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The Michael Wimmer era kicked off in the City of Discovery as the Steelmen looked to get their season back on track under the guidance of their new boss. 

Having made his vision clear to the supporters, a hearty following made the journey north to see the new system being implemented.

Wimmer described the performance as a positive one, with him now having a better picture of each player in his squad. Sam Dalby scored the only goal of the game in what was a disappointing first-half, but in the second period, Motherwell showed signs of revival and will consider themselves unlucky not to have found the back of the net.

The new Well boss was upbeat and positive after the game and appreciated the warm welcome from the supporters, with his focus quickly moving to his first Fir Park match on Wednesday night against Dundee.

We can provide the following update on three of our first-team players.

Filip Stuparevic

Filip Stuparevic has sustained a rupture to his ACL and will be out for a significant period of time. The Serbian was enjoying a loan spell with Morton in the Championship but had to come off after 18 minutes against Hamilton.

The forward has since returned to Motherwell and has begun his rehabilitation. Speedy recovery, Filip.

Shane Blaney

Shane Blaney has sustained a knee injury. The Irish defender has since been to see a consultant and is now awaiting surgery. He will be missing for a period of time.

Blaney has made 17 appearances this season for the Steelmen, and we wish him a speedy recovery.

Sam Nicholson

Sam Nicholson has also picked up an injury that will require surgery. It is expected Nicholson will be missing for a number of months.

Nicholson made his return from a knee injury at the start of December and has ten appearances since. We wish him well in his recovery.

It wasn’t to be the perfect start for Michael Wimmer’s Motherwell tenure, as Dundee United claimed all three points in a closely fought encounter at Tannadice on Saturday.

Sam Dalby’s first-half header separated a tense opening to the game, with United narrowly edging ahead at the break despite little of note between the sides. Motherwell resurged with a spirited and attacking second-half display, but couldn’t find the desired equaliser.

Wimmer made four changes to his first starting XI, with Johnny Koutroumbis handed his first Motherwell start alongside Ewan Wilson, Dan Casey and Tawanda Maswanhise, who returned to the team sheet.

The Steelmen’s high-intensity press was evident from the opening phase of play. The visitors denied United space and time on the ball, forcing turnovers in opportunistic areas of the pitch, but the clinical edge necessary to break the deadlock continued to evade Wimmer’s side.

Andy Halliday sent a hopeful shot curling well wide of the target from distance, as Luke Armstrong almost capitalised on Dan Casey’s inviting header across the face of goal but couldn’t find a clean connection on the ball.

Former Steelman Allan Campbell impressed in the middle of the park, as the hosts began to build and carve out opportunities on the Motherwell goal.

Their persistence was soon rewarded, as United claimed the opener shortly after the half-hour mark. Ryan Strain evaded the Motherwell backline before clipping a pinpoint delivery across the face of goal, and the Tannadice talisman, Sam Dalby, rose highest before netting a trademark header.

Wimmer’s side sought a quickfire reaction and almost found an instant response from the ever-present Tawanda Maswanhise, who expertly dropped his shoulder before cutting inside the pitch, but his long-range strike fell agonisingly wide of the United goal.

Ruari Paton almost doubled the lead moments later, but Balcombe was on hand to claim a comfortable save from the Dublin-born striker.

Motherwell chased the game as the second half resumed, with the visitors slightly the more dominant side, but in similar circumstances to their first-half display, Motherwell couldn’t capitalise on their pressure towards the United goal.

Chances from Callum Slattery and Maswanhise rattled through numerous Tangerine jerseys, with the Zimbabwean coming close with a curling right-footed effort, with Jack Walton scrambling in the United goal.

Ellery Balcombe was then called into action, who produced arguably his most impressive save in a Motherwell shirt, tremendously clawing Dalby’s header away from the top-right corner. The Brentford loanee then replicated his talents, pushing away a low strike to the goalkeeper’s bottom-left corner.

Motherwell’s attacking threat persisted, with Dan Casey’s curling right-footed strike cleared on the United goalline, as Motherwell inched closer to a deserved equaliser.

Moses Ebiye came agonisingly close moments later, narrowly failing to connect with second-half substitute Luke Plange’s floated delivery across the face of goal. Motherwell threw everything they had at the United backline but were forced to concede their first defeat to Dundee United this season in a closely fought afternoon in the City of Discovery.

Michael Wimmer’s side will swiftly return to action midweek when they face the other half of the city divide, taking on Tony Docherty’s Dundee at Fir Park.

Motherwell: Balcombe, Koutroumbis, O’Donnell, Gordon, Casey, Wilson, Miller, Halliday, Sparrow, Maswanhise, Armstrong. 

Motherwell Bench: Ward, Balmer, Zdravkovski, Slattery, Paton, Ebiye, Andrews, Thompson, Plange. 

Michasel Wimmer gives his thoughts on his first match in charge of Motherwell.

Chairman Kyrk Macmillan sits down to discuss the process of recruiting new manager Michael Wimmer, initiatives that are ongoing behind the scenes at Board level and what the future could look like at Motherwell.

Stephen O’Donnell believes the expectations from new manager Michael Wimmer are reasonable and he is looking forward to trying to impress his new boss. 

O’Donnell reiterates that they have only spent a short time together thus far however thinks an upturn in form can really put a different perspective on their league campaign.

Michael Wimmer faced the media for the first time as Motherwell boss, as the 44-year-old laid out his plans and ambitions for this team. 

Wimmer talks about how he sees the game and what he wants to achieve for the rest of the season.