| 3 | Rangers | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 23 |
| 4 | Dundee United | 13 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 20 |
| 5 | Motherwell | 12 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 19 |
| 6 | St Mirren | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | -4 | 18 |
| 7 | Dundee | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 15 |
Defender Max Johnston has been named in Scotland’s under 21 squad for their upcoming friendly match at Fir Park.
Scotland take on Iceland in Lanarkshire on Thursday 17 November at the home of the Steelmen and with player withdrawals, Johnston will take his place in his first under 21 squad.
The 18-year-old has been impressing on loan at Cove Rangers this season and will join up with his Scotland teammates this week in Edinburgh.
Our loan boys continued to get minutes in the legs this week as they will continue to play throughout the FIFA 2022 World Cup.
Max Johnston continued his run of games playing the full match for Cove Rangers when they travelled to Arbroath.
Going behind in the first half, Cove fought until the end and equalised in stoppage time to earn a point.
Scott Fox was an unused sub in Queen of the South’s 5-1 defeat to Alloa Athletic.
Robbie Mahon got his first start for Dunfermline on Saturday at East End Park, where Clyde were the visitors.
Clyde, under the new management of Jim Duffy, came out of the traps flying and went 2-0 ahead. Mahon was a half time substitute as Dunfermline looked to get back into the game.
The match ended 2-2 after a second half comeback from the Pars.
Fresh from his suspension, Ewan Wilson returned to the starting eleven for Albion Rovers as they travelled to promotion chasers East Fife.
The full back played the full 90 minutes, with Albion pulling off a terrific 3-2 to victory on the road.
Daniel Hunter was an unused substitute for Cumbernauld Colts when they beat Caledonian Braves 4-1 on Saturday at Broadwood.
With two games in the space of three days, East Kilbride scored 11 goals this week, conceding none in the process.
With a 6-0 victory against Gretna and a 5-0 win against Berwick Rangers, Logan Dunachie played the full 90 in both fixtures as he rounded off an impressive week for Kilby.
“We’ve not drew enough games like that this season.
“The break is a chance to improve and to give the fans a team that they can be proud of.”
Motherwell went into the World Cup break with a 1-1 draw at McDiarmid Park against St Johnstone.
A Drey Wright opener was cancelled out by Blair Spittal’s free kick right on the stroke of half time.
After a tight opening exchange, St Johnstone pounced after a Motherwell attack broke down.
Adam Montgomery coolly collected Graham Carey’s cross-field pass before feeding through David Wotherspoon. Crafting out the angle to get his shot away, Liam Kelly fended the effort directly into the path of Wright to send the Saints ahead.
Motherwell stayed in the game and got themselves back on level terms on the stroke of half time.
Sean Goss was fouled on the edge of the box and although the midfielder stood over the subsequent free kick, it was Blair Spittal who took and his effort found the back of the net.
In the second half, Stuart McKinstry seen his effort fly high over the bar in what was the ‘Well’s best chance.
With the game finishing 1-1, Motherwell remain ninth in the table and six points off third place.
Manager Steven Hammell will access what players are available for the trip to St Johnstone over the next 24 hours.
The winter break has come at a good time for Motherwell, with the squad plagued by injuries but the Motherwell boss insists his team will give it everything they’ve got to come back from Perth with all three points.
Our fixture against Kilmarnock will now take place on Friday 23 December at Fir Park.
Kick off is 7:45pm.
The match was originally scheduled to take place on Saturday 24 December.
Both Motherwell and Kilmarnock made the request to the fixture change months ago.
SPFL, Sky Sports and Police Scotland all agreed for the change to go ahead this week.
Dean Cornelius says Motherwell are looking forward to the World Cup break as it is a chance for the team to get some much needed rest and allows them time to reset.
With the break in matches lasting five week, the midfielder believes it’s an opportunity for the team to work hard and get ahead of other teams in the league, and a win on Saturday would set them up nicely for it.
With a thin squad stretched the maximum, the matches didn’t get any easier for Motherwell with champions Celtic in town for a midweek clash in Lanarkshire.
With Celtic as strong favourites for the match, it would be the hosts who had the first big opportunity in the match. Stephen O’Donnell’s through ball was inch perfect for Kevin van Veen, who rounded the Joe Hart but couldn’t apply the finishing touch.
He was made to rue that missed chance on 15 minutes, when Kyogo tapped in from close range from Matt O’Riley’s ball across goal.
Bevis Mugabi, Kevin van Veen and Stuart McKinstry all went off injured to add to Steven Hammell’s injury list.
Louis Moult would go close from a header in what was Motherwell’s best chance of the second half.
Celtic would get their second of the match when former Motherwell man David Turnbull played a perfect ball over the top for Daizen Maeda who finished past Liam Kelly. The goal would be controversial after Matt Penney’s throw in was blocked in the build up.
Ross Tierney grabbed a consolation goal moments after Celtic’s second in the closing stages of the game.
The last match before the league breaks off for the World Cup is against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.
Kick off is 3pm, Saturday 12 November.
Tickets are available to buy directly from St Johnstone by clicking here. (Motherwell fans can purchase online on the day of the match until half-time)
Ticket prices:
| (Away support) | |
| Adults | £24 |
| Concessions | £14 |
| Family Adult | £17 |
| Juvenile (must be accompanied by an adult) | Free |
Important Information
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.
St Johnstone have hit a good run of form, unbeaten in their last four, win wins over Hibernian, Rangers and Kilmarnock.
The home side have worked their way into the top six, with Motherwell sitting four points behind in 9th.
McDiarmid park has not been a happy hunting ground of late for the Steelmen, with their last win coming in September of 2019. Steven Hammell’s injury-hit side will be looking to end that wait for a win and go into the World Cup break on a positive note.
Match Officials
“It’s another narrow defeat, something we’ve seen too often this season.
“We need one last push on Saturday.”
