Latest News

Christmas is just a few days  away and if you are searching for the ideal present for the ‘Well fan in your life, look no further than Motherwell’s new online store.

There is something for everyone and you can even add that personal touch with engraving or gift-wrapping.

We have everything from signed bottles of wine, champagne flutes, cufflinks to hip flasks and much more.

You can also buy match tickets, half season tickets, hospitality or signed matchday magazine.

It’s your one-stop-shop for Motherwell FC goodies this Festive period.

We accept all major credit cards as well as PayPal so make sure you order now to ensure we get the gift to you before the big day.

You can click and collect from Fir Park on Christmas Eve so there’s still time to get your hands on the ideal MFC present.

-CLICK HERE TO VISIT MOTHERWELLBUYONLINE.CO.UK-

Highlights from St Mirren Park where, despite a Bob McHugh goal thirteen minutes from time, Motherwell crashed to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of St Mirren.

-WATCH EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS ONLY ON MFC TV-

‘Well boss Stuart McCall was trying to remain positive despite Motherwell slipping to a 2-1 defeat at St Mirren Park this evening.

The Fir Parkers went behind to two first half goals from Steven Thompson but roared back in the second half.

Despite Bob McHugh pulling one back, St Mirren defended for the lives late on in the match and held on to take the win and three points which moves them above Ross County in the SPL.

[pullquote]It’s disappointing as the lads went right to the end and probably deserved a point[/pullquote]

McCall told MFC TV after the match: “I think for the neutral, which we’re not obviously, it was an entertaining game.

“It’s hugely disappointing not to get anything out of it, in the first half, although we weren’t at our best, played some decent stuff and we hit the woodwork.

“They played well and got two good goals. They did what we didn’t and took their chances. To be fair to Thompson it’s a really good near post finish and a towering back post header.

“In the second half when we started moving the ball, for the last 25 minutes it was a siege. They’ve had some good blocks and we’ve had chances we’ve not it the target with.

“They brought on a centre half and went five at the back and it’s disappointing as the lads went right to the end and probably deserved a point.”

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW ONLY ON MFC TV-

Pictures from the 2-1 defeat by St Mirren in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League at St Mirren Park.

[svgallery name=”stmirren211212″]

[tab:Match report]

Alan Burrows at St Mirren Park

Despite another spirited comeback from the Steelmen, Motherwell slipped to a 2-1 depeat at St Mirren Park this evening.

Saints had roared into a 2-0 lead courtesy of a Steven Thompson double before the interval.

Bob McHugh halved the defecit with thirteen minuts to go as McCall’s men dominated the closing stages.

Despite chances, some heroic defending from the hosts kept their lead intact and they held on for all three points.

‘Well boss Stuart McCall made just one change from the side that roared back to beat Hibs at Easter Road six days ago. The experienced Simon Ramsden replaced Adam Cummins in defence, the young Liverpudlian having to settle for a place amongst the substitutes.

The game began at a ferocious pace and even in the early stages; the game looked stretched with both teams trying to counter-attack.

It was the Steelmen who looked a little more composed in possession and Jamaican winger Chris Humphrey created the first opportunity to score after ten minutes.

His penetrating burst into the box bamboozled two Saints defenders, but his shot at goal from 12 yards was deflected for a corner.

The game swing quickly from end to end and it wasn’t long before the Saints came close to scoring.

John McGinn’s corner looped towards the back post where Jim Goodwin was perfectly placed. He slid the ball goalwards, but Keith Lasley did brilliantly well to get back and hook the ball off the line.

Seconds later, Motherwell were back on the offensive and were only denied the lead courtesy of a wonderful save from Samson and the frame of the goal. Nicky Law’s tantalizing cross was met by Michael Higdon, whose goal-bound shot was tipped on to the station of bar and post by the Scotland International stopper.

That chance gave ‘Well confidence and they would go on to enjoy a significant amount of possession as the interval drew near.

Typically, and against the general run of play, Saints took the lead.

Marc McAusland slid the ball down the right flank for Jon Robertson down the right hand side and his bending cross found Thompson, who prodded the ball past Darren Randolph for his seventh of the season.

Barely two minutes had past an, incredibly, St Mirren made it two.

Gary Teale’s deep ball from the right flanked looked as if it was heading out for a goal kick but Thompson got up brilliantly well to nod the ball back across goal, past Randolph for 2-0.

Motherwell would have to come out the blocks quickly in the second half but it was actually Saints who should have made it 3-0 when McGinn got on the end of Lewis Guy’s cut-back, but his side-foot effort was brilliantly turned round by Irish International Randolph.

In an effort to try and salvage something from the match, Stuart McCall introduced Bob McHugh and began to commit more players forward and, with 15 minutes to go, their efforts were rewarded.

Henrik Ojamaa was released down the left and his low cross was hammered into the net via the crossbar by McHugh.

Motherwell then set-up camp in the home half. An astonishing goalmouth scramble in the 81st minute seemed destined to provide a second goal for the Steelmen, but some brave goalkeeping from Samson and committed blocks by the Saints backline ensured the home side’s lead remained intact.

McAusland’s header four minutes before time should have extended his St Mirren’s lead, but for all Motherwell’s late domination, Saints held on for the win.

‘Well now face two home matches in the next week as the battle for the top-six continues apace.

[tab:As it happened]

Ally Reilly at St Mirren Park

FT: St Mirren 2 -1 Motherwell

90mins: Four minutes added on….

88mins: St Mirren sub, Barron off for Carey

83mins: Ojamaa pulls the ball out the sky in the box. His shot on the turn is tame though.

82mins: St Mirren sub, Van Zanten of for Dummett

80mins: All Motherwell!! Wave after wave of pressure now.

79mins: Motherwell sub, Daley on for Hateley

77mins: McHugh pulls a goal back in off the bar from Ojamaa’s cross. Game on!

GOOOAALLLL

73mins: And another chance for McHugh! Races through and on the edge of the box pulls the trigger. Just over!

St Mirren sub, Teale off for Mair.

71mins: Motherwell sub: Francis-Angol on for Hammell

70mins: Chance! McHugh on the end of Humphrey’s cross. His goal-bound shot is deflected over from 8 yards,

69mins: Motherwell sub, Higdon off for McHugh

68mins: Half-chance there from Henrik. Good tricky run but drags his shot just past from 20 yards.

65mins: Much of a sameness here! Very little in the way of threatening attacks from ‘Well. St Mirren look dangerous.

56mins: Good play between McLean and Teale allows the latter time to slot Thompson clean through. Thankfully his pass is wide of the mark.

48mins: Fantastic save from Randolph!! Dives low to his left to deny McGinn from close range.

46mins:McLean runs straight up the park but his effort is well over.

46mins: Second half underway.

HT: Teams back out. Huge performance needed in this 45 from the Steelmen.

HT: St Mirren 2 – 0 Motherwell. Uphill task for Motherwell yet again.

41mins:GOAL – Thompson makes it 2! Rose well at the back post and nods it across goal in off the other post.

38mins: GOAL: Thompson puts St Mirren 1 up.

…but Ramsden was there to block.

36mins: Bit of a let off again there! McLean does well to bring down a superb ball over the top. He drew Randolph wide and cut it back….

33mins: Ojamaa with another crack from range. Not far over though! Long range shooting the story of the game so far,

27mins: Ball falls to Humphrey on the edge of the box. Shoots over the bar though,

25mins: St Mirren with the pressure now. McLean and then Barron see their shots deflected just over.

23mins: Good spell of pressure here! First Ojamaa sees his shot blocked which was heading in then Murphy’s cross is nodded out for a corner.

19mins: St Mirren win a corner and from the delivery, Goodwin’s shot is cleared of the line. A let off!

16mins: Ojamaa shoots from range. High and wide. Not a great game so far.

11mins: St Mirren break and all Thompson has to do is roll the ball across goal to his teammate. Intercepted by Ramsden.

9mins: Humphrey wins the first corner of the game. Set-piece finds Law but his shot is blocked. Another corner to ‘Well.

8mins: Claims from the Saints fans as Randolph appears to handle right on the edge of the box, possibly outside. Waved away,

4mins: MacAusland ventures up front but his 25 yard effort is sky high.

3mins: First half-chance of the game. Teale delivers from out wide but Randolph collects with ease.

1min: St Mirren kick-off. Game on!

[tab:Reaction]

Motherwell manager Stuart McCall:

“I thought it was great entertainment and a terrific game. They took their chances, two terrific goals from Steven Thompson, a near-post finish and a back-post clinical header.

“I was disappointed to go in at half-time 2-0 down. It was an open game, we had opportunities and hit the woodwork, and failed to hit the target on other opportunities.

“The last 30 minutes was just a siege, they brought big Lee Mair on, brought David van Zanten on. I don’t think they could have brought any more defenders on.

“How we never got an equaliser I’ll never know. But I said to the boys, there are ways to lose games and I certainly want to go down fighting.

“We went right to the last minute, played some really good football and it just wasn’t our night.”

St Mirren manager Danny Lennon:

“I must give Stuart McCall and his staff great credit for the way that they play. They are very, very open and very bold at times and they go for things.

“They leave themselves two v two at the back and the last 20 minutes they put us under severe pressure down the flanks with the fantastic pace that they have.

“That was something we had to consolidate. I thought we had a very good 60 minutes in terms of owning the ball and creating. The chances and work rate were exceptional.

“But also we showed a great resilience and a defensive mentality, that we won’t be broken, and we were delighted to get over the line.” 

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

[poll id=”130″]

Motherwell travel west along the M74 to take on St Mirren in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

TEAMS:

St Mirren playmaker Paul McGowan is fit to face Motherwell after recovering from a shoulder injury.

Defender Lee Mair returns from a ban but striker Thomas Reilly is out for 10 weeks after fracturing his ankle.

Midfielder Stuart Carswell has picked up a knock last week and has failed to recover in time to play for Motherwell.

Defender Steven Saunders played for the Under-20s this week following his recovery from knee surgery but is not yet ready to be included in the squad.

TICKETS:

Tickets are still available from the Away Ticket Office at St Mirren Park priced at:

ADULTS: £20
CONCESSIONS: £10
UNDER 12: £5

• Concessions are listed as OAPs 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 expected travel problems between Motherwell and Paisley but, where possible, fans should take Christmas shoppers into account and their impact on traffic routes when planning their journey.

WEATHER:

It will be an overcast evening in Renfrewshire. Temperature highs in the Paisley area will be 5 degrees Celsius (41 Fahrenheit).

FOLLOW THE MATCH:

Motherwell Media will bring you all the action from Tannadice. Graham Barnstaple and Alan Burrows 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 tonight’s match, 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 expects an extremely tough test against St Mirren on Friday but is hopeful the Steelmen can continue their excellent run of away form.

The Fir Parkers have won their last four away SPL matches but face a stiff test against a talented Buddies side.

Former Scotland International midfielder McCall is full of respect for Saints and their players but has laid down the challenge to his players to maintain their recent run as the SPL heads into the busy festive period.

[pullquote]We haven’t had the best of results on Friday nights but we’ll hopefully take a good support through and as long as the result it right, it sets up a good weekend.[/pullquote]

“I’m looking forward to it,” he told the gathered press at Motherwell’s weekly news conference.

“We haven’t had the best of results on Friday nights but we’ll hopefully take a good support through and as long as the result it right, it sets up a good weekend.

“We’ve had a couple of good games against St Mirren. They have good experienced players allied to players like McLean who has scored some smashing goals this season.

“I like the look of McGinn as well, I actually coached him as part of my Pro-license. Teale is very capable as is Thompson up front but I could go through a few who are all capable on their day.

“However, as always with us, we’re away and give great respect to the opposition but if our players play at their maximum we can go anywhere and win the game and will be aiming to do so in Paisley tomorrow.”

-WATCH THE FULL PRESS CONFERENCE ON MFC TV-

Extended Highlights from Fir Park as Motherwell Under 20s crash to a 3-2 home defeat at the hands of Dundee.

-WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV-