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Motherwell made it three wins from three in their Betfred Cup group with a comfortable 2-0 win at Dumbarton.

Christian Ilić and Peter Hartley scored in either half to ensure victory, having controlled large parts of the game.

Ilić was one of four changes for Motherwell, with Maguire, Hartley and Grimshaw also coming in. Jake Carroll, Charles Dunne, Liam Donnelly and Sherwin Seedorf dropped out.

On a long pitch at Dumbarton, the visitors had to adapt their normal fast-paced wing play, but did so well.

After knocking at the door for long spells, hitting both the post and the crossbar, the deadlock was broken before the interval in mildly controversial circumstances.

With the ball on the left of the box in Motherwell possession, the linesman’s flag on the near side went up quickly, then immediately back down again, as Hylton and Tait stepped over the ball.

With play then eventually being worked back to Ilić just behind the penalty spot, the Croatian swept home the ball into the bottom left corner to open the scoring.

The home team protested that the linesman had flagged, but the referee waved them away, saying no decision had been made and that play rightly continued.

Motherwell continued to surge forward in the second half, with Hylton in particular causing major trouble down the left side.

The second would come from a set play with 15 minutes to go. Polworth’s corner kick delivery from the right was met by the man who rose highest, with Hartley nodding down into the bottom right corner of the net.

Motherwell’s progression to the knockout stage still isn’t secure, however, with a win required against Annan Athletic to make sure.

Motherwell: Gillespie, Grimshaw, Gallagher, Hartley, Tait, Maguire, Campbell, Polworth (Semple), Hylton, Ilić (Seedorf), Scott (Long).

Subs not used: Carson, Sloth, Livingstone, Donnelly.

Allan Campbell has signed an improved contract with Motherwell Football Club.

The academy graduate has established himself as a key figure in the first team in recent seasons, making 85 appearances for the club.

The 21-year-old’s contract runs until the summer of 2021.

“We have now put Allan in line with other first team players,” manager Stephen Robinson said.

“We felt it was a deserved reward for his hard work and his consistent performances.

“He is continuing to improve with every game, and devotes his life to constantly trying to get better.

“He is a brilliant role model to every young player in our academy. He epitomises everything we strive for at this club with his work ethic and talent.

“When he signed his previous deal, he was at a different stage of his career. His development and growth has accelerated to such an extent that it was vital we matched that with terms to reflect that.”

Keith Lasley spoke on Motherwell’s strong start to the season, making changes for the trip to Dumbarton and signing a new deal when he addressed the press on Monday.

Here’s the best quotes from his press conference.

On the start to the season

“It’s been encouraging. Good start. A lot of new faces and a big turnaround in the squad.

“But the guys who have come in have worked hard and blended in with the group we had there already.

“It’s been an encouraging start. We know it’s early days.

“But certainly in terms of players taking on information and getting themselves ready physically for what we know is going to be a tough season ahead. I think it’s been encouraging.

“So, we keep going. Another tough game on  Tuesday night at Dumbarton. We keep the process going  of getting through this League Cup first and foremost. That’s the main target. Then obviously with a few to starting the league campaign.”

On making changes for the trip to Dumbarton

“We’ve got a competitive squad. A really competitive squad.

“The guys that have not started are really chapping at the door. We put a big emphasis on that here.

“It’s not about the 11. It’s about the guys behind there, driving the guys on lucky enough to get those shirts.

“There will be some changes in the next couple of games. But it won’t be for change’s sake. It will be guys that are deserving of a chance and really pushing to nail down a first team jersey.

“A good indication of that were the  substitutes the other night. The subs that came on –  Grimmy, Christian and Barry Maguire – came on and you wouldn’t have known there was any change there. If anything, they came on and enhanced the game.

“There’s guys that are ready,It’s testament to how they train, how the group trains as a whole. I think when we are at our best, that is the case at this club.Everybody is pulling together and ready to take their opportunity when they get it.

“So yeah, there will be changes. But it will be done for the right reasons. It’s guys that are really hungry to come in and make an impact.

On signing a new deal

“It’s not a word that you associate with football a lot is it? Stability?

“Delighted to be given the opportunity to be able to continue working alongside the manager. It’s a couple of years now.

“In that time,  there’s been a lot of progress made. As always, there’s big squad turnarounds. Every year presents its own challenges. Certainly since I’ve came into the job.

“I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. It has been challenging, but certainly the experience of working alongside the manager, who has done a fantastic job, has been great for me.

“I just want to continue learning and I am delighted I have been given the opportunity to do that.”

With six points from six so far in the Betfred Cup group stage, Motherwell head to Dumbarton on Tuesday night in pursuit of another win.

A 3-0 win over Queen of the South on matchday one was followed up by a 4-0 home victory over Morton on Friday, with a performance which has got the Fir Park faithful excited for what lies ahead.

Fans can pay at the gate for £12 for adults and £6 for concessions. Motherwell fans will be accommodated in the west side of the main stand at the ground. Turnstiles are signposted for away fans.

Tale of the tape

Motherwell sit top of Betfred Cup group E on six points, having played two matches. Queen of the South are the nearest challengers on five, but they have played a game more.

Dumbarton are second bottom in the group with three games played. A 1-0 away win at Annan in their first game was followed up by a 6-1 defeat at Morton, and then a 4-1 loss at home to Queens at the weekend.

Team news

Motherwell wait on news on Christopher Long and Devante Cole, who both missed the win over Morton.

David Turnbull (knee), Craig Tanner (knee) and Casper Sloth (compassionate leave) will all miss the match.

Getting there

Dumbarton advise on the following directions for travelling to the C&G Systems Stadium.

If travelling by car, you should follow the A814 into the town from the main A82 trunk road. Journey along Glasgow Road until you see Dumbarton East Station. Then, 100 yards or so along from the station, you will see a brown sign for the Castle (Victoria Street) and the ground is at the bottom of this road.

By train, Dumbarton East Station is approximately five minutes walk from the stadium.

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James Scott grabbed a double, with Jermaine Hylton and Liam Donnelly also netting, as Motherwell went top of their Betfred Cup group with a 4-0 home win over Greenock Morton.

“We’re only at the start of this. There’s a lot of improvement still to come.”

Stephen Robinson speaks as Motherwell beat Morton 4-0 in the Betfred Cup group stage.

Motherwell topped their Betfred Cup group with a comprehensive 4-0 win over Morton at Fir Park.

James Scott grabbed a double, before Jermaine Hylton and Liam Donnelly added further strikes to put further gloss on the win.

With five summer signings making their home debut, it was an early opportunity for them to impress the Fir Park fans and the BT Sport viewers at home.

And almost immediately Sherwin Seedorf, with some deft touches and a fierce turn of pace, caught the eye.

After Morton had a couple of attempts wide of Mark Gillespie’s goal, Seedorf cleverly played in Scott. From a tight angle he forced the first save from Sam Ramsbottom.

‘Well’s teenage striker came closer a minute later when he redirected Jake Carroll’s powerful drive, with the ball clipping the top of the crossbar.

In the 17th minute, Seedorf decided to go it alone and when his first angled drive was parried by Ramsbottom, the Dutchman fired in the rebound, producing a terrific save from the Morton ‘keeper.

There was no surprise when the Steelmen opened the scoring five minutes later – with Seedorf the provider.

Liam Polworth, who showed some wonderful vision and passing, released the flying Dutchman, who sped into the box. He squared the ball across goal, leaving Scott with a simple tap in to open his account for the season.

Scott should have made it a double on the half hour mark, when a perfectly weighted pass from Polworth sent the striker through on goal. But once inside the box, he dithered allowing Jim McAllister to clear the danger.

At the other end of the pitch Gillespie was totally idle until a minute from the break. Former ‘Well striker John Sutton slipped the ball in front of Aidan Nesbitt and from the angle of the six yard box, his snap shot forced the ‘Well ‘keeper to stab out a foot to divert the ball away from goal.

Fifteen minutes into the second half and seeking a second goal to kill the tie, Scott tried his luck with a dipping drive from 35 yards which forced Ramsbottom to push the ball over his bar. From the resultant well-worked corner, Polworth played the ball in front of Seedorf, who fired it narrowly over.

That was the last action for the impressive winger who was replaced by Christian Ilic.

As the Fir Park side continued to press the game towards the visitor’s goal, Hylton cut inside to fire a low drive from the corner of the box which the ‘keeper was glad to beat away.

The Morton goal was finally breached for a second time after 66 minutes. Scott worked a neat one-two with Polworth at the edge of the box and, after taking a touch, the striker slammed the ball down the middle of the goal for his second of the night.

A thundering drive from Allan Campbell forced another fine save from Ramsbottom but the Morton ‘keeper was helpless when ‘Well made it 3-0 after 76 minutes.

Hylton showed quick feet to create space at the edge of the box, before curling a low shot beyond the ‘keeper and inside his right post to make it two goals in two games.

Another quality goal arrived nine minutes from time. Ilic showed great skills on the left before floating over a teasing cross. Ramsbottom could only palm the ball out to Scott and although his effort was blocked, Liam Donnelly rammed the rebound home to make it four.

Croatian midfielder Ilic came close to making it five when he collected a pass from Scott, stepped inside his marker only to see his low drive cleared off the line.

Perhaps promisingly, ‘Well had to settle for a 4-0 win over Morton, a repeat of the scoreline at the same stage two years ago, when the Fir Park men progressed all the way to the Betfred Cup Final.

Rohan Ferguson is to join Northern Irish side Linfield on loan for the 2019/20 campaign, subject to international clearance.

The goalkeeper, who made his Motherwell debut last season against Aberdeen at Pittodrie, joins the Danske Bank Premiership champions, with the option for him to be recalled in January.

Ferguson, 21, will immediately be in contention to play for David Healy’s side in their UEFA Europa League second qualifying round match away to HB Torshavn next Tuesday.

“We think it is important for Rohan to get back playing regular first team football again,” manager Stephen Robinson said of the move.

“He obviously enjoyed significant game time when he first broke through at Airdrie, and Craig Hinchliffe has worked with him extensively over the last year.

“However, there is significant competition for places at the moment with Mark Gillespie, Trevor Carson and Peter Morrison also vying for two spots.

“This is a chance for him to fight for a number one spot and allow us to monitor how he develops.”

Everyone at Motherwell wishes Rohan all the best during his time at Windsor Park.

Stephen Robinson, fresh from signing a new contract, talks about the job of being boss, transfer targets and taking on tricky Championship opposition on Friday night.

Motherwell host Greenock Morton in the second match of the Betfred Cup group stage, with both teams having won their opening fixtures.

On signing a new contract

” I think it was always going to get sorted out. We’ve had a busy summer.A lot of things [have] been happening. So it’s good.

“I’m very happy to commit my future It’s a fantastic football club.  People have been very good to me.It’s worked well and I still see us moving
forward and developing.

“We’ve got to cup finals.  We’ve developed a lot of young playersFinancially we’ve brought a lot of money into the football club that has put us on a steady footing.We are looking to keep doing that.

“On the pitch is my main concentration to try keep moving us forward, keep developing our young players and bring in more exciting players to sell.

“There’s lot of issues you’ve got to deal with as a manager. As I say, this is a football club that people do things together. I’ve got total support from the board.  The fans have been terrific with me.It does make life easier when that’s the case.

“The model of the football club is to develop young players and sell them. And to make sure we keep trying to bring in good value players that we can create assets from. The football club exists on selling players. We don’t have a massive owner. We are fan-owned. And it has to be that case.

“It’s frustrating at times because you think you’ve built a really good side and then it gets broken up. This is probably the third squad we’ve put together again with eight or nine players. It’s a challenge. It’s one that I very much enjoy. And there are no surprises. We know that’s going to happen.

“Obviously within our coaching staff and playing staff we bring in, we’ve aspirations of getting into that top six and pushing on and still trying to play the football we played in the last six months of the season.”

On transfer targets

“We’ve got to a stage now where it has to be a starter we bring in.We don’t want a squad player.

“We don’t want the same as what we’ve got. It has to be somebody who is going to be a starter who is going to be better than what we’ve got.

“We’ve built our squad. We are happy with our squad. Now we are just looking maybe for that final bit of the jigsaw.

“If it doesn’t come, I’m more than happy with what we’ve done.”

On facing Greenock Morton

“I think we always had that gameplan against  Queen of the South, that we would bring the two boys on.

“When you bring the boys up from England, they are behind. It’s getting that right balance between giving them the game time and making sure they don’t get injured. That’s the difficult one for us.

“We have got some decent players, we’ve got some very good young players who are on the verge of things. James Scott has been starting. David Devine, Adam Livingstone, Jamie Semple who started as well.

“[That is] as well as the wide players we’ve got. Ilic has come in, he’s only been in the club a few days. He will get better and better.

“Casper Sloth, we’ve given some time off for family reasons. I think once we get him going, over a period of time he will be a good asset as well.”

Motherwell face Greenock Morton at home on Friday night in their first game at Fir Park of the 2019/20 season.

Stephen Robinson’s men are already a match into the Betfred Cup group stage campaign, having defeated Queen of the South 3-0 away from home last weekend.

Kick off on Friday is at 7.45pm and, if you’re outside the UK/Ireland, you can watch the game live on our streaming service.

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