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‘Well boss Stuart McCall has challenged his ‘Well side to get back to winning ways against an improving Hearts.

The Fir Park gaffer has warned the squad of the threat posed by Gary Locke’s men, who have lost just one of their last six matches since the Steelmen won at Tynecastle in January.

In contrast, the Fir Parkers suffered defeat at both Dundee United and St Johnstone in the last seven days, conceding sloppy goals along the way.

To make matters worse, experienced fullback Stevie Hammell and Estonian International Henri Anier join five other first-team players on the injured list.

[pullquote]Although we are down to the absolute bare bones, it’s up to the guys who are fit and selected to go out there and hopefully get us back to winning ways.[/pullquote]

Looking ahead to the match, McCall told MFC TV: “Hearts pose a threat as, psychologically, they are probably playing with a freedom, as if they have little to lose now.

“It’s going to take a huge effort for them to stay up but I am sure Gary and Billy will make sure everyone gives their all.

“From our point of view, we have to tighten that up at the back, stop losing sloppy goals and that will hopefully give us a platform in which to go and win the match.

“Although we are down to the absolute bare bones, it’s up to the guys who are fit and selected to go out there and hopefully get us back to winning ways.”

-WATCH STUART’S INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV–

Extended highlights from Gayfield as Motherwell’s battling youngsters are beaten 3-2 by Aberdeen

-WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV–

Jonatan Johansson was frustrated after a late penalty denied his side a share of the spoils against Aberdeen.

‘Well had twice trailed, but equalised with five minutes left on the clock and looked good for a hard-earned point.

It was doubly irritating for the Fir Parkers, with the call looking decidedly dubious.

Speaking to MFC TV, he said: “Giving away two penalities is a little tough to take, particularly as both were a little controversial.

[pullquote]I’ve had a look at it again with our analyst and the second one is definitely not a penalty and I didn’t think the referee has to give it.[/pullquote]

“I’ve had a look at it again with our analyst and the second one is definitely not a penalty and I didn’t think the referee has to give it.

“It was really unfortunate for the boys who had worked hard to get back into the game. When the wind died down, we started to play some decent football and created some chances with a very young side.

“I felt, all things into account, we deserved a point from the game and it makes it a difficult pill to swallow when we lose it in the manner we did.”

-WATCH STUART’S INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV–

A controversial stoppage time penalty prevented Motherwell from taking a point from their trip to Arbroath to take on Aberdeen.

Dale Shirkie and Morgyn Neill had pulled Motherwell level on two occasions before Declan McManus took the points for the Dons when he scored the injury time penalty.

Jonatan Johansson made three changes to the side that beat St Mirren two weeks ago. Trialist, Jack Leitch and Craig Moore dropped out, replaced by the returning Danny McNulty, Frazer Johnstone and Steven Higgins.

The Dons thought they had a penalty in the opening minute when Nicky Low went down in a challenge with Euan Murray, but the ref adjudged the midfielder had dived and showed him a yellow. The home side followed this up when Declan McManus was sent clear but Lee Hollis denied him with a decent stop.

At the other end Steven Higgins blasted over from a good position before Dale Shirkie bent a free kick over from 25 yards out.

Minutes later the Dons took the lead, Murray was penalised for a push on inside the area. It looked a softish call, but it didn’t bother Low who tucked the ball low to Hollis’s left as the keeper dived the other way.

Nicky Weaver in the home goal had performed well to keep out a couple of wind assisted in-swinging corners before he was finally beaten in 31 minutes. Shirkie picked up the ball 25-yards out and this time his shot left Weaver helpless as it crashed in off his left hand post and into the net.

Each side had one more chance before the break with McManus lobbing over from close range under pressure from Hollis whilst at the other end, Shirkie blasted over after being released by some fine passing between Higgins and Dom Thomas.

Motherwell looked lively at the start of the second period and Paul McCafferty made space for himself in the opening five minutes but fired his shot well wide. Dom Thomas then went on a tremendous 50-yard solo run only to be denied by a last minute tackle by Scott McKenna.

Despite that pressure, it was the Dons who took the lead just before the hour mark. Low picked up a loose ball just outside the Well box, his cross found Cameron Smith whose effort was blocked on the line by David Ferguson. The rebound fell kindly to Scott Wright who slammed home from close range.

Motherwell battled hard to get back into the game and Shirkie was only denied by a fine stop by Nicky Weaver. Thomas also a shot from 25 yards slip just wide of the keeper’s left hand post.

With just five minutes left, the young ‘Well were rewarded for their efforts. Shirkie’s deep cross from the left flank was met brilliantly by the head of Morgyn Neill and the ball looped over the head of Weaver.

Just as it looked the sides would take a point each, the Dons were awarded a second penalty of the game deep into stoppage time, this one was even softer than the first award.

A cross from the left sailed over the head of Ferguson and Markus Campanile, the Aberdeen man hit the deck and the ref awarded the penalty despite there being little contact between the two.

Declan McManus took the kick and smashed the ball straight down the middle to give the home side all three points in controversial circumstances.

Motherwell: Hollis, McNulty (Watt – 62mins), Ferguson, Murray, Neill, Cadden, McCafferty, Shirkie, Higgins, Thomas, Johnston (McCall – 62mins)

Subs: Long, Hall, Mackie

Referee for Saturday’s Scottish Professional Football League clash with Hearts at Fir Park is John Beaton.

John will be handling his fourth Motherwell match of the campaign so far.

His first was the league game against the Dons, when they travelled to Fir Park back in August; Derek McInnes side taking all three points in a 3-1 win.

The game wasn’t without controversy with Beaton, a late replacement for Kevin Clancy, awarding the Dons two spot kicks, although it was certainly a win the visitors deserved for their second half showing.

His next was also against the Dons, when ‘Well disappointingly crashed out despite dominating for the majority of the match.

Most recently, he was the man in the middle as ‘Well smashed four past St Johnstone without reply on New Years Day.

The 32-year old also took charge of two Motherwell matches last term too. The first was a 1-1 draw with Dundee at Fir Park; Michael Higdon rescuing a point after Nicky Reilly had given the Dark Blues a surprise lead midway through the first half.

His other match that campaign was against Dundee United at Tannadice, the Steelmen running rampant in the City of Discovery, confirming second spot with a superb 3-1 win.

Not only did Michael Higdon open the scoring with a peach from distance, the big striker surpassed Willie Pettigrew’s post-war record for most top-league goals in a single season when he netted the third midway through the second half.

His overall record reads two wins, two defeats and a draw from five matches. ‘Well have scored nine and conceded seven. Eighteen players have gone into the book, eleven of them wearing Claret and Amber, with just one red card (Joe Shaughnessy in that Dons League Cup tie earlier this season).

It has been a busy season for Beaton both domestically and in European competition.

Today will be his fifteenth Premiership tie of the season, his most recent was Dundee United’s 3-2 win over Kilmarnock at Tannadice two weeks ago.

Abroad, he oversaw Poland U19s 1-0 home defeat by Armenia as well as Norway U21s’ 2-1 success over Macedonia.

In European action, he looked after BATE Borisov against Celtic’s eventual Champions League opponents Shakhter Karagandy, as well as the UEFA Youth Champions League match between Arsenal and Napoli, the Gunners running out 4-1 winners.

John will be ably assisted by Stuart Stevenson and Andy Tait with Don Robertson on Fourth Official duties.

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Extended highlights from McDiarmid Park as flat Motherwell lose 3-0 to St Johnstone.

-WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV–

Action pictures from the 3-0 defeat by St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park in the SPFL Premiership.

Snaps courtesy of SNSPix.

[svgallery name=”stjohnstone250214″]

Stuart McCall criticised his side after they turned in a poor performance as St Johnstone ran out comfortable 3-0 winners.

It was as disappointing as the Steelmen have been all season, with Tommy Wright’s men thoroughly deserving of all three points.

Steven McLean’s double had the home side well in command before Gary Miller added a late exclamation point to compile the misery for the ‘Well fans inside McDiarmid Park.

And McCall wasn’t holding back when he spoke to MFC TV after the match saying: “Yet again we come at half-time and are two goals down. It’s not good enough.

[pullquote]All over the park we lost too many battles. Only Hutchinson and Reid come out the game with any credit and you can’t have that in this league. [/pullquote]

“The talk prior to the match was about keeping it solid, giving us a base to work from but we’ve given away two goals that, yet again, the opposition haven’t had to work hard to get.

“All over the park we lost too many battles. Only Hutchinson and Reid come out the game with any credit and you can’t have that in this league. You need at least seven or eight players on the top of their game if you are going to come to a place like this and take all three points.

“That’s two really disappointing results and performances, albeit two difficult places to come. Both the staff and I always praise the characters we have in the dressing room, well, this is the time we all need them to stand up and be counted and show everyone what we can really do.”

-WATCH STUART’S INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV–