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[tab:Match report]

 Alan Burrows at McDiarmid Park

A poor Motherwell crashed to a disappointed 3-0 defeat at McDiarmid Park this evening.

Steven MacLean, who was returning from knee surgery, grabbed his first of the evening when goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen parried a ball into his path after saving a Stevie May free-kick.

He then scored his and the Saints’ second when Brian Easton’s cross from deep on the left found him nipping in between Stevie Hammell and Stephen McManus at the back post in a first half dominated by the home side.

The points were secured for the Perth side late on when Gary Miller ran down the left unchallenged before cutting inside and lashing an unstoppable shot into the net.

MacLean’s inclusion was one of four changes following Saints’ home defeat against Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Saturday, with Lee Croft, James Dunne and Miller all coming in, while Craig Reid made his first start for Motherwell and manager Stuart McCall also gave a start to Henri Anier.

Motherwell created the first real chance of the game when Anier spun away from Steven Anderson on the edge of the area and hit a first-time shot that bounced just wide.

It was St Johnstone however that took the lead after six minutes.

May took aim 30 yards from goal and his free-kick bounced a yard in front of Nielsen, who could only palm the ball out and into the danger area. ‘Well failed to react but it was the former Rangers who would tuck home from close range.

Impressive play by May on the right then saw him cut a ball back for the onrushing Nigel Hasselbaink but his sliding attempt to connect was cut out well by Shaun Hutchinson.

Motherwell were contributing very little to the game but Iain Vigurs brought out a fingertip save from Alan Mannus in the St Johnstone goal to deny the former Ross County man.

St Johnstone extended their lead after 34 minutes with MacLean again on target.

Easton’s delivery ran through to MacLean who somehow got in front of got between two ‘Well defenders to head home his second.

The visitors should have pulled a goal back on the stroke of half-time when a free-kick from Vigurs found its way to the unmarked Stephen McManus at the back post. He skewed the ball wide from four yards with a sliding John Sutton unable to connect at the back post.

Clearly upset with his side’s first-half showing, Motherwell manager Stuart McCall threw on James McFadden and Lionel Ainsworth for Stevie Hammell and Vigurs in an attempt to salvage something from the game.

Again, though, it was St Johnstone who started the brighter and Nielsen had to look smart to beat away a fierce 25-yard drive from Lee Croft.

Nielsen looked to be trying to atone for his first-half error, and he got down well to fingertip away a May drive from the edge of the area, and then made another flying save to deny David Wotherspoon.

Two-goal MacLean was replaced by former Scotland striker Chris Iwelumo with 19 minutes left, and within seconds of coming on he missed a glorious chance to put Motherwell out of sight.

Terrific wing play from fellow substitute Wotherspoon found the striker unmarked inside the six-yard area and somehow he managed to shoot straight at the goalkeeper rather than burst the net with his shot.

Four minutes from time, Miller secured the points for St Johnstone after bursting 50 yards down the right before cutting in and under no pressure firing the ball home.

It was a very poor showing from the Steelmen who now need to bounce back when Hearts visit Fir Park on Saturday.

[tab:As it happened]

 Ally Reilly at McDiarmid Park

FT: St Johnstone 3 – 0 Motherwell #SJFCvMFC

3 minutes added on #SJFCvMFC

86mins:GOAL! Millar makes it 3-0. A miserable night #SJFCvMFC

82mins: Hutchinson hits it on the turn from just inside the box. Good effort, just over #SJFCvMFC

81mins: St Johnstone sub, Croft off for Millar #SJFCvMFC

79mins: Motherwell sub, Shirkie on for Anier #SJFCvMFC

73mins: From 8 yards out, Iwelumo drives it straight at Nielsen #SJFCvMFC

72mins: St Johnstone sub, McLean off for Iwelumo #SJFCvMFC

70mins: Wotherspoon curls it just wide from a central position 20 yards out. #SJFCvMFC

67mins: Croft is booked for a tackle on Francis-Angol. Ainsworth’s Free-kick in a wide position goes wide #SJFCvMFC

64mins: St Johnstone sub, Hasselbaink off for Wotherspoon #SJFCvMFC

63mins: ‘Well have came back into a little. Nothing much in the way of chances though apart from some McFadden long-throws #SJFCvMFC

59mins: Corner to ‘Well…..Saints break and with Croft in acres of space, Hasselbaink slides it straight to Nielsen #SJFCvMFC

58mins: Good save from Nielsen to deny May from 18 yards. #SJFCvMFC

56mins: Great chance as McFadden heads the ball back across goal. No-one’s there to knock it in though! #SJFCvMFC

53mins: Free-kick to Motherwell in a good position out left….McManus inches away from connecting at the backpost #SJFCvMFC

51mins: Corner to St Johnstone…..Nielsen has to be sharp to deny Anderson! #SJFCvMFC

Motherwell subs, Ainsworth on for Vigurs, McFadden on for Hammell. Second half underway #SJFCvMFC

HT: St Johnstone 2 – 0 Motherwell #SJFCvMFC

45mins: Free-kick from wide on the left now. McManus pokes it just wide! #SJFCvMFC

44mins: Free-kick to ‘Well out wide on the right but Lasley’s delivery is headed clear #SJFCvMFC

41mins: May booked for dissent. #SJFCvMFC

40mins: 5 minutes left of the first half. Need a big performance in the second 45 if we’re to take anything here #SJFCvMFC

34mins: GOAL! It’s 2-0, MacLean with a header from Easton’s cross #SJFCvMFC

25mina: MacLean gets in at the front post and his flicked-on header goes just wide #SJFCvMFC

24mins: Ambitious effort from Vigurs as his 25 yard effort is palmed past the post by Mannus. A little more promising #SJFCvMFC

18mins: Another corner to Saints after Dunne’s shot is deflected wide #SJFCvMFC

16mins: Very poor start here from ‘Well. Second to everything so far #SJFCvMFC

6mins: GOAL! MacLean opens the scoring, poking home from Nielsen’s save from May’s free-kick #SJFCvMFC

5mins: Good break-away from Anier. He shrugs off his man and gets a left-footed shot away which flies just wide #SJFCvMFC

2mins: Second corner in succession for Saints….Francis-Angol heads clear #SJFCvMFC

1min: Early penalty claim for Saints after MacLean looked to have been hauled down in the box. Ref waves it away #SJFCvMFC

Carswell and Lasley get the game underway #SJFCvMFC

[tab:Reaction]

Motherwell manager Stuart McCall:

“Yet again we’ve come in at half time 2-0 down from two really poor goals.

“As much as St Johnstone were far better than us tonight in every department we can’t give goals away.

“We lost too many individual battles. The pitch wasn’t perfect to play football on but they (St Johnstone) moved it far better than we did.

“With a thin squad there’s not a lot we can do at the moment – we probably could be doing with pulling a few people out at the minute and we’ll have a look to try and do that.”

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright:

“They (Motherwell) are one of the best teams in the country and I thought we dominated from start to finish.”

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

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Following discussions with North Lanarkshire Council, the MFC Community Trust has secured funding from the Big Lottery to carry out a community-wide consultation and transform the existing Muirhouse pitches into a vibrant new community facility to include a new 3G sports pitch, grass pitches, upgraded pavilion, and a new Learning Centre which will include multi purpose rooms, café, gym, and other community facilities.

The new facility will create employment, training, and volunteering opportunities for local people and will also provide a focus for a wide range of activities delivered by existing organisations in the area.

A new access road is also proposed through to the site.

Commenting on the new proposals, General Manager of the Community Trust Charlie Bennett said: “We are really excited by these new proposals and would like to thank North Lanarkshire Council for the supportive stance they have taken towards the project and to the Big Lottery Fund for funding the community consultation and the creation of the business plan.

“The new facility will provide a focus for community activity in the area and already we have identified a wide range of programmes that can be delivered from it covering health and wellbeing, lifelong learning, employability and inclusion.

“However, the community consultation will allow local people their say on what they feel they facility should be doing, what activities should be taking place there, and how local people can get involved in its development.

“This community consultation process will start in the next couple of weeks and we want everyone in Muirhouse to have the opportunity to have their say through the roadshows, meetings, and questionnaires that will be set up.”

For further information on the proposals please contact the Community Trust at community@motherwellfc.co.uk.

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‘Well youngster Stuart Carswell admits he has played through the pain barrier to assist the squad in recent weeks.

The 20-year old midfielder, a virtual ever-present for Stuart McCall’s side this term, has toiled with a leg knock for a number of weeks, but has opted to continue playing.

It’s been a big help to the Fir Park boss, who had as many as ten players unavailable for recent matches.

[pullquote]The last thing you want is to have time out, particularly at the moment when we have so many boys are out injured.[/pullquote]

“I worked so hard to get a regular spot and it’s always a bonus for a young player like me to play,” he told the broadcast press at ‘Well’s pre-match news conference.

“So the last thing you want is to have time out, particularly at the moment when we have so many boys are out injured.

“I got some treatment on Friday morning and the physiotherapist, John Porteous, warned me that although I might go through it okay, there may also be a chance it would have an adverse effect.

“Thankfully, I got through it fine and now the focus is to St Johnstone tomorrow.”

-WATCH STUART’S PRESS CONFERENCE IN FULL ON MFC TV–

‘Well boss Stuart McCall wants a positive reaction from his side following Friday’s defeat at Tannadice.

The Steelmen slipped to just their second defeat in ten games at the hands of Jackie McNamara’s side.

Now ‘Well face St Johnstone, a side who themselves will be looking to bounce back after losing to Inverness CT at the weekend.

With the race for European places still very much up in the air, the former Scotland midfielder is well aware of just how important it is to get to winning ways.

[pullquote]Not only are we looking to bounce back from our defeat at Tannadice, we put in a poor performance last time we were at McDiarmid Park so there’s plenty motivation there.[/pullquote]

Speaking to the gathered press at Motherwell’s pre-match news conference, the 49-year old said: “Not only are we looking to bounce back from our defeat at Tannadice, we put in a poor performance last time we were at McDiarmid Park so there’s plenty motivation there.

“I watched them [Saints] on Saturday against Inverness and, certainly from their second half display, I felt they just about merited at least a point from the match.

“They didn’t manage it, so I am sure they too will be looking to bounce back. We’ve got everyone available who played at Dundee United on Friday, but we’re in no doubt it’ll be a tough game, but one we are certainly aiming to win.”

-WATCH STUART’S PRESS CONFERENCE IN FULL ON MFC TV–

Referee for Tuesday’s clash against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park is Kevin Clancy.

It will be Kevin’s third ‘Well appointment of the current campaign after previously taking charge of the swashbuckling 2-2 draw with Dundee United in September.

Henri Anier had ‘Well ahead at the interval but two quick-fire goals from United had McNamara’s men ahead. Step forward substitute Lionel Ainsworth, who smashed home a brilliant leveller to give the Steelmen a deserved point.

The other was the excellent 1-0 win at Pittodrie on Boxing Day when a resolute Steelmen came away with all three points thanks to Henri Anier’s winner.

It would have been his fourth game, but John Beaton replaced him at the last minute ahead of the Aberdeen match back in August, after a hectic midweek European jaunt.

Prior to this season, his last Motherwell match was against Aberdeen at Pittodrie (again), back in March, when the teams drew a blank in a 0-0 draw.

It was one of two ‘Well fixtures the 30-year old took charge of last season, his other being the 2-1 away win at Dundee when Michael Higdon bagging a double as Stuart McCall’s men came back from a losing position to pick up all three points.

His only other Motherwell match was in the 2011/12 Scottish Cup, where he was the man in the middle as the Fir Parkers demolished Queen’s Park 4-0, a certain Henrik Ojamaa smashing home a debut goal.

His overall record in charge of Motherwell reads five matches in total, Motherwell winning three and drawing two. ‘Well have scored nine and conceded three.

There have been sixteen cautions dished out in those five matches, eleven of them to a man wearing Claret and Amber and zero dismissals.

He’s had a busy season in 2013/14, with some high profile matches including on Europa League duty when he handled Lokomotiva Zagreb’s match with Dinamo Minsk, managed by ex ‘Well defender Bob Maaskant. The Belarusian side ran out 3-2 winners.

Coincidentally, Kevin was in Russia the same time ‘Well faced Kuban Krasnodar. He was appointed to take charge of FC Rubin Kazan vs Randers in the second leg tie of the 3rd Qualifying Round of the Europa League.

He was also the man in the middle for the UEFA Under 21 Qualifier between Montenegro and Germany as well as the UEFA Youth Champions League matches Real Madrid vs FC Copenhagen and Man Utd vs Real Sociedad.

Kevin will be ably assisted by John McCrossan and Stuart Hodge with Barry Cook on 4th Official duties.

The ‘Well Society is having another sign-up / renewal night in the Centenary Suite this March.

The Society was handed over to the fans in October 2012 with the purpose of growing the membership to a point where the fans could take over the ownership of the club.

The Society already has two members appointed to the Board of Directors of Motherwell FC, and as the stake in the club grows, so will the number of Director places available to the Society. This will grow until they take majority control of the club.

Recently, Motherwell Chief Executive Leeann Dempster announced a change in the membership system, allowing for monthly subscriptions for a minimum of £10 per month.

In light of that, the Society will host an open night, on Monday 3rd March in the Centenary Suite (starting at 6pm), allowing anyone interested to sign up. Those members who joined a year ago will also be able to renew their membership for the next year.

A number of the First Team squad will be on hand to sign autographs and have their photos taken.

Membership levels are available as follows;

• Junior Steel Membership – £25 (for juveniles under 15)
• Steel Membership – £300
• Claret Membership – £1000
• Amber Membership – £5000
• 1886 Membership – £25000

There are a number of benefits which are accrued by each membership level. For more information on the ‘Well Society – CLICK HERE.

Motherwell Under 20s return to action this Wednesday when they take on Aberdeen at Arbroath’s Gayfield Park.

Jonatan Johansson’s men will have gone two weeks without a game after the midweek match with Rangers fell foul to the wet weather.

Despite having no match, the young Steelmen remained in fourth spot in the table, six points behind leaders Celtic.

The Dons did play, drawing 1-1 with Partick Thistle at Airdrie’s Excelsior Stadium.

The teams last met at Fir Park back in October with the Claret and Amber men running out 3-0 winners.

The match will be played at Arbroath FC’s Gayfield Park, kick-off is 1pm.

>> UNDER 20s FIXTURES & RESULTS

Motherwell’s match with Hibs at Easter Road, scheduled for Wednesday 26th March, will now go ahead on Saturday 8th March.

The game has been switched from midweek to a Saturday after both clubs were left with a free weekend on the 8th – kick-off is 3pm.

That will be the only away match in March with Hearts (1st), Inverness CT (19th), Ross County (22nd) and Kilmarnock (29th) all taking place at Fir Park in what is a busy month leading up to the split.

>> UPDATED FIXTURE LIST

Extended highlights from Tannadice as a below-par ‘Well go down 3-1 to Dundee United.

-WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV–

Action pictures from the 3-1 defeat by Dundee Utd at Tannadice in the SPFL Premiership.

Snaps courtesy of SNSPix.

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