| 2 | Aberdeen | 16 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 34 |
| 3 | Rangers | 15 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 32 |
| 4 | Motherwell | 16 | 8 | 1 | 7 | -1 | 25 |
| 5 | Dundee United | 16 | 6 | 6 | 4 | -5 | 24 |
| 6 | St Mirren | 17 | 6 | 3 | 8 | -6 | 21 |
Stephen Robinson has urged his team to focus their efforts on stringing together another winning run, as the push for the top six continues.
Having received many plaudits for winning six games in a row, and going seven of their last eight unbeaten, the manager says it’s time to put the praise to one side and focus on winning the derby with Hamilton Academical.
After netting four goals in the emphatic 13-0 victory over Hutchison Vale, there could be a case for suggesting the international break arrived at a bad time for Lori Gardner.
The ’Well forward was in lethal form as Donald Jennow’s side booked their place in the last eight of the SWPL Cup.
However Gardner, who has enjoyed a good start to life at Fir Park, feels the squad have returned from the break raring to go and is hoping to get among the goals in the league when Hibs visit Ravenscraig on Sunday.
“It was good to have a break and recharge,” she said. “All the girls are now excited to get back to playing and the challenges ahead.
“As a striker, it’s always good to get goals and I’m obviously looking to get as many as I can.”
While victory over struggling, lower league opposition in their last match came as little surprise to most, the margin of Motherwell’s success certainly did.
Gardner also feels the result came as a big lift following the disappointment endured at Forfar one week before, in which Kerry Montgomery was controversially denied a last gasp leveller.
“The result was very important,” Gardner added. “Regardless of opposition we always look to set up and play the same way.
“It was good to put in such a dominant performance and it has really helped our confidence for the league kicking off again.”
Successive double winners Hibs make the trip to Lanarkshire from the capital, having recovered from an early season setback.
They followed up their surprise opening day draw with victories over Celtic and Hearts.
Those results have gone someway to alleviating fears that a close season where they lost a number of star players would hamper their chances of another successful season.
Motherwell provided the opposition as Grant Scott’s side lifted their last trophy, the SSE Scottish Women’s Cup, but Gardner says the previous meeting between the sides won’t be a factor.
“It’ll be a challenge but one we’re looking forward to,” the 22-year-old said. “These are the kind of games you want to be playing in and allows us to challenge ourselves against the best.
“We always try to look forward as individuals and as a team, so the previous result between the teams won’t come into our thoughts.”
The women of steel squad underwent major overhaul ahead of their first season in SWPL1 and Lori admits settling in has been an easy process.
The striker celebrated her 22nd birthday earlier in the week and now she is now targeting a belated gift.
“I’m really enjoying it. Everyone gets on really well which made it easy to settle in quickly.
“The standard of players who have remained and have been brought is high. We all share common goals and a have desire to be as successful as we can.
“It would be great to celebrate my birthday with a goal and that’s certainly what I’ll be hoping for.”
Motherwell Football Club are pleased to welcome SRB Wealth Management as the new front of shirt partner for our women’s side.
The partnership will see the SRB Wealth Management’s logo featured across their home shirts in all competitive games.
SRB Wealth Management are a Bellshill-based team of financial advisors, who specialise in achieving and maintaining financial security for all individuals and businesses across the west of Scotland.
Suzanne Reid, head of commercial and marketing at Motherwell FC, said: “I am delighted to announce this partnership.
“I am sure SRB Wealth Management will reap the benefits from our team playing at the top level of Scottish women’s football and TV coverage from BBC Alba this season. I look forward to working with Steve and his team and thank him for his support”.
Steve Brough, Director at SRB Wealth Management added: “We are proud of our west of Scotland heritage and are delighted to be supporting the team. Motherwell are going from strength to strength and we’re excited to see what the season will bring.”
The Lanarkshire derby is upon us. Motherwell host Hamilton on Saturday, as we look to continue our push for the top six.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.
Both sides have picked up victories on enemy territory this campaign.
A Steven Boyd effort secured a 1-0 win for Accies at Fir Park earlier in the season, while Tom Aldred’s double meant for a passionate victory at the end of the year at Hamilton.
Tickets are available online now or from the Fir Park ticket office. Kick off is at 3pm. A pay gate will also be in operation.
| Adult | £24 / £20 |
| Over 60s / 16-18 year olds / students | £17 / £16 |
| 15 and under | £3 |
A family ticket for one adult and two children aged 15 and under is available for £28, or £24 in the John Hunter Stand.
The cheaper price on all tickets is for our John Hunter Stand for home supporters.
Away supporters will be housed in our South Stand.
Fans who require ambulant or wheelchair access should contact Andy Sim on 07428 225254 or email tickets@mfcdsa.com.
Motherwell are unbeaten in seven of their last eight matches, having won six on the bounce before a defeat at Celtic and a draw at Kilmarnock.
Since the arrival of Brian Rice as manager, a 10-game run of eight defeats has transformed into a five-game sequence of two wins, a draw and two defeats.
Motherwell remain without Trevor Carson, Chris Cadden and Craig Tanner. Christian Mbulu and Ross McCormack are also still sidelined. Carl McHugh is back in training.
If you’re based outside of the UK/Ireland, you can watch a live stream of the game direct from Fir Park.
To sign up for our service, just head to tv.motherwellfc.co.uk and choose your package. Subscriptions to see live games start at just £12 a month.
Every league game between now and the split will be broadcast live on our service.
If you’re in the UK or Ireland but can’t make the game, there’s also live audio commentary available on our service. Our domestic subscriptions cost £6 a month and also get you full game replays.
Stephen Robinson and Jake Hastie have won the January/February Ladbrokes Premiership awards for Manager of the Month and Player of the Month respectively.
The pair have been recognised for the club’s fantastic month, which saw the team record their sixth straight league win, picking up three victories from four across the month.
Hastie scored four goals in three matches, netting a double against Livingston and scoring against St Mirren and Hearts.
The award marks the first double manager and player award for the club since Stuart McCall and Nicky Law both won in March 2013.
It’s the first time a player has won the award since Louis Moult in September 2017, and the first manager award since Mark McGhee in March 2016.
Barry Maguire has extended his deal with Motherwell Football Club until the summer of 2020.
The defender, currently on loan at Championship side Queen of the South, was this week called up to represent Scotland’s Under 21s.
“It’s great to sign on again with the club,” Barry said of his new contract. “This gives me the platform to come back in the summer and push for first team starts.
“I’m learning all the time at Queens. It’s been a great test and I know that if I keep playing well, I’ll be back for next season with the experience to be ready.”
Bellshill-born Maguire made his top-team bow in April last year, debuting in a 0-0 draw away to St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.
He has gone on to feature a further four times for Stephen Robinson’s side and has amassed 10 appearances for the Doonhamers in the Scottish Championship this term.
The ‘Well academy product’s progress will see him in contention to feature for his country in games against Mexico and Sweden later this month.
“We’re really pleased that we’ve got yet another young asset from our academy secured on a longer term deal,” ‘Well boss Stephen Robinson added:
“We believe Barry has the potential to have a really good career. He’s started that by being out on loan at Queens gaining valuable first team experience, much like we did with Jake Hastie who was at Airdrie, then Alloa.
“He’ll come back in the summer and we hope he’ll be pushing hard for a first-team start.”
Hamilton make their second trip of the campaign to Fir Park on Saturday, as the Lanarkshire derby rolls around again.
Here’s a closer look at our opponents.
Since Brian Rice’s arrival as manager at the end of January, Hamilton have picked up significantly.
After a run of eight defeats from 10 games, they have now won two of their last five, drawing one and losing two.
George Oakley has proved a revelation since moving from Inverness late in the January window.
From five appearances, the English striker has netted three times, including a Van Basten-esque goal against Aberdeen in a 2-0 win at Pittodrie.
Despite their upturn in form, the Accies aren’t out of the woods at the bottom of the table.
They have opened up a four-point gap on bottom club St Mirren, with Dundee sitting three points behind. Any sort of cushion is welcome at this time of the season, but they aren’t completely out of the woods yet.
In celebration of the launch of their new ultra-low emission vehicles for the 254 and 242 services, First Glasgow will have one of their new buses on show at Fir Park, outside the Cooper Bar, at this Saturday’s Lanarkshire derby.
There will be prize giveaways on the day, as the team give out information on these two fantastic services in the local area.
The new vehicles offer huge improvements for customers on board with free wifi, USB charging points and comfortable seats, and with mTickets and contactless payments making access easier than ever, there really has never been a better time to choose bus.
The 254 service runs from Newarthill, Carfin, Jerviston and then Motherwell. The 242 service runs via Pather, Wishaw, Craigneuk, Motherwell and New Stevenson.
Both services are ideal for fans of the Well travelling to Fir Park on matchdays and remove the hassle of parking. For more information, go to firstgroup.com/greater-glasgow
Fir Park plays host to the Lanarkshire derby with Hamilton Academical on Saturday.
Here’s the game previewed in numbers.
With the 2018/19 season reaching its climax, Motherwell have five games left to try and take a top six spot in the Ladbrokes Premiership.
Stephen Robinson’s side are currently just four points behind Hibernian in sixth, with a trip to Easter Road also on the horizon.
The Steelmen are unbeaten in seven of their last eight matches, winning six of them.
Victories over Hamilton, Hibernian, Dundee, St Mirren, Livingston and Hearts were followed by defeat at Celtic and a draw at Kilmarnock.
In their 65 competitive visits to Fir Park, Hamilton have won 10 times. The most recent, of course, came in their last visit to ML1 earlier in the season.
Motherwell have been victorious 37 times on home turf, while there have been 18 draws.
The third and potentially final Lanarkshire derby of the season is upon us.
Here’s an early lookahead to Saturday’s match at Fir Park.
Motherwell are unbeaten in seven of their last eight games, picking up six consecutive victories along the way.
Celtic ended the run two games ago, before the team picked up a point at Kilmarnock in challenging conditions.
Under new manager Brian Rice, the Accies have picked up. Prior to his appointment on 31 January, they had lost eight of their last 10 matches, winning just one.
Since his arrival, his five games have seen wins over St Johnstone and Aberdeen, a draw with Dundee and defeats to Rangers and Hibernian.
Both have left enemy territory with wins this campaign. A stunning Steven Boyd strike early in the season gave Accies the three points at Fir Park, before Tom Aldred’s double secured a passionate victory over there.
In total, the two sides have met 131 times competitively. Motherwell have won 63, while Accies have 33 victories.
Thirty-seven of the ‘Well’s wins have come at Fir Park, while the visitors have won just 10 on their travels.
Tickets are available online now or from the Fir Park ticket office. Kick off is at 3pm. A pay gate will also be in operation.
| Adult | £24 / £20 |
| Over 60s / 16-18 year olds / students | £17 / £16 |
| 15 and under | £3 |
A family ticket for one adult and two children aged 15 and under is available for £28, or £24 in the John Hunter Stand.
The cheaper price on all tickets is for our John Hunter Stand for home supporters.
Away supporters will be housed in our South Stand.
Fans who require ambulant or wheelchair access should contact Andy Sim on 07428 225254 or email tickets@mfcdsa.com.
