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It’s time to pick your Paycare Motherwell FC player of the month for April.

Kevin van Veen, Liam Kelly, Max Johnston and Sean Goss are up for nomination.

To vote, head over to the Motherwell Facebook page.

Games played in April

• Hibernian 1-3 Motherwell
• Motherwell 3-0 Livingston
• Motherwell 1-2 Dundee United
• Celtic 1-1 Motherwell

Kevin van Veen

Kevin van Veen continued his impressive goal scoring season by adding six goals in the month of April.

The number nine scored from the spot and with a free kick at Easter Road, to help Motherwell on their way to a 3-1 win.

He added another two goals in the home win over Livingston, whilst also notching an emphatic finish against Dundee United seven days later.

At Celtic Park, his long, mazy run was rewarded with a goal that earned Motherwell their first points against Celtic at Parkhead since 2015.

Van Veen earned a spot in the SPFL team of the week for his performance and double against Livingston.

Liam Kelly

Liam Kelly had an impressive month in April.

The skipper kept his eighth clean sheet of the season, with a shut out against Livingston.

At Celtic Park, he kept Danzin Maeda out in the first half, before an impressive save from Kyogo’s chipped effort.

Max Johnston

Since returning from his loan spell at Cove Rangers, Max Johnston has grown into a regular first-team starter.

Causing havoc with his direct running and crossing against Hibernian, his curled ball up the line setup Kevin van Veen for his second goal of the afternoon against Livingston.

He scored his second Motherwell goal this season, when he knocked the ball into the net against Livingston. Although initially ruled out for offside, VAR deemed the full-back onside and his goal stood.

Johnston was back amongst the action against Dundee United, his fine play and subsequent cutback to striker Van Veen once again led to an assist with the Dutchman once again.

Sean Goss

Sean Goss opened his goalscoring account for the 2022/23 season with his elegant free kick that opened the scoring against Hibernian.

It was Goss’ ball through to Harry Paton that earned the free kick that Van Veen netted from to secure the three points.

Goss’ performance against Hibs earned him a place in the SPFL team of the week.

Sean Goss was involved in Max Johnston’s goal against Livingston, with the Northern Irishman play the inch perfect pass through for Spittal who seen his shot initially saved before Johnston scored.

The midfielder played every minute in every match in April.

With Celtic’s last 16 home games ending in victory, and Motherwell last picking up points at Parkhead back in 2015, the task couldn’t be greater for Stuart Kettlewell’s team as they travelled to the east end of Glasgow to take on the Champions. 

Despite starting the game bright enough, Motherwell found themselves a goal down due to Callum McGregor’s deflected strike on 24 minutes.

With the task looking seemingly to steep to climb, Liam Kelly made some excellent saves with Kevin van Veen stepping up in the big moment once again, as he drew his team level on 55 minutes for his 24th goal of the season and scoring for the sixth consecutive game.

Showing excellent discipline to see out the game, Motherwell earned a valiant point at Parkhead, a feat that nobody has achieved this season as they go into the split in eighth place in the table, five points behind Livingston in seventh.

“Nobody has came away with a point from here all season.

“This result should give us another level of belief going into the last five games.”

Motherwell became the first side to take a point from Celtic Park with a well-deserved 1-1 draw in Glasgow.

Callum McGregor put the home side ahead before a fine solo effort from Kevin van Veen levelled the game

Motherwell had a positive start to the match and Calum Butcher saw his shot fly well over the bar, after Van Veen did well to win a corner.

Liam Kelly didn’t have too much to do but was called into action midway through the first half, pulling off a fine save to deny Maeda’s header.

Celtic then took the lead after 25 minutes.

Callum McGregor collected the ball 30 yards from goal and his shot was deflected past Kelly and into the net.

Ten minutes into the second half the Steelmen were back level.

A long ball found Van Veen and he showed fine skill and composure to beat his man and fire past Hart for his 24th goal of the season.

From then there weren’t many chances for either side and Motherwell survived the seven minutes of added time and took an excellent point which may prove vital.

Blair Spittal praised Celtic’s performances this season and says his teammates will need to be at their very best to get a surprise result at the home of the champions. 

The midfielder, who joined in the summer, has enjoyed the resurgence under Stuart Kettlewell and the freedom that the manager has allowed him on the pitch.

Ahead of the trip to Glasgow, Spittal was keen to emphasise that Motherwell are not just going to make up the numbers and that they truly have a belief they can take something from the game.

Stuart Kettlewell is well aware of the talent, squad depth and quality that Celtic have within their ranks but says his team have got to have the belief that they can achieve a result at Parkhead on Saturday against cinch Premiership champions Celtic. 

The Motherwell boss believes his side are in a better position to face the old firm, compared to when he first took the reigns but knows it will take something special from his players to pull off a result.

Kettlewell gave a squad update ahead of the match as well as discussing Graeme Shinnie’s four match ban following his red card against Ross County.

Our last match before the split is away to Celtic on Saturday 22 April.

Kick-off is 3pm.

Tickets

Supporters are able to buy tickets online here or visit the ticket office at Fir Park.

The ticket office at Fir Park will be open on Saturday between 10am and 12pm.

Ticket Prices

– Concessions Tickets would be ages 65  and over and under 16s.
– Carer’s for wheelchair users are free of charge.

How to follow game online

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.

The Story of the Match

The Steelmen have been in good form under Stuart Kettlewell but still have work to do to ensure Premiership status for next season, in what is the final fixture before the split.

Saturday’s defeat to Dundee United leaves ‘Well eight points above eleventh but tests don’t come much tougher than Celtic Park.

The hosts haven’t lost at home in the league since January 2021, as they chase down another Scottish Premiership title.

Motherwell have lost twice against Celtic in the league, on both occasions by a single goal.

Match Officials

• Referee: John Beaton
• AR1: Alan Mulvanny
• AR2: Colin Drummond
• Fourth Official: Graham Grainger
• VAR: Mike Roncone
• AVAR: John McCrossan

Dundee United recovered from Kevin van Veen’s first half strike to take all three points in a 2-1 victory over Motherwell. 

Van Veen netted his 23rd goal of the season before Ilmari Niskanen and a Jamie McGrath penalty capped off a second-half comeback.

Dundee United controlled most of the ball in the early stages but it would be the Steelmen who would land the first blow.

Mikael Mandron flicked on Liam Kelly’s long ball forward for Van Veen, who drove forward into space before playing wide for young prodigy Max Johnston. The full-back cut the ball back for the Dutchman who finished at the second time of asking on 23 minutes.

At the start of the second half, Van Veen was inches from making it 2-0 but the linesman flag was raised, before the offside decision was confirmed by a lengthy VAR check.

Dundee United levelled shortly after. Sean Goss wasn’t able to clear his lines, Ian Harkes nicked in to win the ball and play back to Niskanen who finished into the bottom left corner.

It would be 2-1 for the visitors when McGrath converted from the spot nine minutes later after Kelly was adjudged to have fouled Steven Fletcher in the area.

The former Scottish international went down again in the box in stoppage time however this time, Nick Walsh booked the number nine for simulation this time round.

Looking for three wins on the bounce, for the first time since 2021, Motherwell were high on confidence with Dundee United coming to town. 

Kevin van Veen got Motherwell ahead, and with a tight offside call and the Dundee United keeper pulling off a wonderful save, Dundee United worked their back into the game and got themselves a much needed three points.

Despite it going down as a defeat, Kettlewell doesn’t want the result to derail what he has started with the season revival at Fir Park.

Motherwell are in midweek action at Fir Park on Tuesday 18 April as they take on Glasgow Women in SWPL. 

Kick-off is 7:45pm.

How to follow the game

There will be free to entry to the stadium for the match. However, if you are able to, there will be buckets available for fans to place donations.

All profits will go towards the girls academy.

Fans will be located in the John Hunter stand for the match.

Story of the match

Motherwell left it late to grab a point against Spartans on Sunday. Carla Boyce and Kayla Jardine got on the scoresheet as the women of steel made it six games unbeaten.

Glasgow Women come into the match still looking for their first points of the campaign.

Motherwell have won all three matches against Glasgow Women, playing them twice in the league.

The last meeting came in the quarter finals of the Scottish Cup, with the ‘Well winning 4-0.