| 4 | Dundee United | 18 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 28 |
| 5 | St Mirren | 20 | 8 | 3 | 9 | -5 | 27 |
| 6 | Motherwell | 19 | 8 | 3 | 8 | -8 | 27 |
| 7 | Hibernian | 20 | 6 | 6 | 8 | -4 | 24 |
| 8 | Dundee | 19 | 6 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 22 |
Tony Watt is feeling the best he has done in a while at Motherwell having put in extra effort and work in the last few months.
Watt was disappointed to see his team on the wrong end of another decision at the weekend but believes the players have a job to do and they won’t sit back and feel hard done by.
Assistant manager Stephen Frail says the KMI report that concluded Tony Watt’s goal should have stood against Rangers doesn’t do anything for the team and that they have moved onto the next challenge.
Frail believes Hearts are a good team with good players and is expecting a tough day at the office.
Motherwell begin 2025 with a trip to Edinburgh to face Hearts at Tynecastle on Thursday 2 January.
Kick off is 3pm.
TICKETS FOR THE AWAY END ARE SOLD OUT!
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.
We will be wearing our third kit for this match.
Callum Slattery, Steve Seddon, Ross Callachan and Zach Robinson remain out for this game.
Jack Vale has returned for his first training session at the club, having trained two weeks with Blackburn.
Paul McGinn made the bench against Rangers having been out injured since September. Marvin Kaleta and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos came off in the last match and will be assessed by the medical staff.
Lennon Miller is waiting to see a specialist for an injury sustained in the last match.
Motherwell fought valiantly for a point against Rangers last time out, the first points gained against Rangers at Fir Park in almost five years.
Apostolos Stamatelopoulos made it four goals in six games, with the Aussie hitting top form during the festive period. The result leaves Motherwell joint fifth in the table, having played a game less than St Mirren.
Tynecastle has been a tricky place to go for the Steelmen, with Motherwell winning one in their last six visits to the Capital.
Hearts have went through a patch run of form in all competitions this season, with the Jambos looking certain to pick up three points against Ross County on Sunday, until the Staggies netted in the 97th and 99th minute to nick a draw.
That result leaves Hearts in 11th making it two wins in eight games. Academy graduate James Wilson has been the real surprise package this season for Hearts. The young striker has got five goals to his name this season, making 12 appearances.
Jonathan Obika made his first senior appearance in football back in November 2008 in the UEFA Cup for Tottenham Hotspur. A local London boy who was brought through the Spurs ranks, he went on to have a fruitful career in the game, with a playing career spanning over 14 years.
Turning out for 14 different clubs, the time came for him to make the biggest decision of his life. Having joined Motherwell on deadline day in January 2023, come the summer of 2024, he had made 14 appearances for the Steelmen during the 2023/24 campaign, and injury was becoming a growing issue.
Often lauded as the ‘nicest man in football,’ it was clear that Obika was a respected individual within the Motherwell dressing room, and with Stuart Kettlewell keen to keep the Englishman aboard his ship, he was offered the position of first-team coach at the end of last season.
Now six months into that new role, Obika has learnt so much in such a short space of time but is doing it with a smile on his face.
“It has been life-changing in a sense,” Jon Obika said.
“When it was proposed by the Gaffer to take up this role, the trust was there. I knew the manager, Stevie, and the people around the club. You don’t know what it entails to run a football club until you’re in it.
“I’ve enjoyed every moment. When I’m working with the players, I feel like I can pass on experience and knowledge that I’ve gained over the years. It’s a really fulfilling experience.”
Although he may be in the same industry, being a coach is very different f rom being a player, and that is something Obika has had to adapt to very quickly.
“The time frames for a start are different,” he explained.
“There are early starts, late leaves, and you appreciate what the coaches and staff have to do. The staff controlling the club, f rom cleaners to ground staff, have to do so much to make Motherwell FC tick. You saw it a bit as a player, but now as a coach, you appreciate it more.
“I said to the Sports Scientist the other day, I’m more nervous on the sidelines than I was when I was playing, just because you want everything to go well. The staff create a plan, and you just want that plan to work. I love learning and it’s good, knowledgeable people who are educating me.
“Even as a player, learning was important to me. Sometimes it was just f rom the older pros. I’d learn about their diet, discipline, and how they recovered f rom games. Now I’m in a position where I can see how staff move day to day. It just all matches at the moment.”
Being a coach carries its own responsibilities. You have to take sessions, try and improve players within your squad, but that’s just the standard duties. Jon Obika has discovered it goes deeper than that.
“As a player, even though I was a team player, you still have that individual edge,” Obika noted.
“You want to score goals and get assists. But when you think of the group as a whole when you’re a coach, it’s different. You see moods and people who need to be picked up a little. It’s not just on the field; it’s away from the game too. I’ve always seen players as humans, but you consider each other as athletes. When you step away, you see people have lives, kids, and families. You treat them accordingly.
“It has been easy to adapt to everyone. As a coach, I feel like I can express myself to them and understand what they need. Even if they’re coming f rom down south or, like Moses, f rom abroad, it’s all about how you can get them to settle and play the Motherwell way.”
As a player, your time in the coach’s off ice would be limited to video analysis and meetings. But now in there full-time, Obika has observed the daily workload the staff undertake.
“I’d love to say I’m first in, but I’m in for 7:30 am, and the Gaffer and Stevie are already there,” he laughed.
“I’ll go over sessions first with Stevie and the Gaffer. After planning the session, I do video analysis with some of the strikers. We go through some of their clips and some performance gains they can look for.
“Then we head to training before the team to set up. I hope the session goes smoothly; then it’s back to the stadium for lunch and more video analysis. We’ll look at the strengths and weaknesses of the opponent, and then we brainstorm in the off ice about things we may need for tomorrow. From 2 pm until 6 pm, it’s quite sporadic depending on the week.”
“And during a match, I’m on the earpiece linking up with the analysts. He’s got a better view, so we pass on information to Stevie in real time. On the iPad, I’m on set pieces and making sure the substitutes are aware of their jobs. I want to keep them sharp; as in a game, emotion can make you forget things.”
Having become fully acclimatised to the life of a first-team coach, Obika reflects on his admiration and respect that he holds for manager Stuart Kettlewell.
“I remember as a player when the manager came in, he brought a culture with him,” Obika reminisced.
“All the players took to it and it’s the same this season. I knew my role was to implement that culture. You have 11 players who start, but they’re all competitors, and they want to play. So, it’s just about keeping them all motivated and believing in the product.
“It’s been rewarding. Even after the full-time whistle blows, I like to speak with the subs because they’re all a part of it too. You see, when we score, the subs are running out and supporting. That energy is needed for the whole season.
“I’ve worked with so many managers but not as a coach. I’m in awe of the manager and his work rate. I don’t think I’ve seen a manager with that work ethic; he instills it in all of us. We know what he does, and that’s the bar. He’s very personable; you can talk to him on and off the pitch.
“You can see the detail he gives to his players and staff; it makes you understand easily what he wants. He only has to say it once. It’s been great to learn from him, and his support through my badges has been excellent.
“I often ask myself, when does he rest? But that’s the bar, and I love people setting the level; I think the manager does that for his staff.”
Motherwell’s last points at home against Rangers were in January 2021, and with a narrow loss in the semi-final on their minds, the Steelmen wanted to start fast.
And start fast they did. In the first-half, they showed ample energy and class, with Apostolos Stamatelopoulos and Tawanda Maswanhise dispatching two efforts past Jack Butland.
Rangers made changes at the interval and got one back within the first five minutes of the second-half.
But then, in similar fashion to recent weeks, refereeing controversy would be at the heart of the match. Tony Watt seemed to have given the hosts the lead, but Kevin Clancy blew bizarrely for a foul on the keeper.
With the goal ruled out, Watt thought he scored again but VAR intervened, spotting an offside in the build-up. Rangers then levelled the game minutes later.
Not many chances would come in the closing stages, with the Well having to settle for a point in their final run out of 2024.
Motherwell were forced to settle for a point after conceding a two-goal advantage following a fiercely contested matchday at Fir Park.
First half strikes from Australian international Apostolos Stamatelopoulos and strike-partner Tawanda Maswanhise had the Steelmen firmly in the driving seat before a double from Hamza Igamane earned a point for the visitors.
However, prior to the Moroccan’s goals, the Ibrox side had to thank VAR for reviewing and ruling out two ‘Well goals.
Following on quickly from their visit to Celtic Park, Stuart Kettlewell made three changes to his starting line-up. Liam Gordon and Stamatelopoulos both recovered from injury concerns, with Andy Halliday returning to face his former club in the Well’ midfield.
Just as the one minute applause, in respect for the 17th anniversary of Phil O’Donnell’s tragic passing ended, Maswanhise posed his first threat on the Gers backline. Gathering the ball midway in the opponents half, the forward dragged the ball past a couple of defenders before curling a high shot towards goal, but the youngster couldn’t trouble Jack Butland in the Rangers goal.
Having tested the untried pairing at the centre of the Rangers defence, it was exposed once again after 16 minutes when ‘Well snatched the lead.
Stamatelopoulos successfully contested a long clearance after the ball broke to Maswanhise, whose pass sent the Australian striker bearing down on goal before stabbing the ball under Butland for his fifth goal of the season.
With 34 minutes on the clock Motherwell doubled their advantage.
Marvin Kaleta’s high ball towards the penalty spot was only cleared as far as Lennon Miller at the edge of the box. Maswanhise showed his flair to work his way through numerous Rangers jerseys before driving the ball into the far corner.
There was a belief that Rangers could only improve in the second half and within five minutes, the Ibrox men had pulled a goal back.
Danilo hammered the ball through a packed penalty box, rebounding from Oxborough’s right hand post, and Igamane lashed one goal back.
The ‘Well boss having protested at Miller’s booking and a VAR review for a possible red card, was himself shown his marching orders before yet another VAR check was required to rule out a Motherwell goal.
Watt’s left foot drive from the corner of the box was pushed round the post by Butland, but when Halliday’s corner landed on top of the Gers crossbar, Butland punched the ball into his own net. `Inexplicably, the referee had ruled that the England international was impeded..
Five minutes later, VAR intervened again to deny ‘Well a third goal. Dan Casey was adjudged to be marginally offside before Watt smashed the ball into the net at the third attempt.
Rangers responded by grabbing the equaliser after 68 minutes when Igamane fired the ball past Oxborough to cap a remarkable fightback.
It was becoming end to end stuff as both sides chased a winner and when Sparrow broke into the box wide on the right, he had a chance to test Butland, but he dragged his shot across the ‘keeper.
The ten minutes additional time, largely due to the number of VAR reviews, failed to produce a goal in a thrilling extended finish, with both sides settling for a point.
Stuart Kettlewell reacts to taking a point at home to Rangers.
Manager Stuart Kettlewell wants to see some improvements from his team when Rangers come to town on Sunday. The Motherwell boss isn’t fussed about the busy schedule and insists his players are focused on the job at hand.
Kettlewell provides an update on the fitness of the squad.
Shane Blaney is pleased to be back in the team and playing football, with the Irish centre-back discussing how frustrating it was to spend some time on the sidelines.
The defender talks about facing Celtic and Rangers back to back, as well the mood in camp.
Motherwell will play their final match of 2024 on Sunday 29 December against Rangers.
Kick off is 3pm.
| Hunter Stand | O’Donnell, Cooper, McLean Stand | |
| Adults | £26 | £33 |
| Concessions | £22 | £24 |
| Young Adults | £12 | £12 |
| Juniors | £6 | £6 |
There will be no online sales as we need to check they have a continuous purchase history
Supporters are able to buy tickets by visiting the ticket office at Fir Park.
Ticket Office open from 11am – the ticket office is open until kick-off with no pay gate facility.
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 match is live on Sky Sports.
We will be wearing our home kit for this match.
Paul McGinn, Callum Slattery, Steve Seddon, Jack Vale, Ross Callachan and Zach Robinson remain out for this game.
The Steelmen’s unbeaten run came to an end at Celtic Park on Boxing Day, with Celtic running out 4-0 winners. That was Motherwell’s first defeat since the start of December against Dundee.
St Mirren’s victory over Rangers, alongside Dundee United’s win at St Johnstone, moved Motherwell down to sixth in the table on Thursday night.
Rangers lost in stoppage time to St Mirren on Boxing Day, as the Gers lost out for the first time in 11 matches. Their strong run of form has saw them overtake Aberdeen and move up to second place in the table.
Summer signing Vaclav Cerny has been pivotal this season for the Ibrox side, with the Czech winger sitting on seven goals already this season.
