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Stephen Robinson reflects on his side’s 3-0 victory over Hamilton Academical in the final game of the league campaign. 

Motherwell finished off their league campaign with a resounding win over local rivals Hamilton Academical.

The 3-0 victory claimed a 2oth clean sheet of the season, securing seventh place in the league in the process.

Ahead of next Saturday’s Scottish Cup final, there were wholesale changes for the Fir Parkers. That allowed several players the opportunity to stake a claim for a place in the starting line-up and the bench at Hampden.

Unfortunately, on loan Celtic striker Nadir Çiftçi is ineligible for the final, but signed off with his best ‘Well performance and a goal in each half. Tom Aldred grabbed his first goal for the club to round off a good afternoon’s work, allowing ‘Well fans to celebrate a great season.

With the Cup final and some niggling injuries on his mind, Stephen Robinson made eight changes from the mid-week win at Firhill. As ‘Well’s win over Partick Thistle ensured Accies Premiership survival, it might have reduced this derby match to the level of an end of season friendly.

However, with the ‘Well Bois in the John Hunter stand rehearsing their Cup final repertoire and places on the Hampden pitch up for grabs, Motherwell dominated the match from the start.

Within the first minute, Çiftçi set the tone with a cute backheel which set up the chance for Grimshaw to drive the ball over Ryan Fulton’s crossbar from 20 yards.

Çiftçi was at the heart of the next move nine minutes later. A neat exchange at the edge of the box sent David Turnbull through and his half volley was dipping under the bar until Fulton palmed the ball over.

The on-loan Celtic striker was rewarded for his efforts in the first half hour when he grabbed the opening goal. Gaël Bigirimana, who controlled the centre of the park, found Tait free on the right and his drilled cross was nodded towards goal by Ross McLean. Although his effort was blocked on the line, Çiftçi was on hand to poke the ball home to give ‘Well a deserved lead.

The Steelmen might have doubled their lead after 39 minutes when Turnbull’s corner sped its way through a packed defence to Aldred, who could only deflect the ball over the bar from eight yards.

Another defence splitting pass from Bigirimana sent Elliot Frear racing towards the visitor’s goal but as he looked for support at the edge of the box, the chance was lost.

Two minutes after the break, Accies forced their first and only attempt on goal, but Dougie Imrie’s speculative free kick from 35 yards was comfortably held by Russell Griffiths.

After 56 minutes, Accies showed their intentions by bringing on strike partners Rakish Bingham and Marios Ogkmpoe, who have both scored against ‘Well this season. A few minutes later, Robinson made his first change, replacing the injured Frear with Deimantas Petravičius.

These changes and a subsequent injury, treatment and replacement of Accies sub Ogkmpoe, took the momentum out of the game as both teams struggled to maintain possession.

The introduction of Cedric Kipré after 69 minutes lifted the spirits and voices of the home fans and within a minute ‘Well doubled the lead.

Tait’s throw in found Çiftçi with his back to goal. Determination and a couple of deft touches created some space for the Turkish striker before he guided the ball inside the far post for a terrific goal.

Three minutes later it was 3-0. Bigirimana curled his free kick in behind the visitor’s defence where Tait’s touch took it across goal, leaving Aldred to ram it high into the net for his first goal for the Steelmen.

Six minutes from time, Çiftçi came within a couple of inches of signing off with a hattrick, but his thundering 25 yard drive slammed the top of the crossbar.

Charles Dunne previews Motherwell’s final Ladbrokes Premiership match of the 2017/18 season against Hamilton Academical.

Stephen Robinson previews the final Ladbrokes Premiership match of the 2017/18 season, with Hamilton Academical the visitors to Fir Park.

The best of the action as Ryan Bowman’s second half header hands the Steelmen all three points.

Ryan Bowman, Trevor Carson and David Turnbull react as the team equal the club’s clean sheet record in a 1-0 win at Partick Thistle.

Stephen Robinson hailed the character of his side as they bounced back from Saturday’s disappointments with a 1-0 victory against Partick Thistle.

It equalled the Steelmen’s club record of 19 clean sheets in a season whilst tightening the grip on seventh place.

And the Northern Irishman reflected on his side’s hard-fought win at Firhill.

“I didn’t think we started the game all that brightly,” he admitted. “Trevor has a great save to keep it 0-0, but after that we grew in to the game.

“We started to get some rhythm after the change of shape in the second half and I thought we were terrific.”

He added: “There was fight and desire to equal the club clean sheet record of 19 and we thoroughly deserved the win.

“Partick are a side throwing absolutely everything at us and I think the performance and the result showed our great character tonight.”

Motherwell made it a record-equalling night as they claimed a win and a 19th clean sheet of the season in a 1-0 win at Partick Thistle.

Ryan Bowman’s headed goal in the second half also made him the Steelmen’s top scorer in the 2017/18 season.

The first half passed relatively without incident, but Trevor Carson was called into action on a number of occasions.

With just eight minutes gone, the Northern Ireland international had to be alert to keep out Ryan Edwards’ header from Kris Doolan’s cross.

Just after the half hour mark, Carson was called upon again. Woods’ effort from outside the area was beaten away by the goalkeeper, with Charles Dunne then on hand to clear before Doolan could pounce.

The half time introduction of Gael Bigirimana and a change in shape sparked the visitors into life.

David Turnbull, making his first start, tied Edwards in knots down the right side of the area to create a chance for Chris Cadden, but his shot was blocked at source.

The youngster then turned creator. Motherwell won a free kick on the right side of the area, which Turnbull stepped up to take.

His perfectly floated delivery sailed towards a number of players in black, but it was Bowman who won the header to open the scoring.

The Steelmen immediately went on the hunt for a second. Curtis Main was next to try his luck, with his delicate chip from just outside the area just dipping over the bar.

With Cédric Kipré off the pitch receiving treatment, Thistle looked to capitalise. Christie Elliott was next to try his luck, with his long-distance effort swerving in the air and Carson coping well to beat it away.

Both sides continued to push forward. Thistle continued to find the odd pocket of space for shots from distance, however, which continued to cause concern.

The hosts then had a glorious chance with 10 to go. Kipré’s slip allowed Miles Storey to drive at goal down the left unmarked. With room to shoot, he aimed with a ferocious effort towards the far post but it fizzed wide.

With five minutes added on, Thistle pushed desperately to get at least a point to help them in their fight against the drop.

Two minutes in, they had their chance. Spittal found himself room with a header 12 yards from goal but he could only place it straight at a grateful Carson.

Allan Campbell is calling for a strong response as Motherwell prepare for the short trip to Glasgow on Tuesday night. 

Partick Thistle are the opposition for the Steelmen’s penultimate game of the 2017/18 campaign.

But following Saturday’s defeat to St Johnstone, the young central midfielder admitted it is time for the players to pick themselves up.

“The boys have got together again and we just need to get ready for the game tomorrow,” the 19-year-old said. “We need to prove to everyone that the result on Saturday was just a freak performance.

“So we’ll pick ourselves up and hope to put smiles on the fans faces again.”

He added: “It was one of those games when it wasn’t like us and it wasn’t good enough. We need to do what we’ve been doing all season and stick to that.

“So we’ll show that togetherness that we have all season and put in a good performance to try and make sure of that seventh place.”

Keith Lasley says the players are well aware of how far they let standards slip at the weekend.

Motherwell return to action just three days later when they travel to face Partick Thistle on Tuesday, presenting the opportunity to immediately bounce back.

“That’s what football gives you, an opportunity to get back out there,” said the assistant manager. “Luckily for us we have another game on Tuesday.

“The good thing about our group is, they were as disappointed as anybody in themselves.

“It’s not often we can say that about them this season. They’ve had 18 clean sheets, they are one or two from setting a record. But they were defensively poor all over the pitch.

“The players are good at taking responsibility. They will. They are hurting but they are desperate to get back out there against Partick Thistle.”