| 7 | Hearts | 38 | 15 | 7 | 16 | 5 | 52 |
| 8 | Motherwell | 38 | 14 | 7 | 17 | -17 | 49 |
| 9 | Kilmarnock | 38 | 12 | 8 | 18 | -19 | 44 |
| 10 | Dundee | 38 | 11 | 8 | 19 | -22 | 41 |
| 11 | Ross County | 38 | 9 | 10 | 19 | -28 | 37 |
| 12 | St Johnstone | 38 | 9 | 5 | 24 | -30 | 32 |
Max Johnston has been named in Scotland’s latest Under 21 squad.
The young Scots have two friendlies lined up, against Sweden and Wales.
Johnston, who was recalled from his loan spell at Cove Rangers in January, scored in his last appearance for his country against Iceland at Fir Park.
Lennon Miller has been called up to Scotland’s Under 17 squad.
The youngsters have three Under-17 EURO elite round games in March, all being played in Wales.
They will compete in Group 2 against Iceland, Montenegro, Iceland and Wales.
Last year, the Under 17s qualified from the group for the finals.
It was a difficult afternoon for a young Motherwell development side as they fell to a 4-0 defeat to an experienced Queen of the South side.
First half goals from Dom McMahon, Lee Connelly, Ross Irving and a second half header from Peter Mendy saw Queen of the South run out comfortable victors.
Queen of the South named a strong starting eleven with ample first-team experience. Motherwell goalkeeper Josh Bogan was called into action in the early stages but was beaten on 11 minutes.
McMahon latched onto a through pass from the midfield and raced through on goal before slotting the ball into the bottom corner.
Queen’s doubled their lead on 25 minutes with a fine effort from Connelly. The striker had the ball on the left edge of box before cutting onto his right foot and found the top right-hand corner of the net past Bogan. The ball crashed off the underside of the bar and crossed the line to make it 2-0.
It was all but game over for Motherwell when Irving headed in a Queen’s cross on the stroke of half-time to make it 3-0.
A stern team talk at half time, seen Motherwell come out much improved in the second period.
Mark Ferrie, Mo Adam and Daniel Hunter all had efforts on goal but were well saved by Gordon Botterill in the Queen’s goal.
Lennon Miller made his first appearance in a competitive match since January 24, with the young prodigy getting 30 minutes from the bench in the second half.
Substitute Dylan Wells also helped improve Motherwell’s fortunes as he looked to change the game in the Steelmen’s favour.
Bogan was largely untested in the second period but Queen’s made it four with minutes remaining when Mendy converted from a cross into the bottom left corner.
Sean Goss has earned a call up for Northern Ireland.
Michael O’Neil has included the midfielder in his first 26-man squad since returning as manager of Northern Ireland.
Goss was last in the senior squad back in 2018, when O’Neil was manager, but picked up an injury in his time in the camp.
Northern Ireland begin their UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying group as they take on San Marino and Finland at Windsor Park later this month.
Stuart Kettlewell is the Glen’s Vodka Premiership manager of the month for February.
The Motherwell boss was interim manager for matches against St Mirren and Hearts before becoming permanent manager for the match against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
Victories against top six sides St Mirren and Hearts before a hard fought point against Kilmarnock meant it was seven points gained out of a possible nine for Kettlewell.
Stuart Kettlewell has made best start of any Motherwell manager since Roger Hynd in 1977.
“This is a reward for the amount of effort the staff at this club have put in this last month,” manager Stuart Kettlewell said.
“We have faced some really difficult circumstances and it has taken everyone, from footballing staff to the ground staff, to work extremely hard to help the club get through it.
“Obviously, a lot of thanks goes to the players who have shown excellent attitude to everything we have asked of them.
“It has been a good start but our job is far from done and now I want us to continue moving forward for a strong end to the season.”
The big games kept coming for Motherwell as they travelled to the Highlands to take on Ross County.
In what had been described as a six-pointer for both teams, the opening exchanges of the game were cagey with both sides having half chances within the game.
Coming out for the second half, it would be a slow start for the Steelmen and they looked to have conceded a penalty at the start of the second period.
Referee Don Roberston pointed to the spot after he had adjudged Calum Butcher to have fouled the County defender Iacovitti however after a watch at the VAR screen, the decision would be overturned.
VAR would intervene again just after the hour mark. Kevin van Veen’s excellent touch looked to be taking him through on goal before Jack Baldwin fouled the Dutchman and the referee showed him a yellow card. Robertson would again go to the monitor and eventually awarded the County man with a red card.
Motherwell made the extra man count. Van Veen grabbed his 16th and 17th goal of the campaign to give his side a huge three points as Stuart Kettlewell made it 10 points out of a possible 12 in charge of Motherwell.
The Women of Steel kept their top six hopes alive after claiming all three points in a thrilling encounter with Dundee United at K-Park.
A deflected Katie Rice strike broke the deadlock after seven minutes before Louisa Boyes directed a pinpoint Lucy Ronald cross beyond the keeper. United nabbed a consolation against the run of play in the second half, but the hosts stood firm to claim a vital result.
Manager Paul Brownlie made three changes from the side that suffered a tough midweek defeat to league leaders Glasgow City. Emma Lawton, Kaela McDonald-Nguah and captain Gill Inglis all returned to the starting XI whilst Kodie Hay and Lori Gardner settled for a place on the bench, with Lauren Doran-Barr missing out due to injury.
Motherwell were certainly the likelier of the two sides to break the deadlock after the early exchanges, with the opener coming minutes later.
Inglis’ exceptional run sliced through the United midfield before picking out Burchill whose floated delivery fell kindly to the feet of Rice, and the midfielders curling attempt deflected beyond the reach of the keeper to give the hosts the early advantage.
Motherwell continued to force the United defence deep into their own territory, and they soon doubled their advantage.
Ronald coasted into a pocket of space on the right with ease before drilling a pinpoint delivery towards the front post, and Boyes skilfully escaped her marker to prod home from a few yards out.
Brownlie was forced into making an early alteration after McDonald-Nguah landed awkwardly following a collision, forcing the striker off the pitch.
The hosts were certainly in the ascendency as the first-half drawn to a close. However, the visitors quickly pulled one back against the run of play.
Motherwell were caught on the counter attack as Rachael Todd raced through on goal, and the wingers low driven effort ricocheted off the feet off Lawton, wrong footing Emily Mutch before nestling into the bottom right corner.
Despite a late United resurgence, the women of steel stood firm to hold onto a vital three points, as they keep the push for a top-six finish alive ahead of next weekend’s trip to Aberdeen.
Motherwell made it 10 points out of a possible 12 under Stuart Kettlewell’s, with a 2-0 win in the Highlands against Ross County.
The win lifted the Steelmen 10 points away from Dundee United at the foot of the table.
A second half brace from Kevin van Veen secured three points for his side, with the hosts being reduced to ten men with Jack Baldwin given his marching orders following the intervention of VAR.
Yan Dhanda was proving to be a handful in the early stages as Liam Kelly was called into action early on. George Harmon seen his volley stopped by Kelly after just two minutes.
It was then Motherwell’s chance to open the scoring. Some excellent work from Blair Spittal on the left hand side who found Obika with a pinpoint cross and the striker headed just wide.
The rest of the half was largely an even affair, with Motherwell’s best chance of the half coming on the stroke of half time. Van Veen turned his man on the edge of the box before lashing a shot at Laidlaw who saved and the rebound came to Johnston who fizzed a low cross into the area that just missed Callum Slattery who was sliding in.
The second half started with a bang. Ross County were awarded a penalty by Don Robertson. Initially given for a pull on Alex Iacovitti, the referee went to the monitor and changed his decision. No penalty awarded.
VAR would get involved again on 69 minutes. Van Veen controlled the ball out of the air with a lovely touch to take him through on goal before Jack Baldwin tripped the Dutchman. Robertson awarded the defender a yellow card at first but was again advised to go to the monitor. Upon his return, he showed the skipper a red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Motherwell went on to make the extra man count. Some lovely work from Dean Cornelius to find Blair Spittal who hung a ball into the box for Van Veen who headed in the opener. 0-1.
The Steelmen made sure of the points with minutes remaining. Max Johnston’s initial effort on goal found Van Veen who controlled and volleyed home from close range to make the points safe.
Niamh Noble has joined Motherwell on loan from Glasgow City until the end of the season.
The left-sided full-back makes the switch to Lanarkshire as the women of steel push for top-six spot in SWPL.
She has been capped at Under 15 through to Under 19 level for Scotland, with her most recent call-up coming last year.
“I’m excited to be joining Motherwell for the remainder of the season,” Niamh Noble added.
“I’m very thankful for the opportunity to get to work with Paul, Leanne and the team and I can’t wait to get started.”
The 17-year-old will wear the number 15 kit this season.
“Niamh is another good addition to the squad,” head coach Paul Brownlie said.
“She is someone I’ve worked with before at youth national level and was desperate to get her to Motherwell. It’s another young, athletic player who will provide real energy and quality to the squad.”
