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Motherwell pulled four points clear in third spot with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Aberdeen.

Liam Donnelly scored the decisive goal in first half stoppage time, heading in Liam Polworth’s precise free-kick delivery.

Aberdeen threw everything at getting an equaliser in the second half, throwing five forwards on in a late salvo, but a dogged Motherwell display saw the visitors hold firm and take the points.

Both sides had limited chances on goal in the first half, with Aberdeen enjoying more of the ball but less of the clear cut chances.

Christopher Long was the first to seriously test the scoresheet, seeing his low shot from a tight angle on the right side beat Joe Lewis, but Shay Logan was alive to stab it away from potentially finding the net.

At the other end, Andrew Considine had the hosts’ biggest chance. Logan’s cross from the right was flicked on by Cosgrove to the back post and into the stride of the left back. But he snatched at his shot, allowing Gillespie to stand tall and steer the ball away with his feet.

Long was then forced off injured after being caught heavily on the edge of the box by Taylor. Referee Willie Collum ruled the ball had been won, but the striker had to go off to be replaced by Christian Ilic.

The Croatian would sting the palms of Joe Lewis with a fierce effort from the edge of the area as the half looked to be wearing to a goalless close.

But the opener would come in first half stoppage time. Polworth’s pinpoint delivery from a free-kick on the right hand side sailed over everyone and into the path of Donnelly at the back post.

The Northern Irishman, recently back from injury, peeled away from everyone to head the ball into the ground and into the left corner of the net to send the travelling support wild and send his side in ahead at the break.

The second half saw Motherwell trying to hit on the counter as Aberdeen threw everything at getting something out of the match.

The hosts caused some concern with balls in from wide areas, but the hard work and determination from everyone in a Motherwell jersey saw the team hold firm and take all three points back down the road.

“We’re right up there. We have to go to Aberdeen with confidence.”

Stephen Robinson previews Wednesday’s trip north in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Katie Rice, Claire Adams, Jamie-Lee Smith and Niamh Johnston have been added for the 2020 season.

Forward Rice and midfielder Adams both stay on for another year after featuring for the women of steel last season.

They’re joined by the returning full-back Johnston, who was part of the promotion-winning team of 2018.

New recruit Smith, a central defender who has signed from Hibernian, has also joined the squad.

They join goalkeeper Khym Ramsay, defender Hollie Thomson, midfielder Lauryn Reside and forward Lori Gardner in committing for the 2020 campaign.

Further signings will be announced throughout the week.

Motherwell open the SWPL1 season with a trip to face Forfar Farmington on Sunday, 23 February. Kick-off at Station Park is at 2pm.

On Sunday, the team were 5-3 winners over Dundee United in the first friendly ahead of the new campaign.

The team will play friendlies against Dunfermline Athletic away on Sunday, 26 January and St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Sunday, 2 February.

There’s a live stream and live audio available from Aberdeen v Motherwell on Wednesday night.

We’ve live video of the match available to viewers outside of the UK and Ireland for just £12 a month. Kick off is at 7.45pm GMT.

To subscribe and get all Motherwell home matches – and the majority of away games – head to tv.motherwellfc.co.uk now and sign up.

If you’re in the UK or Ireland and can’t make it, don’t worry. We’ve also got live audio commentary of the match for just £5.99 a month.

Head to tv.motherwellfc.co.uk to sign up. Just choose the UK/Ireland commentary option.

2019/20 Motherwell streaming service matches

Aberdeen play host to Motherwell on Wednesday night in the first Ladbrokes Premiership match of the new decade.

Here’s a look at our opponents.

The story so far

Dumbarton were the Dons’ opening opponents on their return from a winter break trip to Dubai. After large spells of pressure, Derek McInnes’ side eventually ran out 1-0 winners thanks to Sam Cosgrove’s late penalty.

Motherwell’s nearest challengers for third spot, Aberdeen sit a point behind in fourth spot as they look to avoid a repeat of failing to take the “best of the rest” spot on goal difference to Kilmarnock last campaign.

Form guide

With five wins, three draws and two defeats in their last 10 fixtures, Aberdeen are in steady form heading into Wednesday night’s fixture.

A 1-1 draw with Hearts ended 2019, with Niall McGinn equalising in the capital in a 1-1 draw.

Ominously, they’ve won four of their last five Premiership matches at Pittodrie, beating Kilmarnock, St Mirren, Hamilton and Livingston. A 2-2 draw with Rangers was the only break in the victorious run.

Three to watch

Andrew Considine

It may have been almost 16 years since Andrew Considine made his Aberdeen debut. Five hundred appearances on and the defender continues to thrive at Pittodrie.

His performances this season have led to suggestions that he may receive a Scotland call-up for the first time in his career and Considine himself has expressed that he feels he is getting better as he gets older.

As well as contributing to keeping opposition attackers out, Considine continues to show an eye for goal too – netting three times in the league this season, the most recent of which earned the Dons a 2-2 draw against Rangers.

Dylan McGeouch

Derek McInnes finally secured the services of a player he’s admired for a long time when Dylan McGeouch put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half year deal with Aberdeen earlier this month.

The midfielder played a big role in Hibs’ promotion back to the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup success in 2016, though it was his contributions during the 2017/18 campaign that really caught the eye. International recognition came at the end of that season as a result, as Scotland took on Peru and Mexico.

McGeouch swapped Edinburgh for Sunderland in July 2018 but struggled to be a regular as the Black Cats endured a rollercoaster campaign, culminating in them narrowly missing out on promotion via the play-offs. Football was hard to come by for the 26-year-old this season down south and he will be hoping to quickly rediscover his form back on home soil as Aberdeen fight for third spot.

Sam Cosgrove

From a player who fans feared would never be able to break his scoring duck for the Dons to one of the most prolific in the country, as league football resumes in 2020, Sam Cosgrove’s stock is at an all-time high.

Having racked up 21 goals already this season, Derek McInnes has expressed his desire to retain the services of the striker who has already found the net against ‘Well in 2019/20 – opening the scoring as the Dons eased to a 3-0 success at Fir Park earlier this season.

Cosgrove has been linked to a number of clubs during January. But given he has contributed almost 37% of their league goals this season, it will surely take a sizeable bid for Aberdeen to part with a player who is almost unrecognisable from the one that had scored just once in 12 games for Carlisle United when they paid a nominal fee for his services in January 2018.

Pay at the gate

Cash turnstiles are in operation.

Fans who require ambulant or wheelchair access should contact Andy Sim on 07428 225254 or email tickets@mfcdsa.com.

Can’t make it? Watch or listen live

If you’re outside the UK/Ireland, you can watch Aberdeen v Motherwell on our live streaming service.

Priced at £12 a month, just head to tv.motherwellfc.co.uk to subscribe.

Wherever you are, there’s also live audio commentary available on our streaming service for £5.99 a month.

Motherwell’s first four signings ahead of the new SWPL1 season are here.

Goalkeeper Khym Ramsay has been recruited from Rangers. She joins defender Hollie Thomson, who returns after a spell out of the game with injury.

Midfielder Lauryn Reside returns to the club after a year with Celtic, while forward Lori Gardner signs on again having spent 2019 with the women of steel.

Further additions to Eddie Wolecki Black’s side will be announced throughout the week.

Motherwell open the SWPL1 season with a trip to face Forfar Farmington on Sunday, 23 February. Kick-off at Station Park is at 2pm.

On Sunday, the team were 5-3 winners over Dundee United in the first friendly ahead of the new campaign.

The team will play friendlies against Dunfermline Athletic away on Sunday, 26 January and St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Sunday, 2 February.

Motherwell resumed SPFL Reserve League action on Monday with a 2-1 home win over Ross County.

Christian Ilic’s first half double was enough to make the difference at Broadwood, with a host of first team squad members getting playing time.

Ilic was joined by Trevor Carson, Casper Sloth and Mikael Ndjoli in the starting team, along with Ross MacIver and Jamie Semple.

The Croatian opened the scoring after 21 minutes, sending a curling left-footed effort into the top corner of the net via the crossbar.

He doubled the advantage just before the break. Carson’s kick fell to MacIver, who squared for Ilic to slot home.

Ross County got a goal back on the hour mark, despite calls for a foul, but the Steelmen held on to take all three points.

Next up for Maurice Ross’ side is an SPFL Reserve League Cup match with Dundee on Monday, 27 January. Kick-off at Broadwood is at 2pm.

Motherwell: Carson, Brown, Hussain, Devine, Johnston, Sloth, Cornelius, Semple, MacIver, Ilic, Ndjoli.

Motherwell play their first Ladbrokes Premiership game of 2020 at Aberdeen on Wednesday night.

Kick-off at Pittodrie is at 7.45pm.

Tale of the tape

It’s third versus fourth in the table, with Stephen Robinson’s side sitting a point ahead with 21 games played.

The Steelmen have won three and lost two of their last five and came back off the winter break with a resounding 3-0 William Hill Scottish Cup win at Dundee on Saturday.

Aberdeen progressed past Dumbarton at home, thanks to Sam Cosgrove’s late penalty in a 1-0 win. They’ve also won three of their last five, drawing one and losing one.

Head to head

Aberdeen have won three of the last five encounters between the two teams, with Motherwell winning the other two.

The last outing came at Fir Park in October, when the visitors ran out convincing 3-0 victors.

Motherwell’s last win at Pittodrie came in October 2017, when Louis Moult bagged a double in a 2-0 win.

Pay at the gate

Cash turnstiles are in operation.

Fans who require ambulant or wheelchair access should contact Andy Sim on 07428 225254 or email tickets@mfcdsa.com.

Can’t make it? Watch or listen live

If you’re outside the UK/Ireland, you can watch Aberdeen v Motherwell on our live streaming service.

Priced at £12 a month, just head to tv.motherwellfc.co.uk to subscribe.

Wherever you are, there’s also live audio commentary available on our streaming service for £5.99 a month.

Motherwell will face St Mirren in the fifth round of the William Hill Scottish Cup.

The match will be played in Paisley on Saturday, 8 February, subject to potential change for television coverage.

Stephen Robinson’s men progressed with a 3-0 win over Dundee on Saturday night.

William Hill Scottish Cup fifth round draw

Inverness CT v Livingston

Clyde v Celtic

BSC Glasgow v Dundee United or Hibernian

St Mirren v Motherwell

Ayr United v St Johnstone

Aberdeen v Kilmarnock

Hamilton Academical v Rangers

Arbroath or Falkirk v Heart of Midlothian

Christopher Long scores a hat-trick as Motherwell beat Dundee 3-0 in the fourth round of the William Hill Scottish Cup.