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Following a brief break from the domestic calendar, Motherwell are back in action with title-chasers Celtic descending upon East Kilbride, in the first of a crucial double header for the women of steel.

Paul Brownlie’s side will face a midweek test from the Glasgow giants under the K-Park lights before facing local rivals Hamilton in the second Lanarkshire derby of the 2023/24 SWPL campaign on Sunday.

As the final pre-split fixtures near, Motherwell will be keen to record a positive finale to the regular season, with their bottom-six post-split position already confirmed.

The Tale of the Tape

Motherwell

The women of steel concluded 2023 with a vital three points over Dundee United in the City of Discovery, with defender Jo Addie netting the solitary goal in a defensively resolute performance at Foundation Park, but the squad have yet to find a domestic victory since.

The women of steel will be keen to rectify their recent run of form and capitalise upon their positive displays that have ultimately been left unrewarded, with Hearts and Edinburgh rivals Hibs edging through two closely-fought encounters.

January acquisitions Laura Berry and Sophia Martin will both have to wait for their Motherwell debut after signing on loan from Rangers and Glasgow City until the end of the season. The pair are currently both involved in international action with Scotland, with Berry netting a decisive second-half goal to ensure an impressive 3-2 victory over Sweden this morning in the first match of the MIMA cup in Murcia, Spain.

Celtic

The visitors make the short trip to East Kilbride after securing their place in the Quarter-Final’s of the Scottish Cup, with a resounding 6-0 victory over Hamilton. Despite this, an Old Firm defeat to fierce rivals Rangers in the Sky Sports Cup Semi-Final and one win from their last three SWPL encounters summarises a difficult month for the Glasgow side.

Celtic talisman Amy Gallacher remains one-goal behind top-goalscorer Jorian Baucom in the SWPL, netting 18-times for Elena Sadiku’s side across the 2023/24 campaign.

Ticket information

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, and to 12–17-year-olds, with full-time students also eligible with a valid matriculation card.

Additional information – no pets allowed within K-Park.

How to follow the action

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

Motherwell were looking for the same kind of performance but an improved result from their last match seven days ago.

With former Motherwell man Kevin van Veen coming back to Fir Park, there was an added to bite to this match against Kilmarnock. Despite going behind, the Steelmen dominated the game and got the fans off their seats.

Theo Bair got his fifth goal in four league games before the interval.

The second-half would see Motherwell well on top but it would be a similar outcome as they couldn’t get the win.

Motherwell take on Ross County at Fir Park on Tuesday 6 February. 

Kick off is 7.45pm.

How to follow the game

– 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.

If you are outside the UK, you can watch the game via Motherwell TV.

Should you be in the UK, the game will be live on pay-per-view for £11. Game passes can be purchased by clicking here.

Kit Watch

We will be wearing our home kit for this match.

Injury Update

Callum Slattery remains sidelined with a long term injury and will be missing for this match.

Jon Obika has returned to training but Tuesday night’s game might come too soon for the striker. Barry Maguire is also a doubt.

Motherwell’s Fortunes

Motherwell are now five unbeaten but will be looking to convert their draws into wins.

The last three league games have ended in score draws but the performances have merited more. That will encourage boss Stuart Kettlewell ahead of what is a big game at the bottom of the table.

‘Well sit tenth in the cinch Premiership, just three points above Tuesday’s opponents.

Opposition Report

County’s last win came against Motherwell, back in early December.

Since then they have lost six and drawn two, failing to score in six of those.

Derek Adam’s has looked to correct that form by bringing in four players in the January transfer window, with Eli King, Brandon Khela, Teddy Jenks and Michee Efete all joining the County ranks.

A boost for the Dingwall side is that they managed to hold on to star player Yan Dhanda. Although he signed a pre-contract with Hearts, the midfielder remains at County and will be looking to build on his two goals and four assists so far this season.

Despite their recent lack of goals, striker Simon Murray is the one who looks most likely to net. With 13 goals so far and a goal in his last visit to Fir Park, County’s top-scorer is an obvious danger.

Motherwell had to settle for a share of the points for the third successive league game, when once again their performance merited all three.

After falling behind to Lewis Mayo’s early opening goal, ‘Well’s first half pressure paid off when Theo Bair grabbed the equaliser and his fifth goal in four games.

Although they dominated the second half and forced a string of saves from the Killie ‘keeper, the Steelmen, brilliantly led by the fast improving Bair, failed to get the winner they thoroughly deserved.

Despite the influx of new arrivals during the transfer window, Stuart Kettlewell stuck by the same eleven which started against St Johnstone last week.

Meanwhile, ‘Well fans cast an envious eye towards the Killie dug-out and their former hero Kevin Van Veen, who had to be content with a place on the visitor’s bench on his return to Fir Park.

In a promising start the Fir Park side forced three corners in the opening five minutes.

However, in their first threat on Liam Kelly’s goal after 12 minutes, Killie nicked the lead. After a possible foul on Davor Zdravkovski, Paul McGinn’s headed clearance only found Mayo at the edge of the box. And in a swirling wind he did well to control his volley and send the ball low and into the net off Kelly’s left-hand post.

The Steelmen then showed great resilience to keep the play and threat towards the visitor’s goal.

After 25 minutes Blair Spittal worked a 1-2 with Bair before his angled left foot drive forced Will Dennis into a diving save.

The hard running Bair was causing the Rugby Park defenders some anxiety and after Joe Wright had hauled the striker to the ground and earn a yellow card, Spittal fire another drive over the crossbar.

Then in the 37th minute ‘Well deservedly found the equaliser. Andy Halliday won the ball in the centre of the park allowing Spittal to release Bair between Wright and Findlay. Showing great composure the ‘Well striker raced onto the through ball before confidently steering his drive low past Dennis for a fine finish and his seventh goal of the season.

From then until half-time the home side, with Bevis Mugabi frequently deployed as an attacking right wing back, pressed for a second goal with only a couple of last gasp tackles from Wright and Findlay preventing Bair and then Harry Paton getting a strike at goal.

Motherwell started the second half where they left off testing the Killie ‘keeper within three minutes of the restart.

Spittal swung his free kick to the unmarked Halliday at the back of the six-yard box and his downward header was pushed away by Dennis.

Four minutes later the ‘keeper produced a better save to deny ‘Well the lead. Spittal was again the provider sliding the ball into Bair at the corner of the box who advanced towards goal only to see his shot destined for the far corner palmed away by Dennis at full stretch.

The pressure on the Killie goal was intense and Georgie Gent’s low cross into the six yard area found Dennis pouncing to smother the ball as Paton and O’Donnell anticipating a slip.

With 68 minutes played and desperate to change the flow of the game, Derek McInnes made a double substitution while leaving Van Veen on the bench.

It almost had an immediate impact as Gent’s attempted headed clearance saw the ball caught in the swirling wind, sending it back towards his own goal and narrowly past the post.

That was a rare threat from the Ayrshire side and Liam Kelly who ended the 90 minutes without a single save, as the action returned towards the visitor’s goal.

A long ball from Kelly was instantly controlled by O’Donnell before setting up Paton who drove the ball across Dennis and beyond the ‘keeper’s far post.

With 15 minutes remaining Kettlewell traded young legs for old, sending on Lennon Miller for Halliday, who had added a much needed presence to the ‘Well midfield.

Six minutes from the end ‘Wells appeals for a penalty, when Findlay caught Spittal at the corner of the box, were ignored by the referee and VAR.

In added time, though, it was Gent who almost stole the headlines and the winner with a right foot effort from 18 yards which had Dennis scrambling across his line to push away.

Stuart Kettlewell reflects on the 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock.

• Deserved to win
• Stronger defensively
• Tight turnaround

Defender Morgan Hay has joined Gartcairn on loan until the end of the season.

The summer acquisition traded Lanarkshire rivals Hamilton for ML1 ahead of the 2023/24 SWPL campaign, but two successive injury concerns left the 20-year-old on the sidelines for over four months.

Hay featured on three occasions across her time in claret and amber, playing a pivotal part in the women of steel’s assured 4-0 Lanarkshire derby victory over Hamilton in August.

The youngster heads out on loan to the SWPL2 side in search of regular first-team minutes, linking-up with fellow Motherwell loanee Kaela McDonald-Nguah. Gartcairn sit precariously at the foot of the SWPL2 league table, two points from safety.

Good luck, Morgan.

Our home match against Ross County 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.

Kick off is 7.45pm on Tuesday 6 February.

New signing Sam Nicholson talks us through his adventure in the MLS and discusses what it was like to come up against the likes of Wayne Rooney and Bastian Schweinsteiger.

The winger tells how impressed he has been with the quality available at the club and has full confidence in our chances to move up the table.

Jili Buyabu has joined on loan from Sheffield United for the remainder of the season, subject to international clearance. 

The 20-year-old has two appearances for the Premier League side, joined the Blades in 2021 from Non-League side Hornchurch. United fought off the likes of Chelsea and Nottingham Forest to secure his signature at the time.

“We have been tracking Jili and I’m please to have him on board,” manager Stuart Kettlewell said.

“He is another bright prospect, who has attracted a number of clubs so far in his career.

“This is a move we’re excited by at the club and feel he can add something to the squad.”

Buyabu is predominantly a full-back but can operate further forward also.

Full-back Adam Devine has joined the club on a loan deal from Rangers until the end of the season. 

The 20-year-old makes the switch from Glasgow, having made one appearance for Rangers first-team this season.

With 11 appearances in total at Rangers, Devine is a regular in the Scotland youth sides and currently represents at Under 21 level.

He has had loan spells with Partick Thistle and Brechin City prior to his arrival in ML1.

“Adam is a promising, young talent,” manager Stuart Kettlewell said.

“He has made appearances at first-team level for Rangers and has been a regular in the matchday squads, which I think shows he is highly thought of by Rangers.

“I hope he brings energy and enthusiasm. This is a chance for him to prove himself at this level and I look forward to working with him.”

Adam Devine will wear the number 21 kit this season.

“I can’t wait to get involved,” Adam Devine added.

“It’s a great club and everyone I have met has been excellent. The manager really sold the club and what he wants to do here and I can’t wait to be a part of that.”