Motherwell

    • 14-7-17
    • 8th in Scottish Premiership

    Fixtures

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    Motherwell

    SOCCER

      Motherwell rampant in derby win as Nadir Ciftci fires double against Hamilton

      A much-changed Motherwell side warmed up for the William Hill Scottish Cup final in style by sealing seventh place in the Ladbrokes Premiership with a 3-0 Lanarkshire derby victory.Nadir Ciftci scored twice and Tom Aldred was also on target as Motherwell dominated against a poor Hamilton side at Fir Park.On-loan Celtic striker Ciftci - who cannot face his parent club at Hampden - was inches away from a hat-trick as Motherwell fans lapped up the perfect send-off ahead of next Saturday's showpiece occasion.The hosts made nine changes with only Richard Tait, Aldred and potentially Liam Grimshaw likely to retain their places for the Hampden encounter.Manager Stephen Robinson was still able to field an experienced side with the three under-20s players who started, David Turnbull, Ross MacLean and Barry Maguire, all having featured in recent weeks.Motherwell made the better start and both Turnbull and Ciftci forced saves before the latter opened the scoring in the 31st minute. Accies goalkeeper Ryan Fulton did well to stop MacLean heading home Tait's cross but the striker was on hand to knock home the rebound.Aldred came close before the break when he ran on to Turnbull's corner but could not keep his effort down.Hamilton were not technically safe before the game, but it would have taken a 13-goal swing for Partick Thistle to leapfrog them and the visitors were lacklustre in the first half.Manager Martin Canning tried to liven them up by throwing on strikers Rakish Bingham and Marios Ogkmpoe in the 57th minute but the latter only lasted seven minutes before limping heavily off after appearing to twist his knee.Motherwell doubled their lead in the 70th minute when Ciftci netted after a piece of individual brilliance in the penalty box. The former Dundee United forward tormented Xavier Tomas with a drag-back and took out another defender before stabbing the ball home.Robinson handed Liam Brown a debut before his team went further ahead in the 73rd minute. Tait hooked Gael Bigirimana's free-kick across the face of goal and the unmarked Aldred finished high into the net.Ciftci came close to a hat-trick when he fired against the bar from almost 30 yards.
      • 7Y
      • PA Sport

      Motherwell

      SOCCER

        Partick Thistle slip closer to the drop with home loss to Motherwell

        Ryan Bowman's header pushed Partick Thistle closer to the drop as they slumped to a 1-0 home defeat to Motherwell.The striker was afforded space to head home David Tunrbull's free-kick from six yards on the hour mark and all but consign Thistle to a bottom-two finish in the Ladbrokes Premiership.Alan Archibald's side are three points behind Hamilton with a game remaining but Accies have a 13-goal advantage.The only bright spot of the night for the hosts was Ross County's defeat by Dundee, which leaves the Dingwall side bottom by two points.Thistle travel to Dundee on Saturday where they might need victory to avoid automatic relegation given their goal difference is nine worse than the Staggies, who face St Johnstone in Perth.Motherwell were without Richard Tait through illness and 18-year-old midfielder Turnbull was handed a first start, but the William Hill Scottish Cup finalists were otherwise at full strength and eager to atone for a 5-1 home defeat by St Johnstone.Thistle started with intent and Conor Sammon flashed a header across the face of goal inside 60 seconds before Trevor Carson made a point-blank stop from Ryan Edwards' header.But there were some nervy moments for the home fans as Motherwell forced a series of corners after Thistle's pressure subsided.The hosts picked up again in the latter stages of the half and Carson made decent saves from Martin Woods and Chris Erskine.Turnbull came close with a deflected strike after beating two men but the home fans were audibly lifted by news of a Dundee goal and Sammon shot just wide from 18 yards after a good run by Doolan.However, Motherwell were enjoying more of the ball after Stephen Robinson's half-time switch, which saw midfielder Gael Bigirimana replace wing-back Stephen Hendrie.And the visitors took the lead after Baily Cargill was adjudged to have fouled Chris Cadden. Turnbull whipped in the free-kick from the right and the unmarked Bowman headed home.Carson parried a curling strike by Christie Elliott while Cedric Kipre was receiving treatment but the visitors recovered their composure once the French defender was back on his feet.Thistle were struggling to create clear openings and Miles Storey could not capitalise when Kipre's slip handed them a chance, the substitute shooting beyond the far post.Tomas Cerny kept Thistle in the game by saving Tom Aldred's header and they threw men forward in five minutes of stoppage time, but substitute Blair Spittal headed straight at Carson and Aldred made a crucial last-ditch tackle on Sammon.
        • 7Y
        • PA Sport

        Motherwell

        SOCCER

          Motherwell 1-5 St Johnstone

          Steven MacLean rounded off his St Johnstone career in style with a 25-minute hat-trick in a 5-1 victory over Motherwell at Fir Park.The 35-year-old produced a masterclass in penalty-box forward play in his 203rd and final game for Saints before a summer move to Hearts.MacLean will sit out Tuesday's game on Hamilton's artificial surface because of long-standing knee problems and is suspended for the final match of the Ladbrokes Premiership campaign, but he ensured Saints have a real chance of claiming a seventh-place finish.The hosts could have all but wrapped up seventh with victory but they lost their three-point lead and saw a healthy goal advantage cut to two thanks to some uncharacteristically sloppy defending.Motherwell rested central defender Cedric Kipre and wing-back Richard Tait as Stephen Robinson begins to rotate his squad ahead of the William Hill Scottish Cup final but they conceded as many goals in nine first-half minutes as they had in their previous five matches with Steven Anderson also capitalising.Substitute Gael Bigirimana pulled one back but David McMillan scored his first St Johnstone goal three minutes later.Motherwell brought in Barry Maguire and Elliott Frear and were the more enterprising team in a largely uneventful opening half hour.But the game turned in the 31st minute when Richard Foster was given plenty of time to pick out a cross from the byline. He found MacLean, who peeled into space before guiding a header into the corner of the net from 12 yards.Saints doubled their lead five minutes later after Motherwell failed to deal with David Wotherspoon's free-kick into the box. Trevor Carson could not palm Murray Davidson's header any further than his six-yard box and Anderson crashed the ball into the roof of the net.MacLean made it three when Saints broke after a heavy tackle on Chris Cadden. George Williams released Matty Willock, whose low cross was turned inside the near post.Wotherspoon came close just after the break and the hosts knew it wasn't their day when Nadir Ciftci failed to beat Zander Clark after Frear's cross found him three yards out.MacLean soon netted his 57th goal for Saints when he stabbed the ball home from close range after Wotherspoon scuffed a shot when presented with yards of space following a short free-kick.Williams shot wide after a 50-yard run before MacLean went off to a hero's reception from the travelling support and a hug from Tommy Wright as he made way for McMillan in the 64th minute.Bigirimana headed home from close range in the 78th minute after Ryan Bowman's shot came off the underside of the bar but former Dundalk striker McMillan soon headed home Foster's deep cross to mark his second appearance for Saints with his first goal on his comeback from injury.
          • 7Y
          • PA Sport

          Motherwell

          SOCCER

            Genseric Kusunga injury adds to Dundee woes in defeat at Motherwell

            Dundee defender Genseric Kusunga was carried off on a stretcher midway through his side's 2-1 defeat at Motherwell.The 30-year-old went down seconds before the second half was due to start and left the field holding an oxygen mask to his face.The Angolan had received treatment after opening the scoring in the 23rd minute.Motherwell turned the game on its head thanks to headers from Ryan Bowman and Cedric Kipre, which removed all doubt about their Ladbrokes Premiership status for next season.However, they also suffered an injury scare as Bowman went off after failing to run off a sprain picked up during a tangle with Kusunga.With forwards Nadir Ciftci and George Newell already ruled out of the William Hill Scottish Cup final against Celtic, the sight of Bowman hobbling around was the last thing manager Stephen Robinson needed.Both sides missed free headers from six yards in the opening stages with Craig Wighton off target before Bowman hit the post and saw his second effort blocked by Elliot Parish.Dundee lost Sofien Moussa to a calf injury but their opener came after Trevor Carson made saves from Mark O'Hara, Simon Murray and Steven Caulker.Caulker was again involved as he headed a corner towards goal and Kusunga nudged it over the line.Motherwell levelled five minutes later with a near identical goal. Charles Dunne headed Chris Cadden's corner into the goalmouth and Bowman nodded home from close range.Parish pushed away Curtis Main's pile-driver but Motherwell lost Bowman for 17-year-old James Scott and Murray and O'Hara were both off target from good chances as a lively half came to a close.Darren O'Dea replaced Kusunga following a 10-minute delay to the second half starting and Dundee failed to get going quickly enough.Kipre headed his first Motherwell goal in the 52nd minute after Cadden had crossed seconds after taking a short free-kick.Carson saved from Kevin Holt and O'Hara but Dundee failed to build sustained pressure until the final 10 minutes.They made up for it then as Motherwell were forced into some last-ditch defending, but O'Hara missed a glorious chance in the final few minutes when he volleyed over from six yards after another Caulker knockdown.The result saw Motherwell consolidate seventh place, while Dundee are four points above the bottom two.
            • 7Y
            • PA Sport

            Motherwell

            SOCCER

              Bore draw in Dingwall

              Defences reigned supreme in Dingwall as Ross County and Motherwell battled their way to a goalless Ladbrokes Premiership draw.Both sides found it difficult to find that decisive final ball in the first half. There were shots from distance that did not threaten the goalkeepers, but for the most part crosses were cleared and defences were on top.And both sides were forced into early changes due to injuries - Andrew Rose landed badly just inside the County half, and though he tried to carry on he would come off for Carl McHugh in the 20th minute.Christopher Routis seemed to claim a Motherwell defender had stamped on him at a County corner, and was seen to be having words with Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson on his way off the park when he was replaced by Jason Naismith - himself only just back after missing a couple of games through injury.Alan Muir drew the ire of the home support for some of his decisions, but it was a change of heart to give County a throw-in that led to the best chance of the half.From the throw, the ball was played forward to Alex Schalk bursting into the Motherwell box. He nodded it down to Billy McKay in space, but instead of shooting he decided to square the ball to defender Marcus Fraser who had also ventured forward, and his shot was blocked.The second half was largely more of the same. This time it was Scott Fox who had to face the better opportunities though, being forced into a good save from Ryan Bowman, and seeing Curtis Main's header from the resultant corner trickling wide through the swarm of bodies.As the match drew on County were the team building the most sustained period of pressure as they tried to force a winner, but the best chance fell to Motherwell.A long ball over the top of the County defence five minutes from time found Main, but under pressure from Harry Souttar he did not have time to take a touch and his volley was dragged wide.Then, in the 88th minute, Chris Cadden found some space on the edge of the home side's box, but his shot curled over the bar.But nobody could make that decisive breakthrough, and the game finished 0-0 in what will likely be a more useful point for County than Motherwell.
              • 7Y
              • PA Sport

                Motherwell 3-0 Aberdeen

                Curtis Main struck twice as Motherwell swept Aberdeen aside 3-0 at Hampden to reach their second cup final of the season.Main and Ryan Bowman scored inside two minutes of each other midway through the first half of the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final.And Main struck his eighth goal since joining Motherwell from Portsmouth in January when he raced from the halfway line to net on the counter-attack in the 66th minute.There was more than a hint of handball in the build-up to the opener but the Betfred Cup runners-up ended up convincing winners as Aberdeen paid for being unable to deal with three high balls.Aberdeen struggled without the suspended Shay Logan, Graeme Shinnie and Kenny McLean. Dominic Ball came in at right-back while Chidi Nwakali started in midfield alongside Anthony O'Connor.Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson also had three key players missing as suspended captain Carl McHugh joined long-term absentees Peter Hartley and Craig Tanner on the sidelines. But they had Allan Campbell, Andy Rose and Charles Dunne starting following injury.Aberdeen made the brighter start but Motherwell's midfield trio of Campbell, Rose and Liam Grimshaw soon got on top through sheer work-rate and desire.The Dons had snuffed out Motherwell's physical threat in their recent 2-0 win at Fir Park with the same central defensive line-up of Scott McKenna and Kari Arnason, with O'Connor offering extra protection just in front.But they were unable to deal with Trevor Carson's long free-kick as Motherwell took the lead in the 20th minute.Arnason could only head the ball behind him and Tait got in front of Ball, who stopped to appeal after the ball bounced off the stand-in skipper's arm. But referee Kevin Clancy or Tait did not and Main tapped home the cut-back.Aberdeen's defending was even less impressive three minutes later. McKenna sliced a clearance back to the edge of his box and Bowman outmuscled Arnason before finishing at the second attempt after Joe Lewis had spilled his volley.Bowman cut inside Arnason and forced a save from Lewis moments later before Motherwell set about protecting their lead.Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes had to speed up his inevitable reshuffle when Nwakali went over on his ankle two minutes before half-time but substitute Gary Mackay-Steven soon set up their first real chance, only for Stevie May to screw well wide from 10 yards.Aberdeen made little impact going forward in the early stages of the second half, though, and McInnes went for broke in the 61st minute with winger Niall McGinn replacing Ball to give them six attack-minded players on the pitch.McGinn immediately set up a chance for Adam Rooney but Carson made his first save of the game to parry wide.Just as Aberdeen seemed to be putting Motherwell under pressure, they were hit with a sucker-punch.Arnason volleyed Tom Aldred's long ball off Main on the halfway line and the striker had a clear run for goal. The former Middlesbrough man kept his composure to finish high into the net from 20 yards.McGinn volleyed over but Aberdeen never really threatened a comeback as Motherwell set up a Hampden return against Celtic or Rangers on May 19.
                • 7Y
                • PA Sport

                Motherwell

                SOCCER

                  Saints and Motherwell draw mid-table clash

                  Motherwell avoided defeat and any obvious injury problems ahead of the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-finals as they held St Johnstone to a goalless draw in Perth.The teams remain locked together in mid-table in the Ladbrokes Premiership after a forgettable encounter which was lacking in meaningful incident apart from a brief flurry of chances either side of half-time.Motherwell were without the injured Nadir Ciftci, Charles Dunne and Allan Campbell before their trip to Hampden to face Aberdeen, the latter two more as precautions, although the on-loan Celtic striker has a chance of overcoming an ankle injury.Barry Maguire was handed a debut in a back three while midfielders Gael Bigirimana and Liam Grimshaw were handed chances to stake a claim for a semi-final appearance.But there was little to catch the eye at McDiarmid Park.Both sides had seen their top-six hopes evaporate in the previous week to leave them probably playing for seventh and eighth spot and a £60,000 difference in prize money.The teams were tied on 37 points before the game and there was nothing between them in a first half that was devoid of noteworthy action until the final 10 seconds, when Saints midfielder Murray Davidson shot just wide from 22 yards after being found in space by Steven MacLean's square pass.There was more goalmouth action in the first four minutes of the second half than the whole of the opening period. Motherwell goalkeeper Trevor Carson held a free-kick from Greg Tanser before stopping David Wotherspoon's volley.Wotherspoon soon hit another free-kick wide and Curtis Main produced Motherwell's first decent effort when he got away from Jason Kerr and curled just wide of the far post.Main was substituted along with Elliott Frear in a clear sign Stephen Robinson had one eye on the semi-final, and the visiting manager handed Andy Rose a timely comeback from a knee injury in the 73rd minute as Maguire went off following an assured introduction to first-team football.Bigirimana tried to make his mark with an ambitious effort from a free-kick which Alan Mannus spilled for a corner, before setting up Grimshaw with a brilliant piece of skill and a decent cross. But the former Preston midfielder's last-minute effort was blocked in a crowded goalmouth.
                  • 7Y
                  • PA Sport

                  Motherwell

                  SOCCER

                    Aberdeen up to second after win against Motherwell

                    The recalled Kari Arnason was on target as Aberdeen moved into second place in the Ladbrokes Premiership with a 2-0 victory at Motherwell.Arnason and Kenny McLean struck within three minutes of each other midway through the second half as the Dons used their game in hand on Rangers to move three points ahead of the Ibrox men.The result also sealed Hearts' place in the top six as Motherwell's slim hopes of overtaking the Gorgie side before the split depended on a victory.The opener came in the 65th minute as Arnason rose highest to meet McLean's corner and head home from eight yards.McLean quickly doubled the Dons' lead following a throw-in on the right flank. The Scotland midfielder swapped passes with Greg Stewart and curled into the far corner from 16 yards.Defender Arnason had come in for winger Gary Mackay-Steven in a bid to deal with Motherwell's aerial threat but the hosts were forced to change their tactics after Nadir Ciftci and Charles Dunne failed fitness tests. Left-back Stephen Hendrie replaced centre-back Dunne as they switched to a 4-4-2.The visitors had the better of territory and possession but there was little to show for it in a disappointing first half, although there was a flurry of activity around the midway point, most of it centring around Hendrie.Stewart skipped round the full-back before cutting inside and firing over before McLean had a shot diverted wide after latching on to the former West Ham player's headed clearance. Hendrie soon had a better moment when he blocked McLean's back-post header.Aberdeen goalkeeper Joe Lewis was only brought into action once before the break, to stop Ryan Bowman's header skidding across the face of goal.Stephen Robinson brought on Gael Bigirimana for Allan Campbell at half-time and Motherwell looked to have been stirred into action by their manager's team talk.Tom Aldred headed just wide from Chris Cadden's corner and Lewis spilled Curtis Main's strike but gathered at the second attempt.The hosts remained on top but had a scare just after the hour mark when casual play from Cedric Kipre allowed Stevie May a shooting chance, but Aldred blocked inside the box and referee Don Robertson waved away handball claims.Aberdeen soon took a firm grip on proceedings with their quickfire double and they never let go as they comfortably saw out the victory to boost their confidence ahead of the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final meeting between the teams on April 14.
                    • 7Y
                    • PA Sport
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                    2024-25 SPFL Premiership Ladder

                    TeamGPWDLGDP
                    Celtic382954+8692
                    Rangers382297+3975
                    Hibernian38151310+1258
                    Dundee United3815815-953
                    Aberdeen3815815-1353
                    St Mirren3814816-650
                    Heart of Midlothian3815716+552
                    Motherwell3814717-1749
                    Kilmarnock3812818-1944
                    Dundee3811819-2041
                    Ross County3891019-2837
                    St Johnstone389524-3032

                    2024-25 Team Leaders

                    Scottish Premiership

                    7

                    Tom SparrowM #7

                    6
                    Matches32
                    Assists1
                    55

                    Tawanda MaswanhiseF #55

                    6
                    Matches30
                    Assists3
                    8

                    Callum SlatteryM #8

                    6
                    Matches15
                    Assists1

                    Rankings

                    Scottish Premiership

                    Goal Difference
                    -17
                    8th
                    Goals Scored
                    46
                    8th
                    Assists
                    32
                    Tied-7th
                    Goals Conceded
                    63
                    8th
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