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Motherwell FC is working with Suicide Prevention North Lanarkshire to raise awareness of one of the biggest killers of men in the community.

First team and youth players sat through a group talk yesterday, highlighting the issues people face on a daily basis and what the club can do to help tackle the problem.

Craig Samson believes that anything the club and players can do to help is a huge step forward.

[pullquote]Suicide is something that has touched me and my family and all you can say is that there is people you can talk to, there’s people there that will talk to you.[/pullquote]

The ‘keeper said: “Suicide is something that has touched me and my family and all you can say is that there is people you can talk to, there’s people there that will talk to you.

“Don’t ever feel as if you are alone and people are judging you. You can always speak to somebody, whether it’s in your family or outwith, there will always be someone there to help you out.”

He added: “I think that’s an important message to the people that are listening as well, you can’t just dismiss it if someone does come to you. Hopefully you can help them but if not you can pass it on to people who will know what they’re talking about.”

Fans and people in the community now have the chance to raise their own awareness, with the same course available from next month.

[pullquote]We are asking the fans to come in and do the same training on 22nd November to make sure that they are aware and so they know that their club is very much suicide aware as well.[/pullquote]

The Club will be holding the first Suicide Prevention Awareness Training at Fir Park on Tuesday 22nd November, starting at 6.30pm.

To register your attendance, please call 0800 073 0918 or go online at www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/safer

Lynne Cruickshank, who is running the course, is urging anyone to attend.

She said: “We are asking the fans to come in and do the same training on 22nd November to make sure that they are aware and so they know that their club is very much suicide aware as well.”

If you need support right now, call the Samaritans on 116123 or Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87.

U20s boss Stephen Craigan believes his side are in better shape going in to tomorrows Development League clash with Hibs than the last time they faced.

A 3-1 loss away to the Edinburgh side at the start of September is the only loss the U20s have suffered this season, and a good run of form has followed.

Speaking to MFC TV earlier today, Craigan said: “We felt we were in good shape the last time we played Hibs. They were good on the day and we didn’t reach the levels that we’re used to, but our run of form has been good since then so it’s really about the players maintaining that.

[pullquote]We always talk about working hard for consistency and that’s probably how consistency comes, by working hard and by replicating what we do.[/pullquote]

“We always talk about working hard for consistency and that’s probably how consistency comes, by working hard and by replicating what we do.”

He added: “We’ve got to make sure that continues tomorrow. We don’t want to be slipping up or being poor in possession and sometimes we might come up against a better side or better individuals and that’s fine we can deal with that, but I just want the players to try to continue and maintain their form of how we’re trying to play, the intensity we’re playing with, the way we’re playing in the final third, the way we’re creating chances and the way we’ve defended recently as well.

“I’m convinced if we keep that going we’ll get a positive result. We have good players, we have a few missing because they started for the first team on Saturday, so that gives some boys an opportunity because some have been waiting a while now for their chance.”

[pullquote]There has to be an opportunity for progress and we saw that in the under-20s dressing room last season with Chris Cadden and Ben Hall and that gave the others a bit if a lift, they supported them as if it was one of their own going to play for the first team.[/pullquote]

Craigan will be without a number of his first choice players after Ross MacLean, Jake Hastie, Jack McMillan and regular U20s starter David Ferguson all got game time at Parkhead, and the manager knows this will benefit the entire squad.

He said: “More than anything it gives the young players a lift in the under-20s dressing room because a few of them went along when some tickets became available a little later on on Saturday and they went to Parkhead to watch their team-mates and that’s the kind of bond we want to build.

“But most importantly there has to be an opportunity for progress and we saw that in the under-20s dressing room last season with Chris Cadden and Ben Hall and that gave the others a bit if a lift, they supported them as if it was one of their own going to play for the first team.”

Dougie Arnott may be small in stature, but he was always up for the fight as a player. It was that determination and pride in the claret and amber jersey that saw him carve out a wonderful career with Motherwell.

Having previously played with amateur sides Motherwell Miners and Pollok Juniors, Dougie was a relatively late arrival to senior football, approaching his mid-twenties when he was snapped up by Tommy McLean in October 1986.

However, Arnott would have to bide his time before fully establishing himself in the side. In the latter part of the 1988/89 season, he earned his first sustained run in the team and scored his first goal for the club against Celtic in a 2-2 draw.

The striker would go on to develop quite the habit of netting against Rangers and Celtic earning the moniker ‘The Hammer of the Old Firm’. Indeed, one-time Motherwell manager Terry Butcher reflected woefully on more than one occasion about how much of a nuisance Dougie was to play against.

Arnott of course played his part in helping Motherwell win the Scottish Cup in 1991, memorably netting twice in the 4-2 Semi Final victory over Celtic. That season would perhaps be the pinnacle of his time in claret and amber, netting 18 goals across all competitions and scoring doubles against both Rangers and Celtic.

Across his twelve seasons at Fir Park, Dougie played with a variety of quality strikers such as Nick Cusack, Iain Ferguson and Paul McGrillen but it was his partnership with Tommy Coyne that perhaps lingers longest in the memory as the two combined to great effect, securing 3^rd and 2^nd place finishes and Motherwell’s first ever European qualification through the league.

Eventually, age and an increasing number of niggling injuries caught up with Dougie, limiting his appearances in later seasons culminating in his release in 1998. But still well capable of playing to good effect at a high level his affection for Motherwell was such that he declined all offers and chose to retire from football.

Dougie’s sterling service was later rewarded with a belated, but richly deserved testimonial match.

Extended highlights from Celtic Park as Motherwell lose 2-0 to Celtic.

Images from today’s 2-0 defeat to Celtic in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Snaps courtesy of SNSPix

[svgallery name=”celtic151016″]

‘Well boss Mark McGhee said his side put in a decent display despite losing 2-0 at Celtic Park this afternoon.

An impressive strike from Scott Sinclair and a late penalty was enough for the hosts on an afternoon when an organised, resolute Motherwell frustrated Brendan Rodgers side for long spells, leaving the Fir Park boss with positives to take from the match.

And whilst the manager admitted it is never nice to lose, no matter the standard of opposition, he focused on the encouraging aspects of his team, including the youngsters.

Speaking to MFC TV after the game, McGhee said: “I felt that today we tried as hard as we could to find a way of playing that gave us a chance of winning the game and I think although we’ve ended up losing, we did give ourselves a chance.

“Tactically we gave them problems and we nullified what we know they’re good at, we were prepared to let the full backs have the ball and that’s what we did and I think it worked out pretty well for us.”

He added: “For the first goal defensively it looked open to me but good individuals are going to undo you if tactically they can’t undo you as a team in a good place like this with the players they have, so it happens.

“But otherwise, what can we say, I think Chris Cadden was the best player on the park, he was fantastic, and Ross MacLean, David Ferguson, Jack McMillan and Jake Hastie acquitted themselves brilliantly.”

[pullquote]It’s such an exciting thing for us having these young players, and imagine in a years time or 18 months time, and there’s others of course in the pipeline as well, we’ve got to keep getting them out in places like this.[/pullquote]

One of the positives for McGhee was the involvement of the youngsters, something that is exciting looking forward.

He said: “It’s such an exciting thing for us having these young players, and imagine in a years time or 18 months time, and there’s others of course in the pipeline as well, we’ve got to keep getting them out in places like this.”

As a team overall, the ‘Well boss was happy and pleased with the way his team stuck to their game plan, but they were ultimately unlucky to concede two.

He said: “We set up with a 4-2-2-2 formation with two strikers, two midfield players sitting deeper who would help the full-backs and then two midfield players who would play directly with their midfielders who sit deeper.”

[tab:Match report]

 Phil McGhee at Celtic Park

A brave, well-drilled Motherwell went down 0-2 to table-toppers Celtic in Glasgow this afternoon.

Despite the defeat, the Steelmen will take a lot of credit from the game, both in terms of their positive play and the fact that three teenagers were blooded in front of big crowd at Celtic Park.

Following heavy defeats on their last two visits to Parkhead, ‘Well boss Mark McGhee changed his formation and line-up, bringing in teenagers Jack McMillan and Ross McLean to make their first team debut.

And the ‘Well under 20 left back McMillan, facing the tricky James Forrest was under attack from the start as Celtic played their high pressing game.

That produced a couple of early openings for the home side with shots racing past Craig Samson’s posts.

However, Motherwell’s lineup with Chris Cadden and Ross McLean deployed in front of Keith Lasley and Craig Clay had more of an attacking threat than on recent visits.

An early indication of that intent came after six minutes when Louis Moult’s snapshot was deflected for a corner. From the resultant flag kick Stephen McManus climbed highest at the back post, nodding the ball down and forcing Craig Gordon to gather.

After that the Fir Parkers enjoyed spells of possession around the home box.

But it was Samson who produced the first of a handful of quality saves in the sixteenth minute, rising high to his left to push a curling shot from Moussa Dembele round his post. When Erick Sviatchenko met the resultant corner Samson was alert to palm his header over the bar.

The ‘Well ‘keeper had no chance two minutes later when Celtic took the lead. Forrest was again the provider from the right but when Dembele took a fresh-air swing in front of goal the ball rolled favourably for Scott Sinclair who guided the ball high past Samson.

Motherwell might have crumbled after that blow but the side kept its shape and composure.

A quick exchange between Lasley and Scott McDonald sent Moult racing through on Gordon but the pace on the ball carried it through to the ‘keeper.

Another series of passes at the involving Cadden and McDonald invited Richard Tait to have a go from the corner of the box and his left drive forced Gordon to save low at his left hand post.

For all of ‘Well’s possession in the home half, Celtic’s pace always carried a threat. A loose pass from Clay left Samson exposed as Dembele curled the ball beyond the ‘keeper and off the face of the post.

Minutes from the break the Parkhead men rattled the goal frame again when Kieran Tierney’s shot cannoned off the crossbar after a fine solo run.

Still only a goal behind and with a real chance of taking something from the game, ‘Well started the second half with Ryan Bowman replacing McDonald in attack.

It required a fabulous double save from Samson, though, to keep the goal margin to one. Getting down low to his left the ‘keeper did exceptionally well to palm Scott Brown’ s deflected drive along his goal line. Samson then reacted swiftly to get across his goal and block Dembele’s follow up.

That was the first of some stunning second half saves but the next chance came ‘Well’s way. Lasley’s free kick into a packed box wasn’t cleared and at the third attempt Ben Heneghan’s header found Moult but his nod on was comfortably held by Gordon.

As Celtic broke to the other end McMillan over stretched and his notable debut was over as he handed the left back berth to David Ferguson.

In the 63^rd minute the Motherwell’s top marksman passed up the best chance. A quick break saw the ever improving Cadden play Moult into the box but caught in two minds his ball across goal was smothered by Gordon.

Ten minutes later Samson had another impressive save rising to touch Sinclair’s angled drive over the bar.

Celtic were desperate to grab the second goal and added Leigh Griffiths to their attack but it was the Steelmen who passed up another opening when Bowman fired McLean’s deep cross wide of target.

After an impressive debut McLean made way for another teenager, 17-year old Jake Hastie getting a taste of first team action.

With five minutes remaining and still holding hopes of  an equaliser Lasley’s free kick found Moult but his header drifted wide of Gordon’s post.

A minute later though Celtic made sure of the game, when Dembele nipped in between McManus and the ‘Well keeper before being tripped to the ground. It was the Frenchman himself who slammed the resultant penalty into the corner of the goal to secure the points for the home side.

[tab:As it happened]

 Lewis Irons at Celtic Park

FT | 2-0

A solid performance from Motherwell, undone by a brilliant strike and a penalty late on. Match report and reaction to follow.

’90 | 2-0

Three minutes of added time here at Parkhead

’87 | 2-0

Goal for Celtic. Dembele sends Samson the wrong way

’86 | 1-0

Penalty to Celtic. Samson has to rush out to collect but Dembele knicks past him

’84 | 1-0

Celtic make their final sub, a defensive switch replacing Forrest with Kolo Toure

’82 | 1-0

Louis Moult sends a header just wide of the post, rising up above everyone to head at goal from a free-kick

’80 | 1-0

Lasley send a cross in from a free-kick, won by Hastie, but Gordon comes out and collects it

’79 | 1-0

Motherwell sub: Youngster Jake Hastie has a moment to remember here, coming on to replace MacLean who has had a great afternoon

’78 | 1-0

Moult goes in to the book for a late tackle on Henderson

’75 | 1-0

MacLean charges down the line and puts in a cross to Bowman at the back post, the forward tries a volley – it’s narrowly over

’73 | 1-0

Samson with yet another stunning save. He tips Sinclair’s close range shot over the bar. Incredible from the stopper!!

’70 | 1-0

Scott Brown goes in to the book for petulance, throwing the ball against Cadden

’69 | 1-0

Sinclair receives the ball from a cut-back, and McManus puts in a brilliant sliding challenge to block the shot.

’66 | 1-0

Forrest cuts in and hits one at goal, but Samson produces a great save and is quick to his feet to gather it

’65 | 1-0

Ross MacLean cuts in and the youngster decides to have a go from 20 yards, but it’s wide of the target

’63 | 1-0

Cadden does brilliantly to drive through the middle and slip in Moult who is nearly 1v1, but the striker scuffs his shot

’61 | 1-0

Celtic double sub: Gamboa off for Griffiths and Armstrong off for Roberts

’58 | 1-0

Second ‘Well sub: Jack McMillan limps off and is replaced by David Ferguson.

’57 | 1-0

Lasley fires in a cross from a free-kick, it eventually lands on Moult’s head after a few attempted clearances, but Gordon saves

’55 | 1-0

Sinclair tries an ambitious shot from 25 yards but it doesn’t trouble Samson and it’s wide of the mark

’52 | 1-0

What a save Samson! Brown’s shot deflects but Samson does superb to stop with a strong hand, then denies Dembele on the follow up

’46 | 1-0

Tait goes in to the book for a foul on Sinclair

We’re back underway for the second half at Parkhead

Half time sub for the Fir Parkers, Bowman is on for McDonald

HT: Celtic 1 – 0 Motherwell #CFCvMFC

’44 | 1-0

Kieran Tierney nearly scores a brilliant goal, The youngster dribbles and works a shot, crashing off the crossbar.

’43 | 1-0

Scott Brown has an effort deflected wide off another Celtic body

’37 | 1-0

Scott Sinclair threatens the Fir Parkers with his pace again, cutting inside and curling a low shot off the post.

’35 | 1-0

Tait, Cadden and McDonald work the ball brilliantly around Celtic box, Tait gets his shot away on his left foot, but Gordon saves

’28 | 1-0

Celtic win the ball in their own half and hit with pace on the break. Heneghan puts in a great sliding challenge on Sinclair

’23 | 1-0

Yellow card for Henderson who simply couldn’t get near the pace of Cadden, cynically pulling the ‘Well midfielder to ground

’20 | 1-0

McDonald slips a lovely through ball towards Moult but the striker can’t get to it and Gordon gathers

’18 | 1-0

Goal for Celtic. Scott Sinclair arrives on the end of James Forrest’s low cross to smash high past Samson.

’17 | 0-0

Two corners for Celtic, Samson tips the first Sviatchenko header over the bar and then comfortably holds the second.

’16 | 0-0

Dembele curls a good effort towards the far post but Samson does well to dive and palm it wide.

’14 | 0-0

Motherwell enjoy a good spell of possession, Cadden receives the ball down the right but his cross is collected by Gordon

’11 | 0-0

Great block from Lasley to deny Sinclair’s shot from testing Samson.

‘7 | 0-0

Moult has an effort blocked inside the box after a good delivery from Tait on the right flank.

5′ | 0-0

Another Celtic chance but Heneghan gets enough on it to put Armstrong’s shot wide of the post.

2′ | 0-0

First chance of the game and it goes Celtic’s way. Henderson with a low shot which hits the side-netting.

Dembele gets the game underway. COYW!!!

[tab:Reaction]

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee:

 

Celtic  Manager  Brendan Rogers:

“I must give credit to Motherwell. Mark and his staff, in the last couple of times they have come here, it has been very difficult for them.

“It could have been a bit more today but they didn’t come and play safe. I felt they tried to play and showed good moments in the game, but we were able to get the job done.”

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

[poll id=”280”]

Tickets for the Ladbrokes Premiership match with Celtic tomorrow at Parkhead (3.00pm KO) are now on sale from the Well Shop. 

And the club can today confirm that the shop will be selling tickets tomorrow between the hours of 10am and 1pm.

Ticket prices are as follows:

ADULTS:	£26
CONCESSIONS	£17
UNDER 13	£10

• Concessions are listed as 65 and over and 16 and under
• Fans who require ambulant or wheelchair access should contact Sharon or John McCaskie on 07745 494631/ 07711 992161 or email disabledfans@motherwellfc.co.uk

Motorpoint’s Player of the Month award was presented to Louis Moult this afternoon, after the striker won the fans vote for his performances in September.

And it was a successful month for the forward – with five goals to his name including a historic four goal haul in the Lanarkshire derby.

Moult was presented the award by Motorpoint’s Jason Livingstone earlier today.

The 24-year-old striker said: “It feels good but first and foremost it was just great to get back playing and get back fit again. I managed to score a few goals this month which was an added bonus for myself.”

He added: “It makes a difference knowing that it’s a fan voted poll too and they’ve been absolutely brilliant from the day I joined the club, so yes I’m really enjoying my football at the moment.

“Looking ahead, hopefully I can manage to keep playing the way I am and maybe even better my four goals in one game record, that would be nice.”

The Steelmen travel to Parkhead on Saturday to face table-topping Celtic in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

And after suffering a 3-1 home defeat against Hearts two weeks ago, the Fir Parkers will be keen to returning to winning ways.

But it will be a tough fixture, with Saturday’s opponents in fine form and four points clear at the summit of the Premiership with a game in hand.

Brendan Rodgers has earned his fair share of plaudits for the job he’s done since arriving at Celtic, qualifying for the Champions League group stages and following that up with an impressive and exciting 3-3 draw with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

But the Fir Parkers know fine well that results can go either way at Parkhead, after registering both a 2-1 victory and a 7-0 defeat against the Scottish Champions on their patch last season.

McGhee will be without Carl McHugh, who is still returning to fitness after suffering from a concussion, and Joe Chalmers, who could face up to six weeks out with a groin injury.

But the manager will be boosted by the return of Jacob Blyth and Kieran Kennedy, who have both got game time under their belts recently for the U20s, giving the manager some extra options for the bench. There is also the added bonus of the form of Stephen Craigan’s U20s, with youngsters like Ross MacLean, Dylan Mackin and Jake Hastie all staking a claim for a call-up to the first team.

The two sides have already met at Parkhead this season, when Celtic won 5-0 in the Betfred League Cup, and manager Mark McGhee believes that his side have to become harder to break down, starting on Saturday.

He said: “We’ve got to go there and we’ve got to find a way of making ourselves more difficult to beat, so if we do lose then it has to be better than in the two previous games.

“We can also have a little bit in mind that we went there and won last season too, so who knows, but we do understand the difficulty of the task.”

He added: “Celtic have a bench now where recently Leigh Griffiths hasn’t been getting game time and any team in the league would jump at the chance of having him.

“I said to Leigh the other night when he went on for Scotland to go and get us a couple of goals but then tweak a wee hamstring, but then he said ‘you don’t need to worry about me you need to handle Moussa’.

“I have no idea what their budget is but I’d say it’s at least ten times what ours is, so they have a better opportunity to be better than us. But that was the same case last season too and we went there and won, so we have to cling to that.”

 

Ex-Celtic captain Stephen McManus returns to face his former side on Saturday and admits that the obvious difference about the Hoops under Brendan Rodgers is their intensity.

But the 34-year-old believes the Fir Parkers have had a good break in terms of preparation ahead of Saturday’s league match.

And while the defender admits the trip to Parkhead is a difficult one, he also believes that Motherwell can get something from the game.

McManus said: “We had a good week, obviously the manager was away but Faddy took training which was good.

“We had a tough, high intensity week which was just to get our head right for the big game on Saturday – a hard game against Celtic – so everything was getting geared up for that really.”

He added: “It’s been a good break for us and Saturday is going to be a difficult one for us, but at the same time we have nothing to lose.

“You kind of base it on the last two games that you play against teams and those are the last game of last season and the cup match this season.”

But despite suffering two heavy defeats on these occasions, the 34-year-old felt there was a different atmosphere and feel between the two matches.

He said: “The one on the last game of the season for our players it was the last game but for Celtic they were in a party mood.

“For us not a lot was riding on the match and that gave Celtic the ability to play on the front foot and for us it was a case of once the game’s done, the season is done and it’s been a long hard season, so I don’t think we were properly at it that day.”

[pullquote]We have nothing to lose. We can go there and play with freedom, be relaxed and of course you need to be very well organised, which hopefully we will be on Saturday.[/pullquote]

Under Brendan Rodgers, McManus admits Celtic are hitting a higher level.

He said: “We then played against them in the cup and our boys were at it 100% but we couldn’t get near Celtic that night.

“They were moving the ball at a tempo, they were passing it to hurt you, they were looking to penetrate and they were keeping possession to score goals. I think there’s a big, big difference this season and it’s clear for everyone to see.”

But that doesn’t change anything for Mark McGhee’s side, and the experienced ex-Celtic defender knows that on the day, anything can happen.

He said: “We have nothing to lose. We can go there and play with freedom, be relaxed and of course you need to be very well organised, which hopefully we will be on Saturday.

“We’ll give it our best shot  and on the day anything can happen. We know how difficult it’s going to be but we certainly believe we can get something out of the game.”

 

Celtic come in to Saturday’s match undefeated in the league and in the middle of a five game unbeaten run in all competitions.

Scoring freely under new manager Brendan Rodgers, the Parkhead outfit look every bit like the league favourites they are tipped to be, registering some impressive victories including a 6-1 victory over Kilmarnock as well as 5-1 and 4-1 victories over Rangers and Aberdeen respectively.

Summer signing Moussa Dembele has slotted in to Rodgers team with ease so far this season and is the Northern Irishman’s main source of goals.

The French forward has bagged 12 in 17 appearances this season, including a hat-trick in the Old Firm victory and a brace against Manchester City.

One of the threats Celtic possess is their strength in depth, with last seasons top scorer Leigh Griffiths limited to 246 minutes of action in the league so far, compared to Dembele’s 492 minutes.

Then there are players like Patrick Roberts, Stuart Armstrong, Gary Mackay-Steven and Kris Commons who have all seen their game time limited due to the form of James Forrest, Scott Sinclair and Tom Rogic.

But Saturday’s opponents will come in to the match knowing that the last time they lost a home league game at Parkhead was against the Steelmen last season, when a Louis Moult brace brought the Fir Parkers from behind to beat Ronny Deila’s Celtic 2-1 on their own patch.

A narrow 1-0 victory over Dundee two weeks ago and a 2-2 draw with Inverness suggest Rodgers Celtic side have struggled to hit the same free scoring form they have found at home this term.

And of all the teams to have faced them at Parkhead, Alloa Athletic have boasted the best scoreline, a 2-0 defeat which took late strikes from James Forrest and Moussa Dembele to progress in the League Cup.

Saturday’s opposition could be without right-back Mikael Lustig, who picked up a knock on international duty which saw him miss Sweden’s clash with Bulgaria.

But other than that, manager Brendan Rodgers will have a full strength side to pick from.

It makes for an interesting encounter this weekend, and one that Motherwell fans will be hoping will be a different scoreline from the last two visits to Glasgow.