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Pictures from the 4-o win against St Johnstone in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League at Fir Park. These action shots and more are available to buy online at www.motherwellpics.com.

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A sensational first-half hat-trick from Nick Blackman and a late John Sutton strike secured a deserved victory against St Johnstone.

The result keeps ‘Well in third spot in the SPL; meanwhile, St Johnstone have now conceded 13 goals in their last four matches.

Motherwell opened the scoring after a little over ten minutes, with the first real chance of the game, as Jamie Murphy breezed past Danny Grainger before picking out Nick Blackman for a tap-in.

Blackman made it two just twelve minutes later when he poked home a pinpoint cross after some terrific wide play from the dazzling Chris Humphrey.

The big striker completed his first half hat-trick just before the break as he poked home at the back-post following a blocked Stephen Craigan header.

Icing was lathered onto the cake as John Sutton lashed home from 18 yards with three minutes left, after Alan Gow had danced through a demoralised Saints backline.

St Johnstone enjoyed some decent spells, but lacked a cutting edge – especially compared to the incisive trio of Jamie Murphy, Nick Blackman and, especially, Chris Humphrey, who tore the Saints defence to shreds whenever they got on the ball.

Craig Brown sprung a surprise in his team selection, with Marc Fitzpatrick coming in for just his second start of the campaign, replacing Steven Saunders. In the only other change to the side which was victorious in Inverness at the weekend Jamie Murphy replaced Alan Gow.

Derek McInnes’ men came into this game on a run of three consecutive defeats, including a 3-0 capitulation to Kilmarnock at the weekend, so it was no shock to see wholesale changes to the starting line-up from the men from Perth. Only six players survived the cull after the weekend, with Peter Enckelman, Danny Grainger, Cleveland Taylor, Steven Anderson and Scott Dobie coming in to the team.

Those changes certainly seemed to fire up the visitors, and they were the more industrious of the two sides in a relatively low key start. Danny Grainger coming closest with a fizzing 30-yard free-kick which Darren Randolph saw wide.

Yet that positive start was rendered moot on the 12-minute mark, as Motherwell took the lead with a swift, incisive break. Tom Hateley fed a delightful ball down the right flank to Jamie Murphy, who left Danny Grainger in his dust before feeding a perfect ball across the face of goal for Nick Blackman to tap in from two yards.

Despite a decent spell of possession for the Saints following the goal – during which Darren Randolph had to save from Mark Reynolds after the defender sliced a Jody Morris cross towards his own goal – Motherwell doubled their advantage a little over ten minutes later.

This time it was Chris Humphrey’s turn to burn past Danny Grainger, and the in-form winger had the wherewithal to pick out Nick Blackman in the box. The Blackburn loan star had his first shot blocked, but managed to poke his second effort into the bottom corner from eight yards.

Craig Brown’s men seemed happy to allow St Johnstone plenty of the ball as the half progressed, and apart from a slipped Morris pass to Dave Mackay in the right channel of the box, which the defender couldn’t squeeze across the face of goal, the ‘Well rearguard held comfortably firm.

Conversely, the Steelmen looked threatening every time they went forward, and Jamie Murphy stung the palms of Peter Enckelman five minutes before the break.

That was just a prelude to Nick Blackman completing an extraordinary first half hat-trick on the stroke of half-time. A Steven Hammell free-kick was met by Stephen Craigan and, although the big Northern Irishman’s header was blocked, it fell kindly at the back stick for Nick Blackman to prod home from a yard.

Derek McInnes’ troops deserve credit for their response in the second. Within ten minutes of the restart Scott Dobie tested Darren Randolph with a close-range header and Liam Craig flashed a powerful drive just wide of Randolph’s left-hand poSt

The Steelmen rode out that spell of pressure admirably, and could have gone further ahead themselves. Firstly Chris Humphrey was played clear on goal on the right flank, but was scythed down by the rushing Peter Enckelman, prompting a yellow card for the Saints’ keeper.

And from the resulting free-kick Nick Blackman lashed over the bar from the edge of the box, as the prodigious Englishman hunted a fourth goal.

A header by second half substitute Collin Samuel represented the Saints last real chance, and John Sutton even ensured there was more gloss on the score-line as he lashed home a left-footed drive from the edge of the area with three minutes left, after an Alan Gow run and shot had culminated in a block which carried the ball to the English front-man.

[tab:As it happened]

90 mins – Full time whistle goes wrapping up our biggest win of the season, Well 4 Saints 0

90 mins – Fourth official lets us know 2 mins will be added on – sympathy for Saints maybe??

90 mins – full length save from Randolph from a Peter McDonald shot – toffee for the big man!!

87 mins – GOAAALLL!!! JOHN SUTTON Great run from Gow to beat offside trap, shot blocked but Sutton sweeps home from 15 yards out

85 mins – Page on for Hammell just after Gow sees a shot deflected over.

80 mins – Saints almost get one back… McDonald cross for Samuel but his header is well saved by Randolph.

79 mins – Gow on for Humphrey. Danny Grainger’s prayers have been answered!

72 mins – Incredible low ball across the face from Casagolda almost finds Murphy but Duberry intercepts!

71 mins – Casagolda on for hat-trick hero Nick Blackman!

67 mins – Second Saints sub! Samuel on for Sam Parkin!

65 mins – It’s been a quiet second half so far! That’ll do us!

61 mins – Peter McDonald on for Scott Dobie!

56 mins – Shot just wide by Liam Craig as the attendance is announced. 3361! Brave souls!

53 mins – St Johnstone nearly get one back! Free-kick is flicked on by Duberry for Dobie but his header is saved by Randolph.

48 mins – Humphrey almost scored an absolute worldy! Great turn on the edge of the box but shot flew over the bar.

46 mins – Motherwell to kick-off the second period!

HT: Motherwell 3 – 0 St Johnstone

45 mins – Hammell corner towards the back post. Blackman somehow got it over the line. Might be an OG!

45 mins – GOOOOALLLLL Motherwell! Nick Blackman! Hat-trick!

44 mins – Humphrey takes a sore one from Grainger on the back of the head! Looks like he is ok…

37 mins – Great move by Saints. Super ball across the box but Craigan was on hand to clear for a corner.

32 mins – No updates for ten minutes. Not much has happened but it’s got more to do with the fact that I am close to hypothermia!

24 mins – Humprey roasts Grainger on the right. His squared ball landed at Blackman who poked it home at the second attempt.

24 mins – GOOOOOALLLLLLLL Motherwell! Nick Blackman!

22 mins – Humphrey roasts Grainger on the right but after it eventually landed at Jennings, he fired over the bar.

20 mins – Morris cross from the right hits the shins of Reynolds at the back post but Randolph makes the catch. Phew!

15 mins – Cleveland Taylor fires a low shot which is deflected. Darren Randolph makes a smart save though…

13 mins – GOOOOALLLLLLLLLLL Nick Blackman! Long ball over the top by Hateley plays in Murphy. Great ball across the face and Blackman is there to tap in! GET IN!

10 mins – Flashes wide of the post though and ‘Well escape! We’ve actually just noticed they’ve swapped the dugouts here at FP. Bizarre!

9 mins – St Johnstone free-kick on the edge of the box! Early chance!

6 mins – Half hearted shout for a penalty! Shove from Duberry on Blackman. My colleague Mr Barnstaple was shouting louder than anyone!

5 mins – I am getting filmed by Alba for a half-time behind the scenes feature on Sat. They say the camera adds 10Ibs – Actually, its 150Ibs.

3 mins – Decent free-kick into the box from Saints but Motherwell managed to get it clear. I can hardly type my hands are that cold.

1 mins – St Johnstone kick-off! It’s freezing here at Fir Park.

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Motherwell manager Craig Brown:

“It was a comfortable 90 minutes but it wasn’t the best we’ve played,” said Brown. “I’m not complaining too much about the performance but we did get every break possible in the match.

“Great credit to Blackman for his hat-trick, he took them very well. Every time we shot, we scored in the early part of the game.

“At the other end our goalkeeper was making good saves. We were conceding corner kicks. The result flattered us but we’ll be glad to accept it.

“We’re delighted we’ve got good pace down the flanks with Jamie Murphy and Chris Humphrey. You can’t ask for better than that and we can penetrate very well. We’ve got four out and out strikers in the team and six players who defend very well.

“So, all’s looking good at the moment but there’s a long way to go this season and there’s a lot of work to be done.

“We’re fortunate in that we’ve been steering clear of injuries and suspensions. We certainly will avoid suspensions because they know better than to get in trouble but we can’t legislate for injuries. If we stay clear of injuries, I think we’ve a chance of maintaining our reasonable start to this season.”

St Johnstone manager Derek McInnes:

“It’s all about results. We didn’t defend well enough as a team and although we had plenty of possession and got loads of crosses into the Motherwell penalty area we didn’t ask enough questions of their goalkeeper.

“Right now, we are falling short in both penalty boxes and that is always going to make it difficult to wins games.”

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Motherwell boss Craig Brown has warned his players not to underestimate St Johnstone on Wednesday night.

Saints visit Fir Park on a difficult run having suffered two consecutive 3-0 defeats to Celtic and Kilmarnock

But the former Scotland boss is convinced that will count for little and insists the Steelmen will have to be at their very best if they want to build on the 2-1 win over Inverness last Saturday.

“St. Johnstone are a good, solid outfit,” said Brown. “They are similar to us in that regard.”

“They are physically imposing and that is something we must deal with. You think about Duberry, Mackay and Rutkiewicz and you know we will have to deal with that – but their smallest player is their best player. Jody Morris is an outstanding midfielder!

“I thought we were fortunate to win the match against St Johnstone last time we played, and despite them being towards the bottom of the league at the time, I knew they would perk up and they will give us a tough match.”

‘Well come in to this match following a splendid league result, returning from the mammoth trek to Inverness with a precious win against the high-flying Highlanders.

Motherwell weren’t at their fluent best against Terry Butcher’s troops, but the result cemented their third spot for the time being, and illustrated a sought after quality: the ability to win when not playing at your best.

Displaying characteristic honesty, Brown said: “I thought we were very patchy in spells against Inverness. Some of our play was excellent, but some was poor.

“But to have consistency every week with a squad as small, and young, as ours is very difficult. Sometimes we just have to ask the boys to dig out a result.

“Our lads have learned how to ride out matches and make sure they get the three points.”

Amazingly Wednesday’s match will represent Motherwell’s 20th match of a season which began in mid-July with the Europa League tie against Icelandic Champions Breidablik, meaning the Steelmen have become accustomed to playing games in midweek as well as the weekend.

When this fixture is over Brown’s hard-working troops can look forward to an extended period of games, at most, once a week – giving much of his wafer-thin squad a comparative rest.

“This is our last midweek fixture for the moment, so we want to complete our run of midweek fixtures successfully.” the gaffer insisted. “We have survived an intensive period of football with the minimum of injuries and suspensions, and after this match we can go back to playing week-to-week.

“The lads are so responsive and willing to work it is really a pleasure to work with them. They deserve success.

“The players have done tremendously well to cope with the workload, and I’ve told them: ‘Let’s get through this midweek game and then it’s back to weekly football.’”

Although Brown has praised the resilience of his squad, recent weeks have seen a few key players miss out through injury; Keith Lasley and Jamie Murphy the most notable.

The ‘Well boss is hopeful those stars of this campaign will make the match against the Saints – along with Spaniard Esteban Casagolda who is now back to full fitness.

“Murphy came on for the last 23 minutes in Inverness and if there is no reaction before the game then he should be fit to play,” the gaffer told the assembled press.

“Lasley is just about there; we are battling and he could make a comeback. Casagolda is back too, and we expect him to make a real impact.”

Referee for Wednesday’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with St Johnstone at Fir Park is Crawford Allan.

It will be 43-year-old Allan’s fourth SPL game of the current campaign, having previously taken charge of Hibernian’s 1-1 draw with Inverness CT in September, Hamilton’s 2-2 draw with Kilmarnock two weeks later and, most recently, St Mirren’s 2-1 win over Aberdeen eleven days ago.

It will, of course, be his first Motherwell game of the current campaign but he is no stranger to the Steelmen or Fir Park having overseen two games here last season.

He was the man in the middle for the 3-1 success early in Jim Gannon’s reign when John Sutton, Ross Forbes and Shaun Hutchinson gave the ‘Well all three points.

Some three months later, and almost a year ago from tonight, he officiated the 1-1 draw with Aberdeen when Gary McDonald, who would later be ordered off, cancelled out a Lukas Jutkiewicz opener.

Tragically, Allan took charge of the ‘Well game on the 29th December 2007, forever etched in history as the date when Phil O’Donnell tragically passed away in the 5-3 victory over Dundee United.

Phil’s death had a profound effect on the whistler, a Grade 1 official for nine seasons, but he won heartfelt praise for the way he handled what was an extremely difficult situation and his sensitive approach is and was appreciated by everyone at Motherwell Football Club.

In another twist of fate, Allan is only one of two referees to have ever refereed a Motherwell away game at Fir Park as the Steelmen faced hosts Gretna during the 2007/2008 campaign.

His record in charge of the ‘Well is a fairly decent one, with the Fir Parkers winning three and drawing three of the six games in total. In those games, 22 players have seen yellow, nine in Claret and Amber, whilst three have been sent for an early bath.

Allan will be ably assisted by Francis Andrews and Ross Haswell, with Charlie Richmond on fourth official duties.

The seventh edition of the Motherwell Matchday Magazine hits the streets tomorrow night when St Johnstone visit Fir Park.

Our new-look 64-page publication has received some excellent feedback from the fans and continues to me a must read on matchdays.

This week, Craig Brown shares his pre match thoughts, talking candidly about the defeat by Hamilton at the end of October and putting things right at the Caledonian Stadium last Saturday. The former Scotland boss also praises his opposite number and reflects on a couple of International call-up’s this week.

Top scorer Nick Blackman chats about loving life in Scotland and his desire to stay at Fir Park in the “From the Dressing Room” feature.

We also have an exclusive 8-page chat with flying winger Chris Humphrey who talks honestly about his new life as a father, pains of the past and his current form, which has led to calls for the Jamaican-born 21-year-old to be included in Craig Levein’s Scotland squad.

We have a ten-page section dedicated to our visitors, St Johnstone, including a player-by-player account of Derek McInnes’ side. Peter Elder takes us back through time to recall some of the good and, erm, not so good encounters between the sides and Kevin Macgregor, aka Radford, gives us the fans view from McDiarmid Park.

Alan Temple examines the fascinating battle between Youth and Experience as Craig Brown prepares to lock horns with Derek McInnes.

John Sutton talks life coaching, punditry and Police reprimands in “Pot Shots”. The latest bout of Brainiacs is the battle of the midfielders – 2005 Cup Semi Final hero Marc Fitzpatrick versus the young upstart Ross Forbes. The winner faces a tough test against either Stephen Craigan or Jonathan Page in the Quarter Finals in the most important Motherwell quiz for, well, ever!

And that’s not all… We look back at the 1-0 defeat by Hamilton and the 2-1 success at the Caledonian Stadium last Saturday, there’s a review of the U19’s clash with St Johnstone as well as the latest ticket information for our next six matches.

The programme, priced at £3, will be available in the ‘Well Shop with sellers in and around the ground from about 6pm.

Steelmen skipper Stephen Craigan is set to reach another milestone in his Motherwell career after being included in the latest Northern Ireland squad.

Craigan, 34, has amassed a terrific haul of 52 caps for his native country, 49 of which have been achieved whilst playing at Fir Park.

However, with his latest call-up to the squad for the International Challenge Match against Morocco next midweek, he has the opportunity to claim his fiftieth and cement his place in Motherwell folklore with a record that is unlikely to ever be surpassed.

Craigan will be joined by fellow SPL starts Jonathan Tuffey from Inverness CT, Steve Davis and Kyle Lafferty from Rangers and Nial McGinn and Paddy McCourt from Celtic.

FULL SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS

Taylor (Birmingham City), Tuffey (Partick Thistle), Blayney (Linfield)

DEFENDERS

Evans (Manchester Utd), Craigan (Motherwell), McCartney (Sunderland), McAuley (Ipswich Town), Hughes (Fulham), Baird (Fulham)

MIDFIELDERS

McCann (Peterborough Utd), Brunt (West Bromwich Albion), Gorman (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Evans (Manchester Utd), Davis (Rangers), McGinn (Celtic), Clingan (Coventry City), McCourt (Celtic)

FORWARDS

Feeney (Oldham Athletic), Lafferty (Rangers), Patterson (Plymouth Argyle)

Picture: PressEye

Motherwell youngster Steve Saunders has cemented his growing reputation with a place in the new-look Scotland U21 squad.

Saunders, 19, has had a superb start to the 2010/11 campaign, playing sixteen times already.

He joins twenty other players in the pool for the Under-21 International Challenge Match against Northern Ireland at Firhill on Wednesday 17th November.

FULL SQUAD

Goalkeepers

Michael Andrews (Falkirk on loan to East Stirlingshire), Jamie Barclay (Falkirk), Mark Ridgers (Hearts on loan to Airdrie United)

Defenders

Callum Booth (Hibernian on loan to Brechin City), Grant Hanley (Blackburn Rovers), Paul Hanlon (Hibernian), Ross Perry (Rangers), Steven Saunders (Motherwell), Craig Thomson (Heart of Midlothian)

Midfielders

Tom Cairney (Hull City), John Fleck (Rangers), Kyle Hutton (Rangers), Bradden Inman (Newcastle United), Liam Palmer (Sheffield Wednesday), Nicholas Ross (Inverness Caledonian Thistle), David Wotherspoon (Hibernian), Gregg Wylde (Rangers)

Forwards

Leigh Griffiths (Dundee), Alex MacDonald (Burnley), Jordan Rhodes (Huddersfield Town), Johnathon Russell (Dundee United)

It’s two months until the transfer window opens but Mark Reynolds is already hearing the usual chatter that he’s set for the Fir Park exit – and he’s doing his best to ignore it.

For the last two years speculating about the classy stopper’s future has become as much a Scottish football tradition as pies, bovril and slaughtering referees.

Now, at last – after a failed s750,000 bid by Rangers in January 2009, and interest from countless clubs including PSV Eindhoven, Wigan and Newcastle – this could be the window when the will-he-won’t-he saga finally reaches its inevitable conclusion.

Serie A side Bari are the latest club to be linked with the 23-year-old and Well would find it hard to resist if the reported s250,000 bid comes in for a man who could leave as a free agent in the summer.

Craig Brown’s admission that he’ll have to sell a player before he can add to his squad only poured more fuel on a debate.

It’s a good job then that laid back Reynolds isn’t the type to get carried away, which is why he has never slapped in transfer requests.

And it’s also the reason why his belief never suffered each time a window closed without his promised big move materialising.

Reynolds said: “I can see why some boys would let it get to them when nothing comes of the speculation but it didn’t knock my confidence.

“The speculation has followed me about since Rangers put the bid in but you learn quickly to put that aside as you can’t influence things like that.

“The way football is now turning towards clubs restricting their finances, you have to realise that moves are less common.

“But I’m happy at Motherwell, always have been, and if the right move – both for me and the club – came up in January then great.

“However, if the manager thinks it’s better to keep me then we’ll sit down and discuss it.

“The good thing is I have two guys in the management team whose judgement I can trust implicitly.

“The manager and Archie Knox are in it for you, there’s no hidden agendas or any element of looking after themselves.

“The advice they’ll give is purely in your best interests and geared only towards advancing you as a player. You can’t ask for any more than that and, sadly, there’s a lot of players out there who don’t have that.

“It’s not something I want to dwell on and as long as I’m focussed on improving at Motherwell the rest will take care of itself.”

Steve Jennings has urged Well loan star Nick Blackman to stay at Fir Park – after the striker apologised to his mates for his showing against Caley.

The Blackburn frontman bagged a lucky winner in the Highlands to cement third spot in the SPL for the Steelmen.

But after one of his poorest performances since arriving from Ewood Park in the summer, Blackman said sorry in the dressing-room at half-time and was eventually hooked by boss Craig Brown.

Despite that, midfield ace Jennings would love Blackman to hang around in Lanarkshire until the end of the season and is almost certain he will stay put. Blackman’s deflected goal and Alan Gow’s header were enough to see off Inverness who replied late on with a Stuart Duff strike but now drop to fifth.

Jennings was terrific in midfield and said: “I would love Nick to stay beyond January and I’m 99 per cent sure it will happen. I don’t see any reason for either party not to allow it.

“He’s playing first-team football up here and I know he’s enjoying it. He came in at half-time and apologised to the boys for not playing well. But he still got the winning goal and he’s a fantastic player for us.

“He has everything you want in a striker – he’s strong, sharp and can take people on. Hopefully he’ll still be here after January to help us to maintain our position in the SPL.”

Well gaffer Brown was pleased with the win but not his side’s performance.

He said: “We’re grateful for the three points but not proud of our display. We can do much better than that. It was patchy from us. On balance we deserved to win but it was a nail-biter near the end.”

Pictures from the 2-1 win against Inverness CT in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League at The Tulloch Caledonian Stadium. These action shots and more are available to buy online at www.motherwellpics.com.

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