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Blair Spittal has become a vital part of Motherwell’s team. The midfielder joined in the summer of 2022 and has raced towards the 50 game mark since. 

But away from football, he has also approached the next chapter in his life with wife, Hailey. Having had their marriage delayed due to Covid-19, they purchased their first pet together, Simba.

Now two years of age, Simba has prepared Blair and his wife for the arrival of their first child, that is due in December of this year.

With his football going well on the pitch, he takes Simba to a local play park where he can run freely and Blair can reflect and think about how his life is going to change at the end of this year.

With three back-to-back home victories returning a current top-six place for the women of steel ahead of this weekend’s return to action, Paul Brownlie’s side will be aiming to replicate their success on the road.

A trip to Springburn awaits, with Partick Thistle the hosts at Petershill Park, as Motherwell hunt for their first points away from home following an opening weekend defeat to Aberdeen and defending champions Glasgow City.

The Tale of the Tape

Motherwell

The visitors will have the opportunity to preserve their impressive run of form, as victory this weekend would extend the sides record to three successive wins. Katie Rice and Louisa Boyes both netted their first goals of the new campaign to overcome newly-promoted Montrose last weekend, with the prospect of another contested meeting with Partick Thistle expected.

Brownlie’s side have faced several closely-fought encounters with the Jags, with three stalemates resulting from the last four meetings. In a recent test last season, Motherwell overturned an early two-goal deficit, netting three successive goals before a late Teigan McCann strike prevented a Motherwell victory on that day.

Despite the sides success on the pitch, their recent injury woes continue to hamper the team. Morgan Hay will remain unavailable for this weekend’s encounter, whilst Morgan Cross will be doubtful following an injury sustained midweek. Lucy Ronald and Laura McCartney will both continue their return from long-term spells on the sidelines.

Partick Thistle

The hosts have also made a positive start to the 2023/24 SWPL campaign, racking up three wins from five, with their only defeats coming against Rangers and Glasgow City.

Brian Graham’s side have proven to be prolific in-front of goal, netting 12-times in their opening three league victories. Striker Cara Henderson has netted six-times so far, including an opening weekend hat-trick over Dundee United, placing the forward second overall in the SWPL top-scorer table.

They’ll be a sense of familiarity to Sunday’s meeting, with Emma Lawton, Claire Adams and Kodie Hay all set to face their former side.

Ticket Information

• Adult – £7
• Concession – £5
• Kids go FREE

How to follow the action

Supporters can follow Sunday’s encounter on Twitter @motherwellwomen, with a full report of the action available post-match. The match will also be available to watch live on the BBC Sport Scotland website, with access to the ground available to fans from 12.15PM ahead of a 1PM kick-off.

Our match against Rangers at Ibrox will now place on Sunday 24 September.

The match was originally scheduled to take place on Saturday 23 September but has been moved due Rangers’ participation in the UEFA Europa League.

Kick off is 3pm.

We have reviewed the UK Government consultation paper titled “Guidelines for taking passengers to sporting events in Scotland.”

The document details a number of proposed guidelines for public service vehicle (PSV) operators who provide transport for fans travelling to sporting events. These include potential restrictions on pick up points, arrival and departure times and limitations on where the vehicles can stop on route to a match.

Responses to the consultation are due by 24 November 2023 and, as a fan owned club, we will consult fully with our members before submitting our views. We believe it is important that we encourage as many fans as possible to attend matches and to make the experience as enjoyable and welcoming as possible.

The Board of the Well Society will issue a further update on how members can provide input into the consultation process.

We have five players on international duty over the next couple of weeks.

Liam Kelly

He may still be waiting for his first international cap but Liam Kelly has become a regular in Steve Clarke’s squads.

It’s a crucial match for Scotland in their quest for EURO 2024 qualification. They travel to Cyprus on Friday 8 September before playing England in a special anniversary match on Tuesday 12 September at Hampden.

Scotland can secure qualification this month. If they beat Cyprus and Spain beat Georgia, a draw between Georgia and Norway on Tuesday 12 September would mean qualification for Scotland.

Lennon Miller

Making the step up to Scotland’s Under 19 squad for the first time, 17-year-old Lennon Miller has two matches this week.

Scotland face Belgium on Wednesday 6 September before a match against the Czech Republic on Saturday 9 September. Both are friendly matches that are taking place in Belgium.

Bevis Mugabi

Back in the Uganda squad and it couldn’t have came at a more important time for Bevis Mugabi and the Cranes. They take on Niger on Wednesday 7 September in Morocco.

Uganda are three points behind second placed Tanzania going into this round of games. If Uganda win and Tanzania lose to Algeria, Uganda would move up to second in the standings and would ensure they qualify for The Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

Davor Zdravkovski

Retaining his place in the North Macedonian squad, Davor Zdravkovski is looking for his first cap for his nation.

North Macedonia travel on Italy first on Saturday 9 September before a home match against Malta on Tuesday 12 September.

They are currently 4th in their group, three points off second placed Ukraine.

Brodie Spencer

Originally called up the Northern Ireland Under 21 squad, Brodie Spencer received a call-up to the senior squad for their upcoming matches.

Northern Ireland travel to Slovenia on Thursday 7 September and are on the road again on Sunday 10 September, in Kazakhstan.

The Northern Irish will be looking to move up their group standings, as they are currently in 5th with three points after four matches.

With the first international break of the season upon us, Motherwell knew a win would see them go joint top with Celtic in the cinch Premiership. 

Visiting a ground they hadn’t won on in four years, the Steelmen shaped up to face Hearts, with the Jambos being knocked out of the Europa Conference League on Thursday night.

Starting the brighter of the two sides, Motherwell had the majority of the chances in the opening exchanges. Bevis Mugabi went close with a header before Callum Slattery’s ball across goal was intercepted.

It would be Slattery who would finish an exquisite team goal on the half hour mark. Initially ruled out for offside, VAR intervened to show Slattery was well onside.

Motherwell finished the half strong however, it would be a test to the finish. Paul McGinn received his second yellow of the game with 20 minutes to go and Hearts threw everything at the ‘Well backline.

They held firm however and secured a massive three points that see them on 10 points out of a possible 12 so far this campaign.

It was back-to-back victories for the women of steel, as Motherwell built upon their Lanarkshire derby triumph with an assured performance against Montrose.

Katie Rice fired the hosts ahead early into the first-half with a composed finish from distance, with Louisa Boyes netting her first goal of the new campaign within the opening exchanges of the second half.

Montrose pulled one back against the run of play, but Kaela McDonald-Nguah continued her prolific run of form, netting her fourth goal of the new campaign to restore Motherwell’s two-goal advantage.

Head coach Paul Brownlie was forced into making slight alterations to his matchday squad, as latest addition Morgan Cross received a place on the bench following a midweek injury to Morgan Hay that ruled the midfielder out of action.

Buoyed in confidence following their recent run of form, Motherwell started firmly on the front foot, with Tara McGonigle almost adding her name onto the scoresheet. The wingers cutting run freed up space at the edge of the box to strike, but the wingers drilled effort narrowly evaded the crossbar.

The hosts continued to press and deservedly netted the opener moments later. Rice’s left-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area sailed past the Montrose stopper before nestling comfortably into the bottom-right corner.

With the women of steel maintaining a narrow lead at the break, Brownlie’s side came out of the traps early into the second half and soon doubled their advantage. Boyes’ right-footed effort midway through the Montrose penalty area coasted through the visiting defence before picking out the centre of the goal.

Motherwell continued to control possession and almost added a third in quick succession, as McDonald-Nguah met Rice’s floated corner kick in the air, but the strikers headed attempt fell agonisingly over the crossbar.

The hosts control and composure in the game was soon threatened as Montrose netted a quickfire response. Aimee Ridgeway coolly converted Charlotte Gammie’s low delivery, picking out the bottom-corner with a smart finish.

Despite a sudden spell of attacking threat from the visitors, the hosts restored their two-goal advantage to maintain their place in the top-six of the SWPL. McDonald-Nguah’s threatening right-foot proved to be beneficial yet again, as the strikers close-range finish sailed into the bottom-right corner to secure a second consecutive victory for the women of steel.

Brownlie’s side will return to action next weekend, as a highly anticipated meeting with Partick Thistle awaits.

Motherwell went into the International break undefeated with a fine 0-1 win over Hearts at Tynecastle, their first win at the venue in four years.

Callum Slattery’s strike on 29 minutes was enough to seal the three points for ten-man Motherwell after Paul McGinn saw two bookings.

Motherwell started brightly and went close after 20 minutes when Bevis Mugabi’s powerful header was tipped over the bar by Zander Clark from Blair Spittal’s corner.

Motherwell took a deserved lead shortly after. A move that started from a Hearts free kick, ended with Spittal and Callum Slattery combining excellently on the edge of the box and the Englishman fired past Clark.

There was a bit of drama as the linesman’s flag went up but after a short check, VAR awarded the goal. 0-1.

Slattery then almost doubled the lead with what would have been a goal of the season contender but his shot from inside his own half drifted inches over the bar.

Motherwell took a deserved lead into the break and nearly extended the lead shortly into the second 45.

More fine play between Slattery, Paton and Spittal set up the latter inside the box but his shot flew just past.

The game then took a turn as Paul McGinn was shown a second-yellow card with 20 minutes to go after a tussle with Liam Boyce as he was about to race through on goal.

What followed next was a superb gritty defensive display as Hearts pressed forward in search of an equaliser.

Lawrence Shankland had a shot on target saved comfortably by Liam Kelly.

Crosses were headed away or plucked to safety. Shots from the edge for the box were met with a claret and amber body being thrown in the way; it was a mammoth performance from the entire back line to secure a clean sheet and third win of the season.

The win means Motherwell remain undefeated on the road under Stuart Kettlewell’s reign since February and they also extend their top-flight undefeated streak to 10 games, their longest run since 2010.

The Steelmen now go into the International break sitting joint top of the cinch Premiership.