Latest News

Sondre Solholm Johansen has joined Motherwell.

The Norwegian defender has signed a three-year contract, pending the processing of his work permit and international clearance.

“We’re delighted to bring Sondre in and see how his qualities help us improve,” manager Graham Alexander said of his new recruit.

“We’ve watched a lot of him and been impressed with his defensive attributes, plus his technical ability is an added bonus.

“He’s shown a great willingness to come here and we know he will enjoy his time at the club.”

The 26-year-old started his career with Strømsgodset, his move to Mjøndalen in 2017 saw him gradually rise to prominence in Norway’s top flight.

Sondre passed a medical on Monday this week, with a governing body endorsement towards a work permit granted last Thursday.

Liam Donnelly has been called up by Northern Ireland.

The Motherwell midfielder returns to the international fold for the first time since involvement on the bench in EURO 2020 qualifiers against the Netherlands and Germany.

Northern Ireland face Lithuania away in 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying on 2 September, before travelling to face Estonia away in a friendly three days later.

The team then return to Windsor Park on 8 September for another qualifier, with Switzerland the visitors.

Three of our matches have been moved to new Sunday dates.

Firstly, our cinch Premiership trip to face Rangers on Saturday 18 September has been pushed back a day to Sunday 19 September, due to our opponents’ participation in the UEFA Europa League.

Kick-off at Ibrox will be at 3pm.

Rangers are then due to make the trip to Fir Park in late October, with that fixture now being played on Sunday 31 October.

The game, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, will kick-off at 12pm.

Then, in December, our trip to face Celtic has been put back by 24 hours due to their involvement in European competition.

The game in Glasgow will now be played on Sunday 12 December with a 3pm kick-off.

Fixture changes

Motherwell ended their SWPL Cup campaign with a second group stage win against Queen’s Park on Sunday.

Captain Gill Inglis opened the scoring for the ‘Well early into the second half, before Abbi McDonald levelled for the hosts.

Holli McIndoe would put Queens Park in front with a clinical finish, but Motherwell would equalise minutes later through Chelsie Watson.

Claire Crosbie would then settle the tie late on with a well-placed header.

Motherwell would have the best chance of the opening period. Inglis’ long ball sliced through the Queens defence, leaving Abby Callaghan through on goal

The forward though couldn’t apply the finishing touch as her effort was easily gathered by Rachael Caddell.

The ‘Well continued to pile on the pressure in search of the opener.

Watson’s long ball was superbly brought down by Callaghan at the edge of the box, but the forward was left to rue her missed chances as her chipped effort rattled off the post.

Motherwell would open the scoring minutes into the second half.

Eilidh Martin’s inswinging cross found Inglis yards from goal, and the midfielder made no mistake as she coolly placed her strike past Caddell to give the ‘Well an early advantage in the second half.

However, the hosts would be level minutes later. Mhairi Fyfe’s through ball found McDonald at the edge of the box, and the winger’s powerful effort arrowed past Ramsey into the bottom right corner.

Queen’s would then take the lead on the hour mark. Goal scorer McDonald’s diagonal cross found McIndoe at the back post and the striker couldn’t miss from close range.

However, Motherwell would equalise with 25 minutes to go. Inglis’ floated corner fell kindly to Watson who was left unmarked in the box, and the defender fired her strike home from a yard out.

The ’Well would then regain the lead in the latter stages of the game.

A well-worked corner routine found Crosbie at the back post, and the defender calmly placed her header past Caddell into the top right corner.

Motherwell finish third in their SWPL Cup group, and will now look forward to their opening league encounter with champions Glasgow City next weekend.

“Today was about grit, determination and togetherness. We’re delighted to get the win.”

Graham Alexander reflects as Motherwell grind out a 1-0 victory in the cinch Premiership.

In a performance which was more gritty than pretty, Motherwell made it back-to-back league wins with a narrow, hard-fought victory over Dundee.

Man of the match Tony Watt grabbed the all-important goal in the 33rd minute, after the Fir Park side had recovered from a difficult opening half hour.

But the real stars were at the other end, as ‘Well defiantly defended their lead when Jake Carroll’s red card reduced the side to ten men for the final 12 minutes.

Brilliant sunshine and short sleeves provided the perfect backdrop as a Covid restriction-free Fir Park allowed ‘Well fans back into their own seats around the three home stands.

Graham Alexander stood by the same starting side which collected all three points at Livingston last week.

That meant Liam Kelly wore the captain’s armband in the absence of Stephen O’Donnell. Kevin van Veen, recovered from injury, had to settle for a place on the bench alongside midweek signing Sean Goss.

Juhani Ojala made his home debut and the Finnish international defender saw plenty of the ball, as the early play was largely confined to Motherwell’s half.

And Dundee’s early dominance should have been rewarded with the opening goal after 17 minutes.

Luke McCowan played the ball in to the unmarked Paul McMullan 25 yards from goal.

The Dens midfielder had time to take a touch before drilling his shot high past Kelly, only to see the ball rebound from the underside of the crossbar, bounce beyond the goal-line and away much to ‘Well’s relief.

The occasional break down the left from Kaiyne Woolery, brought some relief to the home defence as the Fir Park men found it difficult to work the ball out of their own half.

An injury to Charlie Adam after 28 minutes cost Dundee their influential playmaker and after all of the players had used it as a water break, ‘Well restarted on the front foot.

After 31 minutes a neat interchange between Liam Grimshaw, Justin Amaluzor and Mark O’Hara at the edge of the box, sent Watt through on goal but his attempt to flick the ball beyond Adam Legzdins was blocked by the Dens’ ‘keeper.

The ‘Well striker was not to be denied, though, and two minutes later he claimed his third goal from three consecutive league games.

Liam Fontaine’s trip on Amaluzor presented Carroll with a free kick 45 yards from goal. And when the full-back floated the ball towards the penalty spot, Watt’s cute back header steered the ball through a packed box and beyond the diving Legzdins.

Three minutes from the intervalm Watt was again involved when his lofted pass found Woolery racing towards the byline. But with Grimshaw hovering around the six-yard box, the former Tranmere Rovers man’s cut-back was turned behind for a corner.

From the resulting set-piece Carroll’s outswinging cross found Ricki Lamie climbing highest, only to power his header over the bar from eight yards.

Clearly impressed that his men had responded in the first half after a poor start the ‘Well boss made no changes at half time.

Alexander’s men started where they left off. Watt was again the threat, sending Amaluzor down the right, before continuing his run into the box where he just failed to control the return pass.

Dundee, having recovered from the blow of going behind, still posed a threat and a deep cross from Cammy Kerr found his fellow full back Jordan McGhee who headed high over when he should have tested Kelly.

In the 65th minute, Ojala’s powerful header down the middle of the visitor’s half forced Legzdins to race from his box and boot the ball away as Watt closed in.

A couple of minutes later Alexander freshened up the side with a double substitution, Van Veen to lead the attack and Goss making his debut on the left of midfield.

Before either could get involved, though, Kelly celebrating his inclusion in the Scotland squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifying matches, made a crucial save.

Despite stumbling to the ground, Jason Cummings managed to get his powerful shot away from 15 yards but the ‘Well ‘keeper stood firm to beat the ball away.

With Dundee pressing and Motherwell playing to the counter, the home side’s task was made all the more difficult when they were reduced to 10 men with 12 minutes remaining.

Carroll’s tackle on Max Anderson was robust and although he appeared to have played the ball, his follow through caught the Dundee player. Referee Willie Collum immediately produced a red card as Carroll made his way up the tunnel much to the annoyance of the home fans.

Watt, to a standing ovation, then made way for Nathan McGinley as the home side set out to defend their one-goal advantage.

That was almost doubled after 83 minutes. Goss with a free kick wide on the right, decided he had few options with only three team mates in the box and elected to deliver a wicked curling ball which Legzdins had to react smartly and turn over his crossbar.

However, in the closing stages, it was a case of backs to the wall to protect Kelly’s goal and their slender lead to ensure another three points and extend an impressive start to the league season.

Although we are all coming back home to Fir Park, we still need to be careful of the threat of Covid-19.

Please take precautions in and around the stadium and be mindful of others, particularly vulnerable individuals who may be apprehensive about returning to crowded areas.

Turnstiles open at 1.45pm. Please come early to avoid queues.

Importantly:

• Please do not attend the match if you have any symptoms.
• Consider taking a lateral flow test before coming to the match.
• Wear your face covering when entering and exiting the stadium, on enclosed concourses, in toilets and at kiosks.
• Respect each other’s personal space, keeping safe distances between you and other supporters.

Enjoy being back at Fir Park.

“The challenge for us is to have a consistent run of performances and results.”

The Motherwell boss looks ahead to the return to Fir Park in the cinch Premiership.