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Motherwell star Steven Saunders today helped launch the first Weatherseal and SPL Charity Weekend.

And for the first time, supporters will have the opportunity to vote for their chosen charity that will benefit from activity at all league games on the weekend of 8th/9th December.

A shortlist of five charities has been selected by the clubs. They are: Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS), Samaritans Scotland, Shelter Scotland, Football Memories as part of Alzheimer Scotland and Scottish Women’s Aid.

The chosen charity will benefit from collections at all fixtures. Weatherseal, the SPL’s official home improvement partner will also gift their marketing rights for that weekend. This includes advertising space and digital perimeter display boards.

Voting is now open via a dedicated website, www.weatherseal-charity.co.uk. The poll closes on 29th October.

Weatherseal managing director Tony Reilly said: “Weatherseal is proud to be launching this new initiative.  This has been a season about supporters and I am sure they will help raise as much as possible for the chosen charity.”

SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster added: “This is a great opportunity for supporters to have their say in this new project. I’d like to thank Weatherseal for generously supporting the initiative.”

John Wilson, spokesperson for Motherwell Supporters’ Trust, said: “It’s good to see a major sponsor give a helping hand to some deserving causes.  Fill the buckets!”

Michael White Alzheimer Scotland Football Memories project manager said: “Thousands of people with dementia love their football and Football Memories harnesses that passion for the game to improve their lives.  We are therefore delighted to have the chance to take part in a charity weekend launched by Weatherseal and the Scottish Premier League and Weatherseal.”

Tanya Rhodes, Scottish Women’s Aid media worker added: “We are delighted to have been shortlisted for the Weatherseal/SPL charity weekend, and call upon all Scotland’s football fans to join us in blowing the whistle on domestic abuse. Domestic abuse has a huge effect throughout families and communities, and everyone can play their part in making it STOP.“

Andrew Sim, Samaritans executive director for Scotland said: “Samaritans is delighted to be a Charity Candidate as part of the Weatherseal and Scottish Premier League Charity Weekend. We see it as a great opportunity to highlight the links between physical activity and mental wellbeing and to tell people about our service and the great work of Samaritans volunteers across Scotland.”

Graeme Brown, director of Shelter Scotland, says: “We are delighted to be one of the charities chosen by Weatherseal and the Scottish Premier League to be involved in this exciting fundraising initiative.

You may not see Scotland’s homeless children on the street.  Isolated and ignored, they’re hidden away in temporary accommodation.

And every day our helpline hears more stories of cockroaches, health problems, bad landlords and bitter cold. It’s a disgrace. It’s an outrage. And we need your help to do something about it.”

CHAS corporate and events fundraiser Criona Knight said: “Football fans always show their mettle for their team, and we want to turn that spirit into votes for CHAS, Scotland’s only children’s hospice charity. We’re so excited to be up for this nomination which will mean so much to the families that we support.”

Referee for this Friday’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Hibernian at Fir Park will be Stevie O’Reilly.

It will be Stevie’s first competitive match in charge of the Steelmen since the last time the teams met back in April at Easter Road when a Nicky Law volley gave ‘Well a deserved 1-1 draw.

Stevie did have the honour of being the man in the middle for Stevie Hammell’s testimonial match against Everton during the summer.

The experienced official handled three Motherwell matches last season. He was the man in the middle for the1-0 win over Hearts last August. Both teams ended the match with ten men; Keith Lasley ordered off for the home side with Ian Black taking an early bath for the visitors.

The second was the 1-1 draw with Dundee United at Tannadice in January. The Arabs had taken the lead via a Stephen Craigan OG but a late leveler from Michael Higdon gave ‘Well a point.

The other was the aforementioned draw at Easter Road which kept ‘Well on the trail for a Champions League spot.

O’Reilly was promoted to the Category 1 list over five years ago and his overall record in charge of the ‘Well is a bit of a mixed bag. Of the ten games has officiated, Motherwell have won three, drawn three and lost four.

Thirteen goals have been scored and twelve conceded. 22 players have been cautioned in those nine games; eight were wearing Claret and Amber with two sent off, Steve Jennings in the game against Hearts back in December of 2010 and the aforementioned Keith Lasley one against the same side earlier this season.

Stevie will be ably assisted by Stuart Stevenson and Ross Haswell with Iain Brines on fourth official duties.

Highlights from Tynecastle as a 14th minute Danny Grainger goal gives Hearts all three points against the Steelmen.

-WATCH HIGHLIGHTS FROM TYNECASTLE ON MFC TV-

‘Well boss Stuart McCall felt his side didn’t get what they deserved as Hearts ran out 1-0 winners at Tynecastle this afternoon.

Danny Grainger’s long-range strike on 14th minutes separated the sides in a tight encounter which had chances at both ends.

Motherwell played some nice stuff at times and created a handful of chances, most notably for Michael Higdon at the start of the second half.

But a goal wasn’t forthcoming as the Steelmen crashed to their first away defeat of the current season.

“I don’t think we got what we deserved today,” he told MFC TV after the match.

“I certainly think the performance merited at least a point and I was pleased with a lot of the play but was disappointed with the goal we lost. We’ve not closed Grainger down, who has got a lethal left foot.

“It was end to end and I said before the game that Hearts are probably as strong defensively as anyone in the SPL outwith Celtic.

“I thought when we put them under pressure and got into crossing positions we created a few chances.

“Higgy has had a couple of chances and Law has had a header but we just didn’t do enough to get that goal I thought the play merited.”

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW ONLY ON MFC TV-

Pictures from the 1-0 defeat to Hearts in the Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League at Tynecastle.

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[tab:Match report]

 Kris Jack at Tynecastle

A Danny Grainger thunderbolt in the 14th minute was enough to condemn Motherwell to their second SPL defeat of the season as Hearts ran out 1-0 winners at Tynecastle.

In a game that had plenty of half chances for both sides, it was Grainger’s speculative effort which kept all three pints in Gorgie, as the Steelmen failed to go ahead of Hibernian in third place ahead of facing Pat Fenlon’s men next Friday.

For the Well’s first match since the 0-2 defeat to Celtic a few weeks back, Stuart McCall made a couple of changes, Adam Cummins red card forcing him out through suspension for the trip to Tynecastle.

Simon Ramsden would partner Shaun Hutchinson at the back, with Fraser Kerr slotting in at right back, allowing Tom Hateley to push in to midfield. Jamie Murphy started ahead of Estonian internationalist Henrik Ojamaa in the Steelmen attack.

John McGlynn named an unchanged side from that which fell to a 1-0 defeat to Celtic last time out. Captain, and Jambos top scorers his season, Marius Zaliukas anchored the hosts defence, with youngster Callum Paterson looking to continue his impressive start to this, his first SPL campaign.

The game started brightly for Motherwell as Jamie Murphy flashed an effort on goal after cutting in past Ryan McGowan on the left. His well struck, low effort was nudged wide by Jamie McDonald at his right hand post, as the Well looked to impress from the off.

Hearts responded by playing some pretty football, with Arvydas Novikovas making a nuisance of himself in front of Fraser Kerr. Indeed, Lithuanian Novikovas was played in at the edge of the box by Andy Driver, only to be strongly challenged by Simon Ramsden. Had he gone down, the hosts would have had a decent penalty shout, but instead, and to his credit, he stayed up but lost the chance.

Darren Barr then curled an effort from the edge of the box wide of Darren Randolph’s right post having been teed up by Driver before the hosts took the lead in spectacular fashion.

Danny Grainger picked the ball up midway inside the ‘Well half, was given space to drive in to before unleashing an unstoppable effort across and beyond Randolph and in to the net from 25 yards. It was a magnificent strike for the former St Johnstone man, which the home fans noisily applauded.

As ‘Well battled to get back in to the game, Keith Lasley, Jamie Murphy and Chris Humphrey all tried in vain from around the edge of the box to beat MacDonald, but could not find the back of the net.

Michael Higdon was having a frustrating game up against Zaliukas, with the Hearts captain winning most of the high balls and free kicks when challenging with the ‘Well hitman.

Hearts could have extended the lead when a Grainger free kick picked out Andy Webster at the back post but his first touch knocked the ball high back across goal and the chance was gone.

As the half ended, Darren Barr flashed a shot wide of Randolph’s goal, before Shaun Hutchinson limped off with a hamstring injury, to be replaced by Stuart Carswell for the second half.

The Steelmen looked galvanised after the break and a sweeping move almost brought them level. Nicky Law pinged a great diagonal ball out to Humphrey on the right, who beat Grainger to square the ball for Higdon at the neatly spot. The big striker got a great first time connection, but could not place it the right side of the post.

Hearts responded by taking hold of the midfield and creating some chances of their own, Barr headed wide from Zaliukas’ flick on from Grainger’s corner. Former Well target Ryan Stevenson then flashed two efforts wide of the upright, one aimed top corner, the other low beyond the base of the post.

‘Well were keeping the ball confidently and Humphrey, who had breezed past Grainger all day, then stole the ball from the full back to set up Higdon but his shot from the edge of the box was right down MacDonald’s throat.

Substitute John Sutton was barely on the park five minutes when he almost made it 2-0 to the hosts, when a corner was headed back in to the box by Driver, but the former Motherwell striker’s reactive header dropped just wide of the far post. Henrik Ojamaa then replaced Jamie Murphy as Stuart McCall looked to change his attacking options, and it almost worked instantly.

Another ball in from the right, this time by Hateley, found Higdon at the back post. His header back was knocked goalwards by Nicky Law, but with MacDonald beaten, Andy Webster was on hand to clear off the line.

Opportunities for both teams then dried up, with Callum Paterson and Henrik Ojamaa shooting over for their respective sides as the game petered out. There was a flurry of excitement in the closing seconds as Darren Randolph went up for a late, late corner, but Hearts managed to dig the ball out of defence under pressure from the Irish keeper.

An equaliser failed to materialise for the visitors, as Hearts closed the game out to a 1-0 victory.

[tab:As it happened]

Alan Burrows at Tynecastle

FT: Hearts 1 – 0 Motherwell.

92mins – A scramble in the Hearts area with even Darren Randolph up. Hearts clear. Game looks gone now 🙁

90mins – Three minutes of added time. ‘Well have a corner.

89mins – Taouil fires a lot shot just wide before being taken off and replaced by McGowan from the bench.

86mins – Omar Daley comes on for Nicky Law as ‘Well go for it.

86mins – Sutton has a shot blocked on the edge of the area. Rebound spins to Paterson but he fires high and wide.

85mins – Five minutes to go now… Will Motherwell get themselves level or will Hearts hold on. C’mon the Steelmen!

81mins – Taouil booked for what I think was a hand in the middle of the park. Four Jambos in the book now!

76mins – Sub Robinson is booked for a poor challenge on Lasley.

75mins – Nicky Law’s header is knocked off the line by Webster. So close to a leveller for ‘Well.

73mins – Murphy comes off and is replaced by Estonian International Henrik Ojamaa…

70mins – Hearts make another sub. Darren Barr comes off and is replaced by Scott Robinson. Barr has played well to be fair!

68mins – Wow! Not sure how that didn’t go in. John Sutton heads wide after things pingball about the area for a second or two. Close shave.

65mins – Game has gone a little flat in the last few minutes… Few sloppy passes breaks up the flow of the match.

Attendance today: 11,572

60mins – Hearts make the sub as Novikovas is replaced by former Steelmen striker John Sutton.

59mins – Zaliukas booked for a crude pull on Keith Lasley. ‘Well have stepped it up a fair bit now.

58mins – Great chance for Motherwell – Higdon’s shot from the edge after Humphrey had robbed Grainger.

57mins – Hearts counter after ‘Well on the attack. Cutting in from the left, Driver invited to shoot but his effort goes just over the bar.

54mins – Nice one-two on the edge of the area between Murphy and Higdon but Hearts mop up.

53mins – Down the other end, Ryan Stevenson fizzes a shot from distance that flashes wide of the post. End to end stuff…

52mins – Decent wee attack there from ‘Well but can’t really capitalise. Hearts defence holds firm to their credit.

47mins – Offt, that should be 1-1. Great cut back from Humphrey finds Higdon but he smashes the shot narrowly wide.

46mins – Hearts get the second half underway! PA announcer here is brilliant to be fair!

HT: Both teams back and ready to get us going again. Good luck to the Fir Parkers. #COYW

HT: Confirm on that change with Carswell now on to replace Hutchinson as the Steelmen take to the park.

HT: No news on Hutchinson at the moment but looked, by the way he was going off, that it was a hamstring problem. Hopefully not.

HT: Seen the pen incident again at half-time – deffo seen them given before but would’ve been a wee bit on the “softish” side.

45mins – Not enough time to make that sub as referee blows for the half-time interval. Hearts 1 – 0 Motherwell.

44mins – Carswell is going to come on for Hutchinson. That’ll mean Hateley to RB and Kerr moving into the CB position with Ramsden.

43mins – Break in play here with Shaun Hutchinson down getting treatment. Hopefully he is okay – doesn’t look good though.

42mins – Darren Barr striding forward with the ball but his low shot from about 25 yards drags wide of the post. No trouble for DR…

40mins – Driver bursts away at speed down the flank but thankfully, for ‘Well, nothing comes of it.

38mins – Great bursting run from Humphrey down the wing leaves Grainger for dead. His cross into the area well cleared by Hearts.

35mins – Great chance for Webster against the run of play. Probably didn’t realise how much time and space he had. Scooped over.

34mins – BIG penalty shout; Webster through the back of Higdon. Looked like a handball afterwards too from here in the Press Box. Not sure what TV pictures look like though.

32mins – Driver booked for a trip on Law on the edge of the box. Few complaints from the English winger.

31mins – Motherwell have enjoyed a lot of possession in the last ten minutes. Need to try and make it count though.

30mins – Great ball from Law has Humphrey in space on the right flank. Cutting in and beating two, he drags a shot just wide of the post.

29mins – Low shot from Paterson forces Randolph into the low save but it’s comfortable for the Rep of Ireland International.

25mins – Decent ball into the area from Hammell but no one on the end. Slightly better stuff from the Steelmen in the last few minutes.

24mins – Shouts for handball against Higdon but not given by Willie Collum. Murphy picks up and curls a shot – well held by MacDonald.

21mins: Motherwell break well down the right. Humphrey dinks it in for Lasley but his shot is scooped high over the bar. Little better there

20mins – Hearts are dominant at the minute. The Steelmen really struggling to keep a hold of the ball.

15mins – Stevenson gets on the end of a Novikovas cross but it goes wide. Hearts on the front foot, ‘Well need to weather the storm atm.

14mins – Danny Grainger blasts an absolute belter from distance high into the top corner. Absolutely nothing Randolph could do. 1-0 Hearts.

GOAL Hearts!

12mins: Hearts have a shout for a spot kick as Novikovas goes down in the area but it would’ve been harsh I think. Red having none of it!

10mins: Hearts come within inches of taking the lead. Driver sends a lovely curling shot from the edge of the ‘D’ just wide of the post.

7mins: Nice ball into the channel has Motherwell struggling but lineo has his flag up thankfully. Hearts might have been in there.

6mins: Ramsden robbed in the middle of the park. Hearts break through Driver but ‘Well get back in enough numbers to mop up the danger.

5mins: Hearts get good width down the left but the ball into the middle was eventually cleared by Simon Ramsden in the ‘Well area.

1min: Unsure if that was a save by MacDonald or a deflect wide. Either way, decent start for McCall’s men.

1min: Jamie Murphy has the first effort at goal. Low drive takes a slight deflection and bounces out for a corner kick to the Steelmen.

1min: Motherwell to get us going here at Tynecastle (eventually). #COYW #SIWY

[tab:Reaction]

Motherwell manager Stuart McCall:

“I felt the way we were pressing we would get a goal, but it wasn’t to be our day, but they are two very tight teams and two good teams.

“We’re disappointed to lose the game, in a game I thought was well competed. You never like to lose games, there’s ways to lose games, there’s being absolutely appalling – not trying or whatever.

“Today, I thought we were as good them, we matched them – a good Hearts side – we will take a lot of positives from it.” 

Hearts manager John McGlynn:

“It was a gritty performance and, because of that, I thought we just shaded it.

“The three points were so vital for us.

“If we can get three points against Ross County, which will not be easy, we will be not too far for the target we set for the first quarter.” 

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

[poll id=”118″]

Motherwell travel along the M8 to take on Hearts at Tynecastle in the Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League.

TEAMS:

The teams will appear here shortly after 11.45am

TICKETS:

Tickets are still available on the gate at Tynecastle. Admission is priced at:

• Concessions are listed as Over 65s and Under 18s.
• Fans who require wheelchair access should contact Sharon or John McCaskie on 01555 870122 or email disabledfans@motherwellfc.co.uk.

TRAVEL:

There are no anticipated travel problems between Motherwell and Edinburgh and the area in and around Gorgie is fairly clear.

WEATHER:

There will be some fog around at first but this gradually dissolving away to leave a fine dry day with some bright then sunny spells developing. Temperature highs in Edinburgh will be around 11 degrees Celsius (52 Fahrenheit).

FOLLOW THE MATCH:

Motherwell Media will bring you all the action from Tynecastle. Graham Barnstaple and Kris Jack will call every kick off the ball live on MFC TV:

You can also follow match updates on Twitter and join in the debate on our Facebook page.

If you are heading to Edinburgh, remember to check in and follow the Steelmen on Foursquare and listen out for Stuart McCall’s pre-match thoughts on Audioboo.

‘Well boss Stuart McCall is expecting a tough encounter as his players return to competitive action for the first time in three weeks.

The Steelmen have had a brief sabbatical after the Dundee United match was abandoned minutes before kick-off and Scotland’s games against Wales and Belgium.

The Fir Park gaffer has even admitted he has had to cool the players in training such is the eagerness to get going again.

But the former Bradford boss is certain his side will be tested to their maximum on Sunday when they come up against a talented Hearts outfit.

[pullquote]The lads have played a lot of games this season and have now had a chance to recharge their batteries. Hopefully we’ll see the benefits of that come Sunday.[/pullquote]

“Tynecastle is a tough place to go, there is no doubt about that,” he told the gathered press at his weekly press conference.

“We’ve had some good results there recently, no better than last season where we clinched third place. That is fresh in the players mind and we’ll be looking to go and do the same again.

“All managers will say this but the lads have been flying in training but this week I have to say after giving them a few days off last week, you can tell they haven’t played in a while. Everyone if flying into tackles and I’ve had to calm it down a bit.

“The lads have played a lot of games this season and have now had a chance to recharge their batteries. Hopefully we’ll see the benefits of that come Sunday.”

-WATCH THE FULL PRESS CONFERENCE ON MFC TV-