| 3 | Rangers | 11 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 22 |
| 4 | Dundee United | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 19 |
| 5 | Motherwell | 11 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 19 |
| 6 | St Mirren | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | -5 | 15 |
| 7 | Dundee | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | -6 | 12 |
Striker Steven Lawless has extended his loan period with Second Division side Albion Rovers until January 5th.
Lawless, 20, has started the last five games for Rovers with Paul Martin’s men winning their last four games, pushing them from last place in the table to within four points of third-placed Stenhousemuir.
The Glaswegian has won rave revues and has extended his stay until early next year.
Referee for Saturday’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Aberdeen at Pittodrie is Calum Murray.
The experienced Murray hasn’t taken charge of a ‘Well game this season but Motherwell fans will be familiar with the 41-year old; the man in the middle four times last season, including the Scottish Cup Final last May.
Previous to the Cup Final, he handled the 1-0 defeat at McDiarmid Park in January. Saints won courtesy of a controversial penalty award when Stephen Craigan was adjudged to have clashed with Michael Duberry inside the area; Liam Craig dispatched the resulting kick from the spot.
He also officiated the 2-2 Scottish Cup Quarter Final draw at Tannadice which won wide applause for being end-to-end and exciting and Murray played his part with an excellent display, including getting a number of penalty calls spot on.
The replay was one of the best Motherwell displays of the campaign, Murphy, Humphrey and Jeffers scoring in an excellent all-round team display.
The season prior to last, he was the man in the middle for the 1-1 draw with Rangers; Tom Hateley netting a sensational equaliser for the Steelmen. That game was also marred by a controversial call when Ross Forbes’ goal was somehow disallowed for offside despite television pictures showing the midfielder to be at least two yards onside.
He also took charge of the 3-2 home defeat by Dundee Utd in April 2010 when a John Sutton double wasn’t enough to give ‘Well the points.
His overall record in charge of the Steelmen is fairly decent. Of the sixteen games he has taken charge of, Motherwell have won seven, drawn three and lost six. The Fir Parkers have scored twenty-two whilst the same number has hit the back of the ‘Well net.
48 players have seen yellow on those fourteen matches, 25 of which were shown to a player wearing Claret and Amber. Only one player has been sent for an early bath, Bob Malcolm in the famous 1-0 win over Celtic back in early 2008.
Calum will be ably assisted on the day by Alan Mulvanny and Graeme Leslie with Mike Tumilty on fourth official duties.
Gordon Young couldn’t hide his disappointment as Motherwell crashed out the SFA Youth Cup at the hands of neighbours Hamilton Accies this afternoon.
‘Well, who played the majority of the match a man down after defender Adam Cummins saw red after just eleven minutes, battled bravely but were outdone by a terrific individual performance by Accies striker Andy Ryan.
Speaking to MFC TV, Young said, “I am massively disappointed, particularly for the players who put so much effort into the match.
“However, I am not going to hide behind the fact that we had one or two sterling individual performances. The bottom line is some of our decision making wasn’t as sharp as it should be!”
-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV-
Pictures from the 3-2 defeat by Hamilton Accies U19s in the Scottish Football Association Youth Cup at Bathgate’s Creamery Park.
These pictures and more are available to buy now over a variety of products on motherwellpics.com.
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10-man Motherwell crashed to a cruel Cup defeat at home to Hamilton Accies despite equalising twice during the match.
Former Everton defender Adam Cummins was red carded after just eleven minutes; the scouser was sent packing for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity when he brought down James Martin on the edge of the area.
By the letter of the law, referee Nick Walsh was correct but the 18-year old can feel hard done to as it was more a clash of legs than a trip as the defender tried to recover against his pacy opponent.
Andy Ryan put the visitors ahead some fifteen minutes later when he capitalised on some good work down the left to fire home from close distance.
Both teams traded chances but the score was the same as the teams broke for the half-time interval.
‘Well started the second half on the front foot and brought themselves level just nine minutes in. Darren Brownlie worked space for himself on the right flank and his terrific ball across the face of goal evaded everyone until Steve Hetherington arrived late at the back post to slot home from a few yards out.
Accies got their noses back in front again shortly after; Ciaran Johnston did well to run the channel and found himself in space inside the box. From the angle, he managed to trundle a shot past Ross Stewart in the home goal and Ryan was there to smash home from under the bar for his second of the afternoon.
Despite looking jaded after playing an hour with a man less, Motherwell continued to battle away and actually looked like the team most likely to score. After some excellent saves from Jonathan Grier, ‘Well eventually got it back to level terms for a second time when defender Ewan Murray soared to head home a Josh Watt corner from the left.
It was anyone’s game at that stage but it would be the New Douglas Park men who would eventually grab the game’s winning goal with just seven minutes left to play.
With Motherwell pushing for a winner, Accies won the ball in the middle of the park and immediately broke on the counter attack. James Martin burst forward, drawing defenders towards him before slipping in Andy Ryan on the edge of the area. The impressive striker took one touch to compose himself before drilling the ball beyond Stewart and into the net for his hat-trick.
It was harsh on Motherwell, who fought hard despite being a man down. Focus will quickly shift towards next week’s game with St Mirren, scheduled to take place next Friday afternoon back at the Creamery Park, kick-off 1pm.
Motherwell: Stewart, Brownlie, Murray, Cummins, Francis-Angol (Leitch – 87mins), Hetherington, Carswell, Mboa Mekongo (Moore – 76mins), Watt, McGachie, MacDonald (Lynch – 21mins)
Subs Not Used: Muir, Green, Asghar
Goals: Hetherington (54), Murray (70)
Booked: Mboa Mekongo, Hetherington
Sent Off: Cummins
Are you interested in sponsoring your favourite player’s boots? If so, act quick because half the team have been snapped up already.
Stephen Craigan, Michael Higdon, Shaun Hutchinson, Nicky Law and others have already gone…
As a boot sponsor, your name or company name will be listed in the matchday magazine and on the official club website. In addition, your name will be announced alongside that of your chosen player at every single match throughout the whole season!
It’s fantastic exposure for any small business or as a special gift to the ‘Well fan in your life!
At the end of the campaign, you will be invited to the annual sponsor’s evening. Mix and mingle with Motherwell stars from the past and present before your chosen player presents you with his signed boots in a commemorative box.
The evening also includes a fabulous three-course meal, an intimate Q & A with the management team, as well as MC entertainment from Fir Park favourite, Mr. Tam Cowan.
For more information or to sponsor a player’s boots please contact 01698 338008 or email (including your contact telephone number) commercial@motherwellfc.co.uk.
To find out who is still available to sponsor – CLICK HERE
Tim Clancy will sit out the next two matches after picking up a red card at the Celtic match last Sunday.
The SFA confirmed this afternoon that the Irishman, who has played the last ten matches and performed extremely well, will miss the matches against Aberdeen at Pittodrie and Dundee United at Fir Park.
Youth supremo Gordon Young is looking forward to locking horns with local rivals Hamilton Accies in tomorrow’s Youth Cup clash.
-WATCH HIS INTERVIEW ON MFC TV-
Twenty-seven year-old Irish defender Tim Clancy answers the best of your twitter questions #asktim
-WATCH THE BEST AND WORST QUESTIONS EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV-
The Under 19s are in Cup action this Friday when they take on local rivals Hamilton Accies in the Third Round of the SFA Youth Cup.
With the rest of senior football taking a break for Scotland’s friendly match in Cyprus this weekend, Gordon Young’s men will be keen to progress after eliminating Arbroath in the previous round.
Accies will be keen to take the scalp of their near neighbours and contests between the two over the last few years have always been tight affairs.
The match will take place at Bathgate’s Creamery Park this coming Friday (11th November) with a 2pm kick-off.
