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Heart of Midlothian visit Fir Park Saturday 28th November and we’ve a fantastic lunch menu available.

It’s a 3pm kick-off, so why not combine an afternoon meal with a competitive Ladbrokes Premiership game against the Jambos in one of our atmospheric hospitality suites.

All packages include a ticket, match programme, team-sheet and half time refreshments.

You can choose from three packages:

Centenary Claret: Arrive at our Centenary Suite for 1pm. Full, four course table service with access to a pay bar till kick off and then again for an hour post-match.

Book now from only £60 for an adult and £45 for a child under 16.

Centenary Amber: Arrive at our Centenary Suite for 1pm. Full four course table service with complimentary bar and then again for an hour post-match.

Book now for £99 for an adult and £55 for a child under 16.

Millennium Ticket: Enjoy a lighter bite pre-match and at half-time with a complimentary bar for one-hour pre & post-match.

Book now for £70 for an adult and £35 for a child under 16.

Remember, Season Ticket holders can upgrade to hospitality for just £25.

01698 333333 | hospitality@motherwellfc.co.uk

Stephen Craigan’s Under 20s side will return to action tomorrow (Tuesday) night when they take on Hibernian at Spartans’ Ainslie Park.

The youths, who returned to winning ways with a 3-1 win over Falkirk seven days ago, will hope to build and push their way up a tightly-packed SPFL Development League table.

If other results work out, a win could propel the side into ninth of the seventeen-team league and within touching distance of teams above, with games still in hand.

Tuesday’s opponents Hibernian have made a fairly pretty poor start to the season and sit second bottom, although they did enjoy a good away win over Dunfermline recently.

The match will take place at Ainslie Park, Edinburgh, with kick-off at 7.30pm.

Extended highlights from Dingwall where Motherwell suffered their heaviest defeat of the season, losing 3-0 to Ross County.

Action images from today’s 0-3 defeat to Ross County in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Snaps courtesy of SNSPix.

[svgallery name=”rosscounty211115″]

Mark McGhee spoke of his anger as Motherwell were soundly beaten 3-0 by Ross County at the Global Energy Stadium.

Goals from Curran, Dingwall and Boyce gave County a comfortable victory in a day to forget for the 180 ‘Well fans who made the long journey north to a frozen Dingwall.

And McGhee pulled no punches when summing up his side’s performance.

“We were very poor; we were well beaten,” he admitted to MFC TV after the match

“At times we flattered a little bit in the front areas, almost creating a few good chances but weren’t clinical enough.

“Defensively we were diabolical and struggled throughout to contain them and had to hang on at times. We were lacking all across the park.

“It was a hugely disappointing performance and result.”

[pullquote]Defensively we were diabolical and struggled throughout to contain them and had to hang on at times. We were lacking all across the park.[/pullquote]

‘Well were missing a number of key experienced placed, something that certainly contributed to the poor performance.

With Lasley and Hammell been missing for a number of weeks, McManys suspended and Chalmers and Fletcher picking up injuries in training, options were limited.

He continued: “We’ve had a situation where we’ve lost Stephen McManus, Keith Lasley and Steven Hammell; we’re playing without a lot of experience we could have in the team,” he said.

“We’re playing with Marvin Johnson at left back. We’ve been forced into these things, that wasn’t a choice, it was all we could really do.

“Hopefully, we’ll get through this period when we’ll have these boys back where we can work out a better, more complete shape and we can get back to getting decent results.

“The way I want to play is winning football but in a way that makes us much more difficult to beat. That involves having these boys back, working harder and eventually bringing in one or two that will help them.”

[tab:Match report]

 Phil McGhee at Global Energy Stadium

Motherwell turned in one of their most disappointing league showing of the season so far, losing 3-0 to Ross County in Dingwall.

Motherwell started brightly, but it was County who opened the scoring midway through the first half through Craig Curran.

It stayed that way until the 70th minute when Tony Dingwall danced through the ‘Well defence to secure the points.

To add insult to injury, Liam Boyce scored a 92nd minute penalty after Keiran Kennedy tripped the Northern Irishman just inside the box.

Without Wes Fletcher, Joe Chalmers, Stevie Hammell, Keith Lasley and Stephen McManus, Mark McGhee was forced to reshuffle his pack. With no recognised left back in the squad, Marvin Johnson filled in. Chalmers, who picked up a knock in training and Stephen McManus both dropped out from the last match with Inverness, Louis Laing and Jake Taylor were both given the nod.

The visitors were the first to threaten when Taylor’s teasing ball from the left had Ricky Foster in trouble, but with no takers, the former Rangers made headed out for a corner.

Then, eight minutes later, Motherwell had a half-heated claim for a penalty when Ainsworth’s low cross was headed for Moult but the striker collided with Marcus Fraser and both hit the deck.

Moult wanted a penalty, but referee Crawford Allan was having none of it.

However, with their first real attack of the game, the Highlanders took the lead, and Mark McGhee will be tearing his hair out at how softly his side conceded.

Both Laing and Kennedy had chances to clear their lines in the middle of the park, and again seconds later when a fired cross was only half dealt with. However, when the ball was eventually worked out to Martin Woods and he picked out Curren who hooked an excellent shot high into the net.

The visitors tried to respond and a Marvin Johnson cross into the box found Moult, but his header was too weak to bother Gary Woods in the County goal.

However, the former Leyton Orient stopper had to look smart shortly after, tipping a fearsome Ainsworth strike around the post for a corner.

County came close to a second goal in the last minute of the half when a cross from Jonathan Franks was just missed by Boyce.

The Fir Parkers started the second half on the front foot and Moult fired straight at Woods with a left footed shot, before almost connecting with a low, teasing Pearson cross from the right, but it was a yard or two too far in front and the chance was gone.

At the other end, Dingwall cut in from the right and fired a long-range shot, which flew high and wide.

‘Well’s best chance of the half came in the 65th minute when, after bursting down the flank, Johnson picked out substitute Theo Robinson in the box but his attempt was well saved by Woods.

But County got the goal that all but secured the win after 69 minute. Boyce kept the ball in play and Martin Woods passed it on for Dingwall, who jinked into the box and rounded Connor Ripley to slot the ball into the empty net.

Motherwell tried in vein to get back into things. Louis Laing’s 30-yard shot went just over and after bursting clear on goal, Liam Grimshaw could only fire straight at Woods who saved again.

To rub salt into the wounds, County added a third in the second minute of stoppage time when Kieran Kennedy took down Boyce in the box. The Northern Irish International took the kick himself and blasted the ball straight down the middle past Ripley to end a miserable day at a frozen Global Energy Stadium.

[tab:As it happened]

 Ally Reilly at Global Energy Stadium

Full time, Ross County 3 – 0 Motherwell

91′ | 3-0
Goal – Boyce goes down in the box and wins a penalty, which he fires straight down the middle.

Three minutes added on.

89′ | 2-0
Great chance as Grimshaw gets into the box but shoots straight at Woods. County clear the rebound.

84′ | 2-0
Ross County sub, Franks off for Murdoch.

78′ | 2-0
Laing goes for a run and tries his luck from 30 yards which flies inches wide of the top corner.

73′ | 2-0
Ross County sub, Curran off for Schalk.

69′ | 2-0
Goal – Dingwall jinks through the centre of the defence then past Ripley and slots into the empty net. 2-0 to County

64′ | 1-0
Johnson sprints past Irvine and cuts it back to Robinson but a County defender gets a touch on his shot and Woods gathers.

61′ | 1-0
A second Motherwell change, Chris Cadden is on for Ainsworth.

59′ | 1-0
Motherwell sub, Taylor off for Robinson

56′ | 1-0
Great ball in by Pearson which is begging to be slammed into the net but Moult can’t quite get there. Great chance!

52′ | 1-0
Pearson booked for a late challenge on Fraser.

51′ | 1-0
Good build-up play ends with Moult firing straight at Woods with his left foot from just outside the box.

County get the second half underway…

HT: Ross County 1 – 0 Motherwell #RCFCvMFC

44′ | 1-0
Franks gets past Johnson but his front post delivery is gathered well by Ripley.

32′ | 1-0
Ainsworth drives forward and gets a low, powerful shot away which Woods tips around the post.

26′ | 1-0
Law enters the ref’s book for a foul on Dingwall near the corner flag.

21′ | 1-0
Goal – Curran opens the scoring with a flying volley from inside the box. 1-0 to County.

20′ | 0-0
Linesman’s flag goes up straight away as Davies heads in Franks free-kick. Looked the correct decision.

17′ | 0-0
McDonald and Ainsworth combine on a counter and the latter’s ball is inches away from Moult. Good play!

9′ | 0-0
….Johnson works a short corner but his delivery is overhit and goes out for a goalkick.

9′ | 0-0
Taylor swings in a nice ball to the backpost which Foster takes no chances with and heads out for a corner….

6′ | 0-0
Home fans up in arms as Law goes in heavy on Dingwall. No card shown by the ref…

McDonald and Pearson get the action underway. COYW!!!

[tab:Reaction]

Motherwell  manager Mark McGhee:

“I can’t argue, they deserved to win,” he told BBC Scotland. “I thought we were disappointing in all areas of the field and the game.

“They just had more energy, they were more aggressive. They were better in every area.

“We’ve had a situation where we’ve lost Stephen McManus, Keith Lasley and Steven Hammell; we’re playing without a lot of experience we could have in the team.

“We’re playing with Marvin Johnson at left back. We’ve been forced into these things, that wasn’t a choice, it was all we could really do.

“Hopefully, we’ll get through this period when we’ll have these boys back where we can work out a better, more complete shape and we can get back to getting decent results.

Ross County manager Jim McIntyre:

“We thoroughly deserved the three points today,” he enthused. “It was so important that we got back to winning ways especially here in Dingwall.

“The league is bunched up and it was a very important result for us.

“I was delighted with our goals and for Liam Boyce to get back on the goal trail. He made it himself with fantastic strength to get the penalty. He’s been doing a great shift for the team and I think it’s important that you recognise that sometimes it’s not always goals they bring to the team.

“It’s also that work rate. He uses his body so well also and that’s key to being a front player.

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

[poll id=”252”]

Winger Lionel Ainsworth says he is enjoying life under the tutorship of Motherwell boss Mark McGhee.

McGhee is still looking to utilise the pace of Ainsworth and fellow winger Marvin Johnson but felt the team rushed passes when he first came in last month.

And the experienced winger believes they will benefit from his orders to take more time and care in possession.

The 28-year old, who travelled north today ahead of the weekend’s match against Ross County at Dingwall, said: “In the past, many of the players pointed it out themselves, it was about getting the ball up the pitch as quickly as possible and score a goal. But he wants us to be composed on the ball and take our touches.

“In training sometimes you do pop it off one touch and then say to yourself ‘I shouldn’t have done that’. It’s not what he wants.

“He does say at times round the box if it’s intricate take one touch but (mostly) get on the ball, stay composed and draw someone in and go from there.

[pullquote]If we can keep the ball a bit longer then we can get up the pitch and attack. We have to stay on the ball and be positive and the main thing is to trust each other.[/pullquote]

“The lads have started doing that a lot more in recent weeks and it’s enjoyable. You want the ball and you want to have touches.”

‘Well will aim to cut a four-point deficit on County and McGhee this week identified their opponents’ work ethic as they key to their impressive form in 2015.

Ainsworth feels Motherwell will reap the rewards of McGhee’s own insistence on hard work.

“Ever since he has come in he wants you to work at a high intensity and do things like you do them on a Saturday, which is good for a player,” the Englishman said.

“You need to work hard to get in the team and what he wants us to implement on the pitch is good. I enjoy working hard. It’s been different but it’s been a good different.”

Mark McGhee hopes ‘Well can rekindle some of the recent showings on the road when his team face Ross County at Dingwall on Saturday.

Prior to the defeat at home to Inverness, the Fir Parkers took four points from trips to both Pittodrie and Rugby Park, when most of the money would have been on the hosts.

And it’ll be another tough encounter this weekend with Jim McIntyre’s Staggies having enjoyed a very encouraging start to the 2015/16 campaign.

McGhee hopes for a similar sort of performance to the previous trip north, but admits it’s a completely different proposition.

He told the broadcast press at Motherwell’s pre-match news conference: “It’s a different game in as far as Aberdeen weren’t playing well and were low on confidence when we went there, whereas County, even although they lost to Celtic last time out, will be in a positive frame of mind.

[pullquote]We expect this will be a more difficult game than when we last travelled north and it’s one of those ones where if we come out of it with a similar or better than we got at PIttodrie, it’ll be a right good result.”[/pullquote]

McGhee has also been impressed by the job his counterparts, both McIntyre and his assistant, Billy Dodds, have done at the Global Energy Stadium.

At the turn of 2015, County looked doomed to the drop but now the duo have the Highlanders focused more on a top-six spot, and even a Cup Final, and the Motherwell boss was full of praise.

“They’ve set an example to us all,” he continued.

“The essence of their success has been hard work. They play fairly simply, it’s a 4-4-2 system, but Jim and Billy are getting a lot from a talented group of players.

“They are organised and aggressive and most could take a leaf from their book in terms of what they get out from putting a lot in. I expect a very tough match but as always, we’re going there to win.”