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Peter Hartley, Liam Donnelly and Christopher Long netted the goals as Motherwell defeated Hamilton Academical 3-1 in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Stephen Robinson hailed the character of his team in their 3-1 win in the Lanarkshire derby over Hamilton Academical.

Motherwell bounced back from two defeats to comprehensively win the first Lanarkshire derby of the season.

Two goals inside the first 21 minutes, from returning captain Peter Hartley and a seventh of the season from Liam Donnelly put ‘Well in charge. And although Ross Cunningham pulled one back for Accies, Chris Long’s goal just after half-time eased the Steelmen to the most comfortable three points.

Although Accies played with 10 men for 70 minutes, the Fir Park men dominated the match from start to finish, with a number of impressive performers in claret and amber.

Following their Betfred Cup exit, Stephen Robinson shuffled his starting line-up. In the absence of Richard Tait, Liam Grimshaw kept his place on the right, but Peter Hartley was recalled to the centre of defence, with Charles Dunne moving to the left.

Having interchanged his strikers in the fixtures so far, James Scott and Christopher Long were given the chance to be paired in the attack.

Facing the 1500 ‘Well fans behind Owain Fon-Williams goal the Steelmen were on the front foot from the kick-off.

After six minutes Sherwin Seedorf played the ball in front of Liam Polworth and his low effort from the edge of the box produced a decent save from the Accies ‘keeper.

A few minutes later and a steady build up on the right involving Seedorf, Alan Campbell and Liam Grimshaw, ended with Polworth pulling his shot wide of goal.

The signs were good for the visitor’s and Seedorf was again at the heart of the action but from four yards in front of goal he failed to connect with Scott’s cross from the left.

The pressure on the home goal and in the 15th minute it had a lucky escape when Hartley got his head to Polworth’s corner only to see the ball rebound from the crossbar and forced over for another corner. From the third consecutive flag kick Harley was finally rewarded stooping to send the ball looping into the net to give his side a deserved lead.

Five minutes later and ‘Well doubled their lead and it was a double whammy for Accies.
Another swift move on the right found Campbell driving for goal and when the ball was deflected across the six yard box, Scott rose to head the ball towards goal.

Jamie Hamilton, on the line, stretched out an arm to deny the striker a goal, conceding a penalty and earning the young Accies defender a red card.

Donnelly buried the resultant spot kick under the diving ‘keeper to put the Fir Park two ahead and in the driving seat.

However, that two goal advantage lasted only two minutes. In Accies first attack a ball into a packed box connected with Hartley’s raised hand – leaving Ross Cunningham to ram the resultant penalty high past Mark Gillespie.

It did little to change the pattern of the game, though, as Motherwell made the most of the extra man to dictate the remainder of the first half.

However, despite dominating possession and pressing Accies into their own area, ‘Well failed to extend their lead. Indeed, apart from Grimshaw’s crisp 30 yard drive which forced a fine save from Fon-Williams the Hamilton ‘keeper was largely untroubled.

While you suspected that ‘Well might pay for not capitalising on their advantage – it took the visitor’s only five minutes into the second half to take a firm grip of the game.

Chris Long collected at the ball at left hand corner of the 18 yards box and then dribbled the ball all the way to the other corner of the box, before firing a low shot beyond Fon-Williams and inside the ‘keeper’s right hand post to make it 3-1.

After a decent contribution Seedorf made way for Jermaine Hylton, who was given just over 30 minutes to further torment an overworked Accies defence.

Long might have nicked another when Dunne’s inviting cross from the left sped across the six yard box narrowly in front of the inrushing ‘Well striker.

After 65 minutes Devante Cole took over from Scott who had impressive afternoon cutting in from the wide areas.

With Motherwell in complete control and Gillespie yet to make a save the visitor’s were still chasing another gaol in the final five minutes.

Good work from the tireless Long ended with his angled shot being deflected beyond the post and the waiting Cole.

In another break the ball found its way to Hylton was beaten by Fon-Williams but by that stage the points were safely heading back across the Clyde.

Fans can pay at the gate Saturday’s derby at Hamilton Academical.

Online sales are also available until 2pm on Friday. Tickets must be collected from Fir Park before 4pm on Friday.

Cash gates will be available. Supporters are encouraged to get to the ground early.

Pay at the gate will be available at turnstiles seven, eight and nine in the north west corner of the ground. Turnstiles 10, 11 and 12 are for pre-purchased tickets only. Disabled supporters will be accommodated in the east stand.

Fans who require ambulant or wheelchair access should contact Andy Sim on 07428 225254 or email tickets@mfcdsa.com.

Can’t make it? Watch or listen live

Wherever you are, there’s live audio commentary available on our streaming service for £5.99 a month. Just head to tv.motherwellfc.co.uk to subscribe.

Stephen Robinson says his side have what it takes to recover from last week’s cup exit in the Lanarkshire derby on Saturday.

Here’s what he told the broadcast media ahead of the match.

On bouncing back

“You have to point out where people have made mistakes. It was simple things we got punished for.

“We’ve lost one game of football. Up until the Hearts game, everyone had been singing our praises on how well we’d done. Even against Celtic.

“It’s one game. We have to put that into perspective. It’s a very young squad of players that are going to learn. Players respond to encouragement.

“They respond to people being positive. Not being negative. We talked to them after the game.

“We talked to them on Saturday morning. We showed them things they can be better at.

“From then it’s been constant encouragement. Constant positivity around the place. That’s shown in the training performances this week.”

On building momentum

“We are very much at the start of what we are trying to do. As a management staff, you don’t react to one bad game and that’s it, they are the worst player in the world. Or the worst manager in the world.

“That doesn’t happen here. It didn’t happen here last year when we had a run of nine to ten games. And it didn’t happen the year before.

“We keep building, we keep being positive. Perspective is needed. It’s one game with a young side. You look round and we’ve got three 18 year olds on the bench. We’ve got a 19 year old starting up front.

“That’s what we are. They will go up and down. But what they need is constant encouragement. Constant coaching and showing them where they’ve gone wrong.

“I’ve got real belief in the players we’ve got here. They don’t go from the first five games where they are fantastic, and it’s great recruitment, and it’s a fantastic season ahead to one bad game where it’s not going to be that.

“There has to be somewhere level in between. We won’t get too up with winning and we won’t get too down with losing.”

On facing Hamilton

“It will be physical. It always is. We’ve got people who will be very much up for that. We’ll demand that and we will drive that.

“But also being brave means getting the ball down and playing. Continuing to do what we’ve done in circumstances when it is 0-0, when you’re 1-0 down, that’s bravery as well.

“[It’s] showing that competitive side off the ball but also with the ball.”

Fans are advised to buy their tickets in advance for Saturday’s derby at Hamilton Academical.

Tickets are available online now or from the Fir Park ticket office.

Fans who require ambulant or wheelchair access should contact Andy Sim on 07428 225254 or email tickets@mfcdsa.com.

Can’t make it? Watch or listen live

Wherever you are, there’s live audio commentary available on our streaming service for £5.99 a month. Just head to tv.motherwellfc.co.uk to subscribe.

Saturday sees the first Lanarkshire derby of the 2019/20 season, as Motherwell make the short trip to take on Hamilton Academical.

Here’s what you need to know ahead of the match.

Tale of the tape

Motherwell have won two, lost two and drawn one of their last five matches.

In the league, Stephen Robinson’s side drew on the opening day at Livingston, before a home defeat to Celtic.

Hamilton meanwhile lost 3-0 on the opening day at Ross County, before a 2-0 home win over Kilmarnock on matchday two.

Both sides exited the Betfred Cup last weekend, with the ‘Well losing to Hearts and Accies losing at Kilmarnock.

Head to head

Motherwell have won three of the last five derby encounters between the two sides, with one draw and one Accies win in the mix.

The last match came at New Douglas Park, as Marius Ogboe’s late equaliser cancelled out David Turnbull’s opener in a 1-1 draw.

Ticket information

Tickets are available online now or from the Fir Park ticket office. Prior purchase is advised.

Fans who require ambulant or wheelchair access should contact Andy Sim on 07428 225254 or email tickets@mfcdsa.com.

Can’t make it? Watch or listen live

Wherever you are, there’s live audio commentary available on our streaming service for £5.99 a month. Just head to tv.motherwellfc.co.uk to subscribe.

Allan Campbell and James Scott have been called up to the Scotland Under 21 squad.

The pair are in Scot Gemmill’s selection for the forthcoming UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying double header with San Marino and Croatia.

Campbell is a regular at Under 21 level, having been capped 15 times.

Scott is a first-time call-up to the squad, having impressed so far this season in claret and amber, scoring three goals in seven appearances.

Scotland take on San Marino in Paisley on Thursday, 5 September at 7.30pm, before travelling to take on Croatia five days later.

The best of the action as Motherwell go out of the Betfred Cup at the hands of Hearts.

“There’s lessons to be learned. We weren’t good enough.”

Stephen Robinson speaks as Motherwell exit the Betfred Cup at the hands of Hearts.