| 7 | Hearts | 37 | 14 | 7 | 16 | 4 | 49 |
| 8 | Motherwell | 37 | 14 | 6 | 17 | -17 | 48 |
| 9 | Kilmarnock | 37 | 12 | 8 | 17 | -18 | 44 |
| 10 | Dundee | 37 | 10 | 8 | 19 | -22 | 38 |
| 11 | Ross County | 37 | 9 | 9 | 19 | -28 | 36 |
| 12 | St Johnstone | 37 | 9 | 5 | 23 | -28 | 32 |
Where are you going this Christmas to celebrate the festivities ?
Why not party at the home of Motherwell FC and toast that special time of year with your colleagues, friends or family!
For £29.95 per person you can enjoy our festive three course meal, be entertained by a live band then dance the night away to the tunes from our DJ.
Make your booking by calling 01698 333333 or at www.motherwellbuyonline.co.uk
Ian Baraclough is aiming for a win in the League Cup to give his players the belief they need to get their season going.
After an excellent win at Inverness on the opening day, the Steelmen men have stuttered against Hearts, Aberdeen, Dundee United and St Johnstone.
East Fife now lie in wait in the 2nd Round of the League Cup and after two successive wins of their own, will be in confident mood ahead of the match at Bayview on Tuesday night.
Baraclough has demanded his players go into the match showing the Fifers real respect and hopes if his team do progress, it serves to breathe life into the SPFL Premiership campaign.
[pullquote]Every player going into this match should realise that with the run of results we’ve had, we are all being scrutinised and questioned from all angles. That means we all need to stay strong together, do the right things and hopefully if we can get a good result and progress, it will give us that little kick start we need.[/pullquote]
Speaking to MFC TV, the Fir Park boss said: “We’ve got to be right and prepared for an onslaught as I am sure they will want to throw everything at us and test us out.
“The strength of character and mindset has to be right going to places like East Fife. We’ve prepared for this the same way we do any other. We’ve had them watched several times; we’ve analyzed them and gave the players information on their strengths and weaknesses.
“Every player going into this match should realise that with the run of results we’ve had, we are all being scrutinised and questioned from all angles. That means we all need to stay strong together, do the right things and hopefully if we can get a good result and progress, it will give us that little kick start we need.”
Ticket for the League Cup 2nd Round clash with East Fife are still on full general sale.
The match will go ahead at Bayview Stadium this Tuesday (25th August 2015) with kick-off confirmed at 7.45pm.
Motherwell have been allocated 806 of the 1980 capacity stadium with prices agreed as follows:
| ADULTS: | £15 |
| CONCESSIONS: | £10 |
| JUVENILES: | £5 |
Extended highlights from McDiarmid Park as Louis Moult’s first half strike is cancelled out by a Steven MacLean double.
Ian Baraclough bemoaned his side’s second half showing as 10-man ‘Well threw away a lead for the second time in seven days.
‘Well were on top for the first fifty minutes and were ahead through Louis Moult’s first goal in Claret and Amber.
But the closing half hour was desperately disappointing, with Steven McLean scoring twice to win the match for Saints before Jake Taylor was ordered off for a second bookable offence.
[pullquote]It was clear St Johnstone would come back, through things at us and up their work rate and we had to match it, but didn’t.[/pullquote]
A frustrated Baraclough told MFC TV: “We were totally in control in the first half and everything we did right we stopped doing in the second.
“We stopped picking up second balls, we stopped closing down; we thought the game was won.
“It was clear St Johnstone would come back, throw things at us and up their work rate and we had to match it, but didn’t.
“We also didn’t defend either goal anything like good enough, it was far too simple, and that’s something we need to work hard to be better at.
“Yes, it has been a difficult start for us but we have got to be showing more and this week coming up will be a chance to put things right.”
Action pictures from today’s 2-1 defeat by St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.
Snaps courtesy of SNSPix.
[svgallery name=”stjohnstone22082015″]
[tab:Match report]
Phil McGhee at McDiarmid Park
For the second successive week, ‘Well were pegged back after taking a first-half lead to lose 1-2.
Seven days ago it was against the Dons at Fir Park, this time it was St Johnstone in Perth, but the game followed a familiar pattern.
‘Well took a deserved first-half lead when Louis Moult converted a Lionel Ainsworth cross and indeed, the only frustration at the interval was the margin was just one.
However, it was the clichéd game of two halves as Saints dominated the second forty-five and scored two similar goals courtesy of Steven McLean.
To rub salt into the wounds, Jake Taylor was not only denied a penalty in the closing stages, he was ordered off for simulation when television replays appear to show the on-loan Reading man was tripped by Tam Scobbie.
Ian Baraclough stuck with the same starting eleven that took to the field against both Hearts and Aberdeen, with Louis Moult leading the attack and that worked a treat as the former Wrexham man opened his Motherwell account after just eleven minutes.
Lionel Ainsworth managed to pick up the ball deep in Saints territory. After a neat one-two with McDonald that took him around Brian Easton, the winger fired a low, hard cross across the face of goal that was gobbled up at the far post by the Fir Park front man.
Incredibly, within sixty seconds, Moult could have made it 0-2. Tam Scobbie lost his footing, allowing the 23-year old in one-on-one with Mannus. However, it was the Northern Irish keeper who won the dual, standing tall for as long as possible before blocking the low shot with his foot.
There was frustration amongst the visitor’s ranks when referee Craig Thomson booked Jake Taylor for blocking a quick free kick. It looked a fairly harsh call given the ball was blasted against him as he was getting back into position and it would prove costly later in the match.
‘Well continued to control the game and Scott McDonald came close to getting on the score sheet with a driving strike from distance, but it wasn’t far off nestling.
All the threat was at the Saints goal at this point and Ainsworth followed McDonald’s lead with an effort from distance, but his drilled shot flew narrowly over the Mannus’ bar.
Saints took until the 38th minute to really create anything of note but when they did, they forced Connor Ripley into two decent stops. denying McLean on both occasions. Both came from Joe Shaughnessy, and both were snap shots, but the on-loan Boro man twice saved in style.
Just before the interval, ‘Well got in behind the Saints defence again via McDonald, but his low near-post cross was beat out by Mannus before being hooked clear.
The second half started with more frustration amongst the ‘Well squad when referee Thomson failed to take action against Murray Davidson for blocking a free kick, despite carding Taylor earlier in the match, much to the chagrin of the ‘Well bench and support behind the goal.
Undeterred, ‘Well still looked in good nick and almost made it 0-2 when, after a neat passing move down the left, Lasley found space inside the area. With Ainsworth begging to be teed up, the skipper took on the shot himself but shot over from about twelve yards.
Ainsworth did have a shot himself a minute later but Shaughnessy did ‘Well to block at the expense of a corner.
Sadly, that was really it for ‘Well, who stopped doing what they had been for the opening fifty minutes and fell completely out the game.
It started with a Cummins header off the bar, which only came about after the home defence had switched off from a simple throw-in situation over on the far touchline.
The warning was heeded though and Tommy Wright’s men drew level on the 66th minute. Cummins was again involved, collected a pass from Wotherspoon inside the area, dribbling away from Law before McLean, who had got himself in between the Motherwell centre backs, tapped his the low cross into the net from two yards out.
Saints tails were up and Shaughnessy headed a free-kick over before Ripley had to look smart to get off his line to deny the advancing Chris Kane, who had replaced Cummins four minutes previous.
Then, with eleven minutes left to play, disaster struck as Saints took the lead with a goal almost a carbon copy of their first. Michael O’Halloran wriggled his way between subs Dom Thomas and Joe Chalmers before sending a low ball across the face of goal that was again turned in by McLean.
There was still time for talking points though as the game finished in controversy.
Thomas fired the ball to Taylor inside the area and as he flicked it around Scobbie, the former Falkirk man caught him with an outstretched leg. It looked a penalty, but not only did referee Thomson not award a spot kick; he produced a second yellow and a red for Taylor who was sent for an early bath.
Replays would show it was very tough on the Motherwell midfielder.
There was still time for Motherwell to get level and deep into stoppage time, Moult went close to grabbing a share of the spoils. The striker got on the end of a curling Chalmers free kick but despite beating Davidson to the ball, his header dropped a foot wide of goal.
[tab:As it happened]
Ally Reilly at McDiarmid Park
FULL-TIME
St Johnstone 2 – 1 Motherwell
92′ | 2-1
Chalmers whips in a free-kick which is nodded just wide by Moult!
90′ | 2-1
Three minutes added on
87′ | 2-1
St Johnstone sub, Craig on for O’Halloran
86′ | 2-1
Red Card! Referee says Taylor dived in the box and shows him his second yellow.
79′ | 2-1
Goal: St Johnstone take the lead, Maclean with a similar goal to his first.
77′ | 1-1
Motherwell sub, Thomas on for McDonald.
75′ | 1- 1
Ripley races off his line to gather at the feet of the onrushing Kane. Not been a great second half for ‘Well.
71′ | 1- 1
St Johnstone sub, Cummins makes way for Kane.
70′ | 1- 1
With 20 minutes left, here are some of the match stats:
68′ | 1- 1
Chalmers booked for tripping O’Halloran. From the free-kick, Shaughnessy heads over.
66′ | 1- 1
Motherwell sub, Leitch is on for Ainsworth
66′ | 1-1
Goal – MacLean brings St Johnstone with a close range effort.
58′ | 0-1
St Johnstone sub, Wotherspoon on for Lappin.
56′ | 0-1
Close! Cummins’ header strikes the top of the bar. A let-off.
53′ | 0-1
Ainsworth gets into a great area but Shaughnessy does enough to contain him and block his shot for a corner.
52′ | 0-1
Great play from Moult then McDonald sets up Lasley on the edge of the box but the captain fires over the bar.
47′ | 0-1
Frustrating refereeing there as Davidson blocks a quick free-kick and isn’t shown the same card as Taylor was earlier on.
45′ | 0-1
Half-time sub for ‘Well, Hammell off for Chalmers.
HALF-TIME
St Johnstone 0 – 1 Motherwell
41′ | 0-1
Another stinging effort from MacLean and again Ripley is equal to it! Superb stuff from the big Englishman.
39′ | 0-1
Great stop from Ripley to palm away MacLean’s powerful volley from 15 yards!! Should have been 1-1.
38′ | 0-1
Cummins spins Laing on the edge of the box and takes the shot on early. Fortunately it is straight at Ripley who makes the stop.
37′ | 0-1
Lasley works some space and lays it off to Ainsworth who blasts over the bar from 25 yards.
34′ | 0-1
Another Lappin corner is straight to Ripley. Comfortable for the big man.
30′ | 0-1
McDonald takes a shot from range and it whistles inches past the top corner! Great effort from the Aussie.
27′ | 0-1
Ball into the box seems an awkward height for Cummins but he gets a header away which Ripley gathers with ease.
27′ | 0-1
Taylor takes a booking for impeding a quickly taken free-kick.
22′ | 0-1
Half-way through the first half, here’s a check on the match stats so far.
18′ | 0-1
Danger as O’Halloran gets in behind the ‘Well defence but McManus does well to read the danger and cut out the cut-back.
16′ | 0-1
St Johnstone have their second corner of the game but Lappin’s delivery is easy for Ripley.
12′ | 0-1
Very nearly 2 as Moult is played clean through but Mannus made himself big and blocked with his foot.
11′ | 0-1
Ainsworth turns his man and puts it on a plate for Moult who taps in at the back post. 1-0 to the Steelmen!
11′ | 0-1
GGOOOAAALLLL!!!!
9′ | 0-0
St Johnstone win the first corner of the game. Lappin’s ball in is headed clear by Lasley at the front post.
4′ | 0-0
McDonald hits the deck about 20 yards out. Free-kick in a decent area to the left of the box….McDonald’s delivery is cleared.
2′ | 0-0
Decent early sniff of goal for ‘Well as Ainsworth gets down the right win and swings in a good ball. MacKay knees it back to Mannus
Kick-off | 0-0
St Johnstone get the game underway. COYW!!!
[tab:Reaction]
Motherwell manager Ian Baraclough:
“We created many chances and that dropped off in the second half for one reason or another. That can’t happen or you are not going to win games of football.
“This game was there to be won. Maybe second half we weren’t at it as we were first half but come out with something from the game. Manage the game and make sure you get something – whether it is a point or nicking three.”
St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright:
“I thought we started a little bit nervously. I don’t know why that was with all the experience we have got. With the goal I think we could do better. Alan Mannus makes an important save at 1-0 but their goalkeeper has had to make two or three good saves too.
“The second half was what we wanted. We were very much on the front foot. They are going to counter you at times with the pace they have got but overall over the 90 minutes we deserved the win.
“I keep mentioning character because the players have got it in abundance. They stayed in the game and kept going right until the end.
[tab:Man-of-the-match]
[poll id=”240”]
‘Well boss Ian Baraclough hopes Saturday’s match at McDiarmid Park will signal a change in fortunes for his side.
The Steelmen have played reasonably well in three of their four matches this campaign, including going toe-to-toe with both Dundee United and Aberdeen, but have only amassed three points from a victory at the Caledonian Stadium on the opening day.
Three defeats have followed since that win in the Highlands, and all of them have been plagued with disappointing goals, many self-inflicted by mistakes or errors.
However, the positive for the former Scunthorpe and Sligo Ross boss is that whilst the side have conceded cheaply, they have looked a threat going forward and have created numerous chances in almost every game.
[pullquote]We know if we carry on doing the things we are doing, cutting out the silly mistakes, we’re good enough to win games of football.[/pullquote]
With St Johnstone providing the opposition at the weekend, Baraclough is optimistic things will turn for his team.
He said: “We feel as if we’re not far away and the players recognise that as well. There was a good mood this week in training, a real bubbliness about things.
“We know if we carry on doing the things we are doing, cutting out the silly mistakes, we’re good enough to win games of football. If you look at the goals we’ve lost, it’s often been from our error and inevitably, we’ve been punished.
“If we start taking the chances we are creating we’re hopeful we can turn the run of results around. It’s fine margins, we know that, but we need to start making sure it turns in our favour.”
Referee for Saturday’s Ladbrokes Premiership clash with St Johnstone is Craig Thomson.
The 43-year old will be handling his first Motherwell match of the 2015/16 season but took charge of three last term too.
The first two were against Dundee Utd, one a 2-1 loss in the Scottish Cup when Kenny Black took temporary charge, and the other a 3-1 defeat at Tannadice. The most recent was much more memorable, when ‘Well beat Rangers 3-0 in the Play-off Final at Fir Park, to secure their Premiership status.
Thomson, arguably the highest rated amongst the Scottish officials, regularly hosting Champions League, Europa League and International matches, will be a more than familiar face to ‘Well fans, having being a top-flight whistler for over 13 years.
He handled three Motherwell matches the previous term too.
The first was the 1-0 at St Mirren Park in September 2013 when John Sutton’s first-half header secured the points.
The second was the fine 2-1 win at the Caledonian Stadium last April, Henri Anier and Iain Vigurs doing the damage and, most recent, was the enthralling 3-3 draw with Celtic in the same month, when a last-minute Sutton goal earned the Steelmen a point in a topsy-turvy match.
It would have been his fourth but a New Year appointment between ‘Well and Caley was the postponed due to heavy rain.
His record in charge of the Steelmen is a bit of a mix bag with fifteen wins from 42 matches. There have been eighteen defeats and nine draws too.
Not included in that list was the 2007/08 Scottish Cup fourth round replay win against Hearts at Fir Park, when he replaced the injured Stuart Dougal midway through the second-half.
In those games, Motherwell have scored 61 and conceded 60.
149 players have gone into the book, 72 were wearing claret and amber, while five players, including former and current captains Stephen Craigan and Keith Lasley, have been dismissed.
Craig will be ably assisted by Stuart Stevenson and David McGeachie with Crawford Allan on fourth official duties.
Motherwell Ladies FC are delighted to announce the signing of Scotland International midfielder Megan Sneddon.
The 29-year old has agreed to join to the end of the current season and will bolster an already impressive looking squad as the Ladies look to add the League title to the League Cup they won earlier in the campaign.
Megan began her career at Kilmarnock and spent four years there before moving to Queens Park. She followed that with five years at high-flying Glasgow City. From there a short stint at Liverpool saw her return to Scotland with Celtic before making the move across the city to rivals Rangers.
In a distinguished international career she amassed 130 international caps although never having the opportunity to play in a major finals with Scotland sadly failing three times at the play off stage.
On her move to Motherwell, Megan said: “I am delighted that Motherwell have given me the chance to kick start my career. I’m looking forward to getting back on the pitch as I’ve hardly kicked a ball since November. It will also be great to play alongside some familiar faces as well.”
[pullquote]I’m looking forward to getting back on the pitch as I’ve hardly kicked a ball since November. It will also be great to play alongside some familiar faces as well.[/pullquote]
Ladies boss Greame McArthur added: “We are thrilled to have Megan on board as she will add quality to an already competitive squad. It’s not possible to have enough good players and there is real competition now and that will only help as we move towards the end of the 2015 season.”
Commenting on the signing, Motherwell FC Community Trust General Manager Charlie Bennett commented: ‘Megan has had a tough time over the last few months with a calf injury and we are pleased we have been able to entice her to Motherwell as we enter a crucial part of the season.
“She is another experienced player with a high profile and as well as being a valuable asset on the pitch she will be a really positive role model for the very talented players we have coming through our Girls Performance Centre.”
For further information on Girls and Women’s football with Motherwell FC please contact Linda a Gibson, Performance Centre Manager on 01698 239926 or Linda.Gibson@motherwellfc.co.uk
