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Motherwell return to league action on 21 November at Alliance Park, when they face champions Glasgow City.

Kick off is at 4pm.

Adult entry to the stadium will cost £5. Children will get in for free. All spectators will be housed in our covered seating area.

Tale of the tape

Glasgow City have won each of the last nine matches with Motherwell in SWPL1.

Motherwell last faced City in the league opener back in August, where the champions ran out 6-0 winners.

Form guide

Motherwell come into this game off the back of a 4-3 victory against Aberdeen to climb up to fifth in the table.

The women of steel have picked up ten points out of a possible 15 in the last five games.

Glasgow City sit in second place after the first round of fixtures, two points behind leaders Rangers.

The champions have yet to be beaten after the first nine games, having won seven and drawn two games against Celtic and Rangers.

New manager Eileen Gleeson got her tenure off to a strong start with a 3-0 win against Spartans in her first game last week.

Motherwell showed fighting spirit to hold off a late Aberdeen comeback to secure a closely-fought victory at Alliance Park on Sunday.

Carla Boyce fired the hosts in front early on, before Chelsie Watson doubled Motherwell’s advantage in quick succession.

Boyce then prodded home the third to give Motherwell a comfortable three goal advantage after 10 minutes.

Bayley Hutchinson pulled one back for the visitors midway through the first half, but Boyce responded to net her hat-trick and Motherwell’s fourth in the second half.

Francesca Ogilvie netted a late second for the visitors, before Johan Fraser added a third to give Motherwell a nerve-racking final 10 minutes.

However, Paul Brownlie’s side stood resolute to record their third league win this season.

Motherwell would break the deadlock after five minutes. Katie Rice’s powerful strike from the edge of the box ricocheted off the crossbar, and Boyce calmly followed up to earn her first goal in claret and amber.

The hosts then doubled their advantage minutes later. Rice’s perfectly weighted free kick was misjudged by the goalkeeper, and Watson stepped up to place her strike high into the net past Gail Gilmour from a few yards out.

The women of steel continued to look threatening in the early stages and would add a third on the 10-minute-mark. Gill Inglis’ curling effort was parried away by the keeper, but only as far as Boyce, who headed home her second of the game.

The visitors pulled one back midway through the first half. Hutchinson latched onto Nadia Sopel’s long ball, and the forward skilfully chipped Khym Ramsay from distance with an exquisite strike to give the Dons a lifeline.

With the hosts continuing to dominate possession, Motherwell restored their three-goal advantage on the hour mark.

Amy Anderson’s floated free kick deflected off the underside of the crossbar and fell kindly to Boyce who rifled her effort low past Gilmour to secure a hat-trick on her first home game of the season.

With the visitors chasing the game in the second half, Aberdeen netted a quickfire double against the run of play. A quick counter attack left Ogilvie through on goal, and the midfielder coolly slotted her strike past Ramsay.

Then, less than a minute later, Hutchinson’s low-driven cross was steered past Ramsay by Fraser to give the women of steel a tough final few minutes. However, the Motherwell defence held firm to secure their third league win of the season.

Motherwell’s valiant display will be a real confidence boost for Paul Brownlie’s side, before they host Glasgow City later this month.

London Pollard has joined Motherwell.

The striker goes straight into the squad for the SWPL1 home clash with Aberdeen on Sunday.

“I have been well aware of London’s talent for several years, so to get her signed for Motherwell is a massive signing,” head coach Paul Brownlie said.

“London is still very young and as with all our youth players our approach is always holistic, they have massive commitments with academic studies and we will continue to support our youth players to provide balance with football and studies.

“London can play anywhere along the front three and that provides us with more attacking options.”

Coming through the ranks at Cove Rangers, the 17-year-old burst onto the SWPL1 scene last year at Forfar Farmington, marking her top flight debut for the Station Park side with a double against the women of steel in a 4-2 opening day win in October 2020.

She added further goals against Celtic at K-Park in December, which was enough to catch the eye of the Hoops boss Fran Alonso, who recruited the pacey forward in May of this year.

Pollard was on loan at Thistle from Celtic, and looks to be a real talent for the future.

“I’m so happy to have joined Motherwell,” Pollard added.

“I want to develop my game further and feel Paul and the coaching staff are able to do just that.

“I feel this is a place I can flourish.”

Pollard will wear the number 40 shirt this season.

Kevin van Veen’s clinically-taken double gave Motherwell the win at Aberdeen.

The Dutch striker’s two goals early in the second half did the damage to ensure the Steelmen ended their barren run with all three points taken.

Graham Alexander changed three men from the side which lost last time out to Rangers.

The suspended Stephen O’Donnell was replaced on the teamsheet by Juhani Ojala, with the Finn coming in at centre back and Bevis Mugabi switching to right back.

Callum Slattery and Connor Shields dropped to the bench, with Maguire and Van Veen their respective replacements.

Motherwell came north looking for a reaction to that loss but they found themselves under siege from the off at Pittodrie.

Solholm had to react quick to deny Watkins a free shot at goal from 10 yards early on, before Kelly was called into action soon after with a fingertip touch to turn away Ramirez’s goalbound header.

Motherwell settled but the Aberdeen attacks continued to come in waves.

Kelly just about got to a one-on-one with Watkins to clear, shortly before Ferguson slalomed his way through the ‘Well defence to only fire over from the right side of the area.

Hedges also saw a header from the corner flicked off the line by the head of Ojala, as Motherwell struggled to create any chances of their own in a challenging first half.

Motherwell though have proven time and again they are clinical when the chances do arrive and that proved to be the case just five minutes into the second half.

After a period in possession in attack, Goss swung a pinpoint cross to the near post where Van Veen found himself completely unmarked.

He still had work to do, but picked his spot perfectly to steer the ball across the face of goal and into the bottom-right corner of the net.

Motherwell were invigorated and were two ahead 10 minutes later.

A free-kick from the left was met at the back post by Lamie – on as a sub for the injured Ojala.

His header back across goal found Van Veen perfectly on the penalty spot, and he showed all the composure in the world to half-volley the ball into the net.

Motherwell switched to five at the back soon after and, against a wave of Aberdeen attacks, stood firm brilliantly.

They did have Kelly to thank again, with an unbelievable double save from Ramirez’s header keeping the Dons at bay.

Motherwell take on Aberdeen next in the final game of the first round of fixtures in SWPL1.

Kick-off on Sunday 7 November at Alliance Park is at 4pm.

Tickets will cost £5 for adults, while children go free.

Tale of the tape

Motherwell and Aberdeen faced off in the group stages of the SWPL Cup in August, with the Dons coming away with all three points in a tightly contested 1-0 victory.

The last league meeting came in 2018 in SWPL2, where Motherwell won comfortably 4-0.

Aberdeen’s victory in August was their first victory against the women of steel in the last four encounters.

Form guide

Motherwell and Aberdeen are both locked on seven points after eight games, with an identical match record of two wins, one draw and five losses in SWPL1.

Aberdeen currently occupy sixth in the table due to a superior goal difference.

Motherwell returned to action after the international break with a 5-0 defeat against title-chasing Rangers on Wednesday night.

Prior to that, Motherwell claimed seven points in nine in the league.

Aberdeen also played on Wednesday night, where they fell to a 5-0 defeat to Glasgow City. Three days earlier, they lost 2-0 to Hibernian.

Motherwell showed fighting spirit but would ultimately suffer defeat to Rangers in a tough SWPL1 encounter on Wednesday.

Brianna Westrup fired the hosts in front midway through the first half at the Rangers Training Centre, before Rachel McLaughlin added a second on the stroke of half-time with a clinical finish.

Zoe Ness prodded home a third from close range minutes later to give the hosts a comfortable advantage at half-time. Then, in the second half, Kayla McCoy added a fourth, before Lizzie Arnot struck late on to seal a 5-0 defeat for Motherwell.

The hosts came close to the opener early on with Khym Ramsay performing heroics in the Motherwell goal.

Nicola Docherty’s floated corner fell kindly to Kirsten Reilly at the edge of the box, who set herself before drilling her effort across the face of goal. But Ramsay reacted quickly to parry her strike wide of the post.

Rangers would break the deadlock after 22 minutes. Docherty’s deep cross found Westrup unmarked in the box, and the defender’s perfectly timed volley sailed over the head of Ramsay into the back of the net.

The hosts doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time. Chelsea Cornet’s incisive pass sliced through the Motherwell defence leaving McLaughlin in space, and the forward maintained her composure to coolly slot her strike past Ramsay into the bottom right corner.

Rangers continued to threaten the Motherwell goal and added a third in quick succession. The visitors failed to clear McLaughlin’s floated delivery and Ness calmly placed her strike past Ramsay into the bottom corner from a few yards out.

With the women of steel chasing the game in the second half, Paul Brownlie’s side thought they should’ve been awarded a penalty after Carla Boyce’s effort appeared to strike the hand of Demi Vance.

However, the referee looked disinterested and waved play on despite the adamant pleas of the Motherwell players.

The hosts continued to press and added a fourth in the dying stages of the game.

Rangers skilfully broke through the Motherwell backline with a quick counter attack, and Cornet’s low-driven effort was unfortunately deflected past Ramsay into the bottom corner by the outstretching McCoy.

Rangers sealed all three points in the final minute with a fifth goal. Brogan Hay’s perfectly weighted through ball left Arnot one-on-one with the keeper, and the striker calmly placed her strike nto the bottom right corner to settle the tie.

Despite the scoreline, Motherwell will have plenty of positives to take into this weekend’s encounter with Aberdeen at Alliance Park after a spirited display.

Motherwell have signed striker Carla Boyce.

The 22-year-old, who can play across the front three, joins up after departing Hibernian last month, having netted six goals in 26 appearances for the Hibees.

“Carla is another big signing to further aid the development of this team,” head coach Paul Brownlie said.

“She was one of our main targets when I first arrived at Motherwell during the summer. She will add even more quality to a squad that’s really growing in confidence.

“Carla will add goals to this team, I’m excited to see what she can add to this team.”

Coming through the ranks at Glasgow City, and playing for Rangers and Hibernian, Boyce has established herself as a regular goalscorer and will look to add to her tally this season.

“I’m delighted to sign for Motherwell,” she added.

“I think the club is making great progress, which has been clear to see this season.”

Boyce will wear the number nine shirt for the rest of the season.

Motherwell return to action after two weeks off when they face title-chasing Rangers.

Kick-off at the Rangers Training Ground on Wednesday 3 November is at 8pm.

Tale of the tape

Rangers have won their last six matches with Motherwell.

Last time out, Rangers came away with a 5-0 victory in the group stages of the SWPL Cup.

Motherwell last took something from this fixture in April 2019, when they fought back from 3-0 down to take a point.

Form Guide

Rangers come into this game after exiting the SWPL Cup to rivals Celtic, falling to a 1-0 defeat.

The Gers are unbeaten thus far in SWPL1, having only dropped points against champions Glasgow City.

Motherwell are undefeated in their last three league games, keeping three clean sheets, and have collected seven points out of a possible nine in that time.

Motherwell have signed attacking midfielder Katie Rice.

Rice, who was most recently at Hibernian, left the Edinburgh side last month and is looking forward to being back in the claret and amber for the second time.

“I am extremely happy to be back at Motherwell,” Rice said.

“I love the direction the club is going in and I think it is really exciting to know I will be a part of it. I feel like I am back home.”

Katie Rice will wear the number 20 shirt this season.

“I’m delighted we have managed to get Katie on board,” head coach Paul Brownlie added.

“She adds to our attacking threat on the pitch and I’m really looking forward to seeing what she can produce.”

Rice left the ’Well in January after featuring for the club for two seasons, but has now completed her return.

Nicole Cairney has left Motherwell.

The winger returned to the club for her second stint this summer, joining from Hamilton Academical.

Having made nine appearances this season, her contract has now been cancelled by mutual consent.

We wish Nicole well for the future.