercy, drilling hard through Ryan Booth into the net.

After a shaky start, Dave Bowman’s men settled and Reghan Tumilty had their first shot of the game, but it was straight at Morrison who saved comfortably.

Smith deflected a Tumilty cross wide of target before the Tangerines were almost in on goal, but for an assistant’s flag denying them a chance for a shot.

Motherwell were still creating though and almost doubled their advantage in bizarre circumstances when Allan Campbell’s tackle came off Cammy Ballantyne and almost flew into the net from forty-yards, but dropped just over the bar. Shortly after, Leitch had another low shot straight at Booth.

Craigan’s men finished the half stronger though and could have doubled their advantage shortly before the break when Moore cut it back for Falconer, but the outrushing Booth blocked his low shot. The rebound fell to Leitch but, leaning back, he blazed it over the bar.

‘Well made a positive start to the second period when McMillan blazed a shot over. At the other end, Jordan Garden took advantage of a pass that held up in the wind, but Morrison palmed his low shot wide of the post.

However, with their next attack, United got their leveller and it was a goal of some quality. Smith played a neat one-two with Aaron Duke before unleashing a dart of a shot into the top right corner from thirty yards out.

The goal rattled Motherwell for a spell, but the introduction of Mackin and Ferguson from the bench added some more experience and calmed things down.

Moore had a header for the Steelmen straight at Booth before United sub Murray got in behind the away defence, but it shot lacked power and was straight at Morrison.

There was a moment of significance on the 83rd minute when fourteen-year old front man Jamie Semple was introduced in place of Moore to make his debut for Stephen Craigan’s side.

And it was ‘Well who almost grabbed a winner in the last second. A free-kick was blasted off the wall by Mackin and when Hastie blasted the rebound back across goal, it hit Harry Souttar and trundled towards goal only to be hooked off the line by the recovering Logan Davie.

Motherwell U20s: Morrison, McMillan, Watt, Maguire, Livingstone (Ferguson – 78mins), Moore (Semple – 83mins), Turnbull, Campbell, R. Leitch, Hastie, Falconer (Makin – 63mins)

Subs Not Used: Long

Mark McGhee has said it’s hard work and rolling the sleeves up that will get Motherwell out of their recent bad run of form.

The Steelmen enjoyed a terrific December, going unbeaten for six games and the boss was awarded the Manager of the Month gong by the league.

However, since the convincing win over Cove Rangers, the Fir Parkers have struggled and only have a point at Dens Park to show for it.

The Claret and Amber men are back on Tayside tomorrow to take on Dundee United hoping to arrest a recent run that has seen the slip into eleventh.

And the current Scotland assistant knows there will have to be an improvement from Saturday’s defeat to Kilmarnock of the team are to take three points.

[pullquote]It’s then up to everyone to roll up their sleeves, to be determined and show the supporters that regardless of previous results, Saturday was more of a blip in performance.[/pullquote]

“Recent results have been disappointing, but Saturday was different,” McGhee explained.

“It was abject, there was nothing positive to take from it other than perhaps the performance of goalkeeper Connor Ripley.

“The best cure for that is to get back out there, to show we have got the bottle to face that, to take it on in what will be a difficult game.

“But we came in on Sunday, we’ve trained hard on Monday and we’ll meet again tomorrow and by the time we walk through the door at Tannadice, we’ll hopefully have Saturday out of our system.

“It’s then up to everyone to roll up their sleeves, to be determined and show the supporters that regardless of previous results, Saturday was more of a blip in performance.”

Extended highlights from Fir Park as Greg Kiltie and Craig Slater score in a 2-0 win for Kilmarnock.

Action images from today’s 0-2 defeat to Kilmarnock in the Ladbrokes Premiership at Fir Park.

Snaps courtesy of SNSPix

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‘Well boss Mark McGhee bemoans a ‘very bad day’ as ‘Well crash 0-2 at home to Kilmarnock this afternoon.

[tab:Match report]

 Phil McGhee Fir Park

Motherwell turned in a poor performance to lose 0-2 at home to Kilmarnock this afternoon.

Other than a positive opening fifteen minutes or so, it was a miserable afternoon for Mark McGhee’s men, who now drop to second bottom of the table.

In the end, two goals in a six-minute spell, from both Greg Kiltie and Craig Slater, secured the win for Lee McCulloch’s side.

‘Well boss Mark McGhee made just one change to the side that lost at home to Inverness seven days ago. Keith Lasley had been struggling with a back problem all week and was replaced in the starting eleven by Lionel Ainsworth.

‘Well started on the front foot and McDonald won an early free-kick that was eventually taken by Johnson, albeit it posed little threat to Jamie MacDonald’s goal.

The Fir Parkers forced a couple of corners, but despite delivery into a good area, there were no takers.

However, the visitors grew more and more into the game and Tope Obadeyi almost put his side ahead, robbing Morgaro Gomis on the edge of the area, but his low shot was straight at Ripley.

The on-loan Boro keeper made another good save, this time to deny Slater’s curling free kick to keep it all square.

Ripley was at it again ten minutes later, this time saving from Smith from a dead ball, conceding a corner kick in the process.

Motherwell were looking to hit on the counter and after winning a corner from a bursting Johnston run, McDonald found himself in space with his back to goal, but after teeing up Stephen McManus, the big defender’s shot was way off target.

Killie finished the half with a McKenzie shot that was comfortably saved by the on-loan Motherwell stopper.

McGhee made a chance at the break, introducing top-scorer Louis Moult in place of Lionel Ainsworth, and switching back to a regular 4-4-2 formation.

And the sub was in the thick of the action almost right away, flicking on a Hammell cross, but MacDonald was well placed to gather comfortably.

Minutes late it was McManus’ turn with a header, but sadly it was off target from Josh Law’s inviting delivery.

Then, from out of almost nowhere, Killie took the lead. A well-worked move across the pitch found Smith in spaceon the left. His delivery to the back post found Greg Kiltie and he made no mistake from close range, giving the Ayrshire side the lead.

It went from bad to worse as McCulloch’s men added a second just five minutes later. Picking up from a wide pass, Slater waltzed through the home defence and fired low past Ripley.

Motherwell had a chance for an instant reply, but sadly Marvin Johnson could only fire a low shot into the side netting.

Magennis and Slater came close to adding to the advantage, but both missed.

As the game moved towards it’s conclusion, Jamie MacDonald saved well at the feet of Moult and, in the last minute, the former Wrexham man hit the woodwork with a header to sum up a miserable day at the office for the Claret and Amber men.

[tab:As it happened]

 Ally Reilly at Fir Park

FT: Motherwell 0 – 2 Kilmarnock

90′ | 0-2
Off the bar from Moult. His header from 6 yards hits the woodwork.

88′ | 0-2
Final Killie sub, Slater off for Robinson

85′ | 0-2
Killie sub, McKenzie off for Carrick.

MATCH ATTAX | Young ‘Well fans can vote now for their Man of the Match. Tweet their name, age, choice & #MatchAttaxMOTM.

71′ | 0-2
Killie sub, Frizzel on for Obadeyi.

67′ | 0-2
Motherwell sub, Gomis off for Dom Thomas.

63′ | 0-2
Good chance for an instant reply but Johnson fires into the sidenetting from 15 yards.

61′ | 0-2
Goal – Slater waltzes through the centre of the pitch and fires low past Ripley to make it 2-0 to Killie.

56′ | 0-1
Goal – Kiltie sticks Killie ahead, sliding home a cross that was fired into the box.

53′ | 0-0
Dicker is booked for barging Johnson off the ball. He complains, but with no real cause.

51′ | 0-0
Obadayi booked for barging Johnson off the ball inches outside the Killie box…….Law takes the free-kick and it flies wide.

49′ | 0-0
McManus goes close with a header from Law’s free-kick delivery. Just over the bar.

46′ | 0-0
The sub is straight into the action, flicking on Hammell’s cross but MacDonald gathers easily.

There has been a change, Moult is on for Ainsworth.

Both teams are back out for part 2….

HT: Motherwell 0 – 0 Kilmarnock

45′ | 0-0
Pearson booked for thwarting a Killie counter-attack by hauling down Kiltie

42′ | 0-0
McKenzie finds plenty of space on the left and fires away a low powerful shot which Ripley deals with comfortably.

36′ | 0-0
From that delivery the ball is worked into McDonald with his back to goal and he lays off McManus who clips it well wide.

36′ | 0-0
Johnson gets the better of Hodson and his cross take a deflection, looping just over the bar for a corner.

……he gets it up and over the wall but Ripley dives low to his left and makes the stop.

33′ | 0-0
Hammell booked for taking down Magennis, about 25 yards from goal. Smith to take the free-kick….

31′ | 0-0
Johnson wins Motherwell a corner…..Ainsworth puts it into the box but there is no takers, sadly.

….and it’s well saved by Ripley! Tipped over the bar for a corner, which is cleared by McManus.

16′ | 0-0
Obadeyi dispossesses Gomis and gets a shot on goal which Ripley blocks with his feet. Killie now with a free-kick 22 yards out….

…from that corner the ball just doesn’t fall for a ‘Well player and Balatoni finally clears from the feet of McManus.

11′ | 0-0
Ainsworth crosses at the second attempt and it is deflected wide for a corner.

9′ | 0-0
Magennis combines with Kiltie inside the box, The youngster gets a shot away but Hammell gets in the way and deflects for a corner

5′ | 0-0
After a bit of discussion Peason lays it off to Johnson but his shot hits the wall and Kille clear.

5′ | 0-0
McDonald goes down about 25 yards from goal and wins ‘Well a free-kick….

Kilmarnock get the game underway. COYW!!

Out come the teams, both sides in their usual colours at a very cold Fir Park. Bit of snow here but nothing too serious.

[tab:Reaction]

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee:

Kilmarnock interim Manager: Lee McCulloch

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

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James McFadden has penned an extended deal that will keep him at Fir Park until the end of the current season.

The 48-times capped Scotland legend put pen to paper this morning, after his initial six-week deal expired recently.

McFadden, 32, will now battle with Louis Moult, Scott McDonald, Wes Fletcher, Lionel Ainsworth and Marvin Johnson for a spot in the starting eleven.

The player has been registered and is available for selection for today’s game against Kilmarnock, should Mark McGhee wish to use him in the squad.

McFadden said: “I’m really pleased to be staying on at Motherwell; I love it here and it’s the only club in Scotland I’d consider at this stage.

[pullquote]I’m really pleased to be staying on at Motherwell; I love it here and it’s the only club in Scotland I’d consider at this stage.[/pullquote]

“I’ve continued to train and I am ready to go right away. I will give everything I can for as long as I’m here.”

‘Well boss Mark McGhee said: “We’ve been keen to get James tied up for a while, but it had to be right for everyone.

“I’ve said it so many times, but you can’t have enough people with the ability and influence around the club the way James has.

“He’ll help our younger lads too – if you’re a Dylan Mackin or a Dom Thomas, you can’t help but learn from someone like that.

“More than that though, he’ll be able to help the lads on a Saturday afternoon. He’s a player with real ability and has looked very sharp in training.”

Extended highlights from Excelsior Stadium where Ross MacLean’s 64th minute penalty gives Motherwell U20s all three points against Rangers.

Under 20s boss Stephen Craigan shares his post-match delight after beating Rangers U20s 1-0 at Excelsior Stadium this afternoon.

Ten-man Motherwell U20s won 1-0 for the second time in four days, edging out Rangers at the Excelsior Stadium.

In a tightly fought encounter, the game’s pivotal moment came on the 65th minute when Jake Hastie won his side a penalty, duly converted by Ross MacLean.

Goalscorer MacLean would also see red in the dying seconds, when he took one for the team, pulling down Rangers sub Ross Lyon as he broke earning himself a second yellow.

The win moves ‘Well above Rangers and into seventh, their highest spot of the campaign, just a point behind Hearts in sixth with a game in hand over the Edinburgh club.

Stephen Craigan again named an extremely young starting eleven, which contained three sixteen-year olds, five seventeen-year olds and three eighteen-year olds.

And the Claret and Amber men started the game brightly, MacLean firing a low ball across the six-yard box before a well-worked corner almost presented a chance for Luke Watt, the defender not able to quite connect with a smart cross towards the edge of the box.

However, Rangers gradually worked their way into proceedings and should have taken the lead after six minutes, Josh Jeffries dragging a shot wide after good work from Mekhi Leacock-McLeod to win the ball back deep in Motherwell territory.

Motherwell replied with a MacLean shot dragged wide before Rangers came within an inch of scoring. Bursting clear on the counter, Dylan Dykes and Ryan Hardie combined, only for the former to hit a low shot off the woodwork. The rebound spun out to Jeffries, but he curled a shot over.

Rangers continued to push and Jordan Thompson had a shot straight at Morrison, but that was that in terms of chances in the first half.

The only other noteworthy item came in the shape of a pair of yellow cards, one for Rangers’ Dykes and the other for MacLean, which would prove important later in the game.

The visitors started the second half on the front foot and Dykes had a low, bouncing shot well wide of target. Seven minutes later, David Turnbull had Motherwell’s first effort of the second period, spinning cleverly from a throw in but drilled it wide of target.

Just before the hour, Motherwell had a claim for a penalty when Falconer went down under pressure from David Brownlie, but referee Craig Napier was having none of it. A minute later, Turnbull shot from distance again, but it dropped way wide.

Brownlie was again involved, this time down the other end, when he lost his marker from a free kick, but could only steer his free header over the bar from six yards.

It was to prove a crucial miss as with their next break just four minutes later, Motherwell won the penalty that would ultimately see them take all three points.

Again Brownlie was in the thick of the action, finding himself in a foot race with Hastie after Allan Campbell had threaded him through. Hastie won it, only to be bundled to the ground by a clash of legs. After not giving the early decision, this time the referee pointed to the spot.

MacLean kept his nerve to coolly slot into the bottom right corner, sending Robby McCrorie the wrong way.

‘Well finished the game strongly and a MacLean shot forced McCrorie to save before the same player had another shot following a short corner, only to fire it way wide of target.

In the dying seconds, PJ Morrison had to make a terrific one-handed save to stop sub Roberts after ‘Well had been cut open for the only real time in the half.

Just before the final whistle, Ross MacLean picked up a second yellow for a cynical tug as Rangers broke on the counter. Taking one for the team, he hauled the blue attack but was forced to sit out the last minute.

Motherwell: Morrison, McMillan, Livingston, Maguire, Watt, Campbell, MacLean, Turnbull, Falconer (Scott – 83mins), Hastie, R. Leitch

Subs Not Used: Long, Guthrie, Moore, Leighton

Goals: MacLean (65) (pen)

Red Card: MacLean (90)