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Stuart McCall is confident of making his first signing next week after losing England-bound Mark Reynolds before the 0-0 draw with Inverness.

McCall confirmed Reynolds had travelled to Sheffield after the club accepted an improved offer from the npower League One club (Sheffield Wednesday), who previously had a five-figure bid rejected.

[onlymembers]Shaun Hutchinson stepped into central defence for an impressive first start in 13 months, although a slip nearly allowed Richie Foran to net a late winner.

McCall has now lost four players, leaving him with only eight players over the age of 21, before his Fir Park managerial debut ended in a Clydesdale Bank Premier League stalemate.

“Mark’s on his way down to Sheffield Wednesday to sign for them,” McCall admitted. “We wish him all the best, he’s been a great servant for Motherwell.

“The fee is what the club said they would sell him for before I came here. I won’t be seeing anything of it but I knew that. It’s not a problem, I’ll get his wages.

“If you’re asking me can I replace Mark for what he was, at this stage of the season? Probably not. But I’ll be doing my best.

“It’s good business for the kid and good business for Motherwell. We are getting money that we wouldn’t get at the end of the season and it’s better happening two weeks before the transfer window shuts than two days.”

McCall, who saw Keith Lasley limp off with a hamstring problem, did not want to promise new signings before the visit of Hibernian next Saturday but he is working to bring in a striker, left winger and defender.

He said: “I got told yesterday the Mark Reynolds deal was dead in the water and one phonecall later and it’s happened.

“There are a couple of things I feel close to but then I look at the television and they have moved to the Championship.

“But I’m very hopeful we’ll have a couple of fresh faces in before next week.”

McCall was pleased with his team’s second-half performance after goalkeeper Darren Randolph kept them level as Inverness created several chances for Adam Rooney and also Graeme Shinnie.

With the fierce wind and rain largely at their backs in the second period, Well created more opportunities without troubling Inverness goalkeeper Ryan Esson too much.

“I think they played the conditions better in the first half,” McCall said. “I was happy to go in at 0-0 at half-time.

“I had a few words and I was really proud of the second-half performance.

“If you consider the heavy pitch and the fact we had a cup tie in Dundee on Saturday and a game at Dundee United on Wednesday night, they showed good desire and determination no to get beat.

“That’s three clean sheets in four games, we just need to start finding the net.”[/onlymembers]

Pictures from the 0-0 draw with Inverness CT in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League at Fir Park.

These action shots and more are available to buy online at www.motherwellpics.com.

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[tab:Match report]

Motherwell and Inverness played out a no score draw at a rain-soaked Fir Park this afternoon.

It was the proverbial game of two halves, with the wind assisting Caley to dominate much of the opening forty-five.

However, the second half belonged to ‘Well but, despite both teams creating decent enough chances to score, it was defences on top as Stuart McCall’s men recorded their third clean sheet in four games.

The new Motherwell boss made one change from the team that lost to Dundee Utd during the week. Mark Reynolds, who would most probably have missed the game through injury, is in Sheffield tying up a deal to join Alan Irvine’s Sheffield Wednesday. His replacement was Shaun Hutchinson, making his first start in Claret and Amber in just under thirteen months.

An extremely quiet opening fifteen minutes was rudely interrupted by Chris Innes, whose foul on John Sutton on the edge of the box presented Ross Forbes with a chance to strike at goal. However, the youngster’s effort blasted off the Caley wall before being hooked clear.

The Highlanders replied immediately by forcing a couple of corners but it was the wind that was playing more havoc than the deliveries itself; Motherwell eventually managing to clear both efforts into the box.

It was a miserable half hour with neither team even mustering a shot at goal, never mind on target, but Terry Butcher’s men created three great chances to take the lead just after. Rooney broke the offside trap and, one on one with Randolph, crashed a shot at goal that the big Irishman did brilliantly to turn away.

The danger wasn’t over there though as, from the resulting corner, Ross Tokely’s shot was narrowly missed by Rooney, allowing Randolph to block. The ball broke out to Graeme Shinnie who blasted an effort at goal, once again expertly turned away by the Motherwell goalkeeper.

Inverness continued to attack and Rooney’s shot from distance proved difficult for Randolph on the slippy surface but, again, the former Charlton man was on hand to catch comfortably. Even full-back Ross Tokely was getting in on the act, striking a bouncing shot from distance that dropped narrowly wide of the post with Randolph at full stretch.

Motherwell started the second half brighter and Murphy forced Esson into a decent low stop with a fizzing shot from the edge of the box. Chris Humphrey followed that with a terrific run and low cross across the face, but no one was there to take the chance and Tokely hooked it clear.

The Steelmen continued to have more of it in the second half with Murphy being the main danger. The former Scotland U21 man had another effort at goal after 65 minutes, after some delightful approach work, but he dragged his shot just wide.

Motherwell were pushing and another good delivery from Humphrey almost created a golden opportunity for Ross Forbes. The Jamaican delivered a lovely bouncing ball towards the back post and, after being missed by a precession of strikers and defenders, the ball landed at the youngster. However, it was a difficult ball to control and his effort was blocked by Esson at the expense of a corner.

For all Motherwell’s dominance, Richie Foran had a golden opportunity to put his side ahead with fourteen minutes left to play. Shaun Hutchinson misjudged a ball in the middle of the park; allowing the former ‘Well striker a clear run at goal. Darren Randolph done well to narrow the angle against his fellow Dubliner, and Foran could only pull his effort marginally wide of the post, much to the relief of the majority of the 3,728 punters inside Fir Park.

The same player had another shot two minutes later but he was again denied by the well placed Randolph as the scores stayed level.

Motherwell made a few changes with young Steven Meechan making his first appearance for over a year and Esteban Casagolda getting another run.  And it was the former Scotland U19 star Meechan who would bring ‘Well back into the game with a fizzing long range effort that dropped just over the bar.

Motherwell continued to push for a winner and Murphy almost was the hero again for ‘Well but, despite racing clear of the visiting defence, he could only prod a shot wide with his right foot when an effort with the left may have brought more joy.

In the end, both teams had to settle for a share of the spoils; probably a fair result in the end. Motherwell now face Hibs at Fir Park next week whilst Butcher’s men face a daunting trip to Ibrox on Tuesday night.

[tab:As it happened]

Graham Barnstaple at Fir Park

90mins+2 – Full time

90mins – Thankfully only 2 minutes are being added on! 

84mins – Meechan 25 yarder just fizzes over the bar

81mins – Casagolda on for Forbes – is this his moment? Duncan off and Sanchez on for visitors

79mins – Foran shot from 18 yards easy save, Sutton released by Murphy at other end but just offside

76mins – Foran clean through after some sloppy play from Well but shoots wide -a real let off there

74mins – Meechan on for Lasley who limps off

73mins – Sutton and Murphy combine to send youngster clear but he can only slice wide from a tight angle

71mins – Jennings close range effort scrambled clear by Esson from Humphrey cross again, need to get winger involved more

70mins – Duncan shown yellow for ICT after foul on Humphrey

69mins – Craigan shown yellow for one foul too man

66mins – Murphy leaves Innes for dead and drives to the edge of the box where he drags his shot just wide

62mins – It’s just been announced that 3728 hardy souls have turned up today

60mins – As we reach the hour mark I am about to tempt fate by saying this game looks as though the first goal will be the winner

59mins – Humphrey outpaces Shinnie on the right and his cross into the 6 yard box is hoofed clear by Tokely

52mins – Our first shot on target!! Don’t be fooled though I could’ve saved Murphy’s 20 yard shot as easily as Esson did.

45mins – Teams are back out and we are ready to go again

45mins – That’s half time – it hasn’t been the best 45 minutes we have ever seen, hopefully with the wind behind us in the second it’ll be better.

38mins – Forbes mis-control allows Tokely a shooting chance from 25 yards, and his effort dips just wide.

36mins – Pen shout for Well as Forbes shot looked to strike Richie Foran on the arm – nothing given.

33mins – Randolph keeps us in it with three great saves, two from Rooney and one from Shinnie – one looked well offside though.

32mins – Narrow escape there, Forbes hand ball given just outside the box, but it looked just in to me

28mins – Bravest man at Fir Park = Stuart McCall for still wearing shorts in this weather!

24mins – Jamie Murphy has been moved to a more central role alongside Sutton after starting wide left.

22mins – Inverness on the ascendancy with their third corner, which is easily held by Randolph

20mins – It is Inverness who have the wind at their back at the moment

19mins – Both teams seem to be struggling with the conditions as the rain sweeps in on the back of a strong wind blowing towards the Cooper Stand

18mins – Hutchinson scrambles a corner clear as the ball drops dangerously in the 6 yard box.

16mins – First shot at goal as Ross Forbes drives a 20 yard free kick into the Inverness defensive wall

8mins – Ross Tokely getting his usual warm welcome from Well fans in the East Stand, didn’t help with an early foul on Murphy

3mins – First corner for Well, Forbes kick headed away at front post

1mins – Well win toss and it is Inverness who kick us off

[tab:Reaction]

Motherwell manager Stuart McCall:

“I think they played the conditions better in the first half. I was happy to go in at 0-0 at half-time.

“I had a few words and I was really proud of the second-half performance.

“If you consider the heavy pitch and the fact we had a cup tie in Dundee on Saturday and a game at Dundee United on Wednesday night, they showed good desire and determination no to get beat.

“That’s three clean sheets in four games, we just need to start finding the net.”

Inverness CT manager Terry Butcher:

“I thought the conditions were awful and both teams tried to get the ball down and pass it. There were quite a few mistakes because of the wind. It led to an end-to-end game, it was very stretched in the second half.

“We’re disappointed because we had some really good chances – Randolph had some really good saves in the first half.

“We had a great chance near the end but Richie loves this club (Motherwell) so you think ‘was he being friendly’? It was a great chance and he was disappointed.

“That’s two SPL games in a row without a goal but I was really pleased with the unity of team.”

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

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John Sutton still believes that the Steelmen can qualify for Europe under Stuart McCall, despite a difficult run of league form recently.

‘Well will attempt to set that record straight when Inverness Caledonian Thistle come to Fir Park on Saturday and, with the club also still in the Scottish Cup, the English front-man thinks the club will kick on from there.

[onlymembers]“We still believe that a European spot is a possibility,” Sutton insisted, confidently.

“There is plenty to play for in the league and in the Scottish Cup so we will keep working. In the last few years we have really looked forward to Europe, and it would be nice to take that extra step forward and get to the group stages.

“We’ve had a bad stretch of results which have gone back a long time in the league now, to well before Craig and Archie left. We really need to turn it around and get on a good run of form and get, at least, in to the top six.

The former Raith Rovers and St Mirren striker’s confidence can be partly attributed to a positive first couple of weeks with Stuart McCall at the helm.

Sutton is thoroughly enjoying working under the former Bradford boss, and thinks he will get the best out of everyone at the club.

“It’s been excellent with Stuart so far. Obviously we had a disappointing result in midweek but we did well against Dundee at the weekend,” the 27-year old said.

“The training and things have been superb and he is really enthusiastic. We are now desperate to go out on Saturday and vindicate all the work he has done with us.

“He certainly thinks we can do very well this season, although – and it is a cliché – we will just take one game at a time. The gaffer is very ambitious and sees no reason why we should fear anyone, so we have to put that onto the pitch now.”

Any successes this season will have to be achieved without the prolific Nick Blackman, who has opted for a move to Aberdeen for the remainder of the season. That blow has come on the back of Alan Gow and Marc Fitzpatrick leaving the club.

Still, rather than being morose, Sutton is looking for the positives for the rest of the campaign – for himself and Motherwell.

“We are a little disappointed Nick hasn’t come back because you obviously want to keep as strong a squad as possible and Nick did very well. But when one person goes it allows another person an opportunity and Jamie Murphy might get the chance to show what he can do through the middle now.

“Nick was always predominantly a centre-forward, and it meant Jamie and I were on the left sometimes – I guess our versatility didn’t help us in that respect.

“We’ve lost a few players recently so I’d imagine there might be a few players coming in, although I don’t know the managers plans. We’ve got a great youth system here, so I also wouldn’t be surprised if a couple of them came up and took their opportunity.”[/onlymembers]

Stuart McCall is hoping a return to familiar surroundings can inspire his troops to end a sequence of seven SPL games without a victory.

You have to go back to November, and the stunning 4-0 demolition of St. Johnstone, for the last victory for The Steelmen.

However, after promising signs on Sunday against Dundee, the new gaffer is hoping to end the hoodoo on home turf.

[onlymembers]“It will be nice to be back at home for the match against Caley. We have had four tough away games and we’ve now got back-to-back home games and it’s up to us to take full advantage,” the 46-year old said.

“We’ll look to be positive from the start and take the initiative, and look to get a start like we did against Dundee in the cup. If we can be clinical then we can make it a difficult game for Inverness.

“Maximum points from the next two games will be the target, but we’re under no illusions about just how tough that will be. Inverness have an outstanding away record and will possess their own threats; no doubt about that.

“In the last two months we have struggled in the league and simply have not picked up enough points. When I came in we’d drawn one and lost four of the previous five. Since then we have drawn at Hamilton and lost at Dundee United.”

‘Well will have to go for the win without the previously on-loan star Nick Blackman, who has, instead, opted to join up with Craig Brown at Aberdeen.

McCall insists he is not too upset about Blackman’s decision, despite intimating that Blackman had told him he was keen to return to Lanarkshire.

“I’m not too sore about Nick (Blackman) and his decision. Over the last ten days or so I have had an idea that he wouldn’t be coming back, so we have tried to look at different options,” the gaffer admitted.

“He said after the Hamilton game that if he returned to Scotland he would love it to be with Motherwell because he was settled here, but I think he and his agent were hopeful he would stay in England.

“I spoke to his agent yesterday and it sounded like even he was surprised with the decision. Craig Brown and Steve Kean (Blackburn boss) are very close and I can understand why it has happened.”

The former Rangers and Everton midfielder, who is used to working under financial restraints from his time with Bradford City, will now turn his attention to other targets following ten-goal Blackman’s decision.

The quest for new players is also made more urgent given Alan Gow and Marc Fitzpatrick’s departure.

“We will be working hard in January to get players in to get us at least up to the end of the season,” the ‘Well boss confirmed. “We still have Murph and Sutton, who have done a good job in the central striking role, and beyond that we have Esteban Casagolda and young Bob McHugh. But we’ve lost Gow and Blackman and up-front is a position we are looking to strengthen.

“I’ll also be looking for an out-and-out left-sided player. Sutton and Jamie Murphy have both played out there, but I see them as central strikers and I would like to play them there.

“Three players have left recently, so that frees up a little bit of money in the kitty to bring in new players, which we hope to do next week.”[/onlymembers]

Referee for Saturday’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Inverness Caledonian Thistle will be Euan Norris.

The 33-year-old will be handling his first Motherwell game of the current campaign although it will be his eighth SPL game of the season.

[onlymembers]You have to go back to last season for ‘Well games handled by Euan. He was the man in the middle when Motherwell beat Falkirk 1-0 at Fir Park. Lukas Jutkiewicz got the only goal of the game, heading home a corner from the left after 18 minutes.

His other game last campaign was also at Fir Park, the stormy affair between Motherwell and Hibs last February. The Steelmen won the game 1-0 thanks to a Jamie Murphy goal eight minutes from time but the game was marred by a red card for Liam Miller for a challenge on Jim O’Brien midway through the first half.

Despite only a couple of ‘Well games, Norris isn’t unfamiliar with a Motherwell versus Inverness clash. Indeed, his only other game involving the Fir Parkers was when the two teams met in October 2008.

Adam Rooney put the Highlanders ahead just after the interval but his goal was cancelled out by the lethal Chris Porter before a stunning Bob Malcolm free-kick seven minutes from the end gave Mark McGhee’s men all three points.

So Norris’ record in charge of Motherwell is a good one. Motherwell have a 100% record in all three games with the aforementioned Rooney strike the only goal that has hit the back of the Motherwell net.

Thankfully, FIFA referee Norris usually likes to keep his cards in his pocket with only four cautions handed out in those games, with only one to a ‘Well player (Malcolm at Inverness). His red card to Liam Miller was his only dismissal by the whistler in the SPL last campaign.

Euan will be ably assisted by Francis Andrews and Gary Sweeney with Charlie Richmond on fourth official duties.[/onlymembers]

The Youth Development Christmas Raffle will be drawn this weekend and you have until midday on Saturday to hand your stubs in.

There has been a magnificent response to this year’s draw and the money raised will help the on-going funding of the Youth Development structure.

[onlymembers]Winners will be drawn on Saturday, half-time at the Inverness CT game, and notified shortly after.

Head of Youth Development Gordon Young said, “I would like to thank everyone who has contributed by selling raffle tickets for us this year.

“We always have to come up with different ways to raise money to keep our programme relevant and this fundraiser is critical to that.

“If you have any stubs still to come in, make sure you get them to Fir Park before Saturday to ensure your name is in the draw for some of the fantastic prizes on offer.”[/onlymembers]

Marc Fitzpatrick has rejected a contract offer from Motherwell and has left the club with immediate effect.

The 24-year-old now looks likely to be signing with First Division side Ross County later today.

[onlymembers]It brings to an end Fitzpatrick’s ten year affiliation with the club, a decade filled with highs and lows in his 143 appearances in Claret and Amber.

He made his debut as a substitute in a 1-1 draw against Celtic in 2004 – just one day after his 18th birthday. Despite the fact he was still eligible to play U19 football, Marc was fast-tracked to the first team squad by then boss Terry Butcher in the 2004/05 campaign.

However, his rise to prominence didn’t arrive until he scored a last-minute winner in a League Cup semi-final.

His lung-busting run and clinical strike earned Motherwell a dramatic extra-time victory over Hearts and a first Hampden appearance in 14 years. The goal was all the more special for the midfielder as it was his first for the club and one that will live long in the memories of every ‘Well fan at Easter Road that night.

Injury prevented him making a real impact in the team until the arrival of Mark McGhee to the club in 2007. Fitzpatrick played 63 times in two seasons under the former Brighton boss, but his departure to Aberdeen coincided with another horrendous list of injuries that have plagued the player for the last two years.

After working his way back to fitness after a bad injury against Hamilton Accies last February, the Lanark-born midfielder started recently against Celtic and Dundee, but has chose a longer term deal in the Highlands.

Motherwell Football Club would like to sincerely thank Marc for all his efforts over the last ten years and wish him every success in his future career.[/onlymembers]

Stuart McCall was left rueing sloppy marking and a wonder-save from Dusan Pernis as Motherwell lost 2-0 to Dundee United.

Johnny Russell found space inside the box to net the opening goal on 53 minutes and David Goodwillie added shine to the score with a last-minute breakaway strike.

[onlymembers]Yet, it could have been so different at Tannadice had Chris Humphrey’s back-post header found the net late on.

“With five minutes to go the keeper, Pernis, has made an unbelievable save on the line from a header at the back-post. After that we huffed and puffed but just couldn’t create anything concrete.” The gaffer conceded.

“In the second half we have come out and lost a goal early and that is something you always want to avoid. It was also very disappointing to lose a goal to a set piece. Kenneth is a big lad and there’s always a chance he’ll win the first ball, but we have to be a live to the second ball – and we weren’t.

“It’s a disappointing result. We didn’t start well enough in the first ten or 15 minutes but once we weathered the storm in the first half, I thought it ended up quite even.

“But, when you are up against a strike-force like Daly, Russell and Goodwillie you have to accept that you will be on the back-foot at times.

“I’m relatively pleased with the possession we had. We had the ball in good areas – perhaps we should have done more with it. We didn’t make the keeper do enough work.”

McCall was forced into one change from the side which defeated Dundee across the road just three days earlier, with Marc Fitzpatrick left out of the squad following his decision to leave the club.

It’s another blow to the new Motherwell boss, who has admitted he is conscious of his lack of numbers – something he is working hard to resolve.

“It’s clear we are short on numbers,” he said. We have to get bodies in, and they have to be players who will make the team better, not just for the sake of filling the squad.

“We’re working really hard and I hope to have some movement on that front soon. No promises before Saturday, but we’ll wait and see.”

The manager is also focused on lifting his troops for the visit of away-day specialists Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Saturday.

“We’ve had three home games on the bounce now, and this defeat just makes it all the more important that we get back to winning ways on Saturday against Inverness,” added McCall.[/onlymembers]

Pictures from the 2-0 defeat to Dundee United in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League at Tannadice. These action shots and more are available to buy online at www.motherwellpics.com.

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