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As Motherwell prepare to rack up the big “five-oh” Shaun Hutchinson has dismissed any talk of tiredness.

The gaffer has admitted that he may consider freshening up the squad ahead of the trip to Tannadice for the – remarkably – 50th game of the season for the Steelmen.

And while Geordie Hutchinson acknowledges that any changes will benefit competition within the squad ahead of the Cup final, he doesn’t reckon the ‘Well lads are suffering from the rigours of a long campaign – which started all the way back in Iceland in the middle of July.

“A few of the boys have played a lot of football this season and any changes to the team will be a great opportunity for other players to prove themselves for the Final.” Hutchinson said.

“That’s the biggest game of the season and some of the boys will have a great chance to earn themselves a place in the team.

“Over the course of the season, playing so many games can have an effect but the manager has planned his training very well and we work hard on the right days and rest at the right times. Everyone is feeling OK at the moment.”

The big defenders positivity may be, largely, down to the recent results against this weekend’s opponents, Dundee United.

With four wins, a draw and just one defeat against the talented Arabs, Motherwell can justifiably head up to Tayside in good spirits.

And Hutchinson has no doubt what the gameplan will be; stop United’s stars and then get the ball to Murphy, Humphrey, Jeffers and Sutton, and let them cause havoc…again.

“I feel pretty lucky – every time we’ve played United in recent times our front four have been on fire,” the talented youngster laughed. “We’ve generally played really well against them this season and hopefully that will continue tomorrow.

“You know the opposition’s strengths and weaknesses going into every game and we’ll do our best to make sure the likes of Goodwillie and Conway can’t cause damage, and we’ll get the ball to the forwards who can do what they have been doing all season.”

The 20-year old also confessed to the assembled press this morning that he was left ‘gutted’ by the defeat to Rangers last week.

He admits it’s tough for any defender to suffer that type of mauling – but it’s time to make amends: “We don’t want to dwell on it, but last week was a poor result.

“So it’s important to go up there and get a good result because we are still chasing fifth place and that has to be our aim. Settling for sixth place this season is not something we are interested in; we want to push on.

“The defenders feel most of the pain when five goals fly past you, but it’s a team performance and everyone was gutted at the final result.”

Stuart McCall has admitted that he is wary of a Dundee United side which may be out for vengeance this weekend.

The Steelmen have inflicted several of the Arabs’ most painful moments this season; knocking them out of the Co-operative Insurance Cup quarter-final and ensuring that they wouldn’t be making it two Scottish Cups on the trot by defeating Houston’s men at the same stage in that competition.

Indeed, the men in claret and amber have also beaten the Terrors twice in the league at Fir Park, so there’s every chance United will be relishing the prospect of revenge back in Tayside – and that’s something McCall is conscious of.

“Dundee United away is up there as one of the most difficult ones,” the ‘Well gaffer conceded. “We knocked them out of the cup, they were the holders, and they will be looking at revenge.

“It’s a tough place to go. I found that out in my second league game when we were beaten 2-0. We managed to put in a terrific performance in the cup and get 2-2 and get them back here.

“They’ve got some terrific players. Unfortunately for them they will be losing a few of them and they will want to go out on a high. It’s a really difficult game, but when we got into the split in sixth place we knew we were going to be playing five sides above us and we knew we were going to have some difficult games.”

There’s little doubt the Steelmen will have to improve immeasurably on last weekend’s performance against Rangers, which saw the Ibrox side fire five goals past a shell-shocked Motherwell.

The boss was typically honest in his post-match assessment that day, referring to the performance as ‘embarrassing.’ Seven days later, the defeat is still smarting – but he believes his side are ready to bounce back with a suitably positive performance at Tannadice.

He continued:  “I’ve looked at the game again twice and my thoughts on the game then were the same as now; first half we more than matched Rangers in an even, competitive game. Once they got the second goal they lifted and got stronger, we looked a bit leg weary.

“The three goals they scored thereafter were terrific goals. There was nothing we could do about them. Naismith probably won’t score two goals in a game like that in his career.

“Sometimes you’ve got to hold your hands up. I’ve said that – the second 45 we didn’t perform with any energy or zest and I think that might just have been off the back of a long season.

“But the group have done the club proud. From the European game, the CIS – they had a terrific run in that – and now the Scottish Cup final and finished in the top six. Yes, we’ve had blips on the way, but so does every team.”

McCall hopes that the odd ‘blip’ this season won’t cost his side a shot at fifth spot in the table. The former Bradford gaffer has pinpointed usurping Killie – who visit Fir Park for a crunch encounter on Wednesday evening – as the club’s remaining SPL target.

He knows it will be tough, but a positive result against United could be half the battle, with Kilmarnock having to face Celtic and Rangers as well as Motherwell in their final three matches.

“We’re under no illusions how difficult the games we’ve got are,” McCall said candidly. “We came into the split and we wanted to catch Kilmarnock.

“To do that now, with Kilmarnock getting a point against Hearts and assuming they are beaten by the Old Firm, we’ve got to beat Kilmarnock in the game on Wednesday. But because of the goal difference we also need to take another point. We’ll be looking to do that at Dundee United.”

The gaffer also confirmed that, for the moment, there was ‘nothing to report’ on the contract front, although he confirmed Steve Jennings agent would be visiting next week to discuss terms on a new deal.

As expected, Motherwell’s final league game of the season against Celtic at Celtic Park will be shown live on Sky Sports.

There has been no change to the kick-off time, 12.30pm on Sunday 15th May, and tickets will go on sale, from the Fir Park Ticket Office, this coming Monday (9th May).

Tickets are priced at:

• Concessions are applicable to Under 16s, Over 65s.
• Fans requiring disabled access should contact Elaine MacDonald at Fir Park on 01698 338068 or email tickets@motherwellfc.co.uk.
• Fans planning on making the trip to Glasgow can check our handy “Away Day Guide” to Celtic Park.

Darren Randolph has once again been included in the Republic of Ireland International squad.

The 23-year-old, who was picked in the pool for the UEFA EURO 2012 Qualifier with Macedonia and the friendly with Uruguay back in March, has been named in a preliminary list of 34 players for the forthcoming Carling Nations Cup fixtures versus Northern Ireland and Scotland on 24th & 29th May 2011 at Aviva Stadium, Dublin. 

Randolph has also been included on a preliminary list for the UEFA EURO 2012 Qualifier against Macedonia in Skopje on Saturday 4th June and the International Friendly versus Italy on Tuesday 7th June.

It’s further recognition for the talented goalkeeper, who has smashed the clubs’ clean sheet record this campaign with 19 shutouts.

Speaking exclusively to motherwellfc.co.uk, the former Charlton stopper said, “I am absolutely delighted to be included in the squad again.

“It’s an honour to picked for your national team and although I never managed any game time at the start of April, it was brilliant to be involved.

“These are important games for Ireland; we’ll be looking to win so everyone will be focused even although it comes at the end of a long season for most of the players.”

Jamie Murphy has once again claimed the Scottish Cup Player of the Round award, the second time he has won the trophy this term.

The former Scotland U21 hitman, whose progress is being monitored by a host of top Premiership clubs, was the star of the Quarter Finals in March when he ran riot against Dundee United at Fir Park.

He repeated that feat in the Semi Finals with a sterling display against St Johnstone, including a fine solo goal midway through the first half.

Twenty-one year-old Murphy, who has netted 26 goals in 83 starts for the Steelmen, said: “I am delighted to win the award, particularly as it’s voted on by the fans via the SFA Facebook page.

“We’ve had a great run in both Cups this year hopefully, with a bit of luck; we’ll pick up the ultimate award which would be a Scottish Cup winners medal.”

Jamie will be presented with his award at a Press Conference next week.

Referee for the Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Dundee United at Tannadice is Brian Winter.

Brian will be handling his first ‘Well game of the current season; indeed, his last time in charge of the Steelmen was almost exactly a year ago, when he was the man in the middle for Motherwell dramatic final-day 3-3 draw with Rangers at Ibrox.

It’ll be his eleventh SPL game of the campaign, his most recent being Dundee Utd’s 4-2 win over Kilmarnock two weeks ago.

Strangely, despite being a category 1 official for nearly ten years and officiating in the SPL for six, the 43-year old has only ever taken charge of four Motherwell games in that time.

The Steelmen have won two, drawn one and lost one of those games; nine goals have been scored whilst seven have been conceded. Eight players have been cautioned, five of them wearing Claret and Amber, and three have been ordered off (two from ‘Well – David Clarkson and Jim Paterson – in the same game versus Kilmarnock at Rugby Park four seasons ago).

Brian will be ably assisted by Gordon Middleton and Alastair Mather with Willie Collum on fourth official duty.

Motherwell scooped the Best Club Media Relations gong for the third successive year at the Clydesdale Bank SPL Awards last night.

After previously winning the award in 08/09 and 09/10, the organisers made the voting structure more stringent and the Scottish media were asked to rate each club on a number of areas including facilities, player accessibility and helpfulness of club staff, to give an all round view.

The club once again came out on top and collected the award at the ceremony, held in the Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow, last night.

Press & Media Manager Alan Burrows said, “It’s fantastic for Motherwell to win any award but three in succession is a brilliant achievement.

“Any media department of any club is only as good as the manager and players allow it to be. In that regard, I can’t speak highly enough of Stuart McCall and all the lads for their help and cooperation throughout the season.

“We will continue to try and improve year-on-year and 2011/2012 will be no different. Hopefully we’ll start it in the best possible way; as Scottish Cup winners.”

The full list of winners is:

Manager of the Season – Mixu Paatelainen, Kilmarnock FC

Player of the Season – Emilio Izaguirre, Celtic FC

Young Player of the Season – David Goodwillie, Dundee United FC

Goal of the Season – Derek Riordan, Hibernian FC

Save of the Season – Marian Kello, Heart of Midlothian FC

Under 19 League Player of the Season – Jason Holt, Heart of Midlothian FC

Best Club Media Relations – Motherwell FC

Best Community Initiative – St Mirren FC

SPL Family Champions – Rangers FC

It’s time to decide who you think deserves to win the Clydesdale Bank SPL Manager, Player & Young Player of the Month for April.

Has someone in our team caught your eye with their performances over the month? Although Saturday was a letdown, we’ve had a tremendous April. Has Stuart McCall suitably impressed you? Could the free-scoring John Sutton be in with a shout of the Player of the Month? Is Jamie Murphy a contender for the Young Player of the Month?

Vote and you could be in with a chance to win a pair of hospitality tickets to one of our upcoming fixtures!

Fans can vote by visiting the Clydesdale Bank Premier League website www.cbfootball.co.uk and the top three fans nominations will be put forward to the shortlist for the panel of Scottish football experts to choose the winners.

And to give you something back for voting, a lucky fan whose votes for the three categories match that of the judging panel will be picked at random to win hospitality tickets for a Clydesdale Bank Premier League team of their choice (subject to availability).

Voting is open now and closes at 4pm on Thursday 5th May 2011.

Log onto www.cbfootball.co.uk to cast your vote and play our Score Selector game. You can also win tickets for our upcoming fixtures, take part in the weekly quiz and keep up to date with all Clydesdale Bank’s football activities.