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Willie Collum will take charge of Sunday’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League meeting with St Johnstone at Fir Park.

Regarded as one of Scotland’s best officials, it will be Willie’s fourth Motherwell game of the current campaign.

He took charge of both William Hill Scottish Cup clashes with Aberdeen, in the first meeting at Pittodrie, Niall McGinn headed home a late equaliser to cancel out Jamie Murphy’s opener 10 minutes from time and there was disappointment for the Steelmen in the replay as goals from Rory Fallon and Joe Shaughnessy helped the Dons progress to the next round.

Motherwell were handed a lifeline in injury-time when Michael Higdon netted from the penalty spot, however Craig Brown’s side held firm in the final minutes.

Collum’s other match this season was the 1-0 defeat at Tynecastle in October when Danny Grainger’s long-range effort separated the sides.

He’ll be a familiar face to most ‘Well fans having officiated at the top level for many years now, including two Motherwell matches last term.

He took charge of the 0-0 draw with Rangers at Ibrox in early May, Rangers’ last SPL fixture at their own ground. The other match was Motherwell’s Scottish Communities League Cup defeat at home to Hibs; the Easter Road men progressing through on penalties.

Incredibly, Motherwell have never won a league game with Collum in charge. The only victories recorded whilst the Bellshill based whistler has been the man in the middle was the then CIS Cup win against Raith Rovers at the start of the 2007/08 season, a Scottish Cup success at Inverurie the following season and a 1-0 success over Dundee United in the League Cup – Alan Gow’s goal earning the Fir Park side a place in the last four.

His overall record in charge of the Steelmen reads three wins, ten defeats and five draws from eighteen matches. In those games, Motherwell have scored 24 and conceded 33. 34 players have gone into the book, 15 wearing Claret and Amber, while three players have been dismissed – Ian Murray of Hibs at Easter Road a few years back, Jerard Aafjes at Falkirk four seasons ago and Paul Dixon at the end of 2009/10.

Martin Cryans and Willie Conquer will run the lines with Greg Aitken on fourth official duties.

Extended highlights from Fir Park as a Bob McHugh quadruple and a super Stevie Hetherington bullet gives Motherwell U20s a 5-1 win over St Johnstone.

-WATCH EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS ONLY ON MFC TV-

Goal-getter Bob McHugh hopes his quadruple against St Johnstone U20s will help him play his way into a first-team start.

Jamie Murphy’s departure to Sheffield United has left an opening in the Steelmen’s attack.

21-year old McHugh will battle it out with Omar Daley and new signing Kallum Higginbotham for the nod and he did his chances no harm with a fabulous four against Saints.

[pullquote]There is definitely going to be a place in the team now with Jamie Murphy away so I’m hoping I can push forward and hopefully show the manager I can fill that gap.[/pullquote]

He told MFC TV: “There is definitely going to be a place in the team now with Jamie Murphy away so I’m hoping I can push forward and hopefully show the manager I can fill that gap.

“Personally I am happy with the four goals and that is what you are looking to do as a striker but the main thing is it’s a good win for the team and it gets us back on track. There’s certainly no point in just turning up and not working hard.

“I work on every type of finishing in training so when the chance comes along hopefully I can finish it.

“To score goals though you need you need service and I had some great service from the boys tonight.”

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV-

Under 20s boss Jonatan Johansson was delighted his side got back to winning ways after a thumping 5-1 win over St Johnstone.

An experienced Steelmen side, containing no fewer than eight players with first-team experience along with new singing Kallum Higginbotham, proved too much for what was a young Saints line-up.

Bob McHugh demonstrated his quality with an impressive four-goal haul, including a super strike to secure his hat-trick.

Stevie Hetherington rounded off the win with a stunning long-range effort and completed what was a good run out for a lot of lads who haven’t had too much competitive football of late.

106-times capped Johansson was pleased his side started the second half of the campaign in positive fashion.

[pullquote]We were rusty in the first half and we were slow to start. The passing was poor and we were a bit fortunate to be 2-0 at half time but in saying that the second half  was very good and we scored some very good goals so that is pleasing.[/pullquote]

“I’m happy to be on a winning team again,” he told MFC TV after the match.

“We were rusty in the first half and we were slow to start. The passing was poor and we were a bit fortunate to be 2-0 at half time but in saying that the second half  was very good and we scored some very good goals so that is pleasing.

“I said before it’s very important to get the little break out of your system and it’s good for some of the first team to do it here and not under the pressure of a Saturday game. It was a bonus to all of  them to play in this game and get that winning mentality back.

“Bob is a fantastic finisher and it’s no surprise he scores for the first team when he comes on and it’s no surprise he scores four goals at this level. His all round game is very good and I’m pleased to have him in my side.”

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV-

Bob McHugh struck four times as a strong Motherwell side romped to a 5-1 victory over St Johnstone at a freezing Fir Park.

‘Well were slightly fortuitous to lead 2-0 at half time thanks to McHugh’s bundled effort from a corner, and a penalty after Craig Moore had been wrangled to the ground by Saints keeper Clark.

Craig Thompson struck to halve the deficit for the visitors before McHugh grabbed his hat-trick from 12 yards after great work from Kallum Higginbotham.

The loanee from Huddersfield turned provider once more to set up his strike partner’s fourth, before Steven Hetherington sealed the win with a fine long range effort.

Higginbotham impressed on his first outing in Claret and Amber, as Jonathan Johansson’s fielded a number of first team regulars against the Perth side.

The experience showed from the off, but it was the visitors who should have gone ahead when Craig Thompson pulled his shot wide after Scott Gray picked up on a slack Hetherington pass to play him in.

The warning wasn’t heeded and again Thompson had the chance to put the Saints ahead against the run of play, after Zaine Francis-Angol failed to clear a ball in to the box. The number 9’s effort trundled along the six-yard box though with Hollis beaten.

While keeping the majority of possession, ‘Well failed to create many clear-cut chances, with Josh Watt and Higginbotham firing tamely at Clark. They did however make the breakthrough on 38 minutes, when a corner was knocked down in the six-yard box for McHugh to nudge over the line at the second time of asking.

Three minutes later he had the chance to double his tally, when Clark wrestled Craig Moore to the ground Greco-Roman style to concede a penalty. McHugh stepped up to fire it in to the bottom left corner, despite the keeper getting a hand to it.

The second half saw Saints briefly get back in to the match, when Thompson got his goal at the third time of asking, running through on Hollis before slotting it under the advancing goalie.

The two goal ‘Well lead was restored in style just two minutes later though, when Higginbotham turned is men inside out on the right, before driving a low cross on to the toe of McHugh, who fired high in to the net from ten yards. It was a great strike to cap his hat-trick, but he wasn’t done there, grabbing his fourth of the evening after more good work from Higginbotham.

The Huddersfield man spotted Bob’s run before weighting a great pass for him to roll under Clark to put the ‘Well 4-1 up. The win was made to look even more convincing when Steven Hetherington brought down a clearance 25 yards out, before crashing a powerful shot high in to the net to bring the scoring to an end.

The quality in Johansson’s team selection showed, and Stuart McCall and Kenny Black will have been pleased at the run out and performance of both Higginbotham and McHugh.

Steven Saunders got a solid 90 minutes under his belt as well, giving McCall a bit of a selection headache ahead of Sunday’s SPL match with Saints.

Motherwell: Hollis, Kerr (Murray – 46mins), Francis-Angol (Leitch – 46mins), Saunders, Cummins, Hetherington, Watt (Asghar – 66mins), Carswell, McHugh, Higginbotham, Moore

Subs Not Used: Stewart, Johnstone, McCafferty, Shirkie

Goals: McHugh (38), (42), (52), (73) Hetherington (81)

Bookings: Leitch

Every month this season, Cash Converters will be giving you the opportunity to present your Motherwell Player of the Month with their trophy, and now is your chance to vote for who you think deserves to receive December’s award.

All you need to do is vote for which ‘Well player you think has been the stand-out performer for December and, if you are correct, you could be chosen at random from all entries received, to congratulate our star man in person at Fir Park ahead of the next home fixture.

To cast your vote, simply visit our SPL Facebook page, or by CLICKING HERE.

The link will also give you the opportunity to enter the draw to take part in the next ‘Convert for Cash’, and the chance to sit in the dugout at Fir Park.

For the December Player of the Month – VOTE HERE.

Under 20s boss Jonatan Johansson is looking forward to getting back to football ahead of St Johnstone’s visit to Fir Park on Tuesday.

The youths haven’t been in action for a month since slipping to a 3-2 home defeat at the hands of Dundee in mid December.

With four weeks on the training pitch a mini pre-season under their belts; the former Finnish International striker can’t wait to get the lads out on the pitch again.

[pullquote]Everybody wants to show they are better than the league position they are in and also players are seeing the end of the season and are playing for contracts and first team places.[/pullquote]

He told MFC TV: “It’s a new start and after the break in the league we are feeling fresh.

“Hopefully we use that to perform a little bit better than the first half of the season.

“Fitness is always one thing you can make sure you are good enough to compete and we’ve been doing that the past few weeks. Also we set some targets to not only improve the players but to reduce the amount of goals we’ve been conceding.

“Everybody wants to show they are better than the league position they are in and also players are seeing the end of the season and are playing for contracts and first team places. Hopefully that will make us more competitive.

“If you look at the last few games St Johnstone have played they’ve fielded a few first team players. We haven’t played them this season so it will be interesting and I think it will be a good game.”

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV-

Weatherseal, the SPL’s official home improvement partner, today offers Motherwell supporters the chance to meet first team goalkeeper Darren Randolph at a special event taking place at Hampden Park.

Every one of the league’s first team keepers will be present for a unique photo-call, and with them one lucky Steelman (or women) will have the chance to meet Darren and appear in the picture!

To enter simply visit Weatherseal’s dedicated competition page: http://www.insafehands-weatherseal.co.uk.

The rules are simple, but important so please read on: Entrants must be over 16 and available on the afternoon of Wednesday 23rd January to attend the event at Hampden Park. Attending goalkeeper is subject to change (in case of injury, illness etc).  Winners will be notified after 12pm on Friday 18th January.

You’re always In Safe Hands with Weatherseal as a proud partner of Motherwell FC.

Former ‘Well forward Jamie Murphy has been named Clydesdale Bank Premier League Player of the Month for December.

Murphy helped ‘Well to ten points from five games in December as they recorded three wins and one draw in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.  Motherwell began the month with an entertaining 3-2 win over Ross County, and then won by the same margin away to Hibs with Murphy scoring twice.

Motherwell then suffered a 2-1 defeat to St Mirren, however, they bounced back in style with a comfortable 4-1 win over Aberdeen, with Jamie Murphy again contributing by scoring a double for his side. Murphy’s impressive form continued as he scored in the 2-2 draw with Kilmarnock, in what turned out his last home game for the club before joining Sheffield United.

It was Murphy’s five goals and all round entertaining performances that led the panel to pick him as their Clydesdale Bank Premier League Player of the Month.

A panel of Scottish football experts chose the award winners from a shortlist which included the top three fans’ nominations from Clydesdale Bank’s football website, www.cbfootball.co.uk.

At Motherwell Football Club our aim is to provide young children with the best possible introduction to football that’s why our Mini Steelkids programme is so important to us.

Aimed at boys and girls between the ages of 3 and 5 the Mini Steel kids sessions aim to grow the child’s love of the beautiful game, and develop football skills and techniques. Just as importantly the programme aims to nurture balance, co-ordination, confidence, and sharing within a safe and fun environment.

The Mini Steelkids programme is also the first step on our player pathway that leads all the way through to the Motherwell FC first team squad.

We are looking for coaches to work within our expanding Mini Steelkids programme on a sessional basis. You will understand the needs of children, possess good communication skills and have a commitment to child development. You will also have coaching badges on the Scottish FA children’s pathway.

In return we can offer you an hourly rate of up to £10.00 per hour depending upon experience, a free ticket to Motherwell FC premier league home games, coaches training gear and the opportunity to work within and exciting environment.

Interested? Then drop us a line at community@motherwellfc.co.uk or call us on 01698 239 926.