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Motherwell FC Community Trust’s women’s development team are looking for players who are 18 or older.

This team competes in the SWFL Central/South East league. This will provide a good opportunity to grow your football skillset.

If you believe you have what it takes to be a part of this team, please email paul.brownlie@motherwellfc.co.uk for more information.

The cinch Premiership season continues with a trip to face St Johnstone on Sunday.

With the Saints in European action in midweek, we’ve an extra 24 hours before our first away league match of the 2021/22 campaign.

Kick-off is at 3pm.

Tickets

St Johnstone are not making tickets available to away supporters.

Watch live

There are two options instead to watch live.

If you’re in the UK/Ireland, you can purchase a live stream of the match from St Johnstone here.

Abroad, you can sign up to our live streaming service and get every game – home and away – from as little as £12.50 a month.

Tale of the tape

St Johnstone are unbeaten in their last three encounters with the Steelmen.

A 3-0 win last time at Fir Park came after a 2-1 victory in ML1 in the League Cup.

Last time in Perth, the two sides played out a 1-1 draw.

Mark O’Hara’s opening goal was cancelled out by Stevie May’s penalty, with both goals coming in the first half.

Form guide

Motherwell opened the league season with a strong performance but ultimately defeat to Hibernian last weekend.

Goals from Kevin van Veen and Bevis Mugabi twice had the Steelmen ahead, only to be pegged back and then lose 3-2.

St Johnstone opened their campaign with a 0-0 draw away at Ross County.

Ali McCann missed a penalty as Callum Davidson’s side left Dingwall with a point.

Before Sunday’s match, they are in Istanbul to take on Galatasaray in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round.

“We’re disappointed to lose. But it was a really promising start to the season from the team.”

Motherwell kicked off their cinch Scottish Premiership campaign enjoying a thrilling 90 minutes with Hibernian.

And although Graham Alexander’s men were unlucky not to get a share of the points, the ‘Well boss had a lot of positives to take from an absorbing match.

Not least the performance of his summer signings and in particular Callum Slattery and Kevin van Veen.

The towering Durch striker gave the Hibs defence a torrid time before tiring in the second half. By then he had grabbed his first goal in claret in amber to give ‘Well a 13th minute lead.

After Hibs equalised through Kyle Magennis, Bevis Mugabi marked his return by restoring the home side’s lead.

Two second half goals from Christian Doidge and a rather harsh penalty converted by Martin Boyle gave the Easter Road men the edge and all three points.

With the Fir Park pitch resplendent in the August sunshine and the 5,800 fans socially distanced in the refurbished stands, the scene was set for a richly anticipated and noisy return to league action.

For the opening league game, the ‘Well boss relied largely on the players which helped the side advance to last 16 of the Premier Sports Cup.

Mugabi, fully recovered from his shoulder injury, lined up alongside Ricki Lamie at the heart of the home defence.

After being sidelined for an entire league season Liam Donnelly returned to the midfield, where recent acquisition from Southampton Slattery made his first start.

Up front Tony Watt was joined with summer signings Kaiyne Woolery and Van Veen.

It was the Dutch striker who immediately impressed the home fans as he used his towering frame and body strength to give Ryan Porteous and Paul Hanlon an uncomfortable opening spell.

And his industry was rewarded as he opened his ‘Well goal account after 13 minutes. Tony Watt’s cute backheeler allowed the overlapping Jake Carroll to whip a cross into the six-yard box where Van Veen expertly cushioned his header back across the ‘keeper to give the Fir Parker side the perfect start.

Before they could build on that lead , though, Hibs found an equaliser. From wide on the right Paul McGinn’s cutback was missed by a team-mate. Unfortunately, the ball bounced off the unsuspecting Donnelly and into the path of Magennis who stabbed the ball past the helpless Kelly and make it 1-1.

That provided a boost for the Edinburgh side and Hanlon headed over before former Fir Park favourite Jamie Murphy lobbed his effort over Kelly and into the Davie Cooper stand.

However, it was the home that regained the lead after 29 minutes.

Slattery, who looked highly accomplished on the ball, drew a foul from Alex Gogic. Carroll whipped the resultant free kick to the back of the Hibs’ six yard box where Mugabi’s downward header saw the ball bounce inside Matt Macey’s right hand post.

With both sides committed to playing three up front the action continued at both ends of the pitch until the end of a thoroughly entertaining first half.

Play resumed with Hibs on the front foot and after five minutes only a top class save from Kelly kept ‘Well ahead. Gogic thought he had netted the equaliser as his powerful drive headed just under the bar but the ‘Well ‘keeper threw himself high to his left to palm the ball over the crossbar.

Jack Ross made the first substitution of the game in the 53rd minute sending on Christian Doidge for Gogic. And the striker had an immediate impact scoring the equaliser within two minutes.

Kevin Nisbet’s shot from 15 yards rebound from Kelly’s left-hand post and Doidge got his boot in front of Donnelly’s to force the ball over the line to make it 2-2.

‘Well could have been back in front eight minutes later. Van Veen’s incisive pass split the Hibs’ defence allowing Woolery a clear run towards goal only to see his low shot blocked by Macey’s outstretched leg.

The next chance came Hibs way courtesy of the penalty spot. McGinn’s ball into the box found its way to Nisbet and when his low shot struck Stephen O’Donnell’s trailing hand, referee David Munro immediately awarded a penalty.

Although Kelly guessed correctly Martin Boyle blasted the spot kick past the diving ‘keeper to put the Easter Road men ahead with 20 minutes remaining.

After an impressive 73 minutes Slattery merited his standing applause from the home fans as he made way for Justin Amaluzor who added more threat to the home attack.

A second change seven minutes from time brought Steven Lawless into the action but as the Motherwell players pushed forward until the final whistle they were denied a share of the spoils.

The final chance to grab a deserved leveller came Barry Maguire’s way in injury time but after switching the ball to his left foot at the edge of the box, the Scotland Under 21 man fired his shot over the bar.

The Motherwell boss talks the season opener, recruitment plans and positivity going into the weekend’s cinch Premiership opener.

Stephen O’Donnell is the new captain of Motherwell Football Club.

The local boy officially takes over the armband from the departed Declan Gallagher, having already skippered the team through the Premier Sports Cup group stage.

An influential member of Graham Alexander’s squad, the Scotland international defender joined Motherwell in the summer of 2020.

Goalkeeper Liam Kelly will serve as vice-captain.

“Stephen stepped in as captain on several occasions last season and I saw enough then to know he was ready to lead my team,” the manager said.

“He’s a great example to everyone on the training pitch, how professional he is off it, and how much he wants to win every day.

“His performances have matched that, and along with Liam Kelly as vice-captain and the other leaders within our squad, he will set the standard of what we require from our players every day.”

Juhani Ojala has joined Motherwell.

The experienced Finnish international centre-back has signed a two-year deal, subject to international clearance.

Capped 22 times for his country, Ojala arrives from Danish top flight side Vejle.

“We’re delighted to finally get Juhani on board after a while waiting for his work permit,” manager Graham Alexander said.

“After first speaking with him, I thought he was exactly the type of player and character we need at our club.

“He’s captained his country and demonstrated what a good player and leader he is at a very good level.

“He was really excited about the opportunity to join us and we look forward to seeing him integrate into the squad. I’m certain he will be an excellent signing for us.”

The central defender has also plied his trade in his homeland, as well as venturing to Switzerland at Young Boys, Russia with Terek Grozny and Sweden at Hacken.

Subject to clearance, Ojala will be in contention for Sunday’s cinch Premiership opener with Hibernian and will wear the number 14 shirt.

The cinch Premiership season starts on Sunday, with Hibernian the visitors to Fir Park.

Up to 4,500 Motherwell fans will be in Fir Park for the match, as our capacity continues to increase in time for the beginning of the league campaign.

Kick-off is at 4.30pm.

Coming to Fir Park

Season ticket holders should now have received their match ticket by email.

If yours has not arrived by Thursday evening, please complete this form and we’ll fix it.

Tickets are also available on general sale on a first-come, first-served basis and a maximum of four tickets per purchase.

You can get yours by calling 01698 333333 or by visiting the ticket office at Fir Park.

The ticket office will be open until 5pm on Thursday, from 9am to 4pm on Friday and from 12pm until kick-off on Sunday.

Ticket issues

Some fans have had issues adding their ticket to the wallet on their phones.

If this happens to you, please open the Print at Home document attached to your ticket email and have it open on your phone. We will be able to scan the barcode from that.

If you have a ticket and cannot make the match, please let us know ASAP by filling out this form. This will allow us to potentially pass your ticket to a fan who missed out in the ballot.

Join us

The Cooper Bar is open for pre-match food and drink from 2pm until one hour after full-time.

Watch live

If you can’t make the match, there’s three options.

If you’re in the UK/Ireland, the game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

If you’re a season ticket holder who cannot make the game, you can watch for free at https://live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

Abroad, you can sign up to our live streaming service and get every game – home and away – from as little as £12.50 a month.

Tale of the tape

The last encounter between the two sides came in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals last season.

Hibernian held a 2-0 lead with eight minutes to go, only for Ricki Lamie and Tony Watt to level the tie and take it to extra-time.

Motherwell had their chances to seal it but it ultimately went all the way to penalties, with the Edinburgh side prevailing.

The Steelmen won the last league encounter between the two sides in February, with goals from Jordan Roberts and Devante Cole sealing a 2-0 away win.

Form guide

Motherwell made it three competitive wins from four with victory over Annan Athletic at the weekend.

That sent the Steelmen through to the knockout stage of the Premier Sports Cup, where they’ll face Dundee.

Hibs will have had two competitive games under their belt prior to Sunday, with their UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying campaign underway.

A 3-0 home win over Andorran side FC Santa Coloma last week has set up a cushion for their away trip on Thursday.

In pre-season friendlies, Jack Ross’ men defeated Civil Service Strollers before a loss to Accrington Stanley, a draw with Stoke City and then a win over Arsenal at Easter Road, followed by victory over Raith Rovers.