| 3 | Rangers | 11 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 22 |
| 4 | Dundee United | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 19 |
| 5 | Motherwell | 11 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 19 |
| 6 | St Mirren | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | -5 | 15 |
| 7 | Dundee | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | -6 | 12 |
With the February fixtures coming thick and fast, it’s a quick turnaround for Stuart Kettlewell as his side prepare to take on Ross County on Tuesday night in the cinch Premiership.
The boss talks us through the recent run of form from Theo Bair and goes into detail about discussions that are ongoing with trying to keep players at the club for next season.
Motherwell were looking for the same kind of performance but an improved result from their last match seven days ago.
With former Motherwell man Kevin van Veen coming back to Fir Park, there was an added to bite to this match against Kilmarnock. Despite going behind, the Steelmen dominated the game and got the fans off their seats.
Theo Bair got his fifth goal in four league games before the interval.
The second-half would see Motherwell well on top but it would be a similar outcome as they couldn’t get the win.
Motherwell take on Ross County at Fir Park on Tuesday 6 February.
Kick off is 7.45pm.
| Hunter Stand | O’Donnell, Cooper, McLean Stand | |
| Adults | £24 | £26 |
| Concessions | £19 | £19 |
| Young Adults | £12 | £12 |
| Juniors | £6 | £6 |
– Concessions Tickets would be ages 65 and over and FT Students with a valid matric card.
– Young Adults tickets would ages 12 to 17.
– Juveniles would be 11 and under
Supporters are able to buy tickets online here or visit the ticket office at Fir Park.
Ticket Office open from 9am – 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, the game will be live on pay-per-view for £11. Game passes can be purchased by clicking here.
We will be wearing our home kit for this match.
Callum Slattery remains sidelined with a long term injury and will be missing for this match.
Jon Obika has returned to training but Tuesday night’s game might come too soon for the striker. Barry Maguire is also a doubt.
Motherwell are now five unbeaten but will be looking to convert their draws into wins.
The last three league games have ended in score draws but the performances have merited more. That will encourage boss Stuart Kettlewell ahead of what is a big game at the bottom of the table.
‘Well sit tenth in the cinch Premiership, just three points above Tuesday’s opponents.
County’s last win came against Motherwell, back in early December.
Since then they have lost six and drawn two, failing to score in six of those.
Derek Adam’s has looked to correct that form by bringing in four players in the January transfer window, with Eli King, Brandon Khela, Teddy Jenks and Michee Efete all joining the County ranks.
A boost for the Dingwall side is that they managed to hold on to star player Yan Dhanda. Although he signed a pre-contract with Hearts, the midfielder remains at County and will be looking to build on his two goals and four assists so far this season.
Despite their recent lack of goals, striker Simon Murray is the one who looks most likely to net. With 13 goals so far and a goal in his last visit to Fir Park, County’s top-scorer is an obvious danger.
Motherwell had to settle for a share of the points for the third successive league game, when once again their performance merited all three.
After falling behind to Lewis Mayo’s early opening goal, ‘Well’s first half pressure paid off when Theo Bair grabbed the equaliser and his fifth goal in four games.
Although they dominated the second half and forced a string of saves from the Killie ‘keeper, the Steelmen, brilliantly led by the fast improving Bair, failed to get the winner they thoroughly deserved.
Despite the influx of new arrivals during the transfer window, Stuart Kettlewell stuck by the same eleven which started against St Johnstone last week.
Meanwhile, ‘Well fans cast an envious eye towards the Killie dug-out and their former hero Kevin Van Veen, who had to be content with a place on the visitor’s bench on his return to Fir Park.
In a promising start the Fir Park side forced three corners in the opening five minutes.
However, in their first threat on Liam Kelly’s goal after 12 minutes, Killie nicked the lead. After a possible foul on Davor Zdravkovski, Paul McGinn’s headed clearance only found Mayo at the edge of the box. And in a swirling wind he did well to control his volley and send the ball low and into the net off Kelly’s left-hand post.
The Steelmen then showed great resilience to keep the play and threat towards the visitor’s goal.
After 25 minutes Blair Spittal worked a 1-2 with Bair before his angled left foot drive forced Will Dennis into a diving save.
The hard running Bair was causing the Rugby Park defenders some anxiety and after Joe Wright had hauled the striker to the ground and earn a yellow card, Spittal fire another drive over the crossbar.
Then in the 37th minute ‘Well deservedly found the equaliser. Andy Halliday won the ball in the centre of the park allowing Spittal to release Bair between Wright and Findlay. Showing great composure the ‘Well striker raced onto the through ball before confidently steering his drive low past Dennis for a fine finish and his seventh goal of the season.
From then until half-time the home side, with Bevis Mugabi frequently deployed as an attacking right wing back, pressed for a second goal with only a couple of last gasp tackles from Wright and Findlay preventing Bair and then Harry Paton getting a strike at goal.
Motherwell started the second half where they left off testing the Killie ‘keeper within three minutes of the restart.
Spittal swung his free kick to the unmarked Halliday at the back of the six-yard box and his downward header was pushed away by Dennis.
Four minutes later the ‘keeper produced a better save to deny ‘Well the lead. Spittal was again the provider sliding the ball into Bair at the corner of the box who advanced towards goal only to see his shot destined for the far corner palmed away by Dennis at full stretch.
The pressure on the Killie goal was intense and Georgie Gent’s low cross into the six yard area found Dennis pouncing to smother the ball as Paton and O’Donnell anticipating a slip.
With 68 minutes played and desperate to change the flow of the game, Derek McInnes made a double substitution while leaving Van Veen on the bench.
It almost had an immediate impact as Gent’s attempted headed clearance saw the ball caught in the swirling wind, sending it back towards his own goal and narrowly past the post.
That was a rare threat from the Ayrshire side and Liam Kelly who ended the 90 minutes without a single save, as the action returned towards the visitor’s goal.
A long ball from Kelly was instantly controlled by O’Donnell before setting up Paton who drove the ball across Dennis and beyond the ‘keeper’s far post.
With 15 minutes remaining Kettlewell traded young legs for old, sending on Lennon Miller for Halliday, who had added a much needed presence to the ‘Well midfield.
Six minutes from the end ‘Wells appeals for a penalty, when Findlay caught Spittal at the corner of the box, were ignored by the referee and VAR.
In added time, though, it was Gent who almost stole the headlines and the winner with a right foot effort from 18 yards which had Dennis scrambling across his line to push away.
Stuart Kettlewell reflects on the 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock.
Our home match against Ross County will be shown live on our pay-per-view streaming service.
The match will be available for £11.
You will be able to purchase online.
Kick off is 7.45pm on Tuesday 6 February.
New signing Sam Nicholson talks us through his adventure in the MLS and discusses what it was like to come up against the likes of Wayne Rooney and Bastian Schweinsteiger.
The winger tells how impressed he has been with the quality available at the club and has full confidence in our chances to move up the table.
Jili Buyabu has joined on loan from Sheffield United for the remainder of the season, subject to international clearance.
The 20-year-old has two appearances for the Premier League side, joined the Blades in 2021 from Non-League side Hornchurch. United fought off the likes of Chelsea and Nottingham Forest to secure his signature at the time.
“We have been tracking Jili and I’m please to have him on board,” manager Stuart Kettlewell said.
“He is another bright prospect, who has attracted a number of clubs so far in his career.
“This is a move we’re excited by at the club and feel he can add something to the squad.”
Buyabu is predominantly a full-back but can operate further forward also.
Full-back Adam Devine has joined the club on a loan deal from Rangers until the end of the season.
The 20-year-old makes the switch from Glasgow, having made one appearance for Rangers first-team this season.
With 11 appearances in total at Rangers, Devine is a regular in the Scotland youth sides and currently represents at Under 21 level.
He has had loan spells with Partick Thistle and Brechin City prior to his arrival in ML1.
“Adam is a promising, young talent,” manager Stuart Kettlewell said.
“He has made appearances at first-team level for Rangers and has been a regular in the matchday squads, which I think shows he is highly thought of by Rangers.
“I hope he brings energy and enthusiasm. This is a chance for him to prove himself at this level and I look forward to working with him.”
Adam Devine will wear the number 21 kit this season.
“I can’t wait to get involved,” Adam Devine added.
“It’s a great club and everyone I have met has been excellent. The manager really sold the club and what he wants to do here and I can’t wait to be a part of that.”
Assistant Manager Stephen Frail goes through all transfer rumours associated with the club including Kevin van Veen, Blair Spittal and David Turnbull.
The Motherwell number two says the club is active on deadline day and we could see some new faces in ML1. He also previews the match against Kilmarnock on Saturday in the cinch Premiership.
