Motherwell

Jenna Thomson
Fan writer

I was unfortunately correct with predicting we would lose at least one of our back-to-back games against St Johnstone.

I could honestly copy and paste my comments from past week after the loss at Hibs and it wouldn't be wrong after the shambles that was the cup game.

When you practically sell out an away allocation and it is wasted with that type of performance, the players should hang their heads in shame.

Where is the team that narrowly missed out on three points against Rangers and the one that beat Aberdeen 2-0? How we've gone from that to being incapable of beating a bottom-of-the-table side is embarrassing.

If I want to be somewhat positive, I can argue going out of the cup is a good thing as the league is more important. That is true, however it would've been nice to not go out at the first hurdle.

Now we have to prepare for another painful trip to Perth this weekend, but with a bit of luck we will have sussed them out and play with a much stronger game-plan.

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Udinese have had a bid of around £2.5m rejected by Motherwell for midfielder Lennon Miller, 18. (Sky Sports), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Stuart Kettlewell has told his Motherwell players "to suck up the criticism" after their Scottish Cup exit to St Johnstone.

The travelling Steelmen support let their frustration be heard at half-time and full-time as they watched their side muster up just one shot on target against the side bottom of the Scottish Premiership.

"I've said to the players that what you've done before, where you sit in the league, it doesn't matter, it comes down to today," Kettlewell said.

"Making excuses about us having nine players out, that you would make a case for them all maybe playing in our team, none of that matters, it's just excuses.

"How supporters react is going to be down to the score, sometimes the performance and then that's ultimately how it goes as a football player.

"You either suck that up and you realise that that's what it is and you react positively to it or you disappear and you go into your shell and that's not going to work out well for anybody.

"We speak about being 16 points clear of St Johnstone. It didn't look like that on the face of the performance but you try to remind the players that there's a reason why you find yourself in the top half of the table."

We asked for your thoughts after Motherwell were dumped out of the Scottish Cup with a 1-0 defeat by St Johnstone.

Here's what you had to say:

David: Thousands of fans travelled in hope of continuing our cup dreams, what unfolded was a nightmare. Stuart Kettlewell says we didn't start the game well, we haven't played a first half for most of the season, surely that reflects on the manager - if he can't motivate the team for a cup game, when can he?

Stuart: The worry is this score was predictable. The team aren't up for the fight. I only remember their keeper making one routine save. Tawanda Maswanhise was the one bright spark, the rest of the team need to look at him and follow.

Ross: Miles off it like we have been for a number of weeks now. Injuries, yes, but we have to be making a better account of ourselves in a knockout tie. Teams are now aware that when they score first we'll have little to no reply. We look disjointed and without a clear plan of how to break teams down. Going to be a long second half of the season I fear.

Stuart O: Two very poor teams who will end up bottom two teams in the league. Motherwell have no structure, get overrun in midfield week in, week out and create nothing going forward. Lack of effort, flair and no entertainment value. Poorest Motherwell team in a long time.

James: An absolute disgrace and embarrassment. Played off the park by a bottom of the league team. Both players and management have to look at themselves. Same story every week, terrible to watch, no control, no first touch, high aimless balls, and no threat. If I could swear on here I would. God knows how we're still fifth in the table.

Billy: Time for change. Every week the manager has an excuse, so much dead wood in the squad. We are on the slide and going to be in a relegation battle. All those coaches in the dugout, what do they actually contribute to the team because there's nothing to show for it on the park.

Luke Armstrong was left out of the Carlisle United squad on Saturday, with the striker linked with a move to Motherwell. (News & Star), external

Read the rest of Sunday's Scottish gossip.

Makenzie Kirk's early strike helped St Johnstone banish their Premiership blues as they earned a first home win over Motherwell in three years to claim a place in the Scottish Cup last 16.

A whirlwind start brought Kirk's goal inside the first 10 minutes, scrambled in from a Graham Carey corner.

The legs of Motherwell keeper Archie Mair then prevented debutant Victor Griffith from doubling the advantage shortly afterwards when he was sent clear on goal.

Had Simo Valakari's side been tidier with their finishing, their win could have been a whole lot more comfortable.

They were unrecognisable from the side who had lost seven of their previous nine and are adrift at the bottom of the league.

Motherwell fans, did you make the trip to Perth or were you following the action from home? Either way we want your views on the performance.

Have your say, external

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Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell: "I'm really disappointed.

"I didn't feel we started the game at all and let St Johntsone impose themselves on us.

"We lacked the body language at times to take part in the game and if you do that against any opposition you're going to find it difficult.

"We were chasing the game, we showed a reaction in the second half, we had the ball and the run of the game but we didn't create enough or get ourselves into positions where someone could make themselves a hero and get an equaliser.

"I would be disappointed if my team goes out the cup too. I've reminded my players that the knee jerk reaction of Scottish football is that nobody cares that you're in the top half of the table, that you had a good run in the cup last season. None of that matters.

"If you want to stand up and be counted through angry reactions then if you're not able to stand up to that you can't play here.

"That's the task and the test in what will be a difficult game coming here next week."

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Motherwell defender Kofi Balmer says the opportunity to play at Hampden is a "massive" driving force for players in the Scottish Cup.

Balmer, 24, played in November's League Cup semi-final defeat by Rangers at the national stadium and also has experience in the latter rounds of knockout competitions in Northern Ireland.

He lost both the League Cup and Irish Cup finals with Ballymena, but is targeting Scottish Cup success when Motherwell face St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park in the fourth round on Saturday.

"For the younger players, me included, you never really get the opportunity often," he said.

"If you get the opportunity to play at Hampden, it's massive. Just having that sort of motivation, that's where you could end up if you get through the rounds.

"Obviously, we're not looking that far ahead now, we'll take it as a game as it comes.

"But just having that in the back of your head, that's where you could end up playing, it's massive, it's great motivation for everyone on the team."

Stephen McGinn shares his anguish at seeing brother Paul struck down by another injury in last weekend's defeat at Hibs that has ruled the Motherwell captain out for four months.

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Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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Monday's Dundee derby grabbed the headlines when the Scottish Cup fourth-round draw was made, but there are two other all-Premiership ties before the city rivals do battle for the final spot in the last 16, including Saturday's game in Perth.

Either St Johnstone, aiming to reach the last 16 for the first time since lifting the trophy in 2021, or Motherwell will end their dismal recent run on Saturday.

Saints have fallen nine points adrift at the bottom of the Premiership with no wins in nine outings, seven of them losses, under new manager Simo Valakari and seem destined for relegation.

Visitors Motherwell, suffering a spate of injuries, have themselves just one victory in seven, but Stuart Kettlewell's side have won 2-1 home and away against the Perth side already this season and have not lost in five visits to McDiarmid Park.

Read Scottish Cup preview in full.

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Motherwell captain Paul McGinn is unlikely to play again this season, while Aston Oxborough and Steve Seddon have also been ruled out for lengthy periods as the club's injury woes worsen.

McGinn suffered a recurrence of a thigh injury in last weekend's defeat at Hibs - the defender's first start since October - and needs surgery that will sideline him for four months.

Goalkeeper Oxborough faces three months out with a thumb injury and Seddon's ankle injury is set to keep him out for a further eight weeks.

Apostolos Stamatelopoulos faces another two weeks out with a torn calf and Jair Tavares, Liam Gordon and Harry Paton are doubts for Saturday's Scottish Cup fourth-round tie against St Johnstone where manager Stuart Kettlewell faces being without nine players.

"We've obviously encountered a lot of issues since the start of the season," Kettlewell said. "But I would feel that in terms of injuries, that this is possibly the worst stage that we're at.

"Looking at the board the other day, we were looking at nine pretty serious injuries and nine players that we're without. That's hard for us to absorb, of course it is.

"And from that, you're looking at a lot of significant players, and some players that have been very good for us, some for a long period of time, some since they came to the football club.

"So it's not an excuse. It's just that in an injury front, it's a bleak outlook. Me as always, I'm the most positive person in the world, and what we do is focus on the players that are available and that's what I've done since the start of the season."

Kettlewell signed midfielder Kai Andrews and goalkeeper Archie Mair on loan last week to take his squad number to 28 but with the latest blows, he has been told money will be made available to add options.

"We'll have to be patient," he said. "We're trying our best. We're working endlessly to try and make sure that we can strengthen the group and help the group out, but I can't really put a timescale on that. But what I can finish off by saying is that the club have been supportive in that."

A new goalkeeper is an urgent priority after Krisztian Hegyi was recalled by West Ham on the day Oxborough got injured. Matthew Connelly was recalled from East Kilbride on a temporary basis to sit on the bench against Hibernian on Saturday, but is cup tied this weekend.

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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You could argue Motherwell's latest league outing was a mirror of their season so far.

There was a flatness in their play at times, there were individual errors, moments of brilliance, some grit and fight... and unfortunately more injuries.

Let's start with that last point, and what a horrible sight it was to see Paul McGinn leave the field after what appears to be a recurrence of his thigh muscle injury that kept him out for three months this season.

He was absolutely distraught as he limped off. It's obviously a massive blow for him, but also the club.

Stuart Kettlewell doesn't yet know the full extend of McGinn's issue. He's been assessed, but it will be later in the week before there's a more definite outcome.

It's a huge disappointment, but one that Kettlewell will have to move on from quickly as he focuses on his next game, a Scottish Cup tie away to St Johnstone.

Facing St Johnstone in the cup will not be plain sailing. No-one at Motherwell will be looking at Saints' run of nine games without a win and taking a victory for granted.

Motherwell did get the better of Simo Valakari's side when they met in early November, but since then inconsistency has been their Achilles heel.

Just three wins from their following 12 games, with six defeats and three draws sandwiched in between.

It's frustrating times, yet when you look at the Premiership table, it still makes for good reading for Motherwell.

Fifth on 31 points, four points off fourth spot and six points off third. Right now they're surely still looking upwards.

However, when they return to league business, they'll want to be picking wins to prevent them being sucked downwards…

First things first though, trying to progress in the Scottish Cup. Another cup run would be welcome, and not just for all the rewards that follow; it could also encourage a positive effect on the pitch to take into the league.

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Jenna Thomson
Fan writer

After one of the worst performances of our season so far, I don't have much positivity to spread this week.

Our injury problems have been a thing all season so that isn't anything new, but with Aston Oxborough hurting his hand and being out and our new first choice goalkeeper's first game seeing us concede three goals, it ain't a good start to boost confidence...

I have said it before this season that I am waiting for the inevitable downward spiral to hit and if that performance at the weekend was anything to go by, we may be sliding headfirst down the table if it continues.

Playing St Johnstone away two weekends in a row is far from ideal, but, that's cup draws for you.

I don't fancy us to win both, but at this point in the season, I don't know what is the better one to win.

If we win the Scottish Cup game to set up another Hampden visit that would be groundbreaking or win the league game since points are what matters most rather than an inevitable final against Celtic where we would lose if we somehow made it that far?

I don't mean to be cynical, but it wasn't the reaction I was expecting from a team of players that have shown, despite injuries, we can still play well and pull together good performances. The show at Easter Road was a slap to the face.

Hopefully the team make me eat my words and we win both games against St Johnstone and this 'keeper can be the next Ballon D'or contender, but I won't hold my breathe...

The Sportscene panel analyse Hibernian's quick-fire double in victory against Motherwell. (UK users only)

Watch highlights of Hibs' 3-1 win against Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership. (UK users only)

We asked for your views on Motherwell's 3-1 defeat against Hibs.

Here's what some of you said:

Scotty: Very poor display. Sit back and give teams the ball to attack at will. Week in, week out we are overrun in midfield and there's a real lack of football being played. It's a results business, but fans need some entertainment for their hard-earned money. A real hard watch at the moment. Kai Andrews looks a decent player and it's good to see Callum Slattery back.

Grant: Dreadful defending for the first two goals, players are tired after the games over the festive period and Aston Oxborough being out in goal didn't help. Five away games in January doesn't help and it looks like Paul McGinn is out again, if we can get a full team fit and on the park it will make all the difference.

David: Another dismal performance. I can't understand why our manager uses fatigue as a factor as we never leave our own half, and at most we only have the ball at most 38%. Most Motherwell fans thought we'd get beat.

Kevin: Stuart Kettlewell must go. Fed up of his anti-football. Excuses after excuses. It doesn't matter who is in the team, we are always set up negatively. Worst team to watch in the league. Anyone who thinks he should be kept in place isn't a football fan. Absolutely brutal.

Ross: Another dreadful performance, we looked utterly woeful yet again. Yes the team have had a busy schedule of games lately, but so have other teams. So many players have been out injured throughout this season, we haven't had a full squad at any point which doesn't help.

Colin: Prior to the Hibs game were two bad performances that they luckily gained points in, Hibs performance was woeful. Team is changed on a game by game basis and appears there is no tactical direction. It won't be long before they drop out of the top six, and they won't get back in.

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• Martin Boyle has scored seven goals in the Premiership this season (two in this game), more than any other Hibs player.

• Motherwell attempted 411 passes in this game, their highest total in a single match in the Premiership this season.

• Warren O'Hora attempted 82 passes in this game, the highest total for a Hibs player in the Premiership this season.

• Hibs have scored in 18 of their 23 games, only Celtic (20) have scored goals in more matches in the Premiership this season.

Hibernian held off Motherwell to extend their unbeaten Scottish Premiership run to seven games and move into the top six for the first time this season.

Two goals in three minutes from Martin Boyle and Nectarios Triantis stunned Motherwell before the break after a drab opening 25 minutes.

The visitors did not register a single shot in the first half but improved markedly in the second after bringing on Marvin Kaleta and Tawanda Maswanhise.

And when Callum Slattery curled in a free-kick from 20 yards on 76 minutes, it looked to have set up a nervy finish.

However, just five minutes later Stephen O'Donnell was penalised for hauling down Lewis Miller in the box, and Boyle stepped up to smash home a penalty and re-establish Hibs' two-goal lead.

Let us know your thoughts on Motherwell's performance.