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Stephen Robinson reflects on his sides victory over Dundee, which secures Premiership status for the Steelmen.

[tab:Match report]

Phil McGhee at Fir Park

Motherwell tightened their grip on seventh spot after edging out Dundee in a tightly contested affair.

After falling behind to a Genseric Kusunga goal, Ryan Bowman netted an equaliser before Cedric Kipre, with his first goal for the club, grabbed the winner shortly after half-time.

‘Well kicked off in the knowledge that they were mathematically clear of the automatic relegation spot. Stephen Robinson’s men, though, were determined to distance themselves from the dogfight to avoid the play-off spot. With Dundee still among that pack a tough ninety minutes was anticipated from a side which hadn’t lost at Fir park since 2015.

The ‘Well line-up had that familiar look and shape about it. Curtis Main, with a splint to protect his left wrist, was able to lead the line alongside Bowman who passed up the first chance of the game. Only Andy Rose was missing from last week’s starting line-up.

After only six minutes Chris Cadden’s cross picked out Bowman in the six yard box. Having directed his header onto the post, the big striker then stooped to meet the rebound only to aim the ball straight at the startled ‘keeper.

Dundee’s response was immediate with Mark O’Hara’s low shot forcing Trevor Carson into an early save.

The Fir Park ‘keeper then produced another couple of saves, standing firm to repel Simon Murray’s thumping drive, before turning Steven Caulker’s header over the bar.

The ‘Well defence struggled to match the physical presence of the former Liverpool man and paid the price after 24 minutes. He climbed highest to direct Paul McGowan’s corner towards a packed goalmouth where Kusunga applied the touch to carry the ball over the line.

That prompted an immediate response from the Steelmen with a bit more urgency about their play. Charles Dunne failed to get enough purchase on Cadden’s first corner. But from the second the full back powered his header towards goal with Bowman steering it high into the net to level the scores.

A few minutes later Alan Campbell won the ball in the middle of the visitor’s half providing Curtis Main with the chance to hit a ferocious 25 yard drive which Elliot Parish was happy to parry wide.

For the remainder of the half the the action switched from end to end with neither team dominating, although ‘Well were dealt a blow five minutes from the break when Bowman limped off and replaced with 17-year old James Scott.

The start of the second half was delayed for five minutes while Dundee scorer Kusunga received treatment on the pitch before being stretchered off. When the game finally got underway it was the home side that looked more fired up – taking the lead within five minutes.

In a well-worked free kick Cadden exchanged passes with Main before curling a tempting ball to the back post where Kipre gladly accepted, powering his header between Parish and his left hand post.

However, with the Dens Park side desperate to take something from the game Carson was still the busier ‘keeper producing two decent stops to deny Kevin Holt and O’Mara.

For the the final ten minutes Carson’s goal was under siege from a succession of corners and crosses. The 913-strong travelling support behind the ’keeper’s goal thought they had snatched a point only to see O’Hara fire over the bar from close range, ending the visitors hopes.

Carl McHugh vows the squad will continue to battle and push for seventh spot in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

With just four league matches remaining, the skipper has his sights focused on Saturday’s clash with Dundee.

And while the excitement builds around Motherwell ahead of May’s Scottish Cup final, the Irishman is confident that the showdown with Celtic won’t serve as a distraction for the Steelmen.

“The next four games will be tough for us,” the midfielder admitted. “We’ll be playing against sides who are scrapping for their lives and they may not be the prettiest of games.

“But we’ve shown that we’ll be committed in these last four games to get as many points on the board as possible before the final.”

He added: “We have to play at a high intensity. We can’t play any other way. Any time we’ve dropped our standards, we’ve come unstuck.”

The referee for Saturday’s Ladbrokes Premiership match against Dundee is Nick Walsh.

It marks the referee’s fourth ‘Well appointment of the 2017/18 campaign, after the 1-0 loss to Aberdeen back in September and the 1-1 draw against Patrick Thistle, both of which were played at Fir Park.

He was also in the middle the last time the Steelmen played at home in the 2-2 draw with Rangers.

The young official took charge of his very first Premiership game in the 2016/17 season, and his involvements with the Steelmen last term were his only involvements with the club prior to this campaign.

Before the 1-0 loss against Aberdeen at Fir Park, ‘Well had a 100% record, albeit just in the two matches the official had taken charge of.

In the five games he has overseen, Walsh has handed out 22 yellow cards, 10 of those flashed at a player in claret and amber.

His assistants are David McGeachie and Ralph Gordon, with Willie Collum on fourth official duties.

Motherwell have a number of players currently sidelined through injury.

Andy Rose suffered an injury to his clavicle during the 0-0 weekend draw with Ross County.

After having an x-ray on Sunday, the club are monitoring how long it is necessary for him to be out and are, at this stage, still hopeful he will make the William Hill Scottish Cup final on May 19.

Curtis Main was also injured during the game in Dingwall. The striker had an x-ray on his wrist on Monday which didn’t show any initial fracture.

He will undergo further tests this week to determine the extent of the injury but is not expected to spend long on the sidelines.

Carl McHugh also damaged his front teeth during the match with County and had dental treatment on Monday. He is not expected to spend any time out.

As has already been announced, George Newell fractured his cheekbone during the William Hill Scottish Cup semi final win against Aberdeen. It is not yet known whether the young striker will need surgery.

The medical staff are also continuing to monitor an ankle knock sustained by Nadir Çiftçi in training.

Ellis Plummer, Peter Hartley and Craig Tanner remain our long-term injury absentees.

Extended highlights from the Global Energy stadium in Dingwall as Motherwell draw with Ross County in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Trevor Carson, Tom Aldred and Charles Dunne speak after the goalless draw with Ross County.

Stephen Robinson guided his side to an 18th clean sheet of the season with a hard-fought performance against Ross County. 

The Steelmen kept the struggling Staggies at bay, but also came up against a resolute side fighting for survival.

And Robinson admitted he could take a number of positives from his side’s third consecutive clean sheet.

“Ross County are scrapping for their lives so we knew it was going to be a tough game,” the Northern Irishman said.

“We were organised and disciplined. We also had the best chances of the game, but we’ll take the point.”

He added: “That’s our 18th clean sheet now so that’s pleasing. If you don’t concede goals, you won’t lose games.

“I’m relatively pleased today. It was a long journey up for the fans so it was good to come away with the point, but I think we could have won the game.”

Grant Russell at the Global Energy Stadium

Motherwell claimed another point on the road in a battling performance away to relegation-threatened Ross County.

Stephen Robinson’s men slightly edged a tight affair in terms of chances, with Curtis Main, Chris Cadden and Ryan Bowman all going agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock.

The clean sheet also marked the 18th shutout of the season for the ‘Well defence, putting them just one off the club record.

The Steelmen were unchanged from their emphatic 3-0 William Hill Scottish Cup semi final over Aberdeen. Carl McHugh returned from suspension to take up a spot on the bench.

After the initial exchanges, both teams were forced into early changes through injury.

Chris Routis was withdrawn for the hosts, with Jason Naismith taking his place, while Andy Rose was withdrawn shortly afterwards with a collarbone injury. McHugh took his place.

Both sides had half chances in a scrappy first period. Harry Souttar tested Trevor Carson with a free header from a set play on the half hour mark for the hosts, while Curtis Main hit the side netting with a long-range shot as the first period wore to a close.

Immediately County went on the offensive again. Schalk picked the ball up in the centre of the park 30 yards from goal but his ambitious drive sailed over the bar.

Motherwell upped their intensity as they went in the search of an opener before the close of the first half. The end result was a corner kick which eventually found its way to Main whose header cannoned back off the far post, only for referee Alan Muir to adjudge a foul had been committed.

County then almost took the lead on the stroke of the interval. Billy McKay found himself in acres of space 12 yards out with a potential shot at Carson but he chose to move the ball further right to Fraser. The recovering Charles Dunne, fortunately, was on hand to lunge in bravely to block the shot.

The second half saw the game open up in spells, with Motherwell creating a succession of chances.

Tom Aldred was first to give the visitors hope, with his header from a corner kick being headed clear of the line by Max Melbourne.

Bowman then thought he had done enough to put Motherwell into the lead. Chris Cadden’s burst down the right led to the ball getting into the feet of Main. The big striker then laid off his strike partner, but his snap shot from the edge of the area was turned around the post by Scott Fox.

Immediately from the corner Main met the ball at the back post, with his header across the face of goal bouncing just past the left post.

County grew back into the game but as they pressed as pressed, it was Motherwell who nearly broke the deadlock with five mintues to spare.

Main used his strength superbly to hold off the attentions of Souttar from a long ball, but his shot from outside the area went wide.

Immediately County were back on the front foot. Schalk was next to trouble the travelling defence, but his ferocious shot from 20 yards was just over.

The game flew from end to end. Next it was Cadden who came close, with his shot from the edge of the area, after being teed up by Aldred, agonisningly failing to dip in time as it cleared the crossbar.

There was time for a late debut for James Scott in the 90th minute as he replaced Main, but he wasn’t presented with a scoring chance to make it a maiden appearance to remember.

Having narrowly missed out on the top six, Motherwell make the long trip to Dingwall in their first post-split fixture of the 2017/18 campaign.

And following the historic Scottish Cup semi final victory over Aberdeen, the Steelmen have the chance to confirm their top-flight status on Saturday.

Victory would rule ‘Well out of any relegation or play-off scrap, whilst a win for hosts Ross County would give the Northerners a lifeline in their fight for survival.

It makes for an intriguing Premiership encounter in the Highlands.

But there is more to the clash than just survival for the players in claret and amber.

Manager Stephen Robinson knows the importance of a good run of form at the end of the campaign, with the Scottish Cup final just around the corner.

And the Northern Irishman has been impressed with his players reactions this week in training as they prepare for the challenge of the Staggies.

“We’ve trained well and the boys look really sharp,” the Northern Irishman said. “Everyone is fighting for places now so the intensity hasn’t dropped at all.

[pullquote]Sometimes you can get complacent, but that certainly hasn’t happened this week.[/pullquote]

He added: “First and foremost we need the points to guarantee our safety. By no means will we be throwing any towel in and waiting just for the cup final, you can’t do that.

“Players need to play football. It’s all well and good resting people and trying to save them, but we want to win the next five games and go in to the final in really good form.”

Andy Rose echoes the sentiments of his manager.

With 11th placed Ross County up next on, the midfielder is prepared to face a determined side at the Global Energy Stadium.

But the Steelmen are equally determined, revealed the 28-year-old, with competition for places in the starting eleven rife, despite injuries.

“We’ve got a lot more to achieve this season,” he said. “At the moment, that’s getting three points this weekend.

[pullquote]We’ve shown against the top sides that we can compete and win. For us to take our game to the next level, we need to show consistency.[/pullquote]

“We’re a relatively new group with a lot of new faces this season. I think a part of growing and maturing together is consistency.

“For us to take our game to the next level, we need to show that consistency and turn in performances like Saturday’s on a weekly basis.

“That’s all part of growing as a tea,” ‘Well’s number 15 added. “Those performances breed confidence, and now we need to be focused on the next league games to finish as high up the table as we can.”

Tickets are available on the gate at Global Energy Stadium.

Kick off on Saturday is at 3.00pm.

Admission prices are as follows:

If you can’t make it along, you can follow the match on Twitter @MotherwellFC. Live audio commentary will be available on mixlr.com/motherwellfc

You can see the match highlights on MFC TV’s YouTube channel, as well as full reaction and a match report right here on the official website.