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John Sutton is predicting another entertaining game when Motherwell host Hibs in the SPL opener on Sunday.

The two teams shared twelve goals in an incredible 6-6 draw at Fir Park towards the end of last season.

And although a similar barrage of goals is unlikely this time round, Sutton believes it will be another exciting game for the fans.

“The 6-6 draw was a terrific game to be a part of,” said the striker.

“Hopefully from a defensive point of view we won’t be conceding six goals but if we could score six again that would be great.

“After such an open game you would think both managers will think the game has to go more the other way, and try to concentrate on keeping a clean sheet.

“But if you look at the attacking talent Hibs have got, they are always liable to score, and likewise, we have some players that are always a goal threat.”

This weekend may be a curtain raiser for most teams in the SPL but Craig Brown’s men have already played four competitive matches in the Europa League.

Sutton, who netted in the 3-0 victory over Aalesund last week, expects Motherwell will have a big advantage in the early stages of the season.

“We already have a level of intensity because of the competitive matches we have played, he said.

“But it is only a benefit if you get good results, which we have done in Europe. So it has been handy to have those games.

“We do feel like any other team in the SPL in the sense that a new season is a fresh start. We have to get off to a good start because we feel that it is going to be a tight league and to get points on the board early will be important.”

The Steelmen will have two new faces in the squad for the visit of Hibs following the signings of Esteban Casagolda and Nick Blackman.

And Sutton believes there is sufficient quality at the club to deliver success again this term.

“Regardless of the size of the squad we have got some really good players here and there is no reason why we cannot do well again this season,” added the striker.

Motherwell have agreed a six-month loan deal with Blackburn Rovers for striker Nick Blackman.

The 20-year-old has yet to feature for Rovers’ first team but has had loan spells at Blackpool and Oldham.

And manager Craig Brown believes he will be a useful addition to the squad.

“Blackman is tall and he’s good in the air,” said the Motherwell boss. “He’s got pace to burn, a good left foot.

“He has really blossomed in pre-season. My friend who is the first-team coach at Blackburn, Steve Kean, said he would definitely score goals in the SPL.

“He is a very exciting young striker. He is quick and lively and his movement is good.

“We had a good lift from Lukas Jutkiewicz last season and we consider Blackman is as good a player and is going to be as productive for us as Jutkiewicz was and, if that’s the case, we’ll be well pleased.”

Blackman is the second new face in 24 hours following the capture of Spanish striker Esteban Casagolda and Brown is hopeful of adding one more.

“We might try to fiddle with the team a little and see if we can have some movement before the end of the transfer window,” added the former Scotland boss.

“We’re still on the lookout to freshen up the squad and supplement it.

“If the deal is right and the chairman is prepared to co-operate, as he has done brilliantly to allow us to get these strikers in, we might manager to get someone else.”

The club can today confirm the signing of Spanish striker Esteban Casagolda on a one-year contract.

The 23-year-old, previously of FC Brussels, Diegem and RC Malines, has been on trial for several weeks at Fir Park, impressing boss Craig Brown enough to be win a contract.

And he will go straight into the squad for the SPL opener against Hibernian on Sunday.

“Esteban is a bit of a rough diamond but he’s got talent,” said Brown. “I’ve seen enough from him in the last couple of weeks to know he can offer us something.

“He has a terrific scoring record at youth level in Belgium and we are hoping he can realise that potential here at Motherwell.

“He’s tall, quick and mobile and when he gets his fitness up, he’ll give us another option,” added the Motherwell boss.

Tickets for the First Leg of the Europa League Play-Off with Odense are currently on sale from the Fir Park Ticket Office.

The club have been given a total allocation of 1,550 tickets, priced at £17 each, for the match on Thursday 19th August.

Please note that tickets can only be bought in person (no phone or internet sales are available), and your passport information is required when purchasing.

Fans travelling on the official club charter need not buy tickets as they will be supplied on the plane itself.

For further information please contact the club on 01698 333 333.

The club are delighted to announce a new shirt-sponsorship deal with Scotland’s largest independent Voice and Data communications company, Commsworld.

Founded in 1994, Commsworld are a Scottish owned company with offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

The company provides three main functions, including Telephone System solutions (Call recording, Call centre applications, VOIP, Hosted services); Network Services (Internet connectivity, Wide Area Data Networks, ISDN & Analogue lines, SIP lines and Mobile phone solutions) and Engineering Services (365/24/7 maintenance, project management).

With a diverse customer-base ranging from SMEs and charities through to FTSE 250 organisations in sectors such as retail, law, oil and gas and leisure, Commsworld client lists boasts established names such as Kwik Fit, Capital Solutions, Parks of Hamilton and Glenmorangie.

The six-figure, one-year deal, is a massive boost to the club and Chief Executive Leeann Dempster said, “We are absolutely delighted to announce this deal today and look forward to what will hopefully be a long and fruitful relationship with a strong Scottish company.”

Richard Nicol, CEO of Commsword, added, “Commsworld have ambitious growth plans and are certain that the extensive media coverage that the SPL enjoys will substantially increase awareness of the brand.”

Motherwell manager Craig Brown commented, “We’re delighted that the club have secured such a lucrative deal with a well-known, established organisation.

“Even through the priority for Archie Knox and I is very much football matters, we understand and acknowledge the importance of a strong brand on the front of our kits.”

The club can today confirm ticket information for the Second Leg of the Europa League tie against Odense, scheduled for August 26th at Fir Park.

After getting past Icelanders Breidablik and Norwegians Aalesund, Craig Brown’s men face yet another difficult tie against the Danes.

The First Leg is in Odense so it is essential Fir Park is full, noisy and colourful for the return leg. As such, the club have announced the following ticket prices:

• Adults £20 (all stands)
• Juveniles £10 (all stands) *
• Families £30 (Cooper stand) **

Tickets will go on general sale on Wednesday 11th August at 1pm and fans are reminded that they, in line with UEFA guidelines, will be required to supply a name and address details for each ticket holder.

Please also note that there will be no purchasing restrictions on home tickets at any time.

Fans should also be aware that season tickets are not valid for the game. Ticket information for the second leg has still to be confirmed.

*Juveniles are listed as Under 16’s.
**Family Tickets are listed as 1x Adult and up to x3 Juveniles and can only be purchased at the Ticket Office or over the phone.

The bounce game arranged for Craig Brown to further assess a number of trialist players finished in an emphatic 4-0 win for the black stripped team.

Chris Humphrey opened the scoring with a lovely drive past Darren Randolph to make it 1-0 after 27 minutes.

The winger then turned provider eight minutes later when he beat his marker and whipped in an inviting low cross for John Sutton who tapped home into an unguarded net.

Five minutes from the interval that man Humphrey was again the creator, bursting down the right and prodding the ball in for Esteban Casagolda whose initial shot was blocked by Randolph, only to cannon off Meechan and drop into the net.

Three minutes after the restart substitute trialist Jamie McCluskey got on the end of a cross and cut inside two challenges before prodding past Bradley.

The same player went on to win a penalty late in the game but he was denied a double when the young Welsh keeper gussed the right way to make the save.

It finished 4-0 and the crowd of 504 were certainly entertained throughout the 90 minutes.

White Kit: Randolph, Meechan, Fitzpatrick, Page, Hutchinson, Forbes, Trialist, Trialist, McHugh, Trialist, Smith

Subs: Bradley, Carswell, Sloan, Trialist

Black Kit: Hollis, Trialist, Hammell, Trialist, Quinn, Lasley, Humphrey, Jennings, Trialist, Trialist, Sutton

Subs: Pollock, Watt, Brown, McKinnon, MacDonald, Innes

Motherwell’s visit to Kilmarnock has been switched to Sunday 22nd August due to the Steelmen’s involvement in the Europa League.

The game will kick off at 3pm.

Motherwell have been drawn against Danish side Odense BK in the Europa League play-off round.

The Steelmen will travel to Denmark for the first-leg on Thursday 19th August, with the return leg at Fir Park a week later on Thursday 26th August.

Odense overcame Bosnian side Zrinjski Mostar 5-3 on aggregate in the Third Qualifying Round.

They play at the TRE-FOR Park stadium (capacity 15,790) and have a number of recognisible faces in their team, including former Wigan and Man Utd goalkeeper Roy Carroll and veteran defender Thomas Helveg.

Managed by Lars Olsen, Odense finished second in the Danish Superliga last season, nine points behind FC Copenhagen.

They are just three games into their new campaign and currently sit sixth, having won one, drawn one and lost one.

John Sutton wants to emulate his brother by masterminding a European shock after his goal helped the Steelmen into the Europa League play-offs.

The striker scored the second goal in the 3-0 victory over Aalesund as Motherwell secured an impressive 4-1 aggregate win.

And having watched his big brother Chris star for Norwich and Celtic in Europe, he wants a taste of the big time himself.

“It is just fantastic to get through this round and we know now that there is a really good chance we could get a glamour tie in the next round.” he said.

“That was an incentive for us to go out and get the right result tonight and we managed it.

“I remember watching Chris play against Bayern Munich. Everyone thought Bayern would hammer Norwich but Jeremy Goss scored the winner – so anything can happen!

“Alan McInally predicted Bayern would score ten. I couldn’t quite believe it when Goss volleyed it in.

“That would be an aspiration to try to emulate that but I don’t think we will be expecting that.

“I don’t think anyone expects Motherwell to go particularly far or beat many big teams but I certainly aspire to match some of his achievements.”

Sutton admits though that he is caught in two minds about a glamour tie or a winnable one to help the Steelmen through to the group stages.

“The bigger the team we get, the tougher it is to progress,” he said.

“So there are pros and cons to drawing a Liverpool or a Juventus in the next round.”