| 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 |
Chris Cadden and Allan Campbell both featured for Scotland Under 21s in their 1-1 qualifying draw in Andorra.
The Motherwell pair were both starters in the match for Scot Gemmill’s side, as they looked to keep themselves in contention for the 2019 UEFA European Under 21 Championships.
The young Scots fell behind in the second half through an Andorran penalty, before Lewis Morgan grabbed a late leveller.
Four Motherwell players are in contention to play for their countries over the March international break.
First potentially in action are Chris Cadden and Allan Campbell, who are with Scotland’s Under 21 side in Andorra.
Scot Gemmill’s side kick off at 5pm UK time in the UEFA European Under 21 Championship qualifier, with the dark blues pushing to catch the Netherlands in second spot.
On Saturday, Trevor Carson could land his long-awaited first international cap with Northern Ireland.
The ‘Well goalkeeper faces South Korea in Belfast, with the game kicking off at 2pm.
Then at 6pm on Saturday, Cédric Kipré is in contention to feature for Ivory Coast as they take on Togo in a friendly in France.
The defender, who has been outstanding in claret and amber this season, was a late call-up to the squad this week and could make his debut.
Motherwell international fixtures at a glance
Friday, 23 March: Andorra Under 21 v Scotland Under 21, 5pm.
Saturday, 24 March: Northern Ireland v South Korea, 2pm
Saturday, 24 March: Togo v Ivory Coast, 6pm.
Cédric Kipré has won his appeal against the red card shown to him against Celtic.
A claim of wrongful dismissal was accepted by a judicial panel at Hampden Park on Thursday, overturning the decision and cancelling a resulting two-game suspension.
A yellow card will instead be added to the player’s record for the incident.
Kipré will now be available for selection for Motherwell’s next match at home to Rangers on March 31.
The 21-year-old, who is currently on international duty with Ivory Coast, was initially ruled by referee Craig Thomson to have committed violent conduct in a clash with Scott Brown in Sunday’s 0-0 draw.
The test for violent conduct, according to the laws of the game, is that a player “must either use or attempt to use excessive force or brutality against an opponent when not challenging for the ball.”
The judicial panel ruled that Kipré’s actions did not use excessive force or brutality against his opponent.
“We are pleased that the panel ruled in Cédric’s favour,” manager Stephen Robinson said of the decision. “It is a sensible outcome, something that all parties agree with.
“Cédric is now available for our upcoming games, which are hugely important as we try and reach the top six. We can now draw a line under things and move on.”
Cédric Kipré’s first reaction when he was shown a red card against Celtic was that he had let his team down.
Caught in an altercation with Scott Brown, the centre back was dismissed for violent conduct, a decision that Motherwell have appealed and which will be heard by a judicial panel on Thursday.
Once he had made his way to the dressing room at Fir Park, the youngster’s initial emotion was anger. Anger that he had made life more difficult for his team mates.
“When I got the red card I thought ‘I’ve let everyone down. Maybe they are going to lose now because 10 v 11 is harder,'” he said.
“But they worked really hard and played really well, so I can only be proud of them. All of them.
“I tried to win the ball. I then fell down and I wanted to stand up, but he pushed me away. My first reaction to try and push him as well but with my foot.”
Pending the outcome of the appeal, Kipré could potentially miss upcoming Ladbrokes Premiership fixtures with Rangers and Aberdeen, as the Steelmen push to land a top six spot.
Regardless of what happens, the 21-year-old says he will use the incident as part of his education and development.
“I don’t think I did a bad thing,” he added. “I just wanted to stand up and keep playing. But it happens.
“Next time I won’t react. That’s what people are telling me to do. I won’t react next time.
“I would miss two games. Two very important games. So hopefully we win it and I can be back for the games and help the team.”
Cédric Kipré has been called up to the Ivory Coast squad for their forthcoming matches against Togo and Moldova.
Although born in Paris, 21-year old Kipré qualifies for Les Éléphants through both his mother and father, who were born in the Ivory Coast.
The former PSG and Leicester defender has been sensational in claret and amber since his arrival in the summer, playing 40 matches in Scotland to date.
Kipré will join the likes of Manchester United’s Eric Bailly, Serge Aurier of Tottenham Hotspur and AC Milan’s Franck Kessie in Kamara Ibrahim’s squad.
A late addition to the squad, the centre back is also in contention for an appearance with the squad’s Under 23s, who are taking part in the same training camp in France and will play games against Togo and club side Beauvais.
Speaking of his first call-up to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations champions, Kipré said: “Obviously I am very proud.
“I heard a few months ago of the possibility. Then a few days ago, I met Kolo Toure and he told me he would call me soon, and then he called me yesterday.
“I feel I’ve made my parents proud. My mum called me last night and was really, really happy. I will play for Ivory Coast for my parents because both of them are from there, so obviously they are very proud.
“Last year I wasn’t playing professional football. This year, I am playing every game, so it is a bit of a new world for me.”
Tickets for Motherwell’s William Hill Scottish Cup semi final with Aberdeen will go on sale on Monday, March 26.
Season ticket holders and Well Society members will be entitled to purchase first on an exclusive basis. Each individual can buy up to five tickets each.
The ticket office and Chapman office at Fir Park will be open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm for ticket sales. It will also be open from 10am until kick off, and for one hour after, at the match with Rangers on Saturday, March 31.
A public sale will start on Monday, April 2. The ticket office will be open on this day from 9am to 1pm. It will be open from 9am to 5pm the rest of the week and will also be open until kick off ahead of the match with Aberdeen on Tuesday, April 3.
The match at Hampden Park will be played on Saturday, April 14. Kick off is at 12.15pm.
Ticket information for the match is as follows:
William Hill South Stand and North Stand
£30 Adult / £15 Concessions
East Stand
£20 Adult / £10 Concessions
Concessions are regarded as those aged under 16 and those aged 65 and over.
Additional information
Telephone bookings will be taken. A £1 admin charge will be applied per telephone booking.
Delivery is available for any fan who cannot collect from us and who is not local. Tickets will be sent recorded delivery but the decision to have tickets posted is at the supporter’s risk and reprints will not be available. A £2.50 admin/postage charge will be added to each ticket, capped at £10.
Our signing section will be in areas F2 and F3 in the east stand.
Any fan requiring ambulant or wheelchair tickets should contact Brian Davidson on 07428225254 or email tickets@mfcdsa.com. .
Getting to Hampden
The club are operating a bus from the Cooper Bar on the day of the game. The bar will be open before departure for food and drink.
The bus, which will take supporters to and from Hampden Park, will cost £8. Supporters can buy by calling 01698 333333 or visiting the ticket office at Fir Park.
Semi final hospitality
Come and enjoy the day in style with our pre and post-match hospitality here at Fir Park.
For just £80, you can get:
You can buy online or call to book on 01698 333333.
Motherwell Football Club have lodged an appeal against the red card shown to Cédric Kipré in Sunday’s fixture with Celtic.
The French defender was dismissed for violent conduct by referee Craig Thomson in the 41st minute of the Ladbrokes Premiership match.
The club believes this is a case of wrongful dismissal and, having submitted a Player Reference to the Scottish FA on behalf of the player, the matter will now go to a fast track tribunal.
The principal hearing will take place on Thursday, 22 March 2018.
Highlights from Fir Park as 10-man Motherwell draw 0-0 with league leaders Celtic.
Richard Tait, Curtis Main and Allan Campbell reflect on a hard-fought point against Celtic after going down to 10 men.
A proud Stephen Robinson hailed his determined players as they picked up a hard-fought point against Celtic.
Despite going down ten men in the first half, the spirited Steelmen held on for nearly an hour against the league leaders.
And the Northern Irishman couldn’t single anyone out as he reflected on the game at full time.
[pullquote]I’m really, really proud of them. To a man they did everything we asked of them against a very good team.[/pullquote]
“In the first half we took the game to them. A lot of teams sit back and wait to be beat by Celtic but we took the game to them and I really felt we could have got three points today.”
He added: “The boys dug in against a very good team and we asked them to play a certain way. Let’s be honest, we weren’t much of an attacking threat in the second half, but that was dictated to by a decision.
“It’s difficult to pick any individual out. Richard Tait and Allan Campbell were absolutely superb, so was everyone on the pitch, but I just think their energy, work-rate and desire to stay in the game was inspiring at times.”
