Latest News

The Under 20s will look to get back to winning ways when they take on Falkirk this coming Wednesday afternoon.

The Steelmen had been on a terrific run of six games unbeaten, including victory in the SFA Youth Cup, before a loss to an experienced St Johnstone two weeks ago.

A virus put pay to last week’s proposed match with Celtic, giving the youngsters enough time to recover for this Wednesday afternoon’s fixture at the Falkirk Stadium.

The Steelmen currently six sixth, nine points behind fifth-placed Aberdeen. The Bairns are only a couple of points behind in eighth and a win could see them leapfrog Stephen Craigan’s men.

The match will kick-off at the Falkirk Stadium this Wednesday at 3pm.

Come along to Fir Park on the evening of Thursday 24th March for the perfect start to your Easter Weekend, and join members of the ’91 Cup winning team for an opportunity to ask them the questions you’ve always wanted answers to.

In addition we will be conducting a 1990/91 themed quiz which will test your knowledge of that era, not all will be about football or Motherwell FC!

We will also be opening the stadium tunnel that evening for those who wish to view their ceramic tiled messages, which adorn the walls of this private and exclusive area of Fir Park.

• Thursday 24th March
• Centenary Suite, Fir Park, 7pm – 7.30pm
• £10 entry
• Included in entry fee is a pie and a pint
• Pay at the door or your place can be secured via the Club on 01698 333333 or www.motherwellbuyonline.co.uk

Extended highlights from Fir Park as Motherwell come back from a goal down to beat Aberdeen 2-1.

‘Well boss Mark McGhee saluted his side for putting first-half disappointment behind them to beat Aberdeen 2-1 at Fir Park.

The scores were level with just a minute to the interval, but a controversial goal from put the Dons ahead, much to Motherwell’s frustrations.

However, the Steelmen showed great character to bounce back and after Scott McDonald headed ‘Well level, Louis Moult lobbed home the winner two minutes later.

The win, Motherwell’s fifth in their last six, moved them up to fifth in the table with two games until the SPFL Premiership split.

[pullquote]Second half, we pressed them more and it was a terrific performance. We showed great spirit and scored two good goals.[/pullquote]

“We were a bit aggrieved about the nature of the penalty because we felt we should have had a free-kick,” McGhee explained.

“But Aberdeen were at least one goal better than us in the first half and I thought we lacked a bit of belief.

“Second half, we pressed them more and it was a terrific performance. We showed great spirit and scored two good goals.

“Our shape was better and we managed to get Scott McDonald and Louis Moult up against their centre-halves.”

“We can start to think about the top six if we win another game but we have a difficult trip to Inverness then it’s Celtic here.”

Action images from this afternoon’s 2-1 win over Aberdeen at Fir Park.

Snaps courtesy of SNSPix

[svgallery name=”aberdeen190316″]

[tab:Match report]

 Phil McGhee Fir Park

Motherwell shrugged off the effects of a midweek virus to overcome Aberdeen and secure their fifth win in six games.

After falling behind to a Kenny McLean penalty just before half time, two quick-fire goals from Scott McDonald and Louis Moult’s eighteenth of the season, earned them another three points.

More dramatically, having languished in eleventh place just over a month ago the win hoisted the Fir Park side to fifth, with Mark McGhee readjusting his sights for a top six finish.

The virus, which had the game under threat, only cost Motherwell the services of Ben Hall. However, with Stephen Pearson, James McFadden, Louis Laing and skipper Keith Lasley also injured it forced Mark McGhee to make a number changes from the side which beat Dundee United; Kieran Kennedy, Morgaro Gomis and Jack Leitch all coming into the starting line-up.

And along with some key saves from Connor Ripley the inexperienced midfield worked hard to back up ‘Well’s front three for an exciting fight back.

With the Dons equally determined to keep within touching distance of Celtic at the top of the table, Derek McInnes’ men made the better start and had the better of the first half.

After only eight minutes Shay Logan’s cross was knocked out to the edge of the area where Ryan Jack fired a low drive through the packed box and force a good diving save from Connor Ripley.

Minutes later and with the home goal under pressure, Simon Church found time to swivel in front of goal only to fire his shot wide of the post.

After a couple of tame threats the Dons’ ‘keeper Scott Brown was relieved in Motherwell’s first attack as Louis Moult’s cross picked out Marvin Johnson whose controlled volley curled over the bar.

Aberdeen were lucky after 29 minutes when the width of post denied ‘Well a great opening goal. Josh Law’s lengthy free kick found Moult at the corner of the penalty area but after a slick one two with Scott McDonald, ‘Well’s leading scorer fired a stinging shot off Brown’s right hand post.

With the game heading towards the interval, Aberdeen opened the scoring from the penalty spot in controversial circumstances. Johnson was flattened by Andy Considine in front of the dugouts and as play raced towards the home box Jonny Hayes was tripped from behind by Kennedy. There was no questioning the award or McLean’s confidence as he slammed the spot kick past Ripley to put the Dons ahead.

With Mark McGhee still remonstrated with the fourth official, Ripley made a fabulous save to block Niall McGinn’s thumping close range volley and keep his side in the game.

With Aberdeen content to hold their lead and ‘Well unable to open them up there was little goalmouth action early in the second half.

After 67 minutes, though the Dons came close to extending their lead.

Another outstanding save by Ripley denied McLean’s sweet left foot drive, pushing a 25-yard drive behind. Then from Hayes’ corner, Simon Church’s overhead effort sent the ball onto the crossbar.

Aberdeen looked comfortable until a dramatic six minutes turned the game Motherwell’s way.

After 73 minutes, Lionel Ainsworth, brought on for the tiring Cadden, floated a ball into the box. Johnson sent the ball into the six-yard box and after it bounced between Moult and Mark Reynolds, McDonald cleverly nodded it over Brown and under the bar to level the scores.

Before the Dons could recover, ‘Well stunned them with a second. Johnson’s sent the ball into the box and Moult nipped between Reynolds and his advancing Brown to delicately lob the ball over the goalkeeper and into the empty net put the home side in front.

Worse was to follow for the Dons when Barry Robson, on the field for only two minutes when he was shown a straight red for an elbow on Moult.

It was nail biting until the finish and Motherwell had chances through Johnson and substitute Wes Fletcher to score a third and kill off Aberdeen, but it also took another fine save from Ripley from Hayes’ low free kick to secure all three points and strengthen ‘Well’s place in the top six.

[tab:As it happened]

 Ally Reilly at Fir Park

COME ON MOTHERWELL!!!!

FULL TIME!!!

3 minutes added on.

89′ | 2-1
What a chance! Johnson squares it Fletcher 5 yards out but somehow Brown makes the save!

87′ | 2-1
Motherwell sub, Moult off for Fletcher.

85′ | 2-1
Chance! Ball falls to Ainsworth inside the box but he can only find the side-netting!

83′ | 2-1
Chance for Aberdeen…Free-kick about 20 yards out……..Ripley with the save!

MATCH ATTAX | Young ‘Well fans can vote now for their Man of the Match. Tweet us with their name, age and choice alongside #MatchAttaxMOTM.

79′ | 2-1
RED CARD!! A shocker from Robson has he swings an elbow at McDonald. Crazy stuff from the sub.

77′ | 2-1
Aberdeen sub, Considine off for Robson

76′ | 2-1
Johnson clips a ball over the top and MOULT chase it down, and pokes it past Brown. 2-1 to the Steelmen!!!

GGGOOOOAAALLL!!!!

Ball was hooked in by Johnson and somehow the smallest guy on the pitch gets his head on it and it loops over Brown.

73′ | 1-1
McDONALD nods home the equaliser!
GGGGOOOOAAALLLL!!!!

69′ | 0-1
Half chance there for Ainsworth. 20 yards out, he shoots with his left but Brown watches it go comfortably wide.

67′ | 0-1
Great save from Ripley as he beats away McLean’s powerful shot from 18 yards!

64′ | 0-1
Hayes clips in a deep ball which Ripley gathers at the second attempt.

60′ | 0-1
Corner to Motherwell…..but McLean heads clear from Kennedy

51′ | 0-1
Leitch booked for a foul a few yards outside the Motherwell box.

47′ | 0-1
Motherwell sub, Cadden makes way for Ainsworth.

Motherwell get the second 45 underway. COYW!

HT: Motherwell 0 – 1 Aberdeen

45′ | 0-1
Great save by Ripley to deny Hayes from close range!

44′ | 0-1
McLean fires home from the spot. 1-0 to Aberdeen.

44′ | 0-0
Penalty to Aberdeen!!

37′ | 0-0
Johnson forces Brown into a good low save, with a low shot after latching onto McDonald’s through ball.

34′ | 0-0
Gomis is booked for hauling down McLean as he broke. Free-kick about 25 yards out, which McGinn strikes well over the bar.

30′ | 0-0
Off the post! Moult nods it down to McDonald who then knocks it back and Moult sees his powerful shot crash back off the woodwork!

21′ | 0-0
Chance! Moult plays in a cross to Johnson who volleys it first time but it flies over the bar. Good effort.

….Law’s delivery is comfortable for Brown to gather.

20′ | 0-0
Logan barges McDonald over and ‘Well have a free-kick wide on the left…..

13′ | 0-0
Cadden runs the length of the pitch and wins ‘Well a corner….nobody on the end of Law’s delivery.

11′ | 0-0
Decent chance there for Church as a header lands at his feet. On the swivel, he hooks it past the post.

8′ | 0-0
First chance of the game falls to Aberdeen, Jack with a shot from about 20 yards which is saved by Ripley.

Aberdeen get the action underway. COYW!!!

It’s a lovely sunny day here in Lanarkshire as both sides emerge from the tunnel…..#MFCvAFC

[tab:Reaction]

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee:

“We were a bit aggrieved about the nature of the penalty because we felt we should have had a free-kick.

“But Aberdeen were at least one goal better than us in the first half and I thought we lacked a bit of belief.

“Second half, we pressed them more and it was a terrific performance. We showed great spirit and scored two good goals.

“Our shape was better and we managed to get Scott McDonald and Louis Moult up against their centre-halves.”

Aberdeen Manager Derek McInnes

“We always knew their pace up front was going to give us a real test and it did. They have pacey players and very direct players and they used it well.

“But to lose the goal at the end of the first half the manner we did… Was it a free-kick? It’s questionable. That is a big blow. But we defended softly, we should have been earlier up there to head the ball away.

“First half we looked very bright and created loads of openings and looked pretty comfortable. Obviously goals change games and how players feel, and losing the goal so late was a big blow.

“But the way we performed first half, we should have done that second half as well and worried them. But we didn’t.”

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

[poll id=”267″]

‘Well boss Mark McGhee hopes his squad can shake off a virus to face high-flying Aberdeen on Saturday.

The Fir Parkers have been on a decent run of form, winning four from their last five, which has propelled them into the top six, albeit both Dundee and Partick Thistle below have a game in hand.

And McGhee hopes his side can continue that going into the match with the title-challengers, with the aim of increase the gap to the teams below.

“It’s got all the hallmarks of a great game,” McGhee said.

“Both teams are in form and playing well. We’ve won four from five; they’re unbeaten in their last four having won the last three games, so it’s poised nicely from that point of view.

“We want to try and maintain that run of form and continue to put as many points as is possible between the ourselves and the teams below us.

“If we can do better than that, it would be fantastic, so obviously the stronger the side we have out, the better.”

[pullquote]Both teams are in form and playing well. We’ve won four from five; they’re unbeaten in their last four having won the last three games, so it’s poised nicely from that point of view.[/pullquote]

The Fir Park boss has had to cope with a dreadful virus that has engulfed the club over the last six days.

Tuesday’s proposed Development League match with Celtic was cancelled after Stephen Craigan’s side was left with no fit players in which to fulfill the fixture.

That spread to several members of the first-team squad, to the point where McGhee reckons the club would have to request the league review the game should more players report ill on Friday morning.

“We had to shut down the club yesterday,” McGhee said. “We had the entire under-20s wiped out by a virus, we had six of the first-team squad showing symptoms.”

“At the moment our count seems to be about 15 which includes two or three of the young boys who have never been involved at first-team level. So it’s looking pretty grim at the moment with Lasley, Pearson and Louis Laing all injured.

“Of the team who have been starting of late, we have probably got about six training this morning. If we turn up tomorrow with another three or four missing then we would be considering seriously whether the game can go ahead.

“But if I have nine or 10 of the ones that have been playing every week, then I will be quite content to go into the game. I don’t want to go in with six though.”

“If we had another three or four showing these symptoms and unable to train, then it would leave me with no choice.

“I mean, I might only have nine players including the entire under-20s. I can’t go into a football match with eight or nine players.”

Referee for Saturday’s Ladbrokes Premiership match against Aberdeen at Fir Park is Don Robertson.

It will only be Don’s third match at Fir Park and only his fourth ever Motherwell fixture during his five seasons as a senior official.

Two of the three came this season – the first being a 1-1 draw with Ross County at Fir Park back in early September when a last-minute Louis Moult leveler earned the Steelmen a point.

Then, just three weeks late, he was the man in the middle for the 2-1 defeat at Dens Park when Stephen Pearson’s goal was not enough to earn his side anything during Stephen Craigan’s temporary tenure.

The only game other came in February of last season when Dundee were again the opponents, and they won 0-1 in North Lanarkshire courtesy of a Paul McGinn goal after twelve minutes.

He is even less familiar with Saturday’s opponents, Aberdeen, who he has handled just once, albeit that came this season too and it was a real cracker with the Dons edging out St Johnstone 4-3 at McDiarmid Park last month.

It has been season for Robertson, who has handled games in the League Cup, the Petrofac Cup, the Premiership, the Championship and League One.

His most recent appointment came during the week with Morton’s vital 3-2 win over Queen of the South in the race for the last Championship play-off spot.

Don will be ably assisted by David McGeachie and Gordon Crawford with Craig Charleston on fourth official duties.