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Ian Baraclough has urged his players to retain belief and their team shape as they bid to rejuvenate their survival hopes against Ross County.

Motherwell have scored nine goals without reply in their last two games at Fir Park before the Dingwall side visit but have since lost 2-0 on the road to both Partick Thistle and Hamilton to leave them six points – and eight goals – adrift of 10th-placed County.

Well have little room for error if they are to avoid the play-offs and Baraclough wants his players to impose themselves on Jim McIntyre’s side.

When asked what attributes are needed to get back on track, he said: “Passion, endeavour, a team ethos, work hard as a group and be very, very confident in your own ability and your team-mates’ abilities, and you will get your rewards. If you can guarantee those bullet points you will win most games.

“We have opposition who have done very well and are not going to roll over, we have to be ready for what they throw at us and be ready to counter that with our own style of play.”

[pullquote]”If we’re going to give ourselves a chance then for me in my mind we need to win this game. There’s no getting away from that.[/pullquote]

A win would get us to within three points of Ross County, which would give us more of a chance to drag that back.”

Motherwell have three of their last four games at home so there remains a glimmer of hope for their bid to avoid a season extension but that could be extinguished if they fail to win on Saturday.

But Baraclough is looking for his players to throw off the fears and go out and take the game to County.

“A manager is the focal point for the football club, the one who sits here and speaks to the media a lot of the time, he tries to instil confidence in players to try to go out and perform to their best with no inhibitions, with no shackles on, to allow them to express themselves,” the former Scunthorpe manager said.

“From day one I want players to do that within a team framework. There is pressure at any stage of the season wherever you are in the league.

“You would all like to be at the top end but there are pressures there as well. If you are going to be a professional player you have to learn to deal with these situations, otherwise it will be a short career.”

I would like to thank all the fans who turned up in such large numbers to New Douglas Park last Friday night to support our team. When the players came out onto the pitch, the colourful display of claret and amber in the away stand provided by the fans was simply fantastic.

Your enthusiasm and vocal encouragement for the players were the most redeeming features of a game that had a very disappointing result for the club.

Following that result, there is no hiding from the stark reality now facing us. Our current position in the league tells its own undeniable story. We are second bottom of the Premiership.

From time to time, I think about games we played during the earlier part of the season. I imagine goals that should have been scored or goals conceded that should have been avoided in games that we should have won.

But I realise that there is no point. We are where we are and we all have to do something to change that.

So, if we have any chance of avoiding an unwelcome extension to our season we need to see more points on the board.

For their part, the manager and players know in no uncertain terms what they have to do. I believe that now, more than at any time of the season so far, we have to play our part by giving the team our unwavering, unconditional support no matter what.

Clearly, following the results at the weekend, our encounter with Ross County takes on greater significance than we would have wished for at this stage of the season.

But we can still avoid the drop and the play-offs. That is a distinct possibility. With Ross County and Kilmarnock dropping three points on Saturday there is everything to play for until the end of the season.

Together, I believe emphatically that we should remain optimistic, positive, mentally strong and steely focused on securing as many points as is possible between now and the end of the season, starting with the game against Ross County.

Please, don’t give up the fight.

Brian McCafferty
Chairman

Ross County visit Fir Park  on Saturday and we are putting on a fantastic lunch menu in our hospitality suites.

It’s on a Saturday and it’s a 3pm kick off so an idea opportunity to combine a lovely afternoon meal with a game.

The Suites are already filling fast so it is sure to be an great atmosphere.

All hospitality packages include your match ticket, programme, team sheet and half time tea.

A Former player will host the afternoon with your chance to meet first team players and club staff whilst enjoying your afternoon’s football .

On the menu will be:

Soup
Roasted Carrot and Lentil
Served with continental roll & butter

*********

Main course
Scottish Rib Roast & Yorkshire pudding
Roast Sirloin of beef with a rich herb jus

*********

Sweet

Mile High Chocolate gateau
Served with fresh cream

Tea coffee & mints

You have a choice of three packages:

• Centenary Claret: Arriving at 1pm prompt for meal. Full service with access to a pay bar till kick off and then again for an hour post match. All this in the comfort of our Centenary Lounge. Book now from only £60 for an adult and £45 for a child under 16.
• Centenary Amber: Arriving at 1pm prompt for meal. Full table service with complimentary bar and then again for an hour post match. All this in the comfort of our Centenary Lounge. Book now from only £99 for an adult and £55 for a child under 16.
• Millennium Ticket: Enjoy a lighter bite with a complimentary bar for one-hour pre & post. Soup pre-match and half time refreshments, team sheet, match day programme for only £70 for an adult and £35 for a child under 16.

Remember, Season Ticket holders can upgrade to hospitality for just £25.

If you would like to book a place at our fantastic Hospitality Lunch, please phone Jennifer Reston on 01698 338 008 or email jennifer.reston@motherwellfc.co.uk.

Motherwell FC is pleased to announce a three-game ticket package for the remaining home matches of the season.

‘Well face an almighty battle over the next few weeks with Ross County, Kilmarnock and Partick Thistle all to visit North Lanarkshire between now and 23rd May.

And fans can do their bit with a combined ticket that will allow you into all three games for a reduced rate.

Tickets are priced at:

• Fans must purchase the ticket either from the Fir Park Ticket Office or online by CLICKING HERE.
• The ticket is non-transferable and refunds will not be given for any unused tickets.
• Concessions are listed as Over 60s and Full Time Students with a valid matriculation card.
• Juveniles are Under 16s.

Club Chairman Brian McCafferty said: “The next four games are going to be huge for this football club and we need everyone to play their part.

“The team need to give everything they can and to help them, we need supporters to come along and make Fir Park as noisy and supportive as possible.

“We’ve put this initiative together to try and help bolster the support – effectively making it £15 per game, or about £9 per head if you’re an adult bringing a youngster via our family ticket.”

Extended highlights from Fir Park as Motherwell beat Partick Thistle 2-0 in the Development League.

Under 20s boss Jonatan Johansson was satisfied with his side’s second half performance in today’s 2-0 win over Partick Thistle

After a dull opening forty-five men, JJ’s men sprung into life, with goals from Conor Grant and Steven Higgins enough to secure all three points for ‘Well.

Speaking post-match to MFCTV the Finn said, “I thought it was a good competitive game.

“I enjoyed it and although the first half was scrappy, I was pleased with the second half.

“In the first half we wanted to play the ball from the back, as we didn’t do that well enough last week but it became  a little bit too laboured. We didn’t go forward enough – it’s alright playing from the back but there has to be an end product too.

“In the second half we were sharper and looked forward more. We put Conor in the hole behind the striker and I thought he did really well. He’s got a fantastic left foot and did well for his goal.

“It’s great to get a team on the back foot straight away after scoring and we did that. I said to Higgy after the game that it’s not often you see him in the box getting tap-in’s, but today he did that, got his reward and killed the game.”

Two quick-fire second half goals gave Motherwell U20s a comfortable win over Partick Thistle this afternoon.

The Steelmen, flush with first-team experience, got their noses in front just before the hour when Conor Grant smashed a low shot through goalkeeper Connor Cullin.

Ninety seconds later and Steven Higgins had doubled the advantage and that was enough for ‘Well to see it through and take all three points.

Jonatan Johansson made just two changes to the side that drew with Ross County last midweek. Zaine Francis-Angol and Dylan Mackin dropped out, replaced by Stuart Carswell and Conor Grant.

The game took some time to really get going – the pitch was dry and neither side could really get their foot on the ball. Ben Hall had a half chance on the eleventh minute, heading Grant’s corner just over.

Thistle took twenty minutes to register an effort at goal but two quick-fire efforts from Matthew McInally and Dale Keenan both ended up in the Davie Cooper Stand.

The closest any side came during the first-half was on the half hour when McInally’s shanked cross from the left almost caught out Long, but the young Northern Irishman was grateful the spinning ball came back off the frame of the goal.

Fraser had a shot straight at Long and, likewise, Grant had a free kick straight at Cullin but neither side managed to get themselves ahead before the break.

The Jags made a positive start to the second forty-five and only an excellent close-range save by Long denied midfielder Dominic Docherty, who had made a late run into the area.

‘Well responded immediately through MacLean, who got on the end of a wonderful Stevie Hammell cross from the left but his low shot was deflected just wide by the charging Thistle rear-guard.

Fraser had another shot straight at Long and Jack Leitch swept a MacLean shot just wide of target before the Steelmen eventually got their noses in front.

Leitch’s inviting channelled ball down the left had Higgins on the scamper with former Hamilton defender Ryan Finnie. After a coming together, Higgins emerged with the ball, squared it inside for the supporting Conor Grant who drilled it low through Cullin and into the net.

Incredibly, ninety-second later, ‘Well doubled their lead. Substitute Dylan Mackin, brought on at the interval in place of Craig Moore, fired a low shot that forced Cullin to palm away. Higgins was quick on the follow up and he slotted home into the net.

‘Well could and should have made it three just sixty-second later. Ross MacLean’s deep cross to the back post almost found Mackin on the stretch but he couldn’t get a good connection and the chance was gone.

Other than a Fraser shot from distance that flew wide, that was the end of the chances. Both teams made changes but as the weather took a turn for the worse, the game soon ended with ‘Well holding out for the win.

Motherwell: B.Long, Watt, Hammell, Carswell, O’Brien, Hall, Grant, J.Leitch, Moore (Mackin – 46mins), Higgins (R.Leitch – 79mins), MacLean

Subs: Currie, McNulty, McCall, Watters, Mackin, McMillan

The Under 20s are back in action this afternoon (Monday) when they take on Partick Thistle at Fir Park.

A very young Steelmen side lost 1-0 the last time the teams locked horns just one month ago at the Excelsior Stadium.

And now looking to build on last week’s battling point against Ross County, Jonatan Johansson’s men will look to finish the season strongly.

Entry to the match is free-of-charge with kick off scheduled for 2pm.

‘Well boss Ian Baraclough was left to rue missed chances as his team lost 2-0 to Hamilton this evening.

The Steelmen hit the woodwork on three separate occasions and found Michael McGovern in top form throughout the ninety minutes.

On the other hand, Accies were clinical, twice capitalising on Motherwell’s loose possession to score via Jason Scotland and Ali Crawford.

It leaves ‘Well with a huge task to avoid finishing in the Playoff spots with four games left of the current campaign.

[pullquote]I’m frustrated that we have created more chances and better chances and to come away without scoring is amazing for me. We just weren’t clinical enough.[/pullquote]

He said: “I’m frustrated that we have created more chances and better chances and to come away without scoring is amazing for me. We just weren’t clinical enough.

“We created good chances, there were six or seven at least that I counted, we hit the woodwork a couple of times and their keeper has pulled off a couple of good saves from one-on-ones. That has cost us.

“Their two goals have come from positions of good possession, we have given it away cheaply, they have broken and been clinical. There’s the difference.

“We still have to believe we can bridge the gap.”

Extended highlights from New Douglas Park as Motherwell lose 2-0 to local rivals Hamilton Accies.