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We had five players on international duty in March. 

Liam Kelly was named in Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad, Lennon Miller was in Scotland’s Under 17 squad, Max Johnston was in Scot Gemmil’s Under 21 squad for Scotland, Sean Goss was back on Northern Ireland duty and James Furlong was called up to Republic of Ireland’s Under 21 squad for the first time.

Lennon Miller

Scotland and Lennon Miller were in triple header action over the March internationals.

First up was Wales, where Scotland were beaten 4-2. Miller played 87 minutes.

With all matches being played in Wales, it was Montenegro up next for the young Scots.

A turnaround in fortunes, Scotland came away with a 2-1 victory after going one down. Miller played the full match for Brian McLaughlin.

In their third and final match, Lennon Miller was once again named in the starting 11 as Scotland sealed their qualification for the 2023 UEFA Under-17 Championship in Hungary with a 0-0 draw against Iceland on Tuesday.

Brian McLaughlin’s side have now qualified for the finals in consecutive seasons.

Sean Goss

Sean Goss was named in the Northern Ireland squad for the first time in five years.

Michael O’Neil was appointed manager for the second spell and named Goss in his first squad this time round.

Northern Ireland had two matches in UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers, facing San Marino away and Finland at home.

Goss was an unused for the match against San Marino.

Max Johnston

Scotland’s Under 21 side took on Sweden and Wales in their two matches in March.

It was a 3-2 defeat against Sweden and a 3-0 loss against Wales for Scotland with Johnston playing 90 minutes in both matches.

James Furlong

It was James Furlong’s first time in the Republic of Ireland Under 21 squad, having represented at the other youth levels.

Ireland had a friendly match against Iceland in their only match over the internationals.

Furlong was an unused sub as Ireland came away with a 2-1 win.

Liam Kelly

Scotland kicked off their quest to reach Euro 2024 in Germany as they took on Cyprus and Spain in a double header at Hampden.

With Cyprus up first, Angus Gunn was given his first cap for Scotland in his first squad with Scotland coming away with a comfortable 3-0 win over the Cypriots. Liam Kelly was named on the bench along with Zander Clark.

Spain were in town for the second match as Scotland swept aside the Spaniards with a convincing 2-0 win. Liam Kelly was an unused substitute.

We return from the international break to take on Hibernian at Easter Road on Saturday 1 April.

Kick-off is 3pm

Tickets

Tickets are available online by clicking here

Ticket Prices

• Concessions are 65 and over and full-time students with a valid matriculation card
• Wheelchair / Disabled – regular price with personal assistant FOC
• Tickets are non-refundable, non-transferable and T&C’s apply
  

How to follow game online

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

Should you be in the UK, it will be live commentary only.

The Story of the Match

Lee Johnston has navigated his was through a sticky patch, winning four and drawing one before defeats to Rangers and Celtic which propelled them up the table to within five points of third.

Motherwell tasted defeat for the first time under Stuart Kettlewell, losing to Rangers at Fir Park but it’s still been a positive start to the new manager’s reign with ten points gained from a possible fifteen.

The Steelmen lost on their last visit to Easter Road. Ten-man Motherwell were defeated by a second-half header from the now departed Ryan Porteous.

Match Officials

• Referee: Graham Grainger
• AR1: Daniel McFarlane
• AR2: David Dunne
• Fourth Official: Dan McFarlane
• VAR: Chris Graham
• AVAR: Graeme Stewart

“Our young side showed great character against an experienced team.

“I’ve only been in the door a couple of days so I just asked them to go out and enjoy it.”

Motherwell Development team took a point from Hibernian in the Reserve League on Tuesday.

Mark Ferrie’s second-half header cancelled out Josh O’Connor goal to earn Alan Archibald a point in his first match in charge.

Josh Bogan was the busiest of the two goalkeepers, pulling off a fine 1v1 save as the Hibs attacker raced through from the half-way line but he was eventually beaten on the half-hour mark.

A corner into the box was cleared off the line by Ferrie but Josh O’Connor was on hand to fire in from close range.

Hibs had a great chance to double their lead ten minutes later when Shay Nevans brought down McCulloch in the box.

Laidlaw stepped up but he blazed his shot well over the bar.

The youthful Motherwell side came out with more attacking intent in the second half and the were level on the hour.

Dylan Wells liked up well with Robbie Garcia down the wing and the stand-in left back’s pinpoint cross into the box was headed into the net by Mark Ferrie.

With ten to go Hibs were reduced to ten-men after Blaney received his second booking for a foul on Bone.

The extra man advantage proved too late and Motherwell will be happy with the point against an experienced Hibs side.

It’s the Lanarkshire Derby this weekend, with Motherwell making the short journey to New Douglas Park. 

Kick-off is 2pm.

How to follow the game

Tickets for the match cost £5 for adults, £2 for concessions with U16s going free.

Story of the match

Hamilton’s last win came back in January against Glasgow Women.

The two sides last met in February, with Motherwell coming away with a 2-1 win.

Motherwell are on red hot from, losing one game in the last seven game in all competitions.

The women of steel progressed to the Scottish Cup semi final with a 4-0 win over Glasgow Women last weekend.

Kevin van Veen is your Paycare player of the month for March. 

The Dutchman beat Blair Spittal, Max Johnston and Sean Goss in the public vote.

Scoring three goals in the two games in March, Van Veen took his season total to 18 goals.

Grabbing a second half brace in the Highlands against Ross County, he also knocked home Max Johnston’s cross to give us the lead against Rangers inside three minutes.

It’s the second time this season that he has scooper the player of the month award, with his last one coming in August.

Motherwell will take on St Patrick’s in a behind-closed-door friendly match at Fir Park on Friday 24 March.

The Irish outfit will travel over the Irish Sea to take on the Steelmen in a one off match during the international break.

St Pats are currently in ninth place in the table after six games.

They are managed by former Motherwell, Hibernian and Kilmarnock defender Tim Clancy, who has been in charge since December 2021.

With Sean Goss, Lennon Miller, Max Johnston, Liam Kelly and James Furlong all away on international duty, the match is an opportunity for the rest of the squad to get important minutes ahead of our next match in the cinch Premiership against Hibernian and Saturday 1 April.

It’s time to pick your Paycare Motherwell FC player of the month for March.

Kevin van Veen, Blair Spittal, Sean Goss and Max Johnston are all in contention.

To vote, head over to our Facebook page.

March Matches

• Ross County 0-2 Motherwell
• Motherwell 2-4 Rangers

Kevin van Veen

Grabbing three goals in two matches, Kevin van Veen is in red hot form.

Taking his goal tally to 18 this season, the Dutchman is the second highest Dutch goalscorer in the world right now.

Scoring a vital brace in Dingwall, with two second half finishes, Van Veen also struck inside three minutes against Rangers at Fir Park.

Blair Spittal

Back-to-back nominations for Blair Spittal, who has had another fine month at Motherwell.

He set up Kevin van Veen with a pinpoint cross against Ross County, taking his goal contributions in the cinch Premiership to eight this season.

Sean Goss

Back in the international fold, Sean Goss’s performance earned him a first international call-up in five years for Northern Ireland.

One of the first names on the teamsheet for Stuart Kettlewell at the minute, Goss has linked the play from the middle of the pitch with a range of passing going forward. His ball forward against Rangers found Max Johnston who went on to assist Van Veen for the first goal.

It hasn’t just been in range of passing that has impressed recently, Goss won 86% of his defensive duels and 100% of
his aerial duels against Rangers on Saturday.

Max Johnston

A revelation since his return from loan at Cove Rangers, Max Johnston has impressed in his stint at right-back.

Proving to cause issues going forward for opposition defences, Johnston has got two assists in as many games.

His ‘pass’ from the edge of the box to Kevin van Veen, helped the Dutchman seal the three points in Dingwall.

Johnston also set the number nine up for a tap-in after a lethal cross across goal against Rangers.

It was four games unbeaten in the Stuart Kettlewell era at Motherwell but that record would be put strongly to the test against second-placed Rangers.

Unbeaten in the league since Michael Beale’s arrival, the Gers arrived at Fir Park looking to close the gap on leaders Celtic. But it would be Motherwell who put the first marker down.

Kevin van Veen netted his 18th goal of the season after just three minutes to give Motherwell an early, before Rangers moved the game into their favour come 47 minutes, when Fashion Sakala made it 2-1.

Substitute Bevis Mugabi got the home side on level terms however Rangers would go on to win 4-2, with Callum Slattery receiving a controversial red card in the process.

They were looking to cause what would have been an upset by beating Rangers, but Motherwell manager Kettlewell knows games against Rangers won’t be season defining but he wants his team to know it was still a defeat regardless.

Hampden bound. The women of steel secured their place in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup after a comprehensive 0-4 victory over Glasgow Women at Cliftonhill on Sunday.

An early first-half penalty had Motherwell ahead at the break before a quickfire second from Carla Boyce saw the women of steel in the ascendency midway through the second half.

A precise effort from Lauren Doran-Barr was quickly followed by a well-placed header from Boyce who secured her hat-trick with the final few minutes to spare.

Assistant Manager, Leanne Crichton made two changes from the side that cruised to a 1-3 victory over Aberdeen at Cormack Park last weekend. Captain Gill Inglis and Louisa Boyes both missed out with Kayla Jardine and Kodie Hay returning to the starting XI.

The visitors wasted no time in breaking the deadlock after striking in the early exchanges. Niamh Noble’s quickly-taken throw was controlled by Tiree Burchill, who shifted the ball onto her stronger right foot before being hauled down under a late lunging challenge. The referee rightly awarded the spot kick which Boyce coolly dispatched into the bottom left corner.

Neither side posed much of an attacking threat as the half-time whistle loomed, with both sides struggling to settle into the occasion.

Nevertheless, Motherwell soon found a vital second. Strikes from Burchill and Kayla Jardine ricocheted across the face of goal, before falling kindly to Boyce at the edge of the box, and the striker accurately picked out the bottom left corner for her second of the afternoon.

Not long after the hour mark, it was three. Glasgow failed to clear their lines, with the ball drilled towards the direction of Doran-Barr, who connected perfectly on the half-volley, and her strike sailed past the keeper before hitting the bar and nestling into the bottom corner.

With the final few minutes ticking by, Motherwell netted a decisive fourth to seal their place at the national stadium.

Kodie Hay’s perfectly-weighted delivery from the right flashed across the face of goal, and Boyce calmly nodded home from a few yards out to earn their place in the semi-finals.

Motherwell will now await their opponents in the next round, with a place in the Scottish Cup final at stake.