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With 2022 at an end, Motherwell travelled to Livingston in search of three points and a turn in fortune after a difficult calendar year. 

A couple of first team regulars returned to Steven Hammell’s starting lineup, with Sondre Solholm back from injury and Kevin van Veen fit enough to start, which helped bolster the manager’s options.

Livingston would start the brighter of the two sides and the first big talking point of the match occurred after nine minutes.

Ricki Lamie was adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty area and David Munro pointed to the sport. Nicky Devlin stepped up but was denied originally by Liam Kelly however Devlin followed up to score.

VAR would intervene and seen that Kelly was off his line and Devlin used his hand to score, therefore a retake was ordered by the officials.

Devlin stepped up again but Kelly denied the Livi skipper once again to keep the score at 0-0.

Livingston found the opener however through Morgan Boyes’ header but Kevin van Veen quickly rectified the score with a left footed strike two minutes later.

The Dutchman would go on to hit the bar in the second half, alongside fellow forward Connor Shields, as Motherwell looked for the winner. However they had to settle for a point on the road.

“We’ve missed chances that we should be taking.

“By and large, it’s a game we should be coming away with a win with the chances we didn’t take.”

Both sides had to settle for their first point of the New Year as the fans were kept entertained with an competitive open game.

Early in the first half, video technology intervened to deny Livingston an opening goal amidst two saved penalties from Liam Kelly and considerable confusion for everybody in the Tony Macaroni Stadium.

Morgan Boyes finally gave the West Lothian side the lead but it was immediately cancelled out by Kevin Van Veen’s ninth league goal of the season. In truth, the Dutch striker could easily have grabbed his second hat-trick of season and given ‘Well a long overdue win that their efforts and some fine individual performances possibly deserved.

Steven Hammell resisted the temptation to give Shane Blaney his debut, the former Sligo Rovers central defender starting on the bench. Instead Sondre Solholm returned from injury to ex-Livi man Ricki Lamie at the centre of the ‘Well defence. That meant Paul McGinn could revert to his full back role with Stephen O’Donnell making way. Up front Kevin van Veen was fit enough to lead the attack.

And after a tame and unremarkable opening 13 minutes, the former Livi defender sparked a remarkable period of VAR dominated action.

It looked a bit harsh on Lamie when Cristian Montano’s half hit shot at the edge of the bo bounced up and hit the ‘Well defender’s hand. Referee David Munro immediately pointed to the penalty spot and VAR quickly concurred.

Devlin powered his spot kick to low to the ‘keeper’s left but Kelly guessed correctly diving low to palm the ball out.A goalmouth scramble ensued before Devlin forced the ball over the line to give the home side the lead. Or so we thought.

As the Livi fans celebrated and Motherwell waited to restart the game, Colin Stephen in the VAR control room advised that the penalty should be retaken. Like everyone else in the stadium ref Munro unaware of the reason, returned play to the ‘Well box and present Devlin with a second chance to net from the spot.

Just to add to the confusion it was a repeat of the Livi captain’s first attempt, Kelly again diving to his left to beat the ball away with Lamie completing the clearance and ensure there was no doubt that the scores remained level.

As the Lions tried to recover from that triple blow, ‘Well gained the upper hand.

The first of a series of free kicks from Sean Goss found Lamie and his header back across the box was chested down by Van Veen before he thundered in a shot which Shamal George was happy to beat away.

Conor Shields then raced towards the box only to blast the ball high over the goal.

The Fir Park striker might have been played in after 32 minutes when he was totally unmarked in the box but after dragging the ball along the 18 yard line Van Veen elected to go himself only to fire straight at the ‘keeper.

Then, seven minutes from the break and almost the run of play, Livingston took the lead.

Stephen Kelly’s deep free kick found Morgan Boyes beyond the back post and his header back across goal found the far corner of the net. Livi fans jeered as the ref waited for a check was made to considering offside but eventually the home side could celebrate taking the lead.

However, that was short lived as the Steelmen levelled two minutes later.

The ball bounced around a packed Livi box begging a taker and Van Veen obliged sweeping the ball past George from eight yards and claim his ninth league goal of the season.

Hammell’s men might have been ahead at the interval when Solholm got his boot to a Goss free kick but from 10 yards could only guide the ball wide of goal.

Two minutes into the second half and ‘Well should have been in front. Shields did well to keep possession close to the byeline and after he laid the ball across to Van Veen six yard in front of goal he should have found the net rather than smacking the ball off the face of the bar.

As the artificial surface began to appear slippy underfoot the pace of the game quickened and half-chances popped up in both boxes.

Bruce Anderson blasted an effort over Kelly’s bar before the large contingent of ‘Well fans in the away stand thought Shields had fired home from a tight angle only to realise the ball had nestled in the side netting.

There was nothing to separate the two sides as the game entered its final 15 minutes Hammell made his first change, Stuart McKinstry coming on for Shields.

The Fir Park men pushed for a winner in the closing stages and despite looking the more likely to take all three points they had to settle for a solitary point for their efforts.

Defender Max Johnston has been recalled from his loan at Cove Rangers. 

The full-back made ten appearances in the cinch Championship this season.

Johnston is available for selection immediately.

Arbroath have released tickets prices for our Scottish Cup fourth round tie on Saturday 21 January.

The home side have made 3000 tickets available for our away support for the match.

• Concessions are under 18, over 65, student and Disabled
• Wheelchair and ambulant bookings for the Coelbrew stand must be made through the Arbroath ticket office on 0124187215

Tickets will be available to buy on Monday 9 January online at 10:30am.

There will be no cash turnstiles at the game.

Motherwell’s first match of 2023 is an away day to Livingston on Monday 2 January. 

Kick-off is 3pm.

Tickets

You can buy tickets online.

Ticket Prices

• Concessions – Full time students on production of a current matriculation card, U18s, O65s, registered disabled (if with a carer and under 65 full price paid but carer admitted free)
• Ticket only – no cash gates

How to follow game online

If you are outside the UK, you can watch the game via Motherwell TV.

Should you be in the UK, it will be live commentary only.

The Story of the Match

After a strong 2022 calendar year for the Lions, they will be looking to continue their home form in their first match of the new year.

A 1-1 draw with St Mirren last time out, which seen Scott Pittman sent off at the Tony Macaroni Arena, Montano got on the scoresheet. Jason Holt will be missing for the home side as his red card decision against Hibernian has been upheld.

Motherwell were beaten in their final match of 2022 against Rangers at Ibrox.

Steven Hammell’s side currently occupy 10th in the table, however are only eight points off fourth.

Our last trip to West Lothian seen Callum Slattery and Ricki Lamie score in a terrific 20 minute comeback to secure a top six place last season.

Match Officials

• Referee: David Munro
• AR1: Sean Carr
• AR2: Douglas Ross
• Fourth Official: Chris Graham
• VAR: Colin Steve
• AVAR: Graeme Leslie

A new date has been confirmed to play our postponed fixture against St Mirren, with the game scheduled to take place on Wednesday 15 February. 

Kick off is 7:45pm.

The match was originally meant to take place on 17 December however the match was postponed due to extensive stadium damage at Fir Park.

“When we had chances we weren’t clinical enough.

“Now, the next game becomes even more important.”