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Motherwell’s match with Inverness CT has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Fir Park.

The groundstaff have been battling against the recent inclement weather, which has seen over 180mm of rainfall at Fir Park in the last nineteen days (the average figures for a month is around 30mm).

This has led to two areas in particular, in front of the East Stand at the half way line and at the East / South corner to become completely saturated, despite Head Groundsman Mikey Ellis’ best attempts to clear it.

An inspection was called for 8am this morning and the hope was that although the pitch was and is very wet, favourable conditions though the night would have seen it dry out to the point where it was playable.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough and Scottish FA match official John Beaton was forced to call the game off after inspecting it early this morning.

Motherwell Football Club would like to apologise for any inconvenience this postponement may cause.

No date has, as yet, been confirmed for the rearranged fixture.

The twelfth domestic Steelmen Matchday Magazine of 2013/14 is on sale when Inverness CT visit on Saturday.

But what is inside the 62-page issue?

‘Well boss Stuart McCall and Captain Keith Lasley both return with the regular columns.

The Fir Park gaffer praises his players for recent form but errs on the side of caution and warns everyone to keep their feet on the ground.

The skipper also chats about what he expects from another of the SPFL Premiership’s recent success stories in Inverness.

The feature interview is with midfielder Paul Lawson. The former Ross County midfielder talks about how much he is enjoying life at Fir Park, despite facing a battle for a regular spot in the starting eleven.

Laws also features as the next in the centre-page souvenir poster collection.

But that’s not where the features stop!

There is the usual extensive section dedicated to our visitors, Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

As ever, Ray Morrison introduces the Perthshire side and there’s a player-by-player breakdown of who is likely to line up for the Caley Jags.

We also report from the Caledonian Stadium and the hosts went down narrowly to rivals Ross County.

New Caley boss John Hughes also speaks exclusively to the ‘Steelmen’ Magazine about what he hopes to achieve in the Highlanders after following Terry Butcher into the Thistle hotseat.

The big features keep coming…

‘From the Press Box’ returns with regular host, the Herald’s Scott Mullen and the third of our Eggheads ‘Quarter Final’ clashes pits Lee Hollis against Simon Ramsden.

Ross Dunbar also returns with his latest ‘Football from around the World’ feature, which looks as the success of FC Augsburg in the Bundesliga.

But wait, there’s more!

Our match reports section takes a look back at the 5-1 win over Partick Thistle and the excellent 4-0 win against St Johnstone three days ago.

We have the latest from The Ticket Office and update from the Well Society as well as the latest stats, facts and figures from the 2013/2014 campaign.

We also take a statistical look at the match official and the ‘Junior Steel’ kids page that will test the youngster’s quiz minds with puzzles and ‘Did you know’ facts.

The programme is available for £3 and is will be on sale from the Club Shop as well as the usual sellers located in and around the ground pre-match.

You can also order back editions or take a season-long subscription to the magazine by visiting the website of our publishers – Curtis-Sports – CLICK HERE

Stuart McCall insists no one at Fir Park is getting carried away despite a recent run of good form.

The Steelmen have won all five of their matches over the festive period, propelling them to second in the Scottish Premiership table.

The former Scotland midfielder praised the resolve of his side for the way they have bounced back after a difficult week last month, but remains cautious, reminding everyone that nothing is won or lost in December/January, particularly with a tough test against Inverness ahead.

Speaking to the gathered press at Motherwell’s pre-match press conference, the ‘Well boss said: “I’ve repeated this sentiment on numerous occasions; we have good experienced pros in the dressing room and all their feet are firmly on the ground.

“No one will take anything for granted just because we’re on a good run, and I suppose you can look at the likes of Dundee United, who were flying high with six wins in a row, but have now lost the last few games.

[pullquote]“We need to stay focused on each game. It’s an old cliché, but we’ll take one game at a time. Things can change so quickly in football so our focus right now is on Inverness, and that will wrap up this tough five games we’ve had.[/pullquote]

“That can happen to any team, so there is no way we’ll fall into the trap of thinking we’ve done this or that; we’ve achieved absolutely nothing at the moment.

“Our greatest achievement is to have bounced back from the week we had a month ago and to have amassed forty points at this stage of the season which is terrific.

“There’s still a lot of hard work to do and our first aim is to make sure we’re in the top six, because at the start of the season that’s always our aim.

“St Johnstone are still very much in the mix, as are Hibs won yesterday and are capable of putting a strong run together, so there’s no danger of anyone here getting carried away, that’s for sure.

“We need to stay focused on each game. It’s an old cliché, but we’ll take one game at a time. Things can change so quickly in football so our focus right now is on Inverness, and that will wrap up this tough five games we’ve had. If we can come through unscathed, it would be terrific.”

-WATCH STUART’S INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV–

Motherwell FC is today pleased to confirm winger Lionel Ainsworth has extended his loan period until the end of the current season.

The 26-year old has been in sparkling form of late, netting a goal in each of Motherwell’s last four games, and has been instrumental in the side’s recent run of good form.

His contract at Rotherham expires at the end of the current season but he’ll spend the last six months at Fir Park.

Speaking to the press after Motherwell’s win over St Johnstone on Wednesday, Ainsworth said: “I’ve led a bit of a nomadic existence and have always wanted to settle down.

[pullquote] I love this club. Everything they have done for me has been top class – even little stuff right down to the kitman and the office staff.[/pullquote]

“I have seen out two-year contracts here and there then not been offered anything. I’m in the last year of my contract at Rotherham so I will see what happens. I would love to be settled and to carry on playing where I am.

“If something permanent came up then I would definitely have a look at that. I love this club. Everything they have done for me has been top class – even little stuff right down to the kitman and the office staff.

“Nobody at Motherwell has ideas above their station and we play as a team. I have enjoyed playing in the Scottish Premiership immensely. I’ve had a lot of my friends come up recently to witness Scottish football first hand.

“This is Premiership football, the standard is good and I’m loving it.”

Extended highlights from Fir Park as ‘Well knock four past St Johnstone to kick off 2014 with a bang.

-WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV–

Action shots from Fir Park as Motherwell turn in an excellent performance to beat St Johnstone 4-0.

Snaps courtesy of Bill Murray at SNSPix.

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Stuart McCall declared the 4-0 victory over St Johnstone as good a performance as he has witnessed in his three years at Fir Park.

The former Scotland midfielder celebrated his third anniversary in the role on Monday and watched his team begin the new year in style with a fifth consecutive Scottish Premiership victory, which kept them second in the table.

John Sutton opened the scoring in the 21st minute when he headed home a cross from Iain Vigurs, who netted the second just after the break after Lionel Ainsworth’s shot had been saved.

Ainsworth struck from 20 yards before substitute James McFadden scored from further out to round off a perfect start to 2014 for McCall, whose side hit the post through Stephen McManus, Ainsworth and Shaun Hutchinson.

[pullquote]We keep reverting back to last season and the season before and the players we have lost, but I thought the second half was as good as we have been, on a par with anything.[/pullquote]

McCall said: “I thought it was a fantastic performance. We keep reverting back to last season and the season before and the players we have lost, but I thought the second half was as good as we have been, on a par with anything.

“The football was terrific and we have created some fantastic chances. Bear in mind it was against a side who don’t lose a lot of goals.

“It was a good game. St Johnstone could have scored a couple, they have hit the woodwork a couple of times and we hit it three or four times.

“We said it might not be a day for pretty passing but they passed it well and moved. I was really proud of the performance. I thought it was the perfect all-round way to start the new year. It was just a delight.”

-WATCH STUART’S INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV–

[tab:Match report]

Phil McGhee at Fir Park

Motherwell kicked off the new year where they finished the old one with a superb 4-0 win over a good St Johnstone.

And while goals from John Sutton, Iain Vigurs, Lionel Ainsworth and James McFadden eased ‘Well to a fifth consective win with some style, both teams can take credit for serving up a festive feast in horrendous conditions.

In a breathtaking 90 minutes of action, both sides had some amazing escapes as the respective goal frames were hammered an incredible 6 times.

Despite his influential display in the 5-1 win over Thistle, James McFadden was back on the bench, alongside Zaine Francis-Angol, both making way for the inclusion of Shaun Hutchison and John Sutton who rejoined Henri Anier in attack.

And the strike pair combined within two minutes when Anier’s pass into the box found Sutton but his lobbed attempt drifted over the bar.

The Saints’ goal had amazing and controversial escape a minute later. Lionel Ainsworth’s corner drifted across the packed penalty area to Stephen McManus and his thundering drive cannoned down off the underside of the cross bar and bouncing up into goal before Alan Mannus could grab the ball. But despite the celebrations the assistant referee indicated that the ball had not crossed the line.

The visitor’s goal was under seige at that stage and another Ainsworth corner found its way to Shaun Hutchison and his effort looked net bound until Mannus strecthed to scoop the ball off the line.

Saints reply was a stunning strike from Dave Mackay which rebounded from Twardzik’s left hand post.

Motherwell’s pressing start was finally rewarded after 20 minutes. A great break down the left ended with Vigurs sweeping a cross to the front post, where Sutton headed home his tenth of the season.

Saints finally coped with ‘Well’s furious opening and Twardzik got down to make a great block from David Wotherspoon. Then a timely interception by McManus cut out Gwion Edwards cut back as the lethal Stevie May waited to strike.

‘Well came within inches of a second goal after 27 minutes. Ainsworth’s effort was blocked but the ball fell for Stuart Carswell whose volley from 10 yards rebounded off the inside of the post.

With Saints no doubt thinking that a goal early in the second half would bring them right back into the game, it was Stuart McCall’s men who produced a killer second within minutes of the restart.

Ainsworth cut in from the right to deliver a low drive which Mannus could only palm out to Vigurs who from 6 yards poked the ball into the empty net for his first Motherwell goal.

It was Saints’ turn to be denied again by the woodwork when, after a goal mouth scrammble, May’s shot was brillainly turned onto the post by Twardzik.

The game was end to end and Mannus matched his opposite number when he denied Ainworth, whose run from the halfway looked to perfectly finished, only to see his drive pushed onto the post by the ‘keeper.

The winger was not to be denied his fourth goal infour games though and it arrived after 71minutes.

Vigurs’ free kick was headed onto the post Hutchison, but the ball was only partially cleared and from the corner of the box Ainsworth rifled a drive across the ‘keeper to make it 3-0.

McFadden came on for Sutton and, four minutes from time, completed the scoring when he curled a right foot drive from 25 yard drive beyond the diving Mannus.

As the ‘Well players celebrated at the final whistle, Dan Twardzik took a well deserved final bow for his fine contribution having completed his amazing short term loan from Dundee, with his fifth win and third clean sheet.

[tab:As it happened]

 Alastair Reilly at Fir Park

FT: An incredible performance today. 4 goals, hit the woodwork 3 times and could have been more! Happy new year indeed! #mfcvsjfc

FT: Motherwell 4 – 0 St Johnstone

90mins: Moore almost makes it 5 but drags his shot just wide #mfcvsjfc

86mins: MCFADDEN completes the rout with a superb curling right footed shot from 25 yards! 4-0 #mfcvsjfc

GGGOOOAAALLL!!

84mins: St Johnstone sub, Millar on for McDonald #mfcvsjfc

83mins: Motherwell sub, Lasley off for Lawson #mfcvsjfc

81mins: Motherwell sub, Sutton off for McFadden #mfcvsjfc

81mins: Vigs slides in Moore whose shot is straight at Mannus form 12 yards. Just had to find a corner! #mfcvsjfc

78mins:Vigurs’ cross evades the entire St J defence and falls to Ainsworth.His volley’s drilled into the ground and Mannus gathers #mfcvsjfc

75mins: Motherwell sub, Moore on for Anier #mfcvsjfc

74mins: May fails to hit the target with a volley 15 yards out. #mfcvsjfc

73mins: Inches past again from Ainsworth as he dropped the shoulder and got away from MacKay and curled a shot with his right foot #mfcvsjfc

Just before that, McManus’ header crashed off the post! #mfcvsjfc

71mins: It’s that man AINSWORTH who has been on fire today and drills in the third from just inside the box 3-0 #mfcvsjfc

GGOOAAALLLL!!

68mins : St Johnstone sub, Fallon on for Brown #mfcvsjfc

67mins: Ainsworth’s counter-attacking run ends when his shot is palmed onto the post by Mannus! #mfcvsjfc

66mins: Hammell booked, Free-kick on the edge of the area for St J,,………Hutchy heads clear #mfcvsjfc

64mins: Superb again from Ainsworth as he skins his man and drills it across goal. Sutton inches away from connecting #mfcvsjfc

59mins: St Johnstone sub, Wotherspoon off for Hasselbaink #mfcvsjfc

58mins: Good play from Vigurs as he cuts in from the right left and gets a right footed shot away at Mannus. Decent effort #mfcvsjfc

55mins: MacKay’s free-kick from 25 yards whistles just past the post. Unlucky #mfcvsjfc

52mins: Outstanding save from Twardzik to deny May from 6 yards. Not sure how much he knew about it but it remains 2-0 #mfcvsjfc

48mins: VIGURS makes it 2 after an amazing run from Ainsworth. Was on hand to poke home rebound from Lionel’s shot! 2-0 #mfcvsjfc

GGOOOAAALLL!!

Teams are back out at a sodden Fir Park #mfcvsjfc

…call if it was over the line from either bounce. Ref had a good view of it. #mfcvsjfc

Looking back on the incident early in the first half. The ball actually hits the bar twice from McManus’ spectacular volley. Too hard to….

HT: Motherwell 1 – 0 St Johnstone #mfcvsjfc

44mins: Brown skims the paint off the top of the bar with a good effort from 20 yards #mfcvsjfc

34mins: St J have a corner after Wotherspoon’s shot is deflected over. Hutchinson heads clear #mfcvsjfc

30mins: It’s chucking it down here, which is a concern #mfcvsjfc

28mins: ‘Well peppering the Saints goal! Somehow bodies keep flying in the way and the ball doesn’t find the back of the net! #mfcvsjfc

27mins: May spins Hutchinson just inside the ‘Well half and gets a shot away. Trouble Twardzik but he deals with it #mfcvsjfc

24mins: Great chance for St J as Edwards get in behind and he cuts it back for the waiting May. McManus slides in to clear! #mfcvsjfc

22mins: Saints go straight up the pitch and Twardzik has a great save to deny Wotherspoon on the angle #mfcvsjfc

21mins: Superb delivery from Vigurs in the left straight to the head of SUTTON who nods home from 8 yards! 1-0 #mfcvsjfc

GGOOOAAALLL!!

17mins: MacKay hits the ball with a fine effort from 20 yards! McDonald’s follow up is deflected wide #mfcvsjfc

9mins: Anier gets the break of the ball inside the box and cuts in on his left foot. Fires just wide of the post. #mfcvsjfc

5mins: Another good chance! This time Hutchinson ghosts in at the back post from a corner and his volley is cleared off the line #mfcvsjfc

4mins: Moment of controversy as ‘Well claimed to have the ball over the line. Red not convinced and waved play on. Hard to tell. #mfcvsjfc

3mins: Early chance. ball falls to Sutton just inside the box. He tries to clip it over Mannus but it sails over #mfcvsjfc

Underway at FP #mfcvsjfc

So, here we all are now, all the lads are up for this one. Just moments away from kick off #mfcvsjfc

[tab:Reaction]

Motherwell manager Stuart McCall:

“I thought it was a fantastic performance. We keep reverting back to last season and the season before and the players we have lost, but I thought the second half was as good as we have been, on a par with anything.

“The football was terrific and we have created some fantastic chances. Bear in mind it was against a side who don’t lose a lot of goals.

“It was a good game. St Johnstone could have scored a couple, they have hit the woodwork a couple of times and we hit it three or four times.

“We said it might not be a day for pretty passing but they passed it well and moved. I was really proud of the performance. I thought it was the perfect all-round way to start the new year. It was just a delight.”

St Johnstone assistant manager Tommy Wright:

“It’s a strange game at times because it could have been 4-3 at half-time.

“We didn’t start the game well, which was key. We let them get a good foothold in the game and the tempo they played at.

“We settled down and created enough chances in the first half to be level but we did contribute to our own downfall.

“The goals are poor from our point of view, ill-discipline and not dealing with one against ones, giving away soft free-kicks to a team that has good delivery.

“It could have been 6-4 to them because there were a lot of chances.”

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

[poll id=”175″]

The eleventh domestic Steelmen Matchday Magazine of 2013/14 is on sale when St Johnstone visit on Wednesday.

But what is inside the 64-page issue?

‘Well boss Stuart McCall and Captain Keith Lasley both return with the regular columns.

‘Well boss Stuart McCall, celebrating three years in charge at Fir Park, speaks about how trying to continue the recent run of form against a tough opponent in St Johnstone.

The skipper also chats about recent victories and reflects on an excellent 2013 for the Steelmen.

The feature interview is with midfielder Stuart Carswell. The youngster talks about nailing a regular first-team spot at the club and his hopes for the year ahead.

Carsy also features as the next in the centre-page souvenir poster collection.

But that’s not where the features stop!

There is a 11-page section dedicated to our visitors, St Johnstone.

As ever, Ray Morrison introduces the Perthshire side and there’s a player-by-player breakdown of who is likely to line up for Saints.

We also report from McDiarmid Park and the Saints went down narrowly to Celtic.

Boss Tommy Wright also gives us an exclusive interview where he talks honestly about trying to continue some of the good work achieved by his predecessor and stamping his own authority on the team.

The big features keep coming…

‘From the Press Box’ returns with regular host, the Herald’s Scott Mullen and the second of our Eggheads ‘Quarter Final’ clashes pits James McFadden against Keith Lasley.

But wait, there’s more!

Our match reports section takes a look back at the 3-0 win over St Mirren and the excellent 1-0 success at Pittodrie. There’s also an in-depth report from the Under 20s 0-0 draw with Lanarkshire neighbours Hamilton Accies.

We have the latest from The Ticket Office, Commercial and Community Departments, and update from the Well Society as well as the latest stats, facts and figures from the 2013/2014 campaign.

We also take a statistical look at the match official and the ‘Junior Steel’ kids page that will test the youngster’s quiz minds with puzzles and ‘Did you know’ facts.

The programme is available for £3 and is will be on sale from the Club Shop as well as the usual sellers located in and around the ground pre-match.

You can also order back editions or take a season-long subscription to the magazine by visiting the website of our publishers – Curtis-Sports – CLICK HERE.

Referee for Wednesday’s Scottish Professional Football League clash with St Johnstone is John Beaton.

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

He was in charge of the disappointing League Cup Quarter Final defeat to Aberdeen and his other was also against Aberdeen, 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

The 31-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.

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

This will be his second League Cup tie of the campaign having already handled St Johnstone’s 3-0 win at Hamilton Accies.

He has officiated three Dons games this campaign and McInnes’ men have won all three (versus Kilmarnock, Motherwell and Partick Thistle).

Abroad, he was the man in the middle for 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 Tom Murphy and Gavin Harris with Ian Brines on Fourth Official duties.