| 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 |
Harry Paton may have only joined Motherwell a few weeks ago, but he is already feeling at home.
Paton described the lure that Stuart Kettlewell had on him making the switch as the Canadian international looks to push his way into the team.
A midfielder by trade, Paton would be interested in staying beyond his current deal which runs out in the summer.
Coming up against St Johnstone for the first time in his tenure, Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell discusses the potential threats the Perth outfit pose and how recent changes of management could effect the game.
Kettlewell also talks about Kevin van Veen’s recent PFA player of the year nomination which was announced this week, as he goes up against Kyogo, Calum McGregor and Reo Hatate for the award.
Last week’s win against Kilmarnock means Motherwell are firmly in the hunt for seventh place and the manager is well aware of the extra prize money that comes with finishing higher in the table as he looks ahead to summer recruitment.
Kevin van Veen has been nominated for the PFA cinch Premiership player of the year.
Voted by the players in the league, the Dutchman was the first Motherwell player in ten years to be named in the PFA team of the year.
Van Veen is one of four players nominated for the prestigious award, with the awards night taking place this coming Sunday.
Reo Hatate, Kyogo and Calum McGregor of Celtic are also up for the award.
Darren Randolph, Shaun Hutchinson, Nicky Law and Michael Higdon were all named in the 2012/13 team of the year however it would be only the latter who was nominated for the player of year.
Higdon scooped the award, having scored 27 goals throughout the course of the season.
Kevin van Veen has bolstered a similarly impressive tally this season, with the Dutchman sitting on 25 goals in all competitions with four games left to play.
Scoring in the last seven consecutive games, Van Veen has equalled Dixie Deans’ seven game consecutive goalscoring record in the 1968/69 season, however this was set in the second division.
The last player to score in seven consecutive games in the top flight, was Ian St John in 1959/60 campaign.
“To be nominated for the award is an incredible achievement in itself,” manager Stuart Kettlewell said.
“Since my arrival, Kevin has shown determination, enthusiasm and 100% focus to everything that we have tried to do.
“We are lucky to have him leading the line up front but he is also an excellent team mate.
“When you look at the players who are also up for nomination, they are some of the best in the league.
“With the season that Kevin has had, he has every right to be in that illustrious group.
“I want to personally congratulate Kevin on this magnificent achievement.”
Van Veen’s prolific goalscoring form this season has seen him move into the top ten, all-time goalscorers at the club, just two goals behind James McFadden, despite playing 31 games fewer.
“It’s a real privilege to be up for the award,” Van Veen added.
“I said at the end of last season that I knew I could score more than I did in 2021/22 and I wanted to follow through on that.
“This season has been tricky for a number of reasons and the full team has had to really stick together throughout it all.
“There is a real togetherness at the club and that’s why I thank all my teammates, staff and fans, all of whom have helped me reach my targets this year. The support I have had this season has been incredible.
“I wouldn’t be nominated if it wasn’t for them.”
We travel to Perth to take on St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Saturday 13 May.
Kick-off is 3pm.
Supporters are able to buy tickets online here.
Ticket Office open from 9am – the ticket office is open until kick-off with no pay gate facility
Due to the ongoing roadworks outside Tesco on the A85 Crieff Road, all Motherwell supporters are encouraged to take the following route to McDiarmid Park on Saturday:
Visiting Buses, coaches and cars are to head north from Broxden Roundabout to Inveralmond Roundabout.
Take the 4th exit signposted ’football traffic”
Take the first slip road signposted “Crieff/Crianlarich (A85) & Perth A85”
At the traffic lights, turn left and take the filter lane turning right through the blue North Gate at McDiarmid Park where stewards will direct you to the West side of the artificial pitch.
Ticket Prices
| Main Stand (away end) | |
| Adults | £24 |
| Concessions (over 65 & Under 20) | £14 |
| Family Adult | £17 |
| Under 12 | Free |
| Ambulant Adult | £24 |
| Ambulant Concession | £14 |
| Ambulant PA | £0 |
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.
Saturday’s fine win over Kilmarnock gives Motherwell a nine point cushion over the relegation play-off place but work remains to be done to guarantee safety.
Saturday’s opponents are five points from safety after their crucial win over Dundee United last weekend.
The Perth side sacked Calum Davidson mid April and have shown signs of life under Steven MacLean with four points from their last two games.
The last game at McDiarmid ended as a draw after Blair Spittal’s free-kick cancelled out Drey Wright’s opener.
McDiarmid Park has proven to not be a happy hunting ground for the Steelmen, with their last win coming in September 2019.
With only fives games remaining, Stuart Kettlewell wanted to see his team continue to reach the high standards that his side have set themselves.
Kilmarnock were the visitors to Fir Park and Motherwell got off to, what is becoming a trademark, fast start.
Blair Spittal got the ball rolling after just four minutes giving his side the lead and after Sam Walker making numerous saves in the Killie goal, and a couple of chances missed from Motherwell, it took until stoppage time for the second Motherwell goal to come to seal the win. But it was worth the wait.
Scoring in his seventh consecutive match and reaching 25 goals for the season, Kevin van Veen continued his electric run of form with a world-class touch and finish.
With Motherwell moving 10 points clear from the bottom of the table, Kettlewell still has eye on the ball and wants to see his team rack up the points and finish strongly this season.
“Today was a real showcase of what we are trying to become.
“That was a big three points today but I’m really thinking about where we can go in the next four games and how that sets us up moving into the summer and beyond.”
A hard fought win over Kilmarnock hoisted Motherwell to the 40 point mark and almost certainly removed the spectre of relegation or even the play-offs.
Blair Spittal’s goal within the first five minutes should have set the home side up for a comfortable win over a Killie side languishing second bottom of the league table. But in a drab first half noted for a lengthy VAR check and little cohesive play from either side, the Steelmen failed to get into their free flowing and passing game.
Despite creating a handful of good openings in the second half, it took until the final minutes for Kevin van Veen to grab his 21st league goal of the season and erase any fears of the Ayrshire side grabbing a point.
Stuart Kettlewell made one change from the side which earned a fabulous point at Celtic Park. And following that resounding performance it was a tactical change for the Steelmen as Harry Paton made way for Mikael Mandron to join Kevin van Veen in attack.
There was a terrific atmosphere prior to the kick-off especially from the 1800 Killie fans crammed in the Tommy McLean stand.
However, after a five minute delay while referee Kevin Clancy sorted out his faulty communication system, the away support behind fans behind Sam Walker’s goal were quickly silenced as ‘Well opened the scoring.
In a swift move upfield Sean Goss found the overlapping James Furlong. He picked out Spittal with his cut back and after taking a touch the former Ross County man slammed the ball across the ‘keeper and into the far corner of the net.
That was the perfect start against a nervous looking Killie and Spittal came close to a second when his shot was deflected wide of goal. From his corner Callum Slattery’s shot from the edge of the box took a similar touch from a defender before whizzing narrowly past Walker’s other post.
A clumsy challenge from Callum Butcher 24 yards in front of Liam Kelly gave the Ayrshire side its first glimpse of goal. With the ‘Well ‘keeper rooted to his line Danny Armstrong’s free kick clipped the outside of the Kelly’s right-hand post.
Another break at speed from the home side after 16 minutes finished with ‘Well claiming a second goal. However, Goss’ pass to Mandron found him in an offside position before his ball inside was convincingly hammered into the net by Van Veen.
To be fair the Dutch striker’s reaction suggested that his attempt would be disallowed although it took VAR four minutes to run its check.
That delay and a series of fouls from both sides made the first half a real stop – start affair with little goal mouth action as the first 50 minutes came to a close.
Before the break, though, van Veen had a chance to add to his impressive goal haul. Slattery held off a couple of challenges in the middle of the park before finding van Veen in the box but after side stepping Joe Wright his powerful drive was battered away by Walker.
The second half just had to be an improvement.
And the Fir Park men immediately looked to atone for that first half showing.
Another great ball from Slattery found van Veen racing to the left of the visitor’s box. With Wright in pursuit his cute backheeler set up Spittal who cut into the middle before hammering the ball off Walker’s legs when he should have finished off a sublime move with a second goal.
Ten minutes into the half and with his side needing to take something from the game, Derek McInnes made a double substitution. That gave Liam Polworth the opportunity to emulate his fantastic equaliser on his return to Fir Park in December.
It was van Veen, though, who came close to extending the home side’s lead. Fastening on to another long ball towards the visitor’s box the ‘Well striker cut inside Wright before his low shot was curling inside the ‘keeper’s left-hand post only for Walker at full stretch to push it wide.
A minute later Dan Casey, from just beyond the corner of the six-yard box, attempted to lob the ball over Walker but the Killie ‘keeper stood his ground to make an easy catch.
With 15 minutes remaining and only trailing by a single goal and feeling that his side still had the chance to grab an equaliser McInnes made another double substation to go with four players up front.
That put real pressure on the ‘Well defence for the first time, as the Killie fans behind Kelly’s goal urged the Ayrshire men to press forward in numbers.
With six minutes remaining Mandron made way for Stephen O’Donnell as Stuart Kettlewell decided to reinforce his defensive options and see out the game.
Ironically, three minutes from time, it was a ‘Well defender who came within a couple of inches of settling the game.
Spittal’s corner caused a bit of mayhem in the six-yard area and when the ball found its way to Paul McGinn, he stroked it goalwards only to watch the ball rebound off the post and along the line to a relieved Walker.
The killer second goal was only delayed a couple of minutes as van Veen finally found the net for the 25th time this season.
Yet again a long ball, this time direct from Kelly gave the Dutchman the chance to turn Taylor at the edge of the box. And this time van Veen didn’t pass up the chance as he calmly side footed the ball to Walker’s left and into the net for the seventh consecutive game.
It has been a season of ups and downs for Dean Cornelius, but he is loving life firmly in the Motherwell spotlight.
In his fourth season as a professional at his boyhood club, the midfielder has started all but one of the games he has been available for selection for under new boss Stuart Kettlewell, who has tasked the 22-year-old with being the legs in his midfield system.
Spots on the bench were not what Cornelius was after as he was desperate to be making his impact from the off, but a sit down with the boss helped fill him with confidence that he could bring his combative strengths to the fore on a regular basis.
And now he is getting his chances, he is keen to take them and cement his place as a Motherwell regular, with the squad keen to not let up and let good progress under new management fade away in 2022/23’s dying embers.
“Football at the moment is something I have really been enjoying since the new manager came in,” explained Cornelius. “He has put his faith in me and played me a lot. All I want to be doing is playing games and that is what has been happening.
“So it is brilliant. He pulled me in when he first came in and spoke to me one on one and highlighted the importance of the role I do. He understands that sometimes it can be overlooked as you need to do the grafting bit of the game and you need to be a team player.
“I feel like the role he has given me suits me and you can see I am playing with more confidence and enjoying my football because of it. I didn’t play as much as I would have liked at the start of the season but it is just part of the process and learning curve.
“As a young boy you can’t beat yourself up as it is not going to get you anywhere is it? All you can do is keep working away and working your way into the team, which once you get that, it is about doing your best.”
The one match the battler wasn’t involved in was the most recent clash away at Celtic, where Ketllewell’s men put in an enormous effort to become the first side to take points off Ange Postecoglou’s side in Glasgow’s east end this term courtesy of a 1-1 draw.
Such a result would have been laughed off as reality by sceptics in the winter months the club lurked around the Premiership’s lower reaches. But Cornelius reckons it points to the progression the team has made to lift dropzone fears.
And the afternoon came with an added twist for the number 18. He was in amongst the punters again as he sat the match out with injury, and it provided him a personal moment to remember and a reminder of how long his journey has been since his days as a diehard.
“The boys put in some shift at Celtic,” the 22-year-old beamed.
“I wasn’t playing but I was at it, and it shows how much we have come on as a team together and as a unit. The team as both a starting XI and the boys on the bench, we are all together now and you can really see everyone has bought into what the manager has said and we are starting to get the results that we want.
“I was stuck behind the pillar in the away end so you miss half the game, but it is better than nothing. Being in with the fans again is a reminder of how far you have come so it is nice.
“Obviously I was one of them, in the crowd and going to all the Motherwell games home and away. To be back there makes you appreciate how far you have come on. It’s a proud feeling.
“When you are younger and going to the games you obviously don’t know all the boys, whereas now I regard all my team-mates as my mates on and off the field so when they score, it is a strange feeling as you are with them all the time. But it was good.”
While perhaps after more starts in the first half of this campaign, Cornelius is left in no doubt that this has been his biggest season to date at Fir Park. There have been 30 run outs made overall with five more still to potentially be made.
That’s a big increase on the 17 last term and a solitary 10 minutes in a league clash with Dundee United in the 2020/21 campaign. It’s been a slow-burner journey since his debut on the final day of the 2018/19 season against Livingston but he will likely crash through 50 appearances in claret and amber by the time this campaign is done.
And he believes it has equipped him well for all the challenges and highs football will bring him throughout the rest of his career.
“This has been a more successful season for me at Motherwell as I feel it has been one where I have fully broken through and played a lot more games compared to any other year,” he commented.
“I feel it has really developed me as a player, and I feel a lot more composed and mature.
“The main thing for me is confidence. With a manager that has confidence in you, it really reflects onto the pitch and I feel like it has helped me a lot in my development.
“I think the boys need the credit for the position we are in now. We did get in a mess but we took ownership of that and we have managed to turn things around. We are starting to see a lot more progress.
“With it being a young squad, every game is a learning curve for us and I think everybody would agree with that, not just me being young as I am. Whether it is one of the older pros or one of us, I think everyone would agree.
“We are in it together so hopefully the experiences we have had this season are used going into next season and you can only get better from there.”
For the first time in Cornelius’ career too, there has been lingering transfer chat over what comes next for him. His contract at Fir Park is currently due to expire at the end of the season and while it is something new, it’s not something the Lanarkshire lad is too fussed about.
With plenty of work ahead in the remainder of the Premiership term, it’s still a case of working hard and gaining results.
“It is something I am not used to but the main thing for me and my family who I have spoken to about it, is that you need to keep both feet on the ground, “ said Cornelius.
“You need to block it out as at the end of the day, Motherwell is my club at the moment.
“All I want to do is give it my 100% wherever I am. I’m currently at Motherwell and I want to focus on the present. I don’t want to look ahead as I don’t want it impacting my performances. We have five massive games so I want to win them.
“I feel the big difference is I have matured on the pitch and am playing with a lot more confidence. As a young boy breaking through, it is hard mentally to perform week in and week out and when you do get thrown in, it’s completely different, a man’s game.
“It is a lot more physical and when you are coming through as a youth, it is not quite the same as when you are actually in a competitive league where boys have got their livelihoods on the line and you want to win three points.”
It’s not just a personal mantra of keep pushing on that Cornelius has. With safety almost secured, he insists that heading into the final five post-split matches there is still much to be won and lost.
“There’s still enough for us to play for,” he added. “Mathematically we are not safe yet so we can’t take our foot off the gas as we want to have a strong finish to the season and if you do finish strong, you can take that confidence into the next season.
“You can’t get too comfortable and you still want to win every game you can. No footballer you ever speak to will say they will go into a game and you are not bothered about winning. Every game you are wanting to win those three points.
“Whether your motivation is money towards end of season bonuses, pride, wanting to get a move, everybody has their own motivations and everyone is trying hard to get three points. It’s a lot more intense but I relish it.”
Kevin van Veen has been named April’s cinch Premiership player of the month.
Scoring six goals in four games, Van Veen was already named Motherwell’s player of the month last week.
The number nine is the first player to scoop the award since Jake Hastie won the accolade back in February 2019.
“I am honoured to win this award,” Van Veen said.
“This is an individual award but more importantly, the month of April was a really successful one for the team and the club.
“We wanted to reward the supporters for their support this season, even when things weren’t going great, and I’m glad that we have picked up more points.
“Even though it’s my name on the trophy, I couldn’t have won it without my teammates and for that, I want to thank them.”
Kicking off the month of April with a brace against Hibernian, he scored two against Livingston, one against Dundee United and rounded off the month with a neat solo effort against Celtic at Parkhead.
With 24 goals to his name already this season, the month of April has assisted Van Veen as he aims to break Michael Higdon’s record of 27 goals in a single season.
Scoring in six consecutive games in the process, he has been pivotal in Stuart Kettlewell’s game plan since the manager’s arrival back in February.
Mikael Mandron says he is excited for Saturday’s cinch Premiership match against Kilmarnock.
The Frenchman hit the ground running at Motherwell, when he hit a double on his debut against Arbroath, but has been battling back to full fitness after picking up a fluke injury a week later.
With his future still undecided, Mandron is remaining focused on the task at hand, which is helping Motherwell gather as many points as possible, with the hope of adding a few more goals to his tally also.
