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Brodie Spencer speaks to the press ahead of our return to competitive action against St. Mirren.

Fresh off the back of an international campaign, Northern Ireland defender Brodie Spencer is keen for redemption over the Paisley side.

“The good thing about football is you’ve always got another chance to prove yourself,” said Spencer.

“I think the lads need to do that. I wasn’t involved in the last game as I wasn’t here yet, but I think all the lads know that they need to win this time, they’re already one up on us so we can’t let them go again.

“Of course that’s very good for everyone’s confidence, but I think it’s still very early in the league, I think we need to keep our heads on and just stay grounded, humble, take each game by game and try to win every game we can.”

The Steelmen will refocus their attention back to league action this weekend following a short international break, with Spencer looking to develop upon his recent international experience.

“Going away with Northern Ireland is one of the best things ever,” Spencer explained.

“It’s everyone’s dream, so to be able to do that with the senior team is obviously unbelievable.

“Being around the best players in the country, I’ve learned so much from them and they’ve probably found me annoying with how much questions I ask them. I think going away with them is a massive learning curve and you just need to take everything you can from it.

“Northern Ireland are going through a sort of transition stage at the moment, a lot of young players coming through which is good for us but I think it’s the responsibility on the team, it’s going to be quite tough for a few years until people start getting a bit of experience in senior International football but I think they’re on a very good road.”

Several promising young Northern Irish talents have since thrived and built the foundations of their career in Scottish football in recent years, and Spencer is keen to build upon that list.

“I’m seeing other players from Northern Ireland in the league who are thriving and they’re really enjoying the football.

“They’re playing week in week out and getting the most out of the league that they can, so as soon as I see that, I think that’s what I want to be, that’s what I want to be doing; I want to be playing week in week out in a competitive league.

“I think the league is obviously very competitive, you can’t guess who’s going to finish where, so I think that’s what I wanted. Motherwell are a big club in in Scotland and a very competitive club and that’s what I think I needed.

“At some point in everyone’s career, especially as early on as you can get, you need to be exposed to that men’s football who fighting every week for three points, that’s another stepping stone in your career.”

We’re asking both sets of supporters to bring along items for our food bank collection at our match with Celtic on Saturday 30 September.

We’re collecting items on the day of the game for the Maranatha Motherwell Food Bank.

We are asking fans to bring what they can to support this important cause, so that those in need can receive a food parcel to help.

Items needed are:

• Soup
• Beans
• Tinned pasta
• Custard/ Rice Puddinga
• Tinned Fruit
• Tinned Meat
• Meals in a tin
• Tuna
• Pasta n Sauce
• Noodles
• Long Life Milk
• Breakfast Cereal
• Tinned Vegetables
• Potatoes in a Tin
• Toiletries -soap, shower gel, Shampoo etc
• Tea/coffee

Motherwell fans can drop off at the Cooper Stand car park. Celtic fans’ drop points are on your approach to the Tommy McLean Stand. Collections are available from 11am. Stewards will direct you on arrival at the Davie Cooper Stand to drop donations inside the stadium.

Thank you for your help. Your contributions will be a massive help to those in need.

Three successive victories in East Kilbride has preserved an impeccable unbeaten home record for the women of steel, but replicating their success on the road has proven to be a strenuous undertaking and midfielder Tara McGonigle believes finding their rhythm will be key to success.

“I think we’ve found it difficult to find our rhythm in away games so far,” said McGonigle.

“We’ve let ourselves down so far with away ties, but we’ve looked back on areas we need to tighten up on, and we look to do this in the tough run of away fixtures we have coming up.”

The first Lanarkshire derby victory of the 2023/24 SWPL campaign was complimented with commanding performances over Spartans and newly promoted Montrose, with Paul Brownlie’s side achieving maximum points at home thus far.

“It’s extremely important we keep our momentum at home,” McGonigle explained.

“I think we’ve shown a lot of resilience at home so far. We’ve had a few tough battles, but keeping our composure especially in-front of goal has really helped us to settle into our game and play our style of football.

“We don’t want this to be an easy place for teams to pick up points and we’re working hard on and off the pitch to be tactically hard to break down at all times.

“At home, we have been performing better although still not at the same level we are capable of, and battling for results is something we need to take on the road with us to really push our season on”

A late goal in Springburn denied Motherwell their first points on the road last weekend, with Partick Thistle salvaging a late victory in a game of defensive prowess and limited goalscoring opportunities for both sides. A tough 4-1 defeat to league leaders Rangers at a rainswept Broadwood Stadium followed, as the women of steel continue to seek their first points on the road.

“It was extremely disappointing to concede the late goal against Thistle. We looked strong defensively and were on top throughout the second half, but one moment of switching off gave them the lead.

“It’s something we need to learn from and be alert at every moment during the game, especially during set pieces.”

As the side look to get their form back on track, McGonigle detailed what Brownlie’s message was to the players for the upcoming season.

“The message was that we need to recover from the game and focus on the next challenge. We will definitely reflect and look over aspects of the game, but this gives us a good chance to bounce back

“We believe in ourselves and want to prove we are good enough to take points from the top of the table sides, and hopefully on Sunday we can take something from the game.”

Following an extended international break, the women of steel return to action in the Sky Sports League Cup, as Paul Brownlie’s side look to replicate last season’s Scottish cup successes which saw the side overcome Gartcairn, Montrose and Glasgow Women before facing Rangers in a closely-fought Semi-Final at Hampden Park.

The brief hiatus from the domestic calendar has allowed the squad the ideal opportunity to regroup following a tough final week, with competitive performances against Partick Thistle, Rangers and Hibernian yielding no points.

With a trip to Links Park on the horizon, Motherwell will be looking to finally conclude their misfortunes on the road and secure their second victory over Montrose this season.

The Tale of the Tape

Motherwell

The women of steel will be keen to replicate their league victory over Sunday’s hosts, as they prepare to kickstart their league cup campaign.

Motherwell’s last victory in the domestic calendar came against the Gable Endies earlier this month, with strikes from Katie Rice, Louisa Boyes and Kaela McDonald-Nguah securing a comprehensive 3-1 victory at K-Park.

The women of steel will be looking to surpass last-season’s Quarter-Final exit to eventual champions Rangers, with the side envisioning a place in the latter stages of the competition.

Montrose

The hosts have had a tough start to life in the SWPL after their title-deciding SWPL 2 campaign last season, with the side picking up one win from their opening eight league encounters.

A heavy defeat to Rangers will have drained much optimism gained from their historic first Premier Legue victory over Dundee United in the same week.

The Links Park side will be keen to establish a lengthy cup run to support their efforts in their maiden league campaign.

Ticket Information

Cash & card payments are also available for this fixture.

• Adult – £7
• Concession – £5
• Under 16s – Free to enter when accompanied by an adult.

*Concession tickets apply to those over 65, and to full-time students eligible with a valid matriculation card.

How to follow the action

Supporters travelling to Links Park will be available to access the ground within the hour prior to kick-off at 1PM.

Sunday’s encounter can be followed online on Twitter @motherwellwomen, with a full report of the action available post-match.

Stuart Kettlewell speaks to the press prior to our return to competitive action against St. Mirren.

The Steelmen will refocus their attention back to league action this weekend following a short international break, as Motherwell look to preserve their unbeaten start to the 2023/24 campaign, with Manager Stuart Kettlewell keen to avoid complacency after a positive start.

“We’re always going to strive for more, we’re always going to think that we can do more”, said Kettlewell.

“We’ve had a good start that’s all it is. We’ve gave ourselves a decent platform, started the season relatively well and we now come into a real tough string of games.

“The one thing I know is that if we can keep applying ourselves and keep performing to the levels that we have done, we give ourselves a chance.”

Whilst the squad continue to make strides on the pitch, recent injury woes have continued to hamper the options at their disposal, but Kettlewell is hopeful to have more back to fitness in the coming weeks.

“We’ve not had our challenges to seek in terms of injuries”, Kettlewell explained.

“I think a lot of the long-term ones; John Obika, Mika Biereth, Connor Wilkinson, Pape Souaré, we know where they are, but unfortunately we had a few to add to that over the last week and a half.

“Blair Spittal, Liam Kelly, Shane Blaney, so again probably another three to add into the mix, but for those guys, they are edging closer towards fitness but again they remain doubts for the game unfortunately.

“It’s just a case of whether we can get enough work into them, get them on the park and see whether they are available for Saturday, but as it stands just now with all three, there’s absolutely no certainty on that.”

Goalkeeper, Liam Kelly has maintained an impeccable level of fitness in recent seasons, playing in 112 consecutive games, but a recent knock forced the Scotland international out of their recent Euro 2024 Qualifying campaign.

“He had a problem with his back, but he had to pull out of the squad”, Kettlewell announced.

“I think that anyone who knows Liam understand his professionalism and his will to play. He has been working away tirelessly since he left the Scotland camp, been through a few appointments and a couple of procedures, and it is just a case of how that settles over the next day or two.

“We’ll find that out, but he’s done a lot of travelling to make sure he’s seen the best people to put him in place to try and have a chance to play in the game, but I can’t confirm that at this minute in time unfortunately.”

One further squad departure in Joe Efford has limited Kettlewell’s attacking options, but insists that it has been a financially beneficial step for the club.

“There’s a couple of factors in the Joe Efford situation, it had been stop starts in my time coming in. Joe had a bad injury in his quad before I’d came in and was fighting his way back to fitness.

“Joe’s never been a problem with me and I need go on record in saying that, but I think sometimes in football you need a fresh challenge, you need a fresh start and that’s how I see it.

“My voice isn’t going to resonate with absolutely everybody. My message, my methods isn’t going to measure up with everybody. He’s been a kind of model professional in terms of how he goes about his business here, but sometimes you almost have to hold your hands up and say that there needs to be a fresh start and there needs to be a bit of change.

“Managers don’t get a lot of credit for it, but it’s the financial side it as well. Joe was one of the top-earners at the football club and I’m immensely proud with the work that’s been done over the summer in conjunction with the board, the chief executive, head of recruitment, myself and other members of staff at the football club, that will have managed to really kind of trim things down.”

Motherwell take on champions Celtic on Saturday 30 September at Fir Park.

Kick-off is 12.3opm.

How to follow the game

– Concessions Tickets would be ages 65 and over and FT Students with a valid matric card.
– Young Adults tickets would ages 12 to 17.
– Juveniles would be 11 and under

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

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

Tickets can be purchased online.

Our home match against Celtic will be shown live on our pay-per-view streaming service. 

The match will be available for £15.

You will be able to purchase online.

Kit Watch

We will be wearing our home kit for this match.

Team News

Jon Obika, Calum Butcher and Mika Biereth all remain missing for this match.

Pape Souare travelled with the squad to Ibrox on Sunday and Conor Wilkinson came on as a second half substitute as he made his comeback.

Motherwell’s Fortunes

Despite picking up no points in their last two outings against St Mirren and Rangers, the mood within the Motherwell camp is a positive one.

A dominant performance against St Mirren was followed by a very impressive display at Ibrox however, in both games, the Steelmen couldn’t find the breakthrough.

Conor Wilkinson made his return from injury against Rangers and Pape Souare was in the match day squad, however was unstripped on the day.

Last time out against Celtic, Motherwell earned a valiant point at Celtic Park. Kevin van Veen cancelled out Kyogo’s opener as Motherwell became the first team to take points away from Parkhead in the 2022/23 cinch Premiership season.

Opposition Report

With the Ange Postecoglu era now over at Celtic, Brendan Rodgers returned to the helm in the summer.

The new boss has guided his team to top of the table after six games, collecting 16 points in the process.

Despite Joe Hart being shown red in the first half, Celtic cruised their way to a 3-0 win over Livingston in their last match. Matt O’Riley has made a promising start to his season, scoring four goals and assisting twice in eight games.

The every present Kyogo, who was the cinch Premiership top goalscorer last season, has also scored four times this campaign.

Joe Hart will be missing for this game through suspension.

Cameron Carter-Vickers, Liel Abada and Nat Phillips have all been missing through injury of late. Maik Nawrocki and Stephen Welsh have also been sidelined.

Our kick-off time for our home match against Celtic later this month has been brought forward.  

Originally kicking off at 3pm, the match will now start at the slightly earlier time of 12.30pm on Saturday 30 September.

It was a case of ‘what if’ last week against St Mirren for Motherwell, when the failed to add the finishing touch to an impressive display and with a trip to Ibrox looming, Stuart Kettlewell’s team had to add quality in the final third. 

A bright start in Govan for the ‘Well would fill the near 400 travelling supporters with optimism, with Harry Paton and Callum Slattery each going close.

Brodie Spencer was an ever continuous threat but despite the good start, it was the hosts who take the lead through a very fortunate Cyriel Dessers deflection.

Motherwell would continue to create time after time as Oli Shaw was presented with the best chance of the game in the second half as he was put through 1v1 with Jack Butland.

Blair Spittal seen two efforts cleared off the line as the Steelmen went back to Lanarkshire quizzing themselves how they haven’t scored or recored a point in the last two outings.

Motherwell’s matchday woes on the road persisted in Cumbernauld, as the women of steel suffered a 4-1 defeat to league leaders Rangers under the lights of a rainswept Broadwood stadium on Wednesday.

Kirsty Maclean got Rangers off the mark after half an hour to give Jo Potter’s side a slim advantage at the break. Rio Hardy doubled the advantage early into the second half, with Rachel McLaughlin adding a third on the hour mark.

Carla Boyce pulled one back in the latter stages of the second half, but a 90^th-minute Kirsty Howat strike settled an assured 3-goal advantage for the hosts.

Head coach Paul Brownlie made three changes from Sunday’s late defeat to Partick Thistle, with Kaitlyn Canavan, Sarah Gibb and Hannah Cunningham returning to the starting XI, as Katie Rice, Tara McGonigle and Carla Boyce settled for a place on the bench.

Looking to put a halt to their recent away record, Motherwell started brightly, testing Victoria Esson in the Rangers goal. Canavan shielded the ball well at the edge of the box before being impeded at the edge of the Rangers penalty area. McDonald-Nguah stepped up and drilled an exceptional effort that looked destined for the top-right corner before curling agonisingly over the crossbar.

The Gers broke the deadlock midway through the first-half, as Middag’s short corner caught the Motherwell defence off-guard, and Laura Berry coasted through the visiting penalty area before coolly dispatching an accurate finish into the bottom-right corner.

The hosts netted a second moments after the restart, with Mclaughlin’s pinpoint delivery from the right sailing invitingly into the path of Hardy, who headed home with ease.

The third of the evening came shortly after, with McLaughlin converting with a composed finish, picking out the bottom-corner.

A late Motherwell resurgence saw a flurry of chances narrowly evade the Rangers goal. A floated delivery from the right was accurately met by an unmarked Chelsie Watson in the air, but the centre-backs wayward header failed to trouble the Rangers stopper.

Amy Anderson tried her luck from distance, with a spectacular effort from over 30-yards out rattling the crossbar, but the breakthrough failed to materialise.

As the full-time whistle approached, Motherwell finally got their reward. Indecision in the Rangers backline allowed Boyce to capitalise, with the striker curling a precise effort into the bottom-left corner, leaving Esson caught in no-man’s land.

Motherwell pushed forward in search of a second and found themselves caught on the counter, with the hosts netting a decisive fourth, as Howat volleyed home Mia McAulay’s delivery.

Motherwell will return to home this weekend looking to preserve their unbeaten record at K-Park, with Hibs the visitors in East Kilbride.

Despite being arguably the better team in the match, Motherwell came away with nothing from Ibrox on Sunday afternoon, with Robbi Matondo’s deflected effort off of Cyriel Dessers deciding the match. 

Paul McGinn returned to the side, while Conor Wilkinson made the bench, having recovered from injury.

Harry Paton was the first to go close after just five minutes, he worked the space on the edge of the box before striking the ball just past Jack Butland’s post.

Blair Spittal’s delivery from a free kick was good and Sam Lammers could only header the ball back into the danger area where Bevis Mugabi looked like he would get on the end of it. However, Conor Goldson hooked the ball over the bar before the Ugandan could get a touch.

Paton and Callum Slattery linked well before the latter drove into the box and slid the ball wide on 16 minutes.

Despite a promising start, Motherwell fell behind on 24 minutes. Matondo struck towards goal and his effort came off of Dessers in the area to wrong foot Liam Kelly in the goal and the ball drifted into the net. 1-0.

As the half drew to a close, there was another opening for the visitors. Spittal crossed the ball into the box with Theo Bair flicking on behind him, wing back Brodie Spencer came rushing in however he couldn’t get a connection with the ball in the area.

Just before the hour mark and with the score still 1-0, Kelly came rushing out of his net and wiped out Dessers in the box with the Ibrox crowd pleading for a penalty. Fortunately for the Motherwell captain, the linesman had his flag up to save his blushes.

With Rangers creating a couple of openings that were dealt with by the Motherwell backline, the game was nearing it’s conclusion and Motherwell had a flurry of chances to equalise.

Spittal seen his low effort cleared off the line by James Tavenier, with Oli Shaw also being presented with a golden chance. The ball was fed through by Bair for the substitute but his effort was saved by Butland.

Georgie Gent set Spittal up right at the death but once again, the midfielder seen his effort cleared off the line by Goldson before the flag went up for offside.