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Voting has opened for Motherwell’s Player of the Month for November – sponsored by Motorpoint.

Every month, ‘Well fans have the opportunity to cast their vote for who they think has put in the best performances, in the games against Dundee, Partick Thistle and Hearts.

Thanks to club sponsors Motorpoint, the decision is up to the fans, so cast your vote here!

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Highlights from Excelsior Stadium where David Turnbull’s hat-trick gave ‘Well a 3-1 win over Greenock Morton.

U20s boss Stephen Craigan credited his players hard work as they overcame Greenock Morton U20s 3-1 in the Scottish FA Youth Cup this afternoon.

A feisty encounter left resulted in two penalties for the Steelmen, two red cards and a number of controversial decisions from the referee.

But in the end, Craigan was happy to see his side secure a place in the quarter-finals.

Speaking to MFC TV after the match, he said: “We got through, and I said to the players after the game it’s not always going to be about free flowing football and having lots of possession, because there’s an art to defending and seeing games out – it usually includes hard work – so I felt the energy levels in the second half were good and the organisation of the team was good.

“The players make that work; they have to narrow up, they have track runs, they have to defend one-on-one because there can be long spells without the ball at times, but its all part of their learning curve.”

[pullquote]It’s not always going to be about free flowing football and having lots of possession, because there’s an art to defending and seeing games out – it usually includes hard work.[/pullquote]

He added: “Barry got sent off before the tenth minute so it was a long, long time – considering the referee played 54 minutes in the second half – to defend with ten men.

“Credit to the players for doing that, they showed the other side of the game which is very pleasing.”

David Turnbull bagged a hattrick including two strikes from the penalty spot, and his manager was pleased with his all round performance.

Craigan said: “ I’m really pleased for David. Dylan missed a penalty here against Dunfermline but got the rebound and then missed one against Hearts so David was the next guy up for the penalties and it takes a bit of bravery too once you’ve scored the first one to go up and take the second one.

“The third goal was sublime – it was a great strike. I wasn’t quite sure the defender covered himself in much glory by ducking but I don’t mind because we get 3-0 up at that stage.”

[pullquote] David was the next guy up for the penalties and it takes a bit of bravery too once you’ve scored the first one to go up and take the second one. The third goal was sublime – it was a great strike.[/pullquote]

Morton pulled one back with little over ten minutes to go, and the spirit of the ‘Well youngsters, especially when going down to nine men after Fry was shown a second yellow for time wasting, was something that pleased Craigan.

He said: “When it goes 3-1 you get wary, you think will they crack? Will they crumble? Do gaps appear? That’s when you need David Turnbull to get on the ball again, take that extra touch and make that extra pass and he did.

Ultimately, much of the match was overshadowed by controversy after both sides were on the receiving end of debatable decisions – but Craigan doesn’t want to dwell on the referee.

He said: “It was tough and I don’t want to stand and pan the referee because it’s a very difficulty job, but I just thought he didn’t really have the game under control.

“He’s a young guy trying to make his way in the game, our young players are trying to make their way in the game and I’m a young coach trying to make my way in the game somewhere along the line.

“But I know emotions run high, I think he was quite quick with his decisions, with the sending off and the penalties which I haven’t seen back to be fair but I think he was just a bit quick with the decisions in general.”

Motherwell U20s continued their defence of the Youth Cup with a 3-1 victory over Greenock Morton U20s this afternoon.

But it was not easy work for the youngsters who converted two penalties but also ended the match at the Excelsior Stadium with nine men.

Jake Hastie looked lively from the first whistle but squandered two good opportunities early on.

The young winger did superbly to beat his man down the left flank in the second minute, but when it came to the cross he blazed it wildly over everyone in the box.

Two minutes later he spun his marker with ease to afford himself a one-on-one opportunity with Morton stopper Jamie McGowan, but again the youngster went for power and his shot was well off target, when in truth it should have been 1-0 to the Steelmen.

Just after the tenth minute, controversy struck as Craigan’s side were reduced to ten men. Barry Maguire was forced to make a lunging challenge to intercept Morton’s Ben Armour from having a one-on-one chance, but despite winning the ball, the centre-back was given his marching orders for denying a goal-scoring opportunity.

From the following free-kick, Scott Tiffoney crashed a terrific effort off the bar and immediately after, Craigan made a change, replacing James Scott with Adam Livingstone as the youngsters faced a tricky uphill task.

Despite being reduced in numbers, the Steelmen went closest to grabbing the lead on 13 minutes, when Dylan Falconer raced past the Morton defence and sent his audacious lob narrowly over the bar.

Morton winger Tiffoney forced a good save out of PJ Morrison in the 25^th minute, the ‘Well stopper doing enough to parry it away from danger.

However, it was the outnumbered Steelmen who took the lead after Hastie was hauled to the deck by Darren Hynes. Looked soft, but Davie Turnbull made no mistake from the spot, slotting it low past McGowan in to the bottom left corner. Hynes was booked for the foul.

Alex McWaters went close for the visitors just a few minutes after the goal, but his strike was too high and flew over the bar.

The winger was involved again in the 37^th minute when Tom Fry pulled him down as he was bursting forward. The ‘Well midfielder went in to the book.

Three minutes before the break, Motherwell were awarded another penalty and this time it was a silly foul and a more clear cut decision than the first.

Morton defender Ruaridh Langan pulled Hastie to ground when the ‘Well midfielder looked to be running the ball out of play, but it was a definite penalty and Turnbull stepped up to the challenge again, this time slotting the ball low to McGowan’s right to double the advantage. Tiffoney was the third player to pick up a booking in the aftermath of the penalty decision – this time for dissent.

The second half got off to a slower start, with neither side carving out any major chances.

Motherwell went closest went Dylan Falconer raced beyond the Morton defence, only to have his run cut short by the linesman flagging for offside.

On the hour mark, Morton centre-forward Ben Armour should have pulled one back if it wasn’t for a superb save from Morrison, who blocked the initial shot and was alert to clutch the second.

Three minutes later and Motherwell had three and Turnbull completed his hattrick with a stunning long range strike following a corner. Fry played it short to the midfielder who had time to take a touch and strike it past McGowan from outside the corner of the box.

Jordon Armstrong made way following the goal as Craigan shuffled his deck – bringing on Alfie Agyeman, shifting Fry to right back and pushing McMillan in one spot to centre-back.

Morton won a freekick in the 78^th minute and made it count. It had an element of luck as it took a slight deflection on its way towards Langan, who was on hand to touch it towards goal and beyond Morrison.

The Steelmen became slightly pegged back as the game drew towards a close, but some strong defence limited the visitors to strikes from distance, John Tennant fancied his chances from 25 yards but Morrison held it comfortably.

In the final seconds, Fry was shown his second yellow card after he was deemed to be time wasting and Motherwell had to survive the final few attacks with nine men.

Highlights from Fir Park where a three superb Motherwell goals weren’t enough to see off Celtic.

Images from today’s 3-4 loss to Celtic in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Snaps courtesy of SNSPix

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‘Well boss Mark McGhee felt his team were fantastic and unlucky not to get something from this afternoon’s loss at home to Celtic.

A last-minute winner from Tom Rogic snatched the three points for the visitors during a dramatic encounter at Fir Park.

Speaking to MFC TV at the final whistle, the manager admitted he was hugely disappointed but ultimately felt his side were “fantastic”.

He said: “To score three goals and not win the game is hugely disappointing and to play the way we did, especially in the first half, I thought we were fantastic and the goals we scored were of such quality.

“You always know that Celtic are going to come back at you and we also know that we’re not that good at keeping clean sheets so there is a danger, even at 2-0.

[pullquote] To score three goals and not win the game is hugely disappointing and to play the way we did, especially in the first half, I thought we were fantastic and the goals we scored were of such quality.[/pullquote]

“We played fantastically well for long spells of the game and even going 2-2 and straight away taking the lead was brilliant to bounce back like that. Obviously then losing two goals was disappointing but it was a fantastic performance and what three great goals we scored.”

He added: “It gave them the impetus and something to go for and it is a dangerous scoreline so it was disappointing to lose the goal the way that we did especially the first goal was a bit too easy. We do have to find a way of not conceding these goals and that’s what we’ll be working on.”

Despite the loss, McGhee admitted there were a number of positives to take in to next weekend’s clash with Kilmarnock.

He said: “There’s a lot of positives, Ross MacLean coming in, Cadds again seeing off the boy Izaguirre and they had to make a change because they couldn’t contain him.

[pullquote] We played fantastically well for long spells of the game and even going 2-2 and straight away taking the lead was brilliant to bounce back like that.[/pullquote]

“Moulty for that first half was almost unplayable playing up there himself and the rest backed him up brilliantly and for Sammy to lose four goals is a travesty because he didn’t do too much wrong.”

He added: “When you play good teams that can happen to you, Celtic have lost seven this season and they’re a good team.”

Ross MacLean started in the reverse fixture at Parkhead, and came back into McGhee’s side this afternoon.

The manager said: “We play these youngsters because we think that they’re good enough, not just for the sake of it to play lip service to the fact that we have a youth policy.

[pullquote] The thing now is that we can’t live on this – either the disappointment of it or the fact that we played so well in spells, we have to reproduce that.[/pullquote]

“Ross came in again today, he played at Parkhead, and what a cross it was for the second goal and what a bit of play. He’s put in a great challenge especially for a young winger, and he’s put in a cross that, even though Moulty still had to provide the excellent finish, was put on a plate for him.”

Looking forward, the manager hopes for similar levels of performance, but also for points on the board.

He said: “The thing now is that we can’t live on this – either the disappointment of it or the fact that we played so well in spells, we have to reproduce that.

“We’re going to have to reproduce it to beat Kilmarnock don’t worry about that, we’re going to have to be well to beat Kilmarnock – we’ve got to take that sort of energy, that sort of determination and that sort of form into the Kilmarnock game and make sure we get three points here.”

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Motherwell suffered an agonising 3-4 loss at home to Celtic in the Ladbrokes Premiership this afternoon.

A wonder goal from Louis Moult in the third minute got the Steelmen off to a dream start and ended Celtic’s 10-hour period without conceding in the league – before the forward added a second to go in to the break with a two goal cushion.

That was followed by a frantic second half, and a more frantic three minute spell, in which Celtic clawed back in to the game and eventually scored a last minute winner.

Mark McGhee named two changes to the side that lost 3-0 away to Hearts last weekend, with Stevie Hammell returning to the starting eleven in place of Jack McMillan and Ross MacLean in for David Ferguson, as the manager switched to a back four.

Celtic, fresh off their League Cup triumph over Aberdeen, named just one change – with veteran Kolo Toure stepping in for the in-form Erik Sviatchenko.

It was a dream start for the ‘Well when Louis Moult opened the scoring after just three minutes – and what a goal it was. An inch perfect ball over the top by McManus was anticipated superbly by Moult, who sprung the offside trap and with the inside of his right boot, lifted the ball over the helpless Gordon.

The Steelmen went close to a second in the 16^th minute and again the move started off from the left boot of Stephen McManus. The centre-back swept a fantastic ball out wide to Tait, who cushioned it neatly back inside towards Moult who pulled off an outstanding back-heel pass to Cadden to get in behind the Celtic defence. The midfielder pulled it back but Simunovic intercepted to clear the danger.

Celtic enjoyed long spells of possession in the opening 20 minutes, but failed to create any clear cut chances and ‘Well stopper Craig Samson was untested.

Cadden was proving to be too much to handle for full-back Izaguirre and in the 25^th minute won a free kick in a dangerous area after the … defender hacked him down. From the set piece, Stevie Hammell whipped in a wonderful ball which Heneghan headed low on target, but Gordon gathered comfortably.

Two minutes later and the Fir Parkers were inches from a second and it was Moult looking dangerous again. Cadden enjoyed plenty of space to storm into down the right and fired a great ball low across the box. Moult got a touch on it with his right foot but it wasn’t quite enough and it flew narrowly past Gordon’s far post.

Celtic were limited to efforts from outside the box and Armstrong went closest with a good strike from range, but Samson confidently saw it wide.

Izaguirre was substituted after 29 minutes as manager Brendan Rodgers took no risks, swiftly withdrawing the defender after he found himself in the book early doors – he was replaced by McGregor.

In the 35^th minute, Fir Park erupted as Moult got his second and doubled his side’s lead. Youngster MacLean sent another inch perfect cross towards the back post, eliminating Celtic’s entire defence from the play and allowing Moult to stride in and send another volley past Gordon, this time beating the stopper at his near post.

Some neat footwork by Dembele on the stroke of half time created a half chance for the forward, but he blazed his strike high and wide.

Three minutes after the break, Celtic pulled one back through Callum McGregor who played a neat one-two in to the box, finishing low past Samson.

The goal spurred the visitors in to life and Motherwell were on the back foot for much of the opening ten minutes of the second half.

Rogic, growing ever more influential in the middle of the park, tested Samson from close range but the ‘keeper did well to make himself big and block the goal bound effort.

Two minutes later James Forrest burst past Stevie Hammell to create the space he needed to fizz a low cross in front of goal, but it flew by untouched and eventually trickled out for a ‘Well throw.

Samson produced a fine save to deny Rogic again in the 65^th minute, getting across well to palm away to safety and deny the ball from curling in to the top corner.

The tireless Chris Cadden was forced to leave the field when he went down injured, he was replaced by Lionel Ainsworth with 22 minutes remaining.

But almost instantly after the change, Celtic drew level when Patrick Roberts latched on to a good cross at the back post and head into the ground past Samson, and the equaliser was the first of  an outrageous three minute goal spree.

Immediately down the other end from kick-off, Stevie Hammell sent in a delightful cross to the back post where Ainsworth was waiting to volley past Gordon.

Celtic responded in the same manner, this time Stuart Armstrong, who latched on to a neat through ball from Roberts, was gifted too much space in the box and the Scottish midfielder passed it low past Samson to level the scoring.

Mark McGhee made his second change of the afternoon at that point, bringing off Ross MacLean for Jack McMillan.

Richard Tait did well to win a corner for the Fir Parkers in the 84^th minute, and from the following delivery McManus got his head on it and turned it towards goal, but it was a little too central and Gordon held it.

In heart breaking fashion, Celtic snatched the lead right at the moment the fourth official indicated the additional time to be added. Tom Rogic shifted the ball on to his right foot and fired low past Samson into the far corner.

The table toppers held on for the final minutes to secure the three points, but it was a spirited Motherwell performance at Fir Park and a sickening blow for the Steelmen to concede so late.

 

Motherwell: Samson, Tait, Hammell, Heneghan, McManus, Cadden (Ainsworth ’68), Lasley, Clay, MacLean (McMillan ’74), McDonald, Moult

Unused subs: Brill, Bowman, Thomas, Ferguson, Campbell

 

 

 

 

[tab:As it happened]

 Alastair Reilly at Fir Park

 

FT: Motherwell 3 – 4 Celtic #MFCvCFC

91′ | 3-4

Motherwell sub, Bowman on for Tait

Four minutes added on.

89′ | 3-4

Goal – Rogic makes it 3-4 to Celtic.

85′ | 3-3

Chance!!! Ainsworth’s corner to Moult who stoops low to head and forces a save from Gordon.

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

74′ | 3-3

Motherwell sub, McMillan on for MacLean

72′ | 3-3

Goal – It’s now 3-3! Celtic go straight up the park and Armstrong sneaks it past Samson.

71′ | 3-2

INCREDIBLE!! Moments after conceding, ‘Well are back on top!! Hammell with a dream ball in to Ainsworth who volleys in!!

GGGGOOOOOAAALLLLL!!!

70′ | 2-2

Goal – Celtic draw level with a header from Roberts.

68′ | 2-1

Motherwell sub, Cadden limps off and is replaced by Ainsworth

65′ | 2-1

Samson with a good diving save to keep out Rogic who cut in on his left foot.

62′ | 2-1

Cadden fouled by Simunovic, wide on the right. Free-kcik is swung in but ref blows for a foul on Brown. McManus booked.

60′ | 2-1

Poor clearance by Toure falls at the feet of McDonald. From 20 yards he opts for the shot but its a routine save for Gordon.

56′ | 2-1

Brown booked for wiping out McDonald in the middle of the pitch.

53′ | 2-1

Rogic worms his way into the box but thankfully his shot from 12 yards is beaten away by Samson.

48′ | 2-1

Goal – Celtic pull one back through McGregor

Celtic get the second 45 underway. COYW!!!!

HT: Motherwell 2 – 0 Celtic

There will be 2 minutes added on.

Into added on time of the first half….

42′ | 2-0

MacLean booked as Lustig is down receiving treatment.

35′ | 2-0

It’s @louismoult again!!!! Great work from MacLean who whips in a great ball to the back post leaving Moulty with an easy finish!!

GGGOOOAAALLL!!!

34′ | 1-0

Armstrong shoots from outside the box but Samson knows its going wide and it does.

32′ | 1-0

McGregor’s shot is blocked and Celtic have their first corner. ..

29′ | 1-0

Celtic sub,Izaguirre off for McGregor. Doesn’t look injured, presumably a change of shape.

28′ | 1-0

Moult booked. Tried to block Brown’s clearance but the Celtic man goes down.

27′ | 1-0

So close to two!! Cadden with a great low ball which Moult gets a flick on but it’s inches past the post!!!

24′ | 1-0

Izaguirre is in the ref’s book for a poor challenge on Cadden. Can’t complain.

21′ | 1-0

Celtic with their first real sight of goal, Forrest gets on the end of Dembele’s ball but scuffs it well wide.

17′ | 1-0

McManus again with a ball over the top, this time to Tait who plays it to Moult. He flicks it to Cadden but cross is blocked

3′ | 1-0

McManus clips a lovely ball over the top to MOULT who spectacularly volleys over Gordon. 1-0 Motherwell!!

WHAT A START!!!

GGGOOOOAAALL!!!

Lasley gets the game underway for the Steelmen.

Out come the teams……COYW!!!

[tab:Reaction]

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee:

 

Celtic manager Brendan Rogers:

 

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

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