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Referee for Saturday’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Dundee United at Tannadice will be Steven McLean.

McLean, brother of former ‘Well defender Brian, will be handling his second ‘Well game of the current campaign having previously taken charge of the league opener against Inverness Caley back in July.

The 30-year old will be a familiar face to ‘Well fans having overseen three matches during the 2010/11 campaign.

His first was his Motherwell ‘debut’ – a 2-1 win over Saturday’s opponents United at Fir Park one year ago. A couple of own goals gave The Steelmen the points despite David Goodwillie slamming home a penalty after McLean had adjudged skipper Stephen Craigan to have handled inside the area.

His next was at Pittodrie when Motherwell took on Aberdeen for the first time since Craig Brown’s departure. A scintillating display from Stuart McCall’s men gave the Steelmen all three points after coming from behind to win 2-1.

It was a difficult game for McLean to handle but, despite howls of protest from the home stands, the young official had an excellent evening and showed composure in the face of difficult circumstances.

Finally, he was the man in the middle for another clash against Aberdeen, this time at Fir Park. A game more remembered for things that happened off the park after the final whistle; on the park the Steelmen won 2-1 again thanks to goals from Chris Humphrey and Shaun Hutchinson.

McLean began his refereeing career back in 1997, aged just 16, but had to wait six years before being promoted to the SFA Senior List. It took him a further four years (June 2007) to get promoted to a Category 1 where he has spent the last three years handling SFL and ALBA Challenge Cup games as well as gaining experience as a fourth official at SPL matches.

He eventually made his bow in Scotland’s top league when he took charge of Aberdeen’s 1-0 away win at McDiarmid Park over a year ago.  A late Darren Mackie goal was enough to give the Dons all three points and McLean had a good afternoon, booking five players in a competitive contest.

He quickly followed that with another SPL match, this time the six-pointer between Kilmarnock and St Mirren at Rugby Park. A slightly more eventful outing for the young referee with Paul McGowan shown a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident. Killie eventually won the game 2-1; goals from Dayton and Eremenko cancelling out Steven Thomson’s leveller just after the interval.

A busy debut season; Steven handled ten Scottish Premier League games and is on course to become one of Scotland’s top officials.

McLean will be ably assisted by Gordon Middleton and Alistair Mather with Crawford Allan on fourth official duties.

Bob McHugh had the last laugh as he turned Craig Brown’s pre match banter in to a reality by scoring the winner against Brown’s Aberdeen side.

Motherwell ran out 1-0 victors, with the young striker’s 83rd minute goal proving the difference – a goal which McHugh insisted was worth the wait.

“It has been a long time coming,” said the 20 year old. “I was disappointed in midweek when my goal was disallowed when I thought it should have stood, but I got the important one today.

“Craig had a little word with me before the game and jokingly said ‘don’t you be coming off the bench to score the winner today’, which I obviously ended up doing.”

It was McHugh’s first goal in the SPL, despite having been in around the first team squad for the last three seasons.

The Glaswegian striker has played under three different managers in his short career, but has now set his sight on more first-team appearances and more vital goals for Motherwell under the stable influence of Stuart McCall.

[pullquote]Craig had a little word with me before the game and jokingly said ‘don’t you be coming off the bench to score the winner today’, which I obviously ended up doing.[/pullquote]

“I’ve scored some decent goals in other competitions, but this was my first goal in the SPL, so it was always going to be good to get it.” A delighted McHugh said.

“Under Jim Gannon I was making a lot of starts and then he left. Craig (Brown) and Archie (Knox) coming in set me back a bit, but towards the end of them being here I was getting back in the team and making more appearances.

“Then Stuart McCall came in and that was another manager I had to prove myself to. I’ve been enjoying playing under him, but I have had to be quite patient.”

McHugh’s strike was a prime example of the quality the youngster possesses. He beat Ricky Foster to Steve Jennings’ long ball out of the box, before firing low in the Cooper End goal.

And the 20-year old praised manager Stuart McCall for giving him the freedom to change the game.

He continued: “The manager has said to me to play positively and I did that when I took my goal.

“I managed to cut in on to my left foot, I think Keith Lasley was the only other team mate in support, but I just put my foot through it and scored.”

Stuart McCall has hailed the character of Bob McHugh after watching the young striker score his first SPL goal for the club to secure 1-0 win over Aberdeen.

The 20-year old suffered the midweek heartbreak of seeing a perfectly legitimate goal chalked off against Hibernian – one which would have surely seen the Steelmen progress to the quarter-final of the Scottish Communities League Cup.

Yet, McHugh showed the mental fortitude to come off the bench on Saturday and score a splendid solo goal to ensure all three points stayed in North Lanarkshire.

And McCall was keen praise the Motherwell academy product:  “He should’ve scored the winner on Tuesday but he hasn’t let that get him down.

“He is a strong boy and quick. He has been working hard in training and working on his finishing, and I am delighted for him.

“I’m relieved and delighted after the disappointment of Tuesday night, we were unfortunate to go out of the cup with Bob McHugh’s goal being disallowed and it’s ironic he gets the winner today.”

[pullquote]He (McHugh) is a strong boy and quick. He has been working hard in training and working on his finishing, and I am delighted for him[/pullquote]

The ‘Well gaffer was also keen to praise his side as a defensive unit, after putting a run of nine goals conceded in three games to bed with a fine clean sheet against Craig Brown’s charges.

It’s was something which the boss admitted he had worked on during the week, and was delighted to see his ‘Well side putting up the barricades and getting back to the kind of frugal defensive display which was so prominent earlier in the campaign.

“We have been critical of the defending,” McCall conceded. “We had a meeting about it yesterday and we knew we had to defend better as a unit.

“Defending is a team thing and I thought the central two did well against their big strikers, while the full backs made some crucial blocks which meant big Darren didn’t have much to do.

“It wasn’t the greatest game. If you take the Old Firm out of it along with Hearts who have a big squad there isn’t much between the teams. You look through every team and they can all beat each other on their day.”

Michael Higdon also had his part to pay in a gruelling team effort. The big striker was forced to feed off scraps during a difficult afternoon, but put in a diligent shift with and without the ball – while helping keep the physically imposing Dons side at bay from set pieces.

While some fans gave the former St Mirren man some stick, McCall is conscious of what The Steelmen’s top scorer brings to the team.

“I have seen this ever since I was a boy when I went to Leeds and I used to hear Terry Yorath get a lot of stick,” the 47-year old recalled. “There always seems to be a boo-boy. If I am a supporter of a club I can’t understand it.

“Higgy has just got to get on with it, we are all in it together at Motherwell as players, staff and fans and we need to stick together and get behind each other.

“You pay your money – but for the benefit of the team we had to keep him on. We are a small team at set pieces. We had Steven Hammell picking up Scott Vernon and Tom Hateley picking up Andrew Considine. If you then take Higdon off we could have been undone.

“We miss Hutchinson and Saunders and if we would have kicked ourselves if we had lost a goal from a set piece if we had taken him off.”

Pictures from the 1-0 win over Aberdeen in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League at Fir Park.

These action shots and more are available to buy online at motherwellPICS.

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[tab:Match report]

Kris Jack at Fir Park

Bob McHugh’s first SPL goal proved to be decisive as Motherwell beat Aberdeen 1-0 in a rather lacklustre affair.

The young forward’s strike seven minutes from time was the only moment of real quality in a game which was scrappy and bereft of many clear chances.

This game was set up to be an interesting battle, based on the recent history between both sides, with The Dons’ last visit to Fir Park mainly remembered for the altercation between former Chairman John Boyle and former gaffer Craig Brown.

Three points for Motherwell would see them hoping to pull away from Hearts in 3rd place, while a win for Aberdeen would see them start to pull away from the foot of the table.

Both teams crashing out of the Scottish Communities League Cup on penalties in midweek meant there was added spice to an already potentially fiery match.

Stuart McCall named an unchanged starting XI from Tuesday night while Aberdeen made four changes. Yaoule Mawene , Rory Fallon, Isaac Osbourne and Robert Milsom all came in at the expense of Rory  McArdle, Josh Magennis, Peter Pawlett and Darren Mackie.

Jamie Murphy looked lively as early as the first minute, cutting in from the left and angling a drive just wide of Gonzalez’s far post.  Ryan Jack was the first to trouble Darren Randolph at the other end after drifting in from the right, but his tame effort was smothered comfortably.

Tom Hateley played a slick ball in behind Andy Considine to Chris Humphrey, but the winger’s cross was deflected in to David Gonzalez’s arms.  Darren Randolph then had to palm away a good effort from Scott Vernon after good link up play down the left between Milsom and Considine.

Nicky Law responded, making a dart up the East Stand side, latching on to a great ball from Hammell – but his effort was too close to the keeper. 

The best chance of the half up to that point fell to Chris Humphrey. Michael Higdon sent him clear through the middle, an unfamiliar position for the Jamaican to be in. After fighting off the last defender he rounded Gonzalez, only to smack the bar from a tight angle.  From there, the game became sloppy and a little turgid, with little in the way of goalmouth action. Neither side seemed capable of playing an incisive ball, despite some decent build-up.

As the second half began, a foul on Murphy led to a great chance for the opener. Hateley’s flighted free kick to the back post was headed brilliantly towards the top corner by Tim Clancy. Only the crossbar kept the ball out, before a foul was given and the danger was gone.

A quick Lasley and Law corner caused a flurry of excitement in the box, which found its way back to the waiting Law, however he was once again crowded out. 

Clancy then had to look lively to prevent Vernon getting a shot in at the other end, making a composed challenge on the byline.

Murphy then could have rounded Gonzalez when played in by Lasley, but he took too long to gain his composure. The ball was worked to Humphrey who crossed for Murphy to head straight at the Dons keeper. Vernon similarly headed straight at Randolph a few moments later.

Second half sub Pawlett’s first involvement in the game was a woeful cross ball that floated over, after Vernon had done well to send him free.  His second was a horrendous tackle on Darren Randolph, as the big keeper tried to clear the ball just outside the box. A deserved booking was dished out, to cheers from the Well faithful.

A massive shout for a penalty fell on deaf ears when Gonzalez failed to collect Hammell’s lofted free kick. As the ball bounced around, Clancy went down under a challenge from the goalkeeper but no spot kick was awarded. Omar Daley replaced Humphrey on the hour-mark as Motherwell attempted to unlock the Dons defence.

But Darren Randolph was becoming the busier goalie, and had to punch Pawlett’s corner out from under the bar. He then had to have his wits about him, saving well from point blank range from Vernon.  He then held a thumping effort from the edge of the box from Vernon once more.

Brown brought on Megginson for Rory Fallon on 75 minutes as McCall swapped Murphy with McHugh.  Scott Vernon was soon replaced by Josh Magennis as Brown changed his attacking options in search of a winner.

However, it was McCall’s sub that made the most of his late opportunity.

A long ball from Steve Jennings to Bob McHugh saw him pip Ricky Foster in the chase. As the Aberdeen captain slipped, the little striker ran free and cut in to the box, before shimmying past Arnason and blasting low in to Gonzalez bottom corner.

It had taken 83 minutes for the game to come to life, but the diminutive McHugh’s goal was worth the wait.

As a spectacle, it was far from a classic, but the dramatic 1-0 win for Motherwell is all that matters to the Claret and Amber support.

[tab:As it happened]

Graham Barnstaple at Fir Park

Game over – three points secured it wasn’t pretty but we got there.

84mins – Bob McHugh’s first SPL goal – good time to get it!! Robs Foster, cuts in and smashes home from about 25 yards. Ya beauty!

84mins – GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!l McHugh makes it 1-0, Page on for Law.

83mins – Another Dons change – Magennis for Vernon.

75mins – Change for both sides Murphy off, McHugh on, Megginson for Fallon.

68mins – Humphrey off Daley on, and a Clancy booking.

66mins – Pawlett booked for late tackle on Randolph, only on 7 minutes and it’s his second offence!

63mins – Crowd is 4348.

61mins – Murphy header from Humphrey cross goes straight to the keeper.

58mins – Aberdeen change – Pawlett coming on for Clark.

47mins – Clancy’s looping header come off the underside of the bar.

45mins – Teams are out for second half and we are under way again….

Half time – 45 minutes that won’t live long in the memory!

41mins – Law run from midfield ends with a 20 yard shot easily saved by Gonzalez.

26mins – Humphrey robs Considine at the edge of the box rounds Gonzalez but from a tight angle could only hit the bar.

20mins – After 20 minutes this game badly needs a goal to liven it up, a lot of nice passing but little in front of goal from either side.

19mins – Law then cuts in off left but his shot doesn’t really trouble Gonzalez who makes a comfy save.

18mins – Scott Vernon in space at the edge of the box and his shot pulls out a full length save from Randolph.

14mins – Humphrey cross deflected by Foster straight into arms of his keeper Gonzalez.

1min – The match gets underway.

[tab:Reaction]

Motherwell manager Stuart McCall:

“It’s a great win and I’m delighted after that disappointment when were unfortunate to go out of the cup.

“It was ironic that Bob got the goal after scoring the other night; without bleating on about it again, that should have stood, but it didn’t affect him and it was a great finish.

“He’s strong and quick but he doesn’t have a left foot so when he cut in on his left foot today I was expecting a goal kick to Aberdeen!

“It was a difficult game and it’s always a battle; I was thinking that a draw would probably be a fair result but we hit the bar twice and got the better chances, although there wasn’t a lot in it.

“Looking at this league, any team can beat any team on their day; it wasn’t the greatest game but I think we just about edged it.”

Aberdeen manager Craig Brown:

“I don’t think we deserved to lose but I didn’t think we deserved to win. The teams cancelled each other out in a stalemate type of game, and that’s what I think the result should have been.

“We conceded a soft goal – credit to Motherwell and Bob McHugh for taking their chance and for a good substitution, but we’re obviously disappointed that they scored from our corner with a breakaway.

“An individual error cost us and that’s been the case in one or two games, and we’ve had very little good fortune.

“Motherwell hit the bar twice but that’s the first time anyone’s done that against us this season – we’ve hit the bar five times and the post twice, when we make an error we get punished, and we haven’t had any good fortune at all.

“I thought our performance was solid enough; there wasn’t great flair about the team but it was a workmanlike, solid, conscientious display.”

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

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Stuart McCall has backed his side to return to winning ways with a victory over struggling Aberdeen this weekend.

The Steelmen have suffered three consecutive defeats and exited the Scottish Communities League Cup in cruel fashion, with Hibs emerging 7-6 victors on penalties after a thrilling 2-2 draw.

But McCall saw enough positives in the ‘Well performance to infuse him with confidence ahead of the visit of Craig Brown’s Dons.

“I’ve now watched the game another twice and we played some great attacking football,” the former Everton midfielder praised. “We scored a goal which should legitimately have been given and we should be in the next round.

“If we can have the same performance, attacking-wise, against Aberdeen then I’ll be more than happy.

[pullquote]They had a disappointment in midweek, going out of the cup, and I’m sure they’ll be coming here desperate to make amends for that[/pullquote]

“We watched over the chances today with the lads and we showed great desire and determination, even in extra-time.  Hibs have had one-shot in extra-time and I think we’ve had about six good chances.

“We’ll look to put in the same type of performance this weekend and try to get the three points. There’s certainly no doom and gloom or despondency. As I say, we played some really good stuff.”

While the gaffer is undeniably enthused by his side’s attacking fluency on Tuesday night, he also admits that the Steelmen have to tighten up.

After a remarkable start to the campaign which saw the club keep clean sheets in their first four matches, ‘Well have now conceded nine goals in three outings.

And the manager has challenged his stars to cut out any carelessness:  “We had a great start to the season, with not conceding a goal in four matches, but we’ve got sloppy recently.

“There’s no doubt we need to be tighter defensively as a group, because at the moment teams are not working hard to score against us.

“[We’ve worked on] Concentration, communication, we’ve had a few sloppy back-passes in the last couple of games and being tighter as a unit. But it’s not all about defenders – it is midfield, tracking runners, set-pieces; everything goes into tightening up.”

Aberdeen have had a difficult week, having crashed out of the League Cup at the hands of Second Division basement boys East Fife.

However, McCall is wary of the threat posed by the former Scotland boss and his Dons squad.

“We managed to get victories over them twice last season and it would be nice to continue that trend,” he continued. “They had a disappointment in midweek, going out of the cup, and I’m sure they’ll be coming here desperate to make amends for that.

“Little things can change a season, twists and turns of fate. Aberdeen have some very good players, and they have brought good players in. Maybe it’s taking them a little while to gel – but we’ll focus on what we do, and we need a big performance.”

Steven Hammell hopes to thrive in a boisterous atmosphere at Fir Park on Saturday, as Craig Brown and Archie Knox return to Lanarkshire with Aberdeen.

It will be the second time Brown and Knox have visited their old stomping ground, and the first time since a somewhat overblown confrontation between the ex-Scotland boss and former Chairman Mr Boyle, made headlines across Scotland.

And while there is little animosity between the players and their former manager, Hammell confessed he is looking forward to a raucous atmosphere in the stadium – while also admitting he is keen to prove a point to the pair.

“I’m not going to lie, it is always disappointing to see your manager leave,” a typically honest Hammell said.

[pullquote]You can definitely feel it from the stands and it helps you if they (the fans) channel it in the right way and get right behind the team.[/pullquote]

“When they come back, whoever they are, you do want to show them that the team they left is a decent team, and we believe a better team.

“That’s to be expected because they left to go there, so when they come back I’m sure the atmosphere will be tastier than usual. We know what to expect but once you cross the white line nothing changes.

“You can definitely feel it from the stands and it helps you if they (the fans) channel it in the right way and get right behind the team.

“It`s one of the fixtures you look for when you see the games, home to Aberdeen. It will be a difficult game, knowing Craig and Archie well they will have their team well drilled and organised.

“We need to be at it from the first whistle and if the fans can get right behind us, it really can help.”

Despite the inevitable spotlight which will fall on Brown’s return to Motherwell, Hammell insists that gaining a positive result is the only thing that matters.

The ‘Well have lost their last three matches and gallingly exited the Scottish Communities League Cup on penalties in midweek, despite turning in a fluid attacking display and having a perfectly good Bob McHugh goal erroneously chalked off for offside.

As one of the senior players in a young squad, 29-year old Hammell has backed his team-mates to respond from the cruel blow and get back to winning ways on Saturday.

“The three home games we had, we were looking to get three wins” the former Southend man rued. “It hasn`t turned out like that so it’s important we get back to winning ways.

“It will be interesting to see how the boys react after extra-time and penalties but we are all fit lads and we are ready for it.

“Seeing Bob McHugh’s disallowed goal in the last couple of minutes of extra-time, which was well onside, makes it a bit harder to take. We felt we did enough and if that goal stood we would have gone through. But it`s gone now. Everything is just geared to getting three points tomorrow.”

The Cash Converters “Convert for Cash” challenge returns this Saturday when Aberdeen visit Fir Park and you can win £100.

It’s on STEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELMEN!!

The event that pits home fan against away fan, confronted by the site of our very own gaffer Stuart McCall, is back again.

Faced by a life-sized statue of Stuart McCall, fans must run round him 3 times, before composing themselves to score past our mascot, Claret, EITHER from the edge of the box (the £100 ball) or the penalty spot (the £50 ball).

Enter at the Cash Converters SPL Facebook page by CLICKING HERE.

In addition, Cash Converters will also be donating £150 per challenge to their official charity for the 2011/2012 season, Dreams Come True.

For your chance to win £100 in the “Convert for Cash” challenge against Aberdeen, enter your details at the Cash Converters SPL Facebook page now: CLICK HERE.

The Facebook page will also give you the chance to win a whole host of other prizes, including tickets and exclusive, money-can’t-buy experiences. Simply “Like” the page, and get entering.

The draw will close at 10.00am on Friday September 23rd

*Please note: You must be aged over 18 to take part, and proof of age will be required on the day. You must also already possess a match ticket.