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Graham Alexander fully believes his players are capable of putting a bad run of results behind them and getting the results they need to move up the table.

Dean Cornelius believes it has been fine margins that have meant Motherwell have dropped points in their recent poor run of form but the team are up for the fight to push up the table.

Motherwell defender Max Johnston has been selected in Scotland’s Under 19s squad. 

The full back, who is currently on loan at Queen of the South, will join up with Billy Stark and the rest of the squad for the upcoming 2021-22 UEFA Under-19 EURO Elite Round.

Scotland are in Group one and travel to Hungary to play three fixtures. They play against Turkey first on Wednesday 23 March.

They will then take on hosts Hungary on Saturday 26 March before playing Israel on Tuesday 29 March.

Bevis Mugabi has been called up by Uganda.

The Cranes will play in a small friendly tournament in Uzbekistan that will take place between Friday 25 March and Tuesday 29 March.

Uganda will face Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgz Republic.

This tournament will be used as a warm for the AFCON 2023 qualifiers which start in June.

A trip to Perth lies in store on Saturday in the cinch Premiership.

Kick-off at McDiarmid Park is at 3pm.

Ticket information

Tickets for Motherwell fans can be purchased online now directly from St Johnstone. Tickets are available to buy online only.

Prices are:

• Adults: £24
• Over 65s / Under 20s: £14
• Family adult (one adult with maximum two children under 12): £17
• Under 12s (no admission without an adult): Free

Important information

For the £17 family deal, all ticket holders must enter via turnstile five.

Wheelchair and PA tickets can be purchased directly from the McDiarmid Park ticket office by calling 01738 455000 during office hours. Adult/concession wheelchair tickets are £15/£9 respectively. The personal assistant ticket is included in the ticket price.

Watch live

A live stream is available from St Johnstone for £17.50 from their SaintsTV site.

Tale of the tape

Motherwell remain unbeaten against St Johnstone this season, although wins at McDiarmid Park have been hard to come by. September 2019 was the last time the Steelmen won in Perth.

Devante Cole scored the winner with Mark Gillespie also saving a Scott Tanser penalty.

Form guide

Saturday’s match is a tale of a team who have won two home league games this season against a team who have won two away games this season.

St Johnstone’s last win in the league came on 19 February, beating Hearts 2-0. The Perth side had a rest weekend after they were knocked out of the Scottish Cup.

Motherwell are currently 8th in the table, one point off of Hibernian who are 4th in the table. The Steelmen have picked up three points out of a possible 12.

Motherwell pair Liam Kelly and Stephen O’Donnell have been called up to the Scotland squad. 

Stephen O’Donnell, who will be looking to achieve his 25th cap for his country, has been a regular in Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad and will once again be looking to feature.

Liam Kelly, who was last in the Scotland squad for September’s round of fixtures, will be looking to pick up his first Scotland cap.

Due to the postponement of Scotland’s World Cup playoff fixture against Ukraine, Poland will now be the opponents in a friendly match at Hampden on Thursday 24 March at 7:45pm.

They will then face the losers of Wales v Austria away on the Tuesday 29 March.

Our physiotherapist David Henderson also takes up his regular place on the backroom staff.

Ross Tierney has been called up by Republic of Ireland’s Under 21s. 

The young Irish side play group leaders Sweden away in the UEFA European Under 21 Championship.

They play on 29 March, with Republic of Ireland four points off the leaders having played a game less.

Liam Donnelly has been called up by Northern Ireland. 

The Motherwell midfielder has been selected for international duty and returns to the squad for the first time since September 2021.

Northern Ireland face Luxembourg away in a friendly on 25 March and return to Windsor Park for a friendly clash against Hungary on 29 March.

“The players kept believing and put everything into the game. It’s really hurtful to go out in that fashion.”

Motherwell crashed out of the Scottish Cup at the quarter-final stage after failing to overcome a two-goal deficit against Hibernian.

The home side’s odds of progressing to the semi-finals increased dramatically within the first minute after Bevis Mugabi’s wreckless lunge gave the Steelmen a challenge they fought hard to overcome.

Then a first-half double from Norweigan striker Elias Melkersen’s looked certain to allow Hibs to comfortably claim a semi-final spot at ‘Well’s expense for the second consecutive season.

However, Joe Efford’s opportunist goal just before half-time set the scene for a stirring second half from the Steelmen. But despite commanding most of the second period Motherwell failed to find a second goal as Hibs, despite having a one-man advantage for so long, desperately held on for the narrowest of wins.

Graham Alexander once again made numerous changes to his starting line-up for this quarter-final tie.

In came Mugabi at right-back, with Dean Cornelius and Nathan McGinley joining Liam Donnelly in midfield. Joe Efford and Kevin van Veen were partnered up front with Jordan Roberts taking Kaiyne Woolery’s place.

With both teams finding goals and wins hard to come by in 2022, the lure of a Scottish Cup semi-final place was seen as an ideal opportunity to kick start their respective seasons.

There was a terrific cup atmosphere with just over 8,000 fans inside Fir Park for this midday clash.

Hibs had barely kicked off facing a massive travelling support when Motherwell were reduced to 10 men. Mugabi’s high tackle on Josh Doig left Willie Collum with no option but to reach for his red card with less than 60 seconds played.

Five minutes later Roberts’ late challenge earned him a yellow card as tempers on both sides threatened to spill over.

Hibs came close to using their extra man advantage after nine minutes when only a superb left-handed save from Liam Kelly prevented Drey Wright from opening the scoring.

A minute later the referee was back in his top pocket again this time to show Melkerson a yellow card.

Motherwell seemed undaunted by the loss of Mugabi and Van Veen forced two corners as the home support rallied behind their depleted team.

And from the second corner into a packed box ‘Well almost snatched the lead. But after Juhani Ojala’s shot was parried by Matt Macey, Roberts failed to connect with the loose ball inside the six-yard box.

However, it was the Easter Road mem who made the breakthrough after 15 minutes. Sylvester Jasper worked his way into the box on the right and his cross picked out Melkerson whose header from four yards flashed past Kelly. That gave Shaun Maloney’s men and the Hibs fans behind Kelly’s goal a huge boost.

It took another good save from Kelly in the 31st minute when Jasper’s cross from the left eluded everyone forcing the ‘Well keeper to dive low to his left and smother the ball.

The Fir Park ‘keeper was beaten five minutes later when Hibs doubled their lead and should have effectively killed the tie.

On-loan Fulham midfielder Jasper was again the provider with a measured lofted pass over the struggling Ojala and into Melkersen’s path. The striker had time to chest the ball down and advance to the edge of the box before driving the ball low past the helpless Kelly and make it 2-0.

Three minutes from the break and out of nothing ‘Well grabbed a lifeline.

Roberts’ shot on the right found its way to Efford 10 yards out and he chested the ball towards goal. His quick reactions caught out Macey who watched the ball hit the foot of his right-hand post before rolling over the goal line to make it 2-1.

Although Kelly had another fine save from Wright’s rising shot the end of an action-packed first half came with ‘Well chasing an equaliser.

The break gave Alexander the chance to reorganise his side Stephen O’Donnell coming on for the injured Ojala, Lamie moving to the centre of the defence and McGinley returning to left back.

Even minus a man that gave Motherwell a more balanced look. And O’Donnell almost made the most of his introduction when he worked his way to the byeline before drilling the ball low across the face of Macey’s goal and just begging a touch from two yards to send it into the net.

After 62 minutes Donnelly latched onto a loose ball from Josh Campbell and his powerful drive from 25 yards had the Hibs ‘keeper racing to his right to see the ball narrowly past his post.

‘Well players then encouraged the referee to produce a red card when Jasper, previously booked for simulation, tripped McGinley wide on the right. Donnelly curled the resultant free-kick towards the six-yard box and Sondre Solholm’s glancing header had Macey gripping the ball on his goal line as Efford and Van Veen hovered for a slip.

With 20 minutes remaining the Hibs players looked increasingly uncomfortable as ‘Well pressed the visitor’s goal in search of an equaliser.

Donnelly again came close after 72 minutes when following O’Donnell’s long throw the ball came out to the ‘Well midfielder but his measured header sailed just over Macey’s crossbar as the 3,300 Hibs’ fans behind his goal became nervously quieter.

That forced Maloney into a double substitution as the Hibs boss ensured that his men held on to their slender lead.

With eight minutes remaining Alexander injected fresh and fast legs into the home attack when Woolery replaced Roberts.

Then after Kelly held a Christian Doidge header, Woolery came close to forcing the game into extra-time.

A great break from the middle of the park saw Cornelius and Van Veen combine to release the Well winger but cutting in from the corner of the box his drive screamed across and beyond Macey’s right hand post.

In a final attempt to force an extra 30 minutes Conner Shields came on as ‘Well went four up front for the four added minutes.

Macey was booked for time wasting as Hibs held on to deny the Fir Park men an equaliser their brave second half performance deserved.