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The Motherwell assistant boss talks about the win over Kilmarnock, a Christmas Day drive to Dingwall and the test on Boxing Day against Ross County.

Ross County play host next for Motherwell, with the Steelmen travelling north.

Here’s a closer look at our Boxing Day opponents.

The story so far

Back in the top division after a one-year spell in the Championship, Ross County have already put a reasonable gap between themselves and the bottom of the table.

Sitting eight points ahead of 12th placed Hearts and five clear of Hamilton Academical in the play-off spot, their 20 points have been amassed from five wins and five draws in 18 games.

Form guide

The Staggies have won two and lost three of their last five, with their last match ending in a 4-0 thumping at Livingston.

Their two wins came on home turf, with Hibernian and Kilmarnock seen off 2-1 and 1-0 respectively.

The victory over Hibs on 4 December was the team’s first in the top flight since victory at Motherwell on 21 September, a winless run of nine.

Pay at the gate

Cash gates are in operation on the day at the Global Energy Stadium.

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

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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.

Next up for Motherwell is a trip to take on Ross County on Boxing Day.

Kick-off in Dingwall is at 3pm.

Tale of the tape

Sitting eighth in the Premiership table, Ross County sit two points off the top six going into the festive fixture.

With two wins in their last two home matches over Hibernian and Kilmarnock in December, the Staggies ended a near-three month wait for a victory.

Back in the top flight after a year out, they’ve won four and lost four at home in the league this campaign.

Motherwell head into the match third in the Premiership table, following the 1-0 win over Kilmarnock at the weekend.

Victory over Ross County could seal that spot going into the winter break, depending on Aberdeen’s result at home to Livingston.

Head to head

Ross County were victors at Fir Park in the first encounter of the campaign, coming from behind to win 2-1.

That was the same score in the game before that, as the Staggies knocked Motherwell out of the William Hill Scottish Cup in January.

With a 0-0 draw at the Global Energy Stadium in the game before that, you have to go back to January 2018 and a 2-0 win at Fir Park for Motherwell’s last win in the fixture.

Pay at the gate

Cash gates are in operation on the day at the Global Energy Stadium.

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

Can’t make it? 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.

Jake Carroll’s free-kick was the difference as Motherwell jumped back to third with a 1-0 win over Kilmarnock.

Next up for Motherwell is a Boxing Day trip to take on Ross County in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Fans heading north can pay in at the gate at the stadium.

Kick-off in Dingwall on 26 December is at 3pm.

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

“A hard-earned result. A moment of magic won it for us.”

Stephen Robinson reacts to Motherwell’s win over Kilmarnock.

Jake Carroll’s pinpoint free-kick gave Motherwell the deserved three points against Kilmarnock to put the team third in the league for Christmas.

The full-back’s set piece from just outside the area deceived the home ‘keeper and brought the decisive goal to claim victory.

Peter Hartley, Mark O’Hara and James Scott came into the team after last weekend’s defeat to Rangers, replacing Bevis Mugabi, Liam Polworth and Devante Cole.

Manager Stephen Robinson had asked for a more positive and disciplined performance and got it in good measure, with a strong defensive showing and desire to create chances.

The first big chance of the opening exchanges fell to Allan Campbell. Jermaine Hylton’s knock into the path of the onrushing midfielder was stopped from going in only through the late block from Johnson.

A fairly tepid first half was in contrast to the second.

It was the visitors who looked more threatening early on. Polworth, on for the injured Liam Donnelly, laid off Jermaine Hylton to hit a shot which deflected into the path of Christopher Long.

The striker took the invitation to turn the ball into the net, but he did so from an offside position and no goal was given.

Soon after, Carroll took his chance. With a central free-kick 25 yards out, he put the ball to the left of the wall and wrong footed the goalkeeper to put the Steelmen ahead.

Mark Gillespie was called to the rescue several times as the hosts fought to get back into the match, denying Brophy on a number of occasions with some massive saves.

At the other end, Polworth could have put the game to bed when clean through, but could only fire straight at Branescu.

With three minutes added at the end, Motherwell saw the game out well to take all three points and leapfrog Aberdeen back into third.

Motherwell: Gillespie, Grimshaw, Gallagher, Hartley, Carroll, Donnelly (Polworth), Campbell, O’Hara, Scott, Hylton (Seedorf), Long (Cole).

Subs not used: Carson, Tait, Mugabi, Semple.

Stephen Robinson spoke about the trip to Rugby Park, the importance of the next three games and facing a side who are without a manager on Friday.

Here’s what he said to the broadcast media.

On the festive run-in

“It’s a huge, huge three games for us. Three games I think we can take points out of. We have to be at our best again.

“There were bits in the Rangers game that reminded me of our game against Hearts at home in the cup when we lost. We just got into little habits of not doing the things we have been doing. Forward thinking, putting balls into areas, into the box, forward runs. Playing with that energy and positivity.

“That might have been the level of team we were playing against. But I think it was more our mindset on the day. And we have to make sure we get back to being positive, trying to take the game to Kilmarnock and obviously Ross County and Hamilton,

“So three huge games that we are very much looking forward to that we can really leave our year on a high.”

On the difference to last year

“We’ve got a couple of doubts for Saturday. Christopher Long has not trained for the last 48 hours. Christy Manzinga won’t play for two or three weeks with a hamstring injury again.

“I think this time last year we had 10 to 13 injuries. All boys that were in and around the first team out of a squad like Motherwell, any squad, it takes its toll.

“So the good thing is we are in a better place injury wise. We are in a better position league wise, so it takes a little bit of pressure off you. The only pressure we’re really under is what we’re trying to achieve and trying to continue to take the football club forward.”

On Kilmarnock

“They’ve still got the squad that performed so well last year and they’re in a position in the league  that’s still a very high position. So they are always going to be a very tough team to play against.

“They do play deeper. They do let you have a lot of the ball and they do it well. Organised and disciplined. Alex [Dyer] played a massive part in that under Steve.

“So I’m sure they’ll be exactly the same. So we have to have our forward player better than we had last Sunday. More aggressive in terms of going at people. Better decision making, more positivity, not plan with a wee bit of fear, which I felt we did on Sunday.

“We have to make sure we’re positive because they’re a tough, tough team to break down.”

On success at Motherwell

“I’m a very lucky position that I have a lot of backing from the board. The fans are incredibly good to me.

“I think most people at Motherwell know the parameters that we work under. What we try and achieve and how are we trying to achieve it. We will go up and down. We will have bad games and stages of the season, due to the personnel that we’ve got and the age of our team.

“It makes you appreciate what you’ve got. You’ve got people that are loyalty and the are very, very supportive. Everyone can be supportive when you’re doing well.

“You know, at the minute we’re all great, but it’s when you’re not doing well. And this time last year I had the full backing of the board and the vast majority of fans as well.

“Unfortunately in life, only the negative people are heard. On the internet sites and all that, you don’t really hear the positive stuff. For some reason, it’s only the negative stuff that’s heard.

“So we’ve got a lot of positive people around Motherwell. We’ve got a lot of supportive individuals, and as a group, as a whole, being very supportive to me. When you do hit that bad patch, you just hope people stick by you.

On looking ahead

“We’ve got a good group of young players. We’re trying to add players already for next season. We can look at people on pre-contracts now already and we’re looking at that.

“I’ve been down to England this week to watch other players that we feel can take the squad forward.

“So we’re just trying to keep building, trying to keep improving, trying to make the young boys better and educate them every day.”

Fans can buy tickets at Rugby Park on Saturday ahead of Kilmarnock v Motherwell.

Supporters are urged to buy early from the old Kilmarnock FC Fitness Centre on Rugby Road, directly across from the Chadwick Stand. Sales, which will be cash only, will start at 1pm.

There will also be a barrier entry system in place outside the Chadwick Stand turnstiles. Fans are advised to arrive early to avoid any unnecessary delays.

Motherwell fans who wish to purchase further in advance can buy from the Fir Park ticket office until 4pm on Friday.

There’s a live stream and live audio available from Kilmarnock v Motherwell this Saturday.

We’ve live video of the match available to viewers outside of the UK and Ireland for just £12 a month. Kick off is at 3pm GMT.

To subscribe and get all Motherwell home matches – and the majority of away games – head to tv.motherwellfc.co.uk now and sign up.

If you’re in the UK or Ireland and can’t make it, don’t worry. We’ve also got live audio commentary of the match for just £5.99 a month.

Head to tv.motherwellfc.co.uk to sign up. Just choose the UK/Ireland commentary option.

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