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Steelmen defender Shaun Hutchinson has been named the Clydesdale Bank Premier League Young Player of the Month for April. 

Motherwell had a mixed month recording a win, a draw and a defeat in April, however Shaun Hutchinson was a key performer for his side throughout. 

‘Well began the month with a 1-1 draw away to Hibs with Hutchinson constantly breaking down the oppositions attacks as he helped his side pick up a  hard earned point at Easter Road.  Motherwell then suffered a disappointing 3-0 loss at home to Celtic before going on to secure a comfortable 5-1 win at home to St Johnstone.

Hutchinson’s performances throughout the month were pivotal in helping Motherwell secure their highest ever points total in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League and with it secure a place in the Champions League qualification round next season.

It was Hutchinson’s commanding performances from defence along with his ability to break up the opposition’s play that led the panel to vote him as their Clydesdale Bank Premier League Young 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.

Motherwell’s all-time European top scorer Jamie Murphy says he is already dreaming on more fabulous Fir Park nights.

The former Scotland U21 hitman has seven Euro strikes for the Steelmen, including the first ever player to net a hat-trick in the newly created Europa League back in 2009.

And with Motherwell confirming a spot amongst Europeans top clubs again next term, the 22-year old is already itching to get involved.

“I can’t wait,” he said. “I love playing in Europe.”

“It’s a great feeling with all the preparation behind it, going to another country and playing in new grounds. Then obviously playing at a full Fir Park on a summers night; it’s a great atmosphere.

“Hopefully we can draw a right big name that the supporters will really relish watching and do well against them. It’s a different level of football and I have had some success in the past. It would be great to score more in the future.”

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW ON MFC TV-

Steelmen gaffer Stuart McCall has today spoke of his pride after Motherwell confirmed third place in the Scottish Premier League.

‘Well went to Tynecastle on Tuesday and recorded a magnificent 1-0 victory which forced Dundee United into a position where they required all three points at Ibrox on Wednesday night to keep the race alive.

Rangers’ victory confirmed Motherwell’s spot as the league’s third best side, the second time the club have finished in that position in the last five seasons.

Former Scotland International McCall met the media at Fir Park this afternoon and was visibly beaming.

“There’s a lot of talk about Champions League and things but at the moment, the biggest achievement is finishing third in the SPL,” he told MFC TV.

“To have 61 points, which is a record for Motherwell in the SPL, fills me with great pride.

“Football is a game for fans and supporters but it is about the players and how they perform. If they are not at it then you will never have success so all the credit must go to our small, but tight-knit, group.”

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW ON MFC TV-

Republic of Ireland International goalkeeper Darren Randolph has been included in the PFA’s SPL Team of 2011/2012.

The 24-year old former Charlton stopper has been sensational for the Steelmen in his two years at Fir Park, keeping an astonishing 34 clean sheets in 92 appearances in Claret and Amber.

He has provided the backbone for Motherwell’s third-place finish in the league this year and remains, without doubt, one of the most talented keepers in the country.

Although he has been included in several Republic of Ireland squads, he has yet to make his full debut for Giovanni Trapattoni but remains in contention for a place in the party heading to Poland and Ukraine this summer for Euro 2012.

He told motherwellfc.co.uk, “It’s an honour to be named in a team selected by my fellow professionals.

“It has been an unbelievable season at Fir Park and this is a great way to round it off. I should also pay tribute to the rest of the lads in the squad; it has been a collective effort from everyone at the club.”

The SPL team is:

Darren Randolph (Motherwell)
Adam Matthews (Celtic)
Gavin Gunning (Dundee United)
Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic)
Paul Dixon (Dundee United)
James Forrest (Celtic)
Steven Davis (Rangers)
Gary Mackay-Steven (Dundee United)
Johnny Russell (Dundee United)
Jon Daly (Dundee United)
Gary Hooper Celtic)

Following last night’s SPL matches, Motherwell have clinched third spot in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

In what was a momentous night, Rangers’ emphatic win over Dundee United at Ibrox means the Tannadice club can no longer better Motherwell’s current 61-point haul (The clubs’ best post-war points return).

It’s an outstanding achievement from manager Stuart McCall, his coaching staff and all the players at Fir Park who have been magnificent all season long.

The prospect of top European football returning to Fir Park is already exciting every Claret and Amber fan

We will have reaction from the manager, players and supporters both on the official site and MFC TV later this afternoon.

A Motherwell reserve side outclassed Partick Thistle to win 4-0 at Fir Park this afternoon.

Ten of the Steelmen’s starting eleven could count on first-team experience and it showed as the scoreline, particularly on the first-half showing, actually flattered a youthful Jags side.

Steven Lawless opened the scoring early on and the goal had some fortune attached to it. Jamie Pollock’s attempted turn inside the area was blocked with the ball rebounding into the path of the former Albion Rovers loanee. His shot deflected off the defender and spun into the net.

Motherwell quickly made it two; Ross Forbes’ corner wasn’t properly cleared and when the ball spun invitingly towards the back post, Scotland International Steven Saunders was on hand to head home from close range.

Jamie Pollock added a third midway through the second half with a neat finish around the goalkeeper following some smashing build-up play. Ross McKinnon added a fourth, smashing home a low drive after Keiran McGachie had teed him up.

Motherwell: Hollis, Saunders, Craigan (Brownlie), Page (McKinnon), Halsman, Forbes, Pollock, Watt, Lawless, McHugh (McGachie), Smith

-WATCH HIGHLIGHTS EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV-

Willie Collum will take charge of Saturday’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Rangers at Fir Park.

Regarded as one of Scotland’s best officials, it will be Willie’s second Motherwell game of the current campaign. His other match was Motherwell’s last home meeting with Hibs; Colin Calderwood’s men progressing through to the Quarter Final of the Scottish Communities League Cup on penalty kicks.

He did handle the abandoned Friday Night Football experiment when Motherwell took on Hibs but Steven McLean handled the re-arranged fixture.

He will be a very familiar face to Motherwell fans having taken charge of three games last year too.

He was in charge of the Co-operative Insurance Cup Quarter Final clash with Dundee United at Fir Park; Alan Gow’s late goal booking ‘Well’s spot in the Semi Final. He was the man in the middle for the Semi Final too as Rangers scraped past a brave ‘Well side 2-1; Keith Lasley grabbed the goal for the Fir Parkers.

He also took charge of the 3-3 draw with Hearts at Tynecastle in late April as ‘Well roared back from 3-0 down to secure a point.

The season before last, Collum took charge of three Motherwell matches. Jim Gannon’s side crashed to a disappointing 3-0 defeat at St Mirren in the Co-operative Cup and followed that with another defeat; by the same score line, at Tannadice some five months later.

However, the most memorable, by far was the 6-6 draw with Hibs at the end of that season.

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 the aforementioned win over Dundee Utd last October.

His overall record in charge of the Steelmen reads three wins, eight defeats and three draws from fourteen matches. In those games, Motherwell have scored 23 and conceded 29. 27 players have gone into the book, 14 wearing claret and amber, while two players have been dismissed – Ian Murray of Hibs at Easter Road a few years back and Jerard Aafjes at Falkirk two seasons ago.

Raymond White and Alastair Mathers will run the lines with Alan Muir on fourth official duties. Martin Clark will be the Referee Observer and Kevin Collins will be the SPL delegate.

Tickets for Saturday’s clash with Rangers at Ibrox are still currently on sale from the Fir Park Ticket Office.

Tickets are priced at:

• Concessions are listed as Over 65’s and 17+18 year olds.
• Juveniles are listed as Under 16s.
• Fans who require wheelchair access should contact Sharon or John McCaskie on 01555 870122 or email disabledfans@motherwellfc.co.uk.
• If you are planning on making the journey to Glasgow, check out our handy ‘Guide to Ibrox’ for everything you need to know.

A Michael Higdon goal just before the half-hour was enough to give Motherwell all three points against Hearts at Tynecastle this evening.

-WATCH HIGGY’S WINNING GOAL ON MFC TV-

‘Well boss Stuart McCall has heaped praise on his players after the Steelmen turned in a dogged display to beat Hearts 1-0 this evening.

The Fir Parkers scored the games’ only goal after 29 minutes, Michael Higdon netting his 16th of the season after Jamie Murphy’s shot was parried by Jambos stopper Jamie MacDonald.

And McCall was quick to pay compliments to his side who have been virtual ever-presents in the top three throughout the campaign.

“It’s an absolutely huge win for us,” he said.

“We talked before the game about the team ethic that we have shown all season. It would have been easy to come with a 4-5-1 but I didn’t want to do what I did on Christmas Eve and give up a lot of possession to them at the back because they like to take the ball and play.

“They’ve got a lot of individually talented players and we probably gave them too much space when we played here last time so we wanted to get forward and high and get Jamie down the sides going up alongside Webster which we did and obviously that is where the goal came from.

“The win has put us in a fantastic position. The lads have been outstanding all season and I think the expectation level gets too high for people and the starts to come when we had a little run where we didn’t win any games.

“We’re not Rangers or Celtic; we can’t go through the season winning every game so I think to be where we are the players and the staff and everyone involved with the club deserves great credit.

“We’ve had a great backing from the fans both tonight and all season long and I’m delighted we gave them what we wanted and that was all three points.”

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV-