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The women of steel return to K-Park for the first time this season, as the squad prepare to redeem themselves following an opening weekend defeat to Aberdeen.

Motherwell left the Granite City empty-handed despite Kaela McDonald-Nguah netting twice from the penalty spot to narrow the hosts initial three-goal advantage.

Paul Brownlie’s side face a tough return to action with Spartans also looking for redemption after suffering a heavy opening weekend defeat to Rangers.

The Tale of the Tape

Motherwell

The hosts will be looking to kickstart their season with the first three points of the new campaign, as ambitions of a top-six finish remain firmly in their sights.

The women of steel have maintained a prolific record against Spartans, netting six times across the 2022/23 campaign, with Kayla Jardine and McDonald-Nguah both finding the target twice.

Amy Anderson will be available for a return to the matchday squad after being sidelined following a brief spell with an injury.

Murron Cunningham and Laura McCartney will both continue their return from long-term injuries but will be doubtful for this weekend’s match. Lucy Ronald will also be unavailable, as she continues her long-term return to competitive action.

Spartans

Like Motherwell, the visitors narrowly missed out on a place in the top-six last season, but seven successive victories ensured a seventh-place finish for the Edinburgh side.

The visitors suffered a disappointing opening day defeat to Rangers, with the Glasgow side cruising to a comfortable 6-1 victory.

However, both shared several closely fought encounters last season, with three successive draws preceding a narrow 3-2 post-split defeat, as Rebecca Galbraith’s first-half hat-trick cancelled out strikes from Tiree Burchill and Kayla Jardine on that day.

Ticket information

Sunday’s encounter will see season-ticket holders at K-Park for the very first-time, with supporters requiring their season ticket card upon arrival. Cash & card payments are also available for this fixture.

• Adult – £8
• Concession – £3
• Under 11s – Free to enter

*Concession tickets apply to those over 65, 12–17-year-olds and full-time students with a valid matriculation card.

How to follow the action

Supporters can follow Sunday’s encounter on Twitter @motherwellwomen, with a full report of the action available post-match.

Stuart Kettlewell is optimistic ahead of our trip to Paisley on Saturday in the Viaplay Cup. 

The manager admire Stephen Robinson and how he sets his team’s up and knows that the Steelmen will need to be at their very best to progress.

In other news, the manager informs the press that Jon Obika has suffered an injury setback and will be missing for a longer period tha

The date for the launch of our 2023/24 away kit can now be revealed. 

Pre-orders will ship on Monday and will be expected to be delivered for Tuesday.

Collect in store orders will be ready for collection on Tuesday at the ‘Well Shop.

General sale will commence in store on Wednesday.

You can still pre-order your kit online now.

Motherwell are back on the road in the Viaplay Cup, taking on St Mirren at the SMiSA stadium in Paisley. 

Kick off is 3pm.

How to follow the game

Tickets details for our last 16 Viaplay Cup match against St Mirren are now confirmed.

• Adult: £18
• Concession: £10
• Under 12: £6

Concession’s are over 65, full-time students, 13-17 years and wheelchair users.

Due to high demand, St Mirren have ceased online sales for away supporters for Saturday’s Viaplay Cup match.

Physical tickets are now available to purchase from the ticket office at Fir Park.

You can also buy tickets online and collect from the ticket office.

Please note, singing section is N1.

Our Ticket Office is open from 9am until 5pm Monday to Thursday. The office will close at 4pm on Friday.

If you have purchased online prior to this alteration, there will be no change to your ticket. If you wish to attend the match but are unable to collect your ticket, please contact tickets@motherwellfc.co.uk.

Kit watch

We will be wearing our home kit for this match.

Team News

Calum Butcher remains missing for this game.

Harry Paton has missed the last two games and will miss this match also. Jon Obika has suffered an injury setback and will now be assessed.

Motherwell’s fortunes

Motherwell got their first win of the new cinch Premiership season on Sunday, defeating Hibernian 2-1.

Conor Wilkinson and Mika Biereth got their names on the scoresheet, with three different Motherwell strikers having now scored in the league already.

With that win, the Steelmen have now won 15 of their last 22 games, including a win against Queen of the South on penalties, dating back to 15 February.

Under Stuart Kettlewell’s reign, Motherwell are yet to taste defeat on the road.

Opposition report

St Mirren have similarly made a strong start to their season.

With many familiar faces amongst their ranks, including former ‘Well players Charles Dunne, Mikael Mandron and Mark O’Hara, the Saints have six points out of six in the league so far.

A last gasp winner against Hibernian on the opening day of the season in Leith, before a 2-1 win over Dundee at home, means Stephen Robinson’s side are only one of two teams who have a 100% record so far in the cinch Premiership.

Mikael Mandron has made an excellent start to his time in Paisley, scoring four goals so far this season, in all competitions.

Ryan Strain has four assists to his name this season with summer signing Conor McMenamin putting a man of the match worth performance in, in their last match against Dundee. 

With a point gained on the road eight days ago, it was time for the first league match of the season at Fir Park. 

Hibernian made the journey down the M8 to North Lanarkshire, fresh off the back of an impressive Europa Conference League win against Luzern on Thursday night.

Dan Casey would go closest for the Steelmen in the first half, when his header came crashing off the bar just before half time.

Hibernian failed to register a shot on target until the 94th minute and Motherwell looked to make the most of it.

Arsenal loanee Mika Biereth came off the bench to make his debut and made his impact. He battled with Louis Stevenson before picking Conor Wilkinson, who opened the scoring on 66 minutes.

He continued to cause havoc upfront and doubled the ‘Well’s lead with five minutes to go.

Casey would be penalised for a handball in the area with seconds remaining as Hibernian got a consolation. There would be no comeback and Motherwell start the season with four points out of a possible six.

Due to high demand, St Mirren have ceased online sales for away supporters for Saturday’s Viaplay Cup match. 

With over 600 tickets sold already, we have sold over half of our initial allocation.

Physical tickets are now available to purchase from the ticket office at Fir Park.

You can also buy tickets online and collect from the ticket office.

Please note, signing section is N1.

Our Ticket Office is open from 9am until 5pm Monday to Thursday. The office will close at 4pm on Friday.

If you have purchased online prior to this alteration, there will be no change to your ticket. If you wish to attend the match but are unable to collect your ticket, please contact tickets@motherwellfc.co.uk.

Bevis Mugabi has been named in the Uganda provisional squad. 

The Cranes take on Niger in their final 2023 AFCON qualification.

Uganda are three points behind second placed Tanzania going into this round of games. If Uganda win and Tanzania lose to Algeria, Uganda would move up to second in the standings and would ensure they qualify for the competition in Ivory Coast.

Mugabi last featured for his country back in June 2022.

Thursday 7 September

Niger v Uganda 

Grand Stade Marrakech in Morocco

The manager reflects on the first home win of the season.

• Limiting Hibernian’s chances
• Options in the forward areas
• Still striving to improve

The opening weekend optimism was soon diminished for the women of steel, as a first-half Bayley Hutchinson double was further added to by Hannah Stewart with the hosts cruising to a dominant three-goal advantage.

Motherwell salvaged two late goals, with Kaela McDonald-Nguah converting twice from the penalty spot, but their efforts went unrewarded, as Aberdeen picked up the first three points of the 2023/24 SWPL campaign.

Head coach Paul Brownlie made three changes to the side that concluded their pre-season preparations with a resounding 7-0 victory over Fleetwood Town. Kaitlyn Canavan, Tara McGonigle and Morgan Hay had to settle for a place on the bench, with Sarah Gibb, Gill Inglis and McDonald-Nguah returning to the starting XI.

The excitement and anticipation of the league campaign failed to materialise in the opening exchanges. Both sides continued to trade possession throughout the opening 20-minutes, with opportunities on goal proving to be limited across both halves.

With the half time whistle looming, the hosts netted the opener. The Motherwell defence were sliced open with a quick counter attack, and Hutchinson raced through on goal, coolly placing her effort beyond the reach of Emily Mutch.

The Dons quickly doubled their advantage with seconds remaining in the first half, as Hutchinson again found her way through the Motherwell backline before securing her second of the afternoon.

The hosts soon had three not long after the hour mark, with Stewart picking out the far corner with a composed finish.

Motherwell flooded the opposition penalty area in search of a route back into the game, with a foul in the hosts box leaving the referee no alternative but to award the spot kick. McDonald-Nguah stepped up and drilled her strike down the centre of the goal to pull the women of steel back into the game.

The visitors continued to press and were awarded their second spot kick in the dying stages of the game. McDonald-Nguah stepped up again a coolly converted her third penalty in two successive matches.

Despite a flurry of late chances, Motherwell could not overcome the hosts early three-goal advantage and were consigned to defeat in the opening weekend of the 2023/24 SWPL campaign.

Brownlie’s side will return to action next weekend, with Spartans the visitors in our first home league match at K-Park.

Motherwell ran out 2-1 winners against Hibernian on Sunday afternoon, as the Steelmen picked up their first league win of the season. 

Goals from Conor Wilkinson and debutant Mika Biereth meant Motherwell came away with a relatively comfortable three points at home.

The first half was largely uneventful although ‘Well very nearly went in with a lead at the break.

Shortly after a lengthy VAR check for a potential penalty on Callum Slattery, Motherwell were heaping pressure on the Hibernian backline. Pape Souare had the ball at feet, he faked to cross before charging to the byline and drilling a ball into the area, Dan Casey connected but his header couldn’t beat the frame of the goal. A largely uneventful first half was complete, with the score 0-0.

Hibernian made two changes at the break in the hope of sparking the game into life. However, it would be Stuart Kettlewell’s substitution who would do just that. Making his first appearance for the club, 20-year-old Mika Biereth was subbed on for Theo Bair.

It didn’t take long for the Arsenal loanee to make his mark. On 66 minutes, Slattery played a curling ball up the right hand side of the pitch. Biereth gave chase, and looking second favourite behind Louis Stevenson. However, the striker battled with the full-back, stayed on his two feet as the Hibernian defender went to the ground, Biereth composed himself before picking out Wilkinson in the box who poked home for his first goal in the cinch Premiership.

On 85 minutes, Biereth was at it again. Lennon Miller picked up the ball and played a slicing pass forward where Biereth, again, looked second best to get there first. Will Fish looked to be in control before the Danish under 21 international outmuscled the defender, chopped twice and lashed into the bottom corner to make it 2-0.

However, the game wasn’t over yet. Dan Casey was penalised for a handball after a VAR check in stoppage time. Adam Le Fondre stepped up and scored what would turn out to be a consolation goal but also Hibernian’s first shot on target, robbing Liam Kelly of a deserved clean sheet.