| 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 |
Motherwell frontman says his side have had numerous chances already to turn their season around and that they should be on more points than what they are at the minute.
With the ‘Well sitting 10th in the cinch Premiership, Van Veen insists despite creating chances and not playing poorly, he would take a victory in any form against Hibernian to help build momentum in 2023.
Louis Moult has returned to his parent club, Burton Albion.
Moult returned to the Brewers for treatment on an ankle problem during the World Cup break and hasn’t been available for selection since our match against St Johnstone in early November.
The injury may now require further work so we have exercised a clause to end the loan agreement this January, with the search for replacements already well underway.
“Louis is a legend at Motherwell and we are gutted it didn’t quite work out the way we had all hoped,” manager Steven Hammell said.
“Whilst it was clear whenever Louis played that he has the fantastic quality that we all remember, he was playing with a lot of pain which got progressively worse. He will need to try and get that rectified.
“From our point of view, we have identified and been working on alternatives that we hope will be with us soon. January is obviously a tricky month, but a lot of work has been undertaken so far that we hope will benefit the squad for the second half of the season.”
Louis made seven appearances in his second spell at the club, scoring one goal against Hearts at Tynecastle.
Everyone associated with Motherwell FC thanks Louis for his incredible contribution and effort over his two spells at the club and wish him all the very best in his recovery.
We are back at home for the first time in 2023, taking on Hibernian on Sunday 8 January at Fir Park.
Kick off is 1.30pm.
Supporters are able to buy tickets online here or visit the ticket office at Fir Park.
The ticket office is open until kick-off with no pay gate facility
Away supporters can purchase tickets in the Tommy McLean stand from the ticket booth up until kick-off (cash and card available).
Ticket office opening times
Monday – Thursday 9am – 5pm and Friday 9-4pm, matchday 10am – kick-off.
Important Information
| Hunter Stand | O’Donnell, Cooper, McLean Stand | |
| Adults | £21 | £25 |
| Concessions | £17 | £18 |
| Young Adults | £10 | £10 |
| Juniors | £4 | £4 |
– Concessions Tickets would be ages 65 and over and FT Students with a valid matric card.
– Young Adults tickets would ages 12 to 17.
– Juveniles would be 11 and under.
– Family tickets would be one adult / senior citizen concession and x2 juveniles.
The game will be shown live on Sky Sports.
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 Steelmen will be hoping the new year brings new fortunes at home – a frustrating draw with Kilmarnock last time out at Fir Park which left ‘Well still searching for their first home win since August.
The visitors sit four points ahead but have only won two away games all season and are currently on a run of two wins in 11 games.
Fir Park has been a happy hunting ground of late for Hibs, with their last defeat in Motherwell being in August 2019.
Match Officials
With 2022 at an end, Motherwell travelled to Livingston in search of three points and a turn in fortune after a difficult calendar year.
A couple of first team regulars returned to Steven Hammell’s starting lineup, with Sondre Solholm back from injury and Kevin van Veen fit enough to start, which helped bolster the manager’s options.
Livingston would start the brighter of the two sides and the first big talking point of the match occurred after nine minutes.
Ricki Lamie was adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty area and David Munro pointed to the sport. Nicky Devlin stepped up but was denied originally by Liam Kelly however Devlin followed up to score.
VAR would intervene and seen that Kelly was off his line and Devlin used his hand to score, therefore a retake was ordered by the officials.
Devlin stepped up again but Kelly denied the Livi skipper once again to keep the score at 0-0.
Livingston found the opener however through Morgan Boyes’ header but Kevin van Veen quickly rectified the score with a left footed strike two minutes later.
The Dutchman would go on to hit the bar in the second half, alongside fellow forward Connor Shields, as Motherwell looked for the winner. However they had to settle for a point on the road.
“We’ve missed chances that we should be taking.
“By and large, it’s a game we should be coming away with a win with the chances we didn’t take.”
Both sides had to settle for their first point of the New Year as the fans were kept entertained with an competitive open game.
Early in the first half, video technology intervened to deny Livingston an opening goal amidst two saved penalties from Liam Kelly and considerable confusion for everybody in the Tony Macaroni Stadium.
Morgan Boyes finally gave the West Lothian side the lead but it was immediately cancelled out by Kevin Van Veen’s ninth league goal of the season. In truth, the Dutch striker could easily have grabbed his second hat-trick of season and given ‘Well a long overdue win that their efforts and some fine individual performances possibly deserved.
Steven Hammell resisted the temptation to give Shane Blaney his debut, the former Sligo Rovers central defender starting on the bench. Instead Sondre Solholm returned from injury to ex-Livi man Ricki Lamie at the centre of the ‘Well defence. That meant Paul McGinn could revert to his full back role with Stephen O’Donnell making way. Up front Kevin van Veen was fit enough to lead the attack.
And after a tame and unremarkable opening 13 minutes, the former Livi defender sparked a remarkable period of VAR dominated action.
It looked a bit harsh on Lamie when Cristian Montano’s half hit shot at the edge of the bo bounced up and hit the ‘Well defender’s hand. Referee David Munro immediately pointed to the penalty spot and VAR quickly concurred.
Devlin powered his spot kick to low to the ‘keeper’s left but Kelly guessed correctly diving low to palm the ball out.A goalmouth scramble ensued before Devlin forced the ball over the line to give the home side the lead. Or so we thought.
As the Livi fans celebrated and Motherwell waited to restart the game, Colin Stephen in the VAR control room advised that the penalty should be retaken. Like everyone else in the stadium ref Munro unaware of the reason, returned play to the ‘Well box and present Devlin with a second chance to net from the spot.
Just to add to the confusion it was a repeat of the Livi captain’s first attempt, Kelly again diving to his left to beat the ball away with Lamie completing the clearance and ensure there was no doubt that the scores remained level.
As the Lions tried to recover from that triple blow, ‘Well gained the upper hand.
The first of a series of free kicks from Sean Goss found Lamie and his header back across the box was chested down by Van Veen before he thundered in a shot which Shamal George was happy to beat away.
Conor Shields then raced towards the box only to blast the ball high over the goal.
The Fir Park striker might have been played in after 32 minutes when he was totally unmarked in the box but after dragging the ball along the 18 yard line Van Veen elected to go himself only to fire straight at the ‘keeper.
Then, seven minutes from the break and almost the run of play, Livingston took the lead.
Stephen Kelly’s deep free kick found Morgan Boyes beyond the back post and his header back across goal found the far corner of the net. Livi fans jeered as the ref waited for a check was made to considering offside but eventually the home side could celebrate taking the lead.
However, that was short lived as the Steelmen levelled two minutes later.
The ball bounced around a packed Livi box begging a taker and Van Veen obliged sweeping the ball past George from eight yards and claim his ninth league goal of the season.
Hammell’s men might have been ahead at the interval when Solholm got his boot to a Goss free kick but from 10 yards could only guide the ball wide of goal.
Two minutes into the second half and ‘Well should have been in front. Shields did well to keep possession close to the byeline and after he laid the ball across to Van Veen six yard in front of goal he should have found the net rather than smacking the ball off the face of the bar.
As the artificial surface began to appear slippy underfoot the pace of the game quickened and half-chances popped up in both boxes.
Bruce Anderson blasted an effort over Kelly’s bar before the large contingent of ‘Well fans in the away stand thought Shields had fired home from a tight angle only to realise the ball had nestled in the side netting.
There was nothing to separate the two sides as the game entered its final 15 minutes Hammell made his first change, Stuart McKinstry coming on for Shields.
The Fir Park men pushed for a winner in the closing stages and despite looking the more likely to take all three points they had to settle for a solitary point for their efforts.
Defender Max Johnston has been recalled from his loan at Cove Rangers.
The full-back made ten appearances in the cinch Championship this season.
Johnston is available for selection immediately.
Arbroath have released tickets prices for our Scottish Cup fourth round tie on Saturday 21 January.
The home side have made 3000 tickets available for our away support for the match.
| Terraced | |
| Adults | £20 |
| Concessions | £13 |
| Family one adult & one child (under 12) | £23 |
| Family one adult & two child (under 12) | £25 |
| Coelbrew Stand | |
| Adults | £22 |
| Concessions | £15 |
Tickets will be available to buy on Monday 9 January online at 10:30am.
There will be no cash turnstiles at the game.
Motherwell’s first match of 2023 is an away day to Livingston on Monday 2 January.
Kick-off is 3pm.
You can buy tickets online.
Ticket Prices
| North Stand | |
| Adults | £25 |
| Concessions | £17 |
| Junior | £10 |
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.
After a strong 2022 calendar year for the Lions, they will be looking to continue their home form in their first match of the new year.
A 1-1 draw with St Mirren last time out, which seen Scott Pittman sent off at the Tony Macaroni Arena, Montano got on the scoresheet. Jason Holt will be missing for the home side as his red card decision against Hibernian has been upheld.
Motherwell were beaten in their final match of 2022 against Rangers at Ibrox.
Steven Hammell’s side currently occupy 10th in the table, however are only eight points off fourth.
Our last trip to West Lothian seen Callum Slattery and Ricki Lamie score in a terrific 20 minute comeback to secure a top six place last season.
Match Officials
A new date has been confirmed to play our postponed fixture against St Mirren, with the game scheduled to take place on Wednesday 15 February.
Kick off is 7:45pm.
The match was originally meant to take place on 17 December however the match was postponed due to extensive stadium damage at Fir Park.
