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The Christmas spirit failed to last for the Steelmen in Glasgow, as league leaders Celtic swept aside Stuart Kettlewell’s team to extend their lead at the top of the Premiership table. 

Arne Engels broke the deadlock from the penalty spot moments before the half-time break, after Motherwell stopper Aston Oxborough was adjudged to have impeded Hyunjun Yang following the forward’s dramatised fall in the 18-yard-box.

The hosts doubled their advantage, as Engels turned provider, teeing up Liam Scales, who diverted his header to the feet of Daizen Maeda, who coolly slotted his finish into the back of the net. Second-half substitute Nicolas Kuhn struck home the third after his low-drilled strike deflected off of the onrushing Kofi Balmer, wrong-footing Oxborough in the Motherwell net.

Reo Hatate wrapped up the three-points in the latter stages of the game, finding the opposing corner, with a similar low strike on-goal.

The Steelmen had numerous opportunities in the game, but luck proved not to be on their side. Motherwell looked to have a strong appeal for an early penalty claim, as Tawanda Maswanhise went down in the box following contact on the forward’s trailing leg, but the referee disagreed, deeming their to be simulation which earned the 22-year-old a yellow-card.

Motherwell’s clinical touch failed to materialise, as Marvin Kaleta’s diving header ricocheted off of striker Tony Watt, before Watt himself came close to the target after cutting inside from the left-flank, but the striker couldn’t find the yard of space needed to force Kasper Schmeichel into a save.

There will be no time for reflection, as the Steelmen swiftly refocus their attention to the other half of Glasgow, with visitors Rangers travelling to North Lanarkshire on the 29 December at Fir Park.

Stuart Kettlewell speaks post-match on Motherwell’s 4-0 defeat in Glasgow.

Current captain Lennon Miller talks about how it’s been for him to have the armband over the last couple of months. The 18-year-old says he has had to be more vocal on and off the pitch. 

Miller says he has been trying to lead by example, but insists players like Stephen O’Donnell and Paul McGinn have been helping him along.

Manager Stuart Kettlewell is hoping to have heard the outcome of the club’s appeal against the red card shown to Dan Casey. The Irishman was given his marching orders against Kilmarnock, and as things stand, the manager is having to prepare for the game unsure if he will be available. 

The Motherwell boss says his emotion hasn’t subsided over the weekend and remains baffled at the decision to send the defender off.

Motherwell head to the East end of Glasgow on Boxing Day to face champions Celtic at Parkhead. 

Kick off is 3pm.

How to follow the game

Tickets can be purchased online.

The ticket office will be open on boxing day, 10.30am-12pm for Celtic tickets only.

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.

Kit Watch

We will be wearing our away kit for this match.

Injury Update

Defender Steve Seddon came off midway through the first-half against Kilmarnock on Friday evening, and will be accessed by the medical staff at the club.

Dan Casey will be suspended for the match as things stand, pending an appeal.

Motherwell’s Fortunes

Motherwell’s momentary league woes were soon met with a resilient response, defeating St. Mirren in Paisley before overcoming a late Dundee United resurgence to earn three points at Fir Park. Refereeing controversy overshadowed Friday evening’s 1-1 stalemate with Kilmarnock, as defender Dan Casey incredibly saw red despite an on-field VAR check.

Motherwell sit fourth in the Premiership table, one-point clear of Dundee United, with the Steelmen set to contest a demanding festive period, facing both sides of Glasgow before travelling to the capital to play Hearts at Tynecastle.

Opposition Report

Celtic remain unbeaten domestically, with their only defeat of the 2024/25 campaign coming against European powerhouse Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League at the start of October. The defending champions have conceded only two-points in Glasgow after picking up nine victories, whilst being held by Aberdeen in a 2-2 draw.

The hosts added their latest trophy to their cabinet earlier this month, defeating bitter rivals Rangers at the National Stadium to reclaim the Premier Sports League Cup following a late penalty shootout.

We can confirm we have submitted an appeal for the red card shown to Dan Casey in our Premiership match against Kilmarnock on Friday 20 December.

The outcome of this appeal will be communicated in due course.

It was festive Friday night football in ML1, with Motherwell looking to make it three wins on the spin against Kilmarnock. 

Liam Gordon got the Steelmen off to a flyer, netting his first goal in the claret and amber. Former Motherwell man Liam Polworth made his mark, striking Killie level in the second-half.

And then, once again, refereeing decisions would be at the centre of attention. With Dan Casey shown a red card, bizarrely, by referee Chris Graham for an altercation with Danny Armstrong, VAR recommended the referee come to the monitor.

With it seemingly an easy decision to overturn, the referee stuck with the red card, and Casey was told to exit the field. Motherwell stuck in there, with chances presenting themselves in the closing stages, but the game would end 1-1.

Motherwell concluded their final domestic fixture of 2024, holding high-flying Hearts to a goalless stalemate at K-Park on Sunday.

It proved not to be a contest for the footballing purist, as both sides evenly matched each other in a defensively resolute performance that conceded very few opportunistic chances on goal.

Head Coach Paul Brownlie named two changes from the side that were defeated in the Scottish capital by Hibernian last weekend. Defender Rachel Todd and and midfielder Lucy Ronald both returned to the starting XI, with Ronald making her first competitive start since an injury setback against Spartans last season ruled the 22-year-old out of action for over a year. Chelsie Watson and Sienna McGoldrick both settled for a place amongst the substitutes.

Few chances of note troubled both Emily Mutch and Rachael Johnstone across either half, with Bailley Collins coming closest after curling a hopeful left-footed effort across the face of goal, but the versatile defenders attempt fell narrowly beyond the far post.

Collins again came close to breaking the deadlock in the second-half after looking to capitalise on Johnstone’s high starting position, clipping an audacious finish from distance, but the shot strayed wide of the target. Katie Rice’s bending free-kick from the edge of the Hearts’ penalty area had Johnstone scrambling in the Hearts goal, but the experienced defender couldn’t find the top-left corner.

Motherwell head into the winter break two-points clear of closest-rivals Partick Thistle in the SWPL table, with the women of steel set to return to action in January.

Ten-man Motherwell had to settle for a point as Kilmarnock came back from a goal behind at Fir Park on Friday night. 

In a dull first half, Liam Gordon’s headed goal had the Steelmen ahead until Liam Polworth levelled the scores just before Dan Casey was bizarrely red carded after facing up to Danny Armstrong.

Although the Ayrshire men tried to push home their numerical advantage, the game was evenly balanced as both teams chased a late winner.

Following Saturday’s exciting win over Dundee United, Stuart Kettlewell made one change for Kilmarnock’s Friday night visit to Fir Park.

For a fixture that is usually a tight encounter, the Well boss brought back the experienced Tony Watt at the expense of Tawanda Maswanhise.

The Steelmen were hoping to replicate the flying start they made against United and within 30 seconds had tested the Killie keeper.

Lennon Miller’s free kick found Gordon, and his header found Kieran O’Hara leaping to his right to beat the ball away before play was stopped for offside.

After 18 minutes, the Fir Park men grabbed the lead.

Marvin Kaleta’s high ball to the back of the six-yard area was headed back across goal by Casey. The keeper pushed the ball off his line but only as far as Gordon, who slammed it through a ruck of players to make it 1-0.

Sadly, that was about it for first-half goalmouth action as the ball spent an inordinate amount of time in the air as neither team took a commanding hold of the game, with both sides untidy in possession.

Kilmarnock did create one chance, on the half hour mark, when Aston Oxborough made a smart save low to his left to deny Kyle Vassell an equaliser.

In the first decent build-up of the second-half, Motherwell created an opening.

Kaleta carried the ball down the right before passing inside to Watt. His ball into the box found his striking partner Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, who found enough space for a shot that sailed over the bar.

Six minutes later, Oxborough produced another diving save to block Vassell’s firm drive.

With 68 minutes played, Kettlewell made a double substitution, bringing on Tom Sparrow and Davor Zdravkovski.

However, it was Killie’s double substitution that had an immediate impact on the game when Danny Armstrong’s cross fell for Vassell. But once again, Oxborough denied the striker, forcing his shot around the post.

From the resultant corner, the ball found its way to Polworth, and although Oxborough got his hands to the ex-Well man’s powerful drive, he couldn’t prevent it sneaking inside his right-hand post.

Things got worse for the Steelmen a couple of minutes later when they were reduced to 10 men. Following a VAR check, Casey was shown a red card, incredibly, for violent conduct.

The Well boss then bravely went for three points, bringing on the attack-minded Maswanhise and Moses Ebiye.

Immediately Ebiye was heading towards the box only to be tripped by Joe Wright.

The resultant free kick from Miller had some fans on their feet as his curled effort rippled the side netting with O’Hara scurrying across his goal line.

As the fourth official indicated eight minutes of additional time, the game became an end-to-end affair as both teams pressed for a win.

However, although Motherwell looked the more likely to score until the final whistle, they had to settle for a point to reinforce their hold on fourth place in the league table.

Stuart Kettlewell gives his thoughts on a 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock which was marred by a controversial red card for Dan Casey.