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Steven Hammell says his side will have to be clinical when their chances come against Celtic in the cinch Premiership.

The manager knows how good Celtic are and is aware of the tough task that is ahead but insists his team can cause a major upset.

September player of the month Matt Penney has enjoyed his time at Motherwell thus far.

The full back says the experience of Celtic Park isn’t in any players’ mind and they are purely focused on trying to get three points.

Matt Penney is your player of the month for September. 

Comfortably winning the vote from the supporters, the Ipswich loanee has hit the ground running in his time at Fir Park.

Somehow still searching for his first goal at Motherwell, he saw the first of his long range efforts against Hearts saved by Craig Gordon with the second agonisingly hitting the bar moments later.

The attack minded full back has enjoyed having the freedom of attacking thus far and his accuracy of his crosses have seen strikers able to have numerous efforts on goal.

It’s time to pick your Paycare Motherwell FC player of the month for September.

Sean Goss, Blair Spittal, Matt Penney and Paul McGinn are all in contention.

To vote, head over to our Facebook page.

Games played in September:

• Motherwell 0-0 Dundee United
• Motherwell 0-3 Hearts

Sean Goss

Having another impressive month in the middle of the pitch, Sean Goss has been providing plenty chances for the attackers in his side.

Creating nine opportunities for his teammates, Goss also played 90 minutes in both games.

Blair Spittal

Spittal has settled in nicely to his new surroundings and is nominated for the second month running.

Unlucky not to have netted against Hearts, with his header coming off the post, has been pinpoint with his passing and proven to be handful for opposition defences.

Matt Penney

Another summer signing, Matt Penney is somehow still yet to score his first Motherwell goal.

The Ipswich loanee, saw the first of his long range efforts against Hearts saved by Craig Gordon with the second agonisingly hitting the bar moments later.

The attack minded full back has enjoyed having the freedom of attacking thus far and his accuracy of his crosses have seen strikers able to have numerous efforts on goal.

Paul McGinn

His second month in the claret and amber and his second nomination for player of the month.

Paul McGinn is yet to miss a minute this season and has quickly established himself a reliable full back for Steven Hammell.

Strong defensively, making eight interceptions in the two games, and providing an attacking option, McGinn came close to scoring his first Motherwell goal with his efforts narrowly going off target.

Motherwell welcome Dundee United to K-Park in round two of the SWPL Cup on Sunday 2 October. 

Kick off is 4pm.

How to follow the game

Tickets for the game cost £8 for adults, with kids and concessions costing £3.

It will be pay-at-the-gate only, card or cash is accepted.

The Story of the Match

This will not be the first encounter between Motherwell and United this season.

On the opening day of the SWPL1 season, the ‘Well travelled to Dundee. The game would finish 1-1, with Kaela McDonald-Nguah scoring Motherwell’s only goal.

Motherwell have now faced the top four from last season in the opening six games of the season and sit on seven points.

Dundee United are also on seven points, beating Hamilton Accies 3-2 in their last outing. Prior to that, they were beaten 2-0 by Hearts.

Motherwell and 10-man Ayr United played out a competitive 3-3 draw in the first match of the new cinch Reserve Cup.

Ayr took an early lead before Mark Ferrie levelled midway through the first-half.

An own goal had the Steelmen ahead early in the second half before two defensive blunders had the Honest Men 3-2 up with 15 left to play. Ferrie levelled again before a number of spurned chances cost David Clarkson’s side.

In complete contrast to the 4-0 Reserve League win over Queen’s Park, it was a very young and inexperienced side in claret and amber. Dean Cornelius was the only inclusion with meaningful first-team experience, but David Devine, Robbie Mahon and Lennon Miller could count on some game time at senior level.

The visitors got off to the worst possible start as Ayr took the lead after just 70 seconds. Breaking quickly from a Motherwell free-kick, the hosts burst down the right flank and sent a testing ball into the area. Moffat’s glancing header sent it straight to Jayden Lawson Mitchell who took a nice touch before slotting into the corner.

Motherwell quickly recovered from that early blow to get themselves back into the match. Lennon Miller had a shot sail over the bar and Robbie Mahon fired high and wide of target.

They did eventually draw level after 25 minutes. Dean Cornelius’ neat through pass was perfect for the supporting Danny Hunter, who took a touch and blasted it across goal where Ferrie was on hand to finish neatly from close range.

Although the direction of the game was being played much more towards the Ayr goal, ‘Well would need Matty Connolly to make a dramatic double save to keep the scores level. The first was a David Bangala shot from close range that the young keeper turned around the post. The second, from the resulting corner, was a sliding effort from Michael Hewitt at the back post that he was able to tip away, before comfortably collecting Moffat’s hooked on effort on the rebound.

As the first-half was coming to a close, Ayr were reduced to ten men when young full-back Alex Jeanes was sent off for a second bookable offence after a crunching tackle on Miller.

With a man advantage, ‘Well started the second half on the front foot and a Ewan Wilson shot from distance set the early intentions for David Clarkson’s side. It was quickly followed by the second goal. Wilson was again involved, this time sending a nice ball down the left channel for Hunter, who had again made a supporting run from midfield. He again fired the ball across goal which cannoned off Hewitt and flew past McAdams for 1-2.

It was almost three just minutes later when Luca Ross cannoned a shot off the post. Cornelius, Miller and Ferrie all combined in the area, before the ball fell fortuitously to the winger, but his first-time effort bounced off McAdams’ right hand upright with the keeper stranded. Shortly after, McAdams did react well to a Hunter shot that he tipped over the bar for a corner.

Motherwell’s lack of a killer instinct to grab a decisive third goal was to prove crucial. It gave Ayr encouragement to get back into the match and with their next meaningful attack, the Honest men equalised. A simple near post corner wasn’t dealt with and it bounced off a defender and into the net for the second own goal of the afternoon.

Incredibly, Ayr got themselves back in front just five minutes later, and it was another defensive disappointment for the Steelmen. A loose pass across the back four was gifted to Lawson Mitchell who marched in on goal, rounded Connolly and slotted home.

To be fair to the visitors, they quickly regrouped and got themselves back on level terms just three minutes later. Hunter’s raking pass to the wide left position found Wilson in an advanced area. His first-time cross wasn’t properly dealt with by Hewitt, allowing Ferrie to pounce and fire a low shot into the far corner.

Motherwell went all out to find a fourth and winning goal. They were gift-wrapped the perfect opportunity to do so when they were awarded a penalty with ten minutes left on the clock when Ross was bundled to the ground by Kinlay Bilham. Ferrie had the chance to grab a hat-trick, but his low shot cannoned back off the left hand post and cleared.

‘Well continued to push and Ferrie stung the palms of McAdams with a firm shot from distance before Miller missed a close range header in the dying seconds after sub Dylan Wells had twisted the full-back up and hung up a cross into the six-yard box. Sadly, they couldn’t get it and had to be content with a point. The match went to spot kicks to determine who took a bonus point, and Ayr shaded it 5-3 when Wilson’s effort coming back off the cross bar.

Motherwell: Connolly, M.Ross, Wilson, Devine (Bone – 61 mins), Gould, Cornelius (MacDonald – 61mins (Dylan Wells – 81 mins)), Hunter, Miller, Mahon (Nevans – 70 mins), Ross, Ferrie

Subs Not Used: Aitken

Motherwell return from the international break with a short journey down the M74 to the east end of Glasgow to face Celtic at Celtic Park.

Kick off is 3pm, Saturday 1 October.

Tickets are available to purchase online now by clicking here.

Ticket prices:

Important Information

• Concession tickets are listed as 65 and over, under 16s and wheelchair users (carer ticket is FOC).
• Juveniles (listed at under 13s), must be accompanied by an adult.
• There are a limited number of restricted view tickets available, £3 cheaper than the listed price for adults and concessions, but will only be available when unrestricted view tickets are sold out.

How to Follow the Game Online

PPV and virtual season tickets options are not available for cinch Premiership matches this season. This is the case for all cinch Premiership clubs.

There will be live commentary for those in the UK, available at live.motherwellfc.co.uk

The story of the match

Celtic will be looking to avenge their first league defeat of the season against St Mirren, which was their last outing prior to the international break.

The Hoops lost 2-0 however remain top of the table.

Motherwell went into the international break with a 3-0 defeat at home to Hearts. However, Steven Hammell will be more than encouraged with his side’s performance in the game.

The steelmen have made an encouraging start to Hammell’s reign as they look for their third away win of the season.

Motherwell last picked up points at Celtic Park back in 2015, when a Louis Moult double secured all three points in a 2-1 victory for the ‘Well.

Match officials

We had two players on international duty across Europe.

Liam Kelly was once again called up to the Scotland squad, for a vital triple header in the Nations League.

Scotland started their international camp with a convincing 3-0 victory over Ukraine at Hampden, where Kelly was on the bench.

He would also be named amongst the substitutes in their second Nations League clash against Ireland.

The dark blues then travelled to Poland to take on Ukraine and look to advance to League A, a place in pot two for the Euro 2024 qualifiers and book a spot in the play off for Euro 2024.

Liam Kelly was named on the bench, with Scotland earning a 1-1 draw.

Ross Tierney was named in Ireland’s Under 21 squad as they looked to make history by qualifying for 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.

The Irish took on Israel in a two legged final, with the first leg taking place in Dublin.

Ross Tierney was an unused sub as the match finished 1-1 with it all to play for in Israel.

In the return leg a week later, Tierney was in the starting 11.

Playing 59 minutes, the game went to extra time and penalties with neither side breaking the deadlock.

It would be Israel who would prevail on penalties with Israeli goalkeeper Peretz saving three Irish spot kicks as Ireland narrowly miss out on qualification.