| 3 | Rangers | 11 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 22 |
| 4 | Dundee United | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 19 |
| 5 | Motherwell | 11 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 19 |
| 6 | St Mirren | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | -5 | 15 |
| 7 | Dundee | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | -6 | 12 |
Georgie Gent arrived on loan from Blackburn Rovers in the summer, and has since gone on to play his first minutes of first-team football.
The full-back says he is loving his time up here so far and is trying to keep his down down to earn even more minutes on the park.
Brodie Spencer is your G4 Claims October player of the month.
Edging out Stephen O’Donnell and Harry Paton in the fan vote, Spencer picks up the award for the first time since his arrival in August.
The Huddersfield Town loanee and Northern Ireland international has caught the eye of the Motherwell supporters, ever since he was thrown straight into the starting 11 in the unfamiliar position of left-wing back.
A right-wing back by trade, Spencer has adopted the new position as his own and has provided attacking quality and defensive reinforcement in his time so far in ML1.
Stuart Kettlewell reflects on the last gasp draw against Ross County. The manager was frustrated at his side’s performance and mentions that the players themselves, acknowledge they should have been better.
Despite this, Kettlewell was delighted with the effort and desire shown by everyone to not give up and wants to see that level of performance for the full 90 against Aberdeen.
The manager talks about the planned of minutes of certain players, particularly those who have just recovered from serious injury. He also talks about Aberdeen and what his team need to do and show to overcome them.
We can confirm that Pape Souare has sustained a serious ankle injury in training last week.
The Senegalese full-back picked up a serious ankle injury with associated fracture that will prevent him from featuring for a minimum of four months.
Speedy recovery, Pape.
With a family fun day taking place outside the stadium prior to the game, and a bring a friend for a fiver scheme in operation, nobody attending the game could say they didn’t get their money’s worth.
Aiming for their first points in four games, Motherwell arrived to face Ross County off the back of three weeks without any matches.
It was tightly contested first half, with neither side fully kicking into gear. Brodie Spencer went close, hitting the post with a header from a Stephen O’Donnell cross.
Motherwell began to pick up the pace at the start of the second half, but found themselves one down thanks to an Eamonn Brophy finish, although County winger Victor Loturi looked to have handled the ball in the build up.
Simon Murray made it 2-0 with just 15 minutes remaining, finishing off a free flowing move from the visitors.
Stuart Kettlewell had options on his bench, something that hasn’t been the case all season, and turned to Conor Wilkinson, Mika Biereth and Luca Ross to spring his team into life.
Having been out for nine weeks through injury, Biereth welcomed himself back into the action almost immediately, latching onto a Blair Spittal through ball and won a penalty kick for his side. He subsequently sent Ross Laidlaw the wrong way, 1-2.
County restored their two goal lead through Loturi on 83 minutes, which looked to have sealed the points for the Staggies.
But, in what we have become accustomed to seeing of late, Motherwell produced a fightback in the latter stages of the match. Wilkinson narrowed the deficit on 88 minutes before 17-year-old Luca Ross scored his first professional goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time to salvage a very late point.
It’s time to vote for your G4 Claims player of the month for October.
Brodie Spencer, Harry Paton and Stephen O’Donnell are all up for nomination.
To vote, head over to the Motherwell Facebook page.
Motherwell take on Aberdeen at Fir Park on Wednesday night.
Kick off is 7.45pm.
| Hunter Stand | O’Donnell, Cooper, McLean Stand | |
| Adults | £24 | £26 |
| Concessions | £19 | £19 |
| Young Adults | £12 | £12 |
| Juniors | £6 | £6 |
– Concessions Tickets would be ages 65 and over and FT Students with a valid matric card.
– Young Adults tickets would ages 12 to 17.
– Juveniles would be 11 and under
Supporters are able to buy tickets online here or visit the ticket office at Fir Park.
Ticket Office open from 9am – the ticket office is open until kick-off with no pay gate facility.
The will be shown live on our pay-per-view streaming service.
The match will be available for £11.
You will be able to purchase online.
Luke Irons will be joined by Stephen Craigan in the commentary box.
We will be wearing our home kit for the match.
Jon Obika and Pape Souare remain out for the match.
Lennon Miller is eligible for selection, having served his one match suspension.
A Luca Ross goal ended Motherwell’s losing run. The last gasp finish earned the Steelmen a vital point against Ross County on Saturday, with the match ending 3-3.
Having lost four games on the spin prior, the result puts a spring in the step of the ‘Well as they prepare to face Aberdeen.
It will be the first time Stuart Kettlewell has faced Aberdeen as Motherwell manager.
Aberdeen have the task of balancing domestic football with European group stage action.
They sit on nine points after nine games in the league, with their most recent win coming against Rangers at the end of September.
Aberdeen came close to registering their first win in the Europa Conference League group stage against Paok. Having gone 2-0 up, the Greeks battled back to edge the game out 3-2.
Bojan Miovski has been the source of the goals for the Dons. He’s netted on nine occasions this season, four of which have came in the league for the North Macedonian.
Motherwell fought back from 3-1 down with only eight minutes remaining to grab two late goals and share the points with Ross County after an action packed second half.
After the disappointment of the late, late loss to Celtic, ‘Well fans would see this as a hard earned point as the Fir Park men refused to give up the cause.
It was a pretty even affair until Eamonn Brophy fired County into a lead just beyond the hour mark. When Simon Murray made it 2-0 the game looked beyond the Steelmen.
But the introduction of Mika Biereth after 74 minutes brought some much needed urgency life into the home side. After the young Dane had won and converted a penalty a fightback looked possible until Victor Loturi restored the Staggies two goal advantage.
With three minutes of regulation time remaining Conor Wilkinson hammered the ball home to give the Fir Park men some renewed hope.
And amazingly three minutes into added on time, 17-year-old substitute Luca Ross scrambled the ball over the visitor’s goal line for an equaliser for a point that seemed beyond them.
The suspension of midfielder Lennon Miller allowed Stuart Kettlewell to tinker with his formation going with two up front. That allowed ex-County man Oli Shaw to make his first start, partnering Theo Bair as ‘Well lined up determined to put four consecutive defeats behind them.
The Fir Park boss was also boosted by the return from injury of Calum Butcher and Mika Biereth, who were fit enough for a place on the home bench.
While Motherwell’s formation was intent on exerting pressure on the visitor’s defence, it was Liam Kelly’s goal which came under threat from the kick-off.
In the 7th minute Connor Randell’s ball across the six-yard box just eluded Eamonn Brophy sliding in to force the ball home.
A minute later the ‘Well defence was guilty of ball watching when the unmarked Jack Baldwin nodded the ball back across goal only to watch his defensive partner Ryan Leak head the ball wide.
Then as the ball bounced around the hoe box Baldwin’s shot at goal was deflected just wide of the post for a corner as a shaky looking home defence survived.
Having weathered the early storm, the Steelmen finally found their passing game, especially around the County penalty area as a flurry of crosses flashed across Ross Laidlaw’s goal.
Stephen O’Donnell started the trend with a ball aimed for Shaw and Brodie Spencer with neither able to reach the cross.
After 26 minutes O’Donnell repeated the move and this time Spencer at the rear of the six-yard box got his head to the ball only to see his effort come crashing back off the face of the post.
Two minutes later VAR made its first call of the afternoon after Blair Spittal was sent tumbling at the edge of the County box. But VAR said no penalty.
Nine minutes later O’Donnell’s last gasp tackle on Brophy was reviewed but again the outcome was no penalty.
‘Well finished the first half on top and as more inviting balls were fired across the visitor’s box.
And two minutes from the break, following Callum Slattery’s corner, Laidlaw’s goal somehow survived a melee inside the six-yard box and claims for a handball, as the sides headed for the interval on level terms.
Remarkably, it took County’s substitute Kyle Turner to force the first save of the match, his low drive after 53 minutes giving Kelly a routine catch.
On the hour mark Kettlewell made his first change of the afternoon, Conor Wilkinson replacing Bair as ‘Well searched for the opener.
It took an unorthodox save from Kelly to prevent County stealing the lead. Turner hammered the ball towards goal and when it deflected off Brophy it caught the ‘keeper grounded but somehow he used his legs to smother the ball.
Malky Mackay’s men were not to be denied, though, and four minutes later Brophy’s firm drive from the right of the box sailed past the Kelly’s outstretched hand and inside the ‘keeper’s right hand post. Even a VAR check for handball in the build up couldn’t deny the Highlander’s the lead.
Motherwell’s task was doubled after 73 minutes when the fell two behind. Murray collected the ball at the corner of the box and after stepping inside O’Donnell he fired a low shot across Kelly and into the corner of the net.
The ‘Well boss immediately made a double substitution, replacing his wing backs with Georgie Gent and Biereth.
Obviously Kettlewell was looking for the returning Arsenal loanee to repeat the impact he had against Hibs in August.
And within four minutes the young Dane had the Fir Park fans on their feet as he raced into the box, forcing Laidlaw to bring him down in the box for a stonewall penalty. Biereth wasted no time in getting to his feet and sending the County ‘keeper the wrong and set up a grandstand finish.
Any thoughts of a dramatic fightback were killed off seven minutes from time. Loturi held off Gent to get his shot on goal and although Kelly did well to block the first attempt the County midfield man followed up to squeeze the ball past the grounded ‘keeper and make it 3-1 and seemingly ensure that all three points were heading to the Highlands.
However, a battling Motherwell had other ideas.
With three minutes remaining Biereth sent Conor Wilkinson through the middle and he slammed the ball past Laidlaw to give ‘Well a fighting chance of salvaging something from the game.
Three minutes into the seven added on, Luca Ross scored his first senior goal when amidst a scramble in the six-yard box the 17 year old steered the ball over the line for a dramatic equaliser.
Not content with a point ‘Well pressed for all three and in the final minute a chance for the winner appeared. Gent’s high cross into the box had Laidlaw dropping the ball under the threat of Wilkinson. But as McGinn fired the ball towards goal it was blocked by Leak, as both sides settled for a deserved point apiece for their efforts and entertainment.
The manager reacts to the 3-3 draw with Ross County.
The international break will provide a vital two-week hiatus for the women of steel, and an opportunity to reflect on the season so far, as Paul Brownlie’s side sit three points adrift of Partick Thistle in the final top-six place.
Misfortunes and inconsistency on the road have continued to hinder the early signs of optimism for the squad, who have yet to secure their first points away from home despite maintaining the fourth best home record in the league, outside only title-chasers Celtic, Glasgow City and Rangers. Defender Chelsie Watson acknowledged that the international has come at the perfect time for the squad.
“The international break has come at a good time,” Watson said.
“It gives us a chance to reflect on our performances, time to recover well but also an opportunity to prepare properly for the next round of fixtures.
“Paul and Leanne both spoke about the importance of the break and the timing of it. We have been given individual training sessions to keep us up to speed, so that when the time comes, we are ready to hit the ground running.”
Motherwell brought their month-long goalless drought to a close in emphatic style, drilling six-goals past a dysfunctional Dundee United side to narrow the gap to the top-six in a rampant display at K-Park.
Bailley Collins netted her first Motherwell goal to break the deadlock in the opening 10-minutes before strikes from Jo Addie, Kayla Jardine, Laura McCartney and Gill Inglis put the women of steel five-ahead. Collins, who fired Motherwell into the ascendency, also netted late on to secure an exceptional six-goal victory.
“The game against Dundee United was massive for us as a group,” Watson explained.
“It really showed the strength of the squad’s character. We had been struggling to convert chances in previous games, so to have scored six was great and it merited our performance on the day.”
“We’ve had some really good performances, but have let ourselves down in some games where we know we can get results in.”
The following week, Motherwell travelled to the capital with high-flying Hearts in their sights, but the side struggled to replicate the desire and spirit epitomised in the performance of the previous week.
Hearts racked up five-goals in quick succession and despite a miraculous strike from Amy Anderson, Motherwell were unable to overcome the early setbacks and were consigned to defeat.
“As a squad, we know we are capable of so much more than what we’ve shown so far, but it’s our job to put it right.
“I definitely believe in the quality we have as a group of players, we set high standards every day both individually and collectively. We just need to continue driving our standards and the performances will come.”
“We know how competitive the league is now and it’s something that motivates us to be better everyday. We will be ready to go when the break is over.”
An impressive four wins from their opening five home fixtures at K-Park has secured the entirety of the squads points this season, but replicating those performances on the road will be crucial to earning the elusive top-six place that narrowly escaped their grasp last season.
“We love playing at K-Park and we’ve had some great results and performances there so far,” Watson explained.
“We love the support we get there which really helps us through tough games, but we can’t afford to have off games no matter where we play.”
“Each week we face a new challenge so it’s important that the mentality within the group remains strong and I believe we have that.”
