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Stephen Robinson has resigned as manager of Motherwell Football Club.

After Wednesday night’s match with Kilmarnock, Stephen approached the board, giving an honest assessment of the current situation. He then stated his desire to leave.

It is with regret that the board accepted his resignation, having carefully considered his reasons for wanting to leave his post.

Despite the current restrictions, the board will now run a thorough process to identify the right person to take the manager’s post.

This will move at pace, mindful of the busy fixture list and the January transfer window’s impending opening.

Keith Lasley will take interim charge of the first team with immediate effect.

“I would like to thank everyone at Motherwell FC for their support throughout my time here, both as manager and assistant,” Robinson said.

“We have qualified for Europe, reached two cup finals and achieved a third-place finish, on top of developing some wonderful players in my time here.

“We cleared the club’s external debt through player sales, cup runs and league positions. The club has numerous assets going forward, and I’m sure that there will have a strong finish to the season with the brilliant coaching staff currently there.

“My goal was always to leave the club in a healthier position. I believe the staff and I have done this.

“I now feel it is the time for someone new to take the club forward as I feel I have taken it as far as I can.

“I would like to put on record my thanks to Jim McMahon, Alan Burrows and the rest of the board, as well as the fans for their loyalty and support to my family and I throughout.

“I will take a short break before looking at new challenges ahead. But my family and I will forever be Motherwell fans. I wish the staff, supporters and club as a whole every success in the future.”

Motherwell chairman Jim McMahon added: “I thank Stephen for everything he has done for this club.

“Year after year, he delivered upon or exceeded the targets set for him.

“On the field, that entailed reaching cup finals, achieving a third-place finish and reaching European competition. Those moments will live long in the memory of supporters and will go down in our history.

“Off it, his success in player development and sales has ensured this club is in a strong financial position. His ability to rear new talent was commendable and delivered great benefit to us.

“He is a man who has conducted himself exceptionally well and has been a figurehead for our club for the last three-and-a-half years.

“It has been a privilege to work with him over these years. We all wish him well for the future.”

“We lacked belief and desire. We weren’t good enough.”

Stephen Robinson speaks after the 2-0 home defeat to Kilmarnock.

A goal either side of half-time was enough to give Kilmarnock the points, as 10 man Motherwell fell to yet another home defeat and a dismal end to 2020.

With both teams suffering winless runs, amounting to 13 games between them, the respective managers were hoping to end their miserable run and the year on a high.

Goals from Greg Kiltie and Danny Whitehall had Kilmarnock boss Alex Dyer celebrating after five consecutive defeats, as Motherwell failed to build on the promise of their last two performances.

Mark O’Hara’s red card after 52 minutes didn’t help the Steelmen’s cause before the Ayrshire side took a two-goal lead and control of the game.

Motherwell made one change from the side which had to settle for a point at Tannadice. On the eve of being recalled by Wigan Athletic, Callum Lang moved to the bench, allowing Devante Cole to partner Tony Watt.

And it was nearly a dream start for the pair when, after three minutes, Watt worked his way along the dead ball line before driving the ball across the six-yard box. But with Cole and Liam Polworth waiting for a tap-in, the ball was cleared out of the goalmouth.

That proved to be a false dawn as the next thing of note came 20 minutes later when Trevor Carson, in his first home outing since his injury against Ross County in September, easily collected Rory McKenzie’s tame shot.

A minute later, Allan Campbell’s effort trundled beyond the Killie ‘keeper and rolled a foot wide of his right-hand post.

Despite having plenty of time in possession, Motherwell’s passing from the middle to front was often wasteful.

As the half-hour mark approached, a couple of crosses from Stephen O’Donnell and Polworth finally found team-mates in the box, but Cole and then Watt powered their headers over the crossbar.

With 40 minutes played neither ‘keeper had been bothered but that changed before the half-time whistle.

Danny Rogers was asked to make his first save when Campbell back-headed Declan Gallagher’s cross and the Killie ‘keeper reacted quickly to palm the ball away from under his crossbar.

A minute later the Rugby Park men went one better. The ball was worked down ‘Well’s right before being played across to Kiltie and his well-struck drive from 20 yards sped low past the diving Carson to open the scoring.

Stephen Robinson resisted the temptation to make any changes at the interval, But within a minute of the restart, the ‘Well boss had a scare when Carson landed heavily collecting a cross and required treatment to his left knee.

The ‘keeper gamely played on until the 64th minute, but before then Motherwell were a man down and two goals behind. 

Alan Power’s high free-kick bounced in front of Mitchell Pinnock around 12 yards in front of goal, and as Mark O’Hara pulled the striker to the ground, referee Nick Walsh had no option to award Kilmarnock a penalty and show the Fir Park player a red card.

Whitehall gave Carson no chance from the spot, ramming the ball high into the net to make it 2-0 to the Ayrshire side and leave 10 man ‘Well just over 30 minutes to get something from the game.

With Ricki Lamie moving alongside Gallagher, the defensive gap was filled. But the home side’s problems remained at the other end of the pitch.

With 64 minutes on the clock, Carson eventually gave way to Aaron Chapman, with Lang and Jake Carroll also coming off the bench – the latter returning from a 10-month injury absence.

Before the outfield subs got a touch of the ball, Chapman dived to save from Aaron Tshibola, when the Killie midfield man really should have scored.

The ‘Well defence was again slack four minutes later when Kirk Broadfoot’s header bounced off the crossbar.

In an attempt to generate some action around Rogers’ goal, Jordan White replaced Cole with 20 minutes remaining.

In truth, though, Kilmarnock used the extra man to their advantage, and Motherwell never looked like extending their opponent’s run of defeats.

“It feels like we on the cusp of turning things around. We just need to keep believing in each other.”

Liam Grimshaw looks ahead to the final game of 2020 against Kilmarnock.

“If we keep our desire and energy up, and keep creating that amount of chances, we’ll turn the corner.”

The manager previews the final game of 2020, as Kilmarnock come to Fir Park.

Motherwell host Kilmarnock in the final Premiership match of 2020 on Wednesday night.

These are the storylines going into the game.

Points needed

While the top six is only seven points away for both teams in a congested table, both will also be casting an eye over their shoulder.

Locked on 17 points, with Kilmarnock ahead with a marginally better goal difference, a negative result on Wednesday could potentially see them go level with second-bottom Hamilton Academical, and possibly only a point ahead of bottom side Ross County, depending on results elsewhere.

Fir Park form

Stephen Robinson’s side have drawn one and lost four of their last five matches at home in all competitions, and have won just two of the 10 league fixtures at Fir Park in the 2020/21 season.

The previous calendar year in 2019 saw Motherwell win 13 from 17 Premiership matches against non-Old Firm teams, proving the capability is there to turn home back into a fortress.

A rare encounter

You have to go back to 21 December 2019 for the last meeting between the two sides.

That came at Rugby Park, as Jake Carroll’s pinpoint free-kick sailed into the net to send ‘Well back up the road with all three points in a 1-0 win.

A combination of the early cancellation of the 2019/20 season, and the aborted attempt to face each other earlier this campaign, mean it’s been a long time since the two clashed swords.

If you’re in the UK or Republic of Ireland, a live stream of the game will be available to buy on a pay-per-view basis for £12.

International-based supporters can watch via their usual subscription at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

Kick-off at Fir Park is at 6.15pm.

Motherwell host Kilmarnock in the final fixture of 2020 on Wednesday night.

If you’re in the UK or Republic of Ireland, a live stream of the game will be available to buy on a pay-per-view basis for £12.

Season ticket holders can watch the game for free, as usual, at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

International-based supporters can watch via their usual subscription at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

Kick-off at Fir Park is at 6.15pm.

Motherwell play host to Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday night.

It’s ninth against eighth in the table, with both teams locked on 17 points but the visitors having a slightly superior goal difference, and having played a game more.

Kick-off at Fir Park is at 6.15pm.

Watch live

If you’re in the UK or Republic of Ireland, a live stream of the game will be available to buy on a pay-per-view basis for £12.

Season ticket holders can watch the game for free, as usual, at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

International-based supporters can watch via their usual subscription at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

Tale of the tape

It has been over a year since the two sides met, with the cancellation of the 2019/20 season and the aborted attempt to face each other earlier this campaign prolonging the wait.

In that last encounter, Jake Carroll’s free-kick at Rugby Park was the difference between the two sides.

The Steelmen are undefeated in their last three against Killie. Before the 1-0 victory last December came a 2-1 win at Fir Park and a 0-0 away draw.

Kilmarnock’s last win in ML1 came in December 2018, when Jordan Jones’ freak goal gave the visitors the three points.

Form guide

Motherwell are looking for their first win in eight games, having drawn three and lost five since the 2-0 win at Livingston in late October.

Kilmarnock have lost their last five on the bounce and have lost eight of their last 10 Premiership matches in total, with wins coming against Livingston and Ross County in that run.

“We should have been out of sight. We just made the wrong decisions.”

Stephen Robinson speaks after the 1-1 draw at Dundee United.

Motherwell saw two points slip through their fingers at the death as they drew 1-1 at Dundee United.

Tony Watt’s early header was preceded by a glut of chances from the visitors, but the hosts would snatch a point at the death with Nicky Clark’s sweeping effort.

Trevor Carson returned to the starting team after a spell out injured, in Stephen Robinson’s only change to the starting team which drew 0-0 with Aberdeen in midweek.

Motherwell started with plenty of attacking intent and would benefit directly from their second corner of the match.

After his initial delivery was turned behind from the left, Polworth sent in a carbon copy ball from the right and Watt was on the spot to power a header home past Siegrist.

Campbell’s burst into the box nearly made it two soon after. Breaking in behind the United defence, he looped a header over the goalkeeper but it landed narrowly on the roof of the net.

The visitors dominated attacking proceedings in the opening stages, pressuring their opponents into mistakes and finding joy down the flanks.

Motherwell thought they had a second with 27 minutes played. Another perfect ball into the box found the run of O’Donnell. He composed himself to swivel and shoot, but the flag went up as the ball was finding the net.

Carson had to be alert on his return to the team and got down outstandingly to stop Fuch’s drive from outside the box from sneaking into the bottom right corner of the net.

Watt was in outstanding form in the opening 45, bustling past men and trying to link up with Lang, but the United defence persistently found a way to intervene at the last second.

Motherwell started the second half in similar fashion and had numerous chances to extend the lead early on.

The clearest fell to Lang. From O’Donnell’s low cross, Siegrist spilled into the path of the forward. Rounding the ‘keeper, Lang shot on target but the ball was clipped off the line by Smith to deny the second.

Lang would then go close again on the hour mark. Finding room on the right side of the box, his powerful drive looked in but the hand of Siegrist diverted it wide.

Motherwell kept piling forward but they would be sucker punched at the death.

A cross from the right wasn’t cleared and substitute Clark was on hand to sweep the ball home to deny Motherwell the three points their performance merited.