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“We need a big effort on Friday. We want to go into the break with a win.”

Keith Lasley speaks ahead of the Friday night trip to face Kilmarnock.

It’s time to choose your Motherwell FC player of the month, in association with Paycare.

Allan Campbell, Trevor Carson, Bevis Mugabi and Tony Watt are in the running for the prize.

To choose your favourite, just head to our Facebook page to vote.

Go behind the scenes on our trips to Northern Ireland and Israel in episode 12 of Inside Motherwell.

There’s a live stream available of Kilmarnock v Motherwell on Friday night.

Supporters in the UK and Republic of Ireland can watch a live stream online for £12.50.

To watch, just head to ppv.kilmarnockfc.co.uk and buy your pass.

Fans based outside of the UK and Republic of Ireland can watch as normal as part of their international subscription package at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

Kick-off is at 7.45pm.

Declan Gallagher and Stephen O’Donnell are in the latest Scotland squad.

The pair have again been selected as the national team prepare for three matches in quick succession.

First up is a EURO 2020 play-off semi-final at home to Israel at Hampden Park on Thursday, 8 September.

That’s followed by UEFA Nations League group matches at home to Slovakia on Sunday and Czech Republic the following Tuesday.

Gallagher and O’Donnell join Allan Campbell and Barry Maguire on Scotland national duty, with the young pair in the Under 21 selection.

Kilmarnock are our next opponents in a Friday night fixture in Ayrshire.

The Scottish Premiership match is the last before another international break for the team.

You can watch live if you’re in the UK and Ireland by visiting ppv.kilmarnockfc.co.uk for £12.50. Fans abroad can watch through their normal international subscription.

Kick-off at Rugby Park on Friday 2 October is at 7.45pm.

Tale of the tape

Motherwell are unbeaten in their last three against Kilmarnock.

A 1-0 win at Rugby Park in December 2019 came through Jake Carroll’s second-half free kick.

Before that, a 2-1 home win came after a 0-0 draw away in March 2019.

Form guide

Killie have won three and lost two of their last five matches in the Premiership.

Wins over Hamilton and St Mirren have made it two victories on the bounce for Alex Dyer’s side, with a previous success over Dundee United sandwiched between away losses at Rangers and Aberdeen.

The Ayrshire side sit three points ahead of Motherwell in fifth, with a seven-goal superior goal difference.

Motherwell’s 5-1 reversal at home to Rangers on Sunday came after the exertions of a good performance but 3-0 loss in Israel to Hapoel Beer-Sheva.

Before that, Stephen Robinson’s side had recorded back-to-back league wins at home to St Johnstone and away to Aberdeen.

Watch live

Supporters in the UK and Republic of Ireland can watch a live stream online for £12.50.

To watch, just head to ppv.kilmarnockfc.co.uk and buy your pass.

Fans based outside of the UK and Republic of Ireland can watch as normal as part of their international subscription package at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

“We got what we deserved. We were flat and tired. We need to get them firing again.”

Stephen Robinson reacts to the loss to Rangers.

A tired Motherwell toiled in a 5-1 home loss to Rangers on Sunday.

Rangers’ quickfire start settled the game by half-time. James Tavernier’s double from the penalty spot – and a third from Jordan Jones – gave the visitors control of the game.

A second half double from Cedric Itten made it a bit of stroll in the midday sun for the Ibrox men. An own goal from George Edmundson four minutes from time brought little celebration for the Steelmen.

Stephen Robinson made two changes from midweek. Bevis Mugabi returned to the centre of the back three, while Callum Lang replaced Christopher Long as the Fir Park attack had the envious task of overcoming the visitors’ mean defensive record.

On a superb pitch and day for football, all that was missing was the near-capacity crowd which usually accompanies this fixture.

Despite not having their massive support in the South Stand, Steven Gerrard’s men almost made the perfect start.

James Tavernier free kick in the first minute found the unmarked Alfredo Morelos and his glancing header was sneaking inside the post, until Trevor Carson leapt low to his right to push the ball behind.

The home box was peppered with several crosses before Calvin Bassey’s low ball bounced onto Mugabi’s hand allowing Bobby Madden to point to the penalty spot. It was harsh on the ‘Well centre back whose hand was by his side but under the new rules was correctly judged.

Tavernier showed little sympathy as he cracked his spot kick low and in off Carson’s right hand post to give the Ibrox men the upper hand with only 10 minutes on the clock.

The next penalty call came at the other end when Glen Kamara barged into the back of Allan Campbell. But as the ‘Well man tumbled to the ground, the referee ignored strong pleas.

The Steelmen then had a decent spell of play with Tony Watt looking lively in and around the box. And after Liam Polworth’s wicked inswinging cross was only partially cleared, the ball found its way to Watt but eight yards from goal his shot was blocked.

The ‘Well players, though, were finding it difficult to retain possession and match Rangers’ press and pace.

And that was highlighted after 27 minutes when Rangers went two ahead.

Scott Arfield sent Jones down the right channel and with Ricki Lamie unable to catch him, the former Kilmarnock winger cut into the box before driving the ball across Carson and inside the far post for a clinical finish.

Nine minutes later Rangers were handed a second penalty, this time with little debate as Liam Grimshaw’s raised arms blocked Kamara’s cross into the box. Tavernier comfortably steered the ball to Carson’s left to make it 3-0 and effectively kill the game.

Just before the half-time break ‘Well had a chance to reduce the leeway. Polworth’s drive from 15 yards was blocked and his second attempt deflected over Allan McGregor’s bar in a rare bit of action around the keeper’s goal.

That was the last action for Polworth and Stephen O’Donnell who were replaced by Barry Maguire and Christopher Long for the second half.

That allowed Motherwell to change to a back four and pose more of an attacking threat with Lang and Long supporting Watt up front. However, 12 minutes into the half, Sherwin Seedorf replaced the on-loan Wigan man.

The ‘Well subs combined for the first goal threat of the half when Seedorf fed the ball to Maguire and his cross was met by the towering Mugabi. But his header flashed narrowly over the bar.

In the 64th minute Tavernier lined up for a free kick into the box and then elected to shoot for goal, forcing Carson to nip smartly across his line to gather the ball low at his right hand post.

Two minutes the ‘Gers’ full back came closer to grabbing his hat-trick and brought out a better save from Carson. This time Tavernier whipped the ball over the defensive wall forcing the ‘Well ‘keeper to stretch high to his right claw the ball off his line.

It was Rangers who netted again in the 74th minute, when substitute Itten struck a superb shot from 20 yards which gave Carson no chance of stopping.

Three minutes later, O’Hara came very close to matching that effort when his superb curling free kick from the left side of the penalty area was touched onto the bar by McGregor.

A couple of minutes later the ‘Well defence was caught sleeping when Arfield’s corner bounced around the six yard box before Itten swept it into the net to make it 5-0.

Four minutes later, Seedorf drilled a corner into a packed box and with Mugabi and White challenging the ball, it bounced off Edmundson and past his keeper to give Motherwell scant consolation from a very hard working 90 minutes.

Motherwell: Carson, O’Donnell (Seedorf), Gallagher, Mugabi, Lamie, Grimshaw, O’Hara, Campbell. Polworth (Maguire), Watt (White), Lang (Long).

Subs: Morrison, McGinley, Hylton, Crawford, Cornelius.