Motherwell

Adam Binnie
BBC Sport Scotland

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When Stuart Kettlewell quit as Motherwell boss, he left his side in fifth place.

A tumultuous transition period then shifted focus from a potential European finish to league survival.

And had Wimmer's side lost against Dundee, they would have been just one point off the relegation play-off spot. Instead, they are within one victory of top six.

Not only does this win brings them closer to the top half than to that dreaded 11th spot, but the manner of the performance should revitalise both the players and the Fir Park fans.

Five games until the league splits, and three of those are at home for Motherwell.

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• Motherwell have lost both of their two previous league games against Dundee in 2024-25, this after only losing one of their previous 14 league matches against them beforehand (W9 D4).

• Dundee's 1-0 win in October ended a seven-game winless run away to Motherwell in the league (D3 L4) since winning back-to-back visits in 2016-17.

• Motherwell have lost both of their last two home league games, last losing more on the spin in November 2022 (run of four).

• Dundee have lost each of their last five midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) away league games by an aggregate score of 22-3 since a 1-1 draw at Aberdeen in January 2024. The Dark Blues' last midweek away win in the Scottish Premiership was back in February 2022 at Hearts (2-1).

• Dundee's Lyall Cameron has scored five goals in his five Scottish Premiership appearances against Motherwell – the only opponent against which he has scored more than twice in the competition.

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Motherwell have lost Shane Blaney and Sam Nicholson to long-term knee injuries. Tony Watt is available again, while Apostolos Stamatelopoulos and Marvin Kaleta are back in training but unlikely to feature.

Jack Vale (Achilles), Steve Seddon (ankle), Ross Callachan (hamstring), Paul McGinn (thigh), Zach Robinson (Achilles) and goalkeepers Archie Mair and Aston Oxborough (both hand) remain out.

Dundee suffered three fresh injuries in their defeat at Ross County, with key trio Antonio Portales (calf), Seb Palmer-Houlden (knee) and Clark Robertson (hamstring) joining join Billy Koumetio (ankle) and Scott Fraser (groin) on the sidelines.

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Wing-back Dom Thompson says the Motherwell players are "buying into" new manager Michael Wimmer's ideas.

The Fir Park outfit lost 1-0 to Dundee United on Saturday, their sixth defeat in a row, but there were clear signs of improvement after half-time at Tannadice.

Thompson, who signed for Motherwell on the day of Stuart Kettlewell's final game in charge, is hopeful Wimmer can turn things around, starting with his home debut against Dundee on Wednesday night.

"It's been an up and down start, a lot going on, a few changes and what-not, but that comes part and parcel with football so you learn to roll with it," said Thompson.

"Speaking on behalf of myself and the team as well, we've all really enjoyed working with him in the past week.

"We can clearly see how he wants to play and his ideas in regards to football. Everyone's buying into it and hopefully Saturday was a start and hopefully we can look to implement it a little bit more as we go forward.

"Obviously they had the goal in the first half, so that can sometimes change a game. But definitely going into the second half, we needed to play with a bit more intensity and urgency. A few more patterns started to play out and we looked a different side in the second half, I believe.

"That's encouraging for what's to come. We've got an opportunity at home on Wednesday to start that way rather than pick up in the second half.

"When you talk about a new playing style, it's one that I believe suits a lot of the players that we've got here. It's encouraging and everyone's excited.

"The quality that we've got in the team is encouraging. We see that day to day in the training pitch and when we go into games we see spells of quality and it just needs to string together a bit more so we can start picking up results."

Jenna Thomson
Fan writer

Another loss to add to the tally this season.

The defeat at Tannadice didn't surprise me as it will take more than a few days for our squad to be whipped into shape by new boss Michael Wimmer.

Wednesday's visit of Dundee is crucial for us. Not only is it Wimmer's first home game, a win will earn vital breathing space in the battle to beat the drop.

The gap between us and second-bottom Dundee has got uncomfortably short - just four points - and if things don't change fast it isn't looking good.

Speaking of things that aren't looking good, I wish Stuart Kettlewell would give up with the press tour.

I felt genuine sympathy and anger on Kettlewell's behalf when the news first broke that abuse from fans is what made him leave the club, but there is too much inconsistency in his stories and I don't know what to believe any more.

It is hard to embrace the new era when there is so much negativity surrounding the club but we have to get behind the team and the manager on Wednesday and show we are so much more than the narrative being spun.

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Motherwell have been handed a fresh injury blow with Sam Nicholson and Shane Blaney both in need of surgery.

Blaney, who has suffered a knee injury, is awaiting surgery and will be sidelined for a significant period.

Nicholson, who missed the first five months of the season with a problem with his patellar tendon, is now back on the long-term absentee list and is facing another extended period on the sidelines.

New manager Michael Wimmer, who was without 12 players for his first game in charge, has given an update on the injury status at the club.

"Marvin Kaleta was in training today, he's back," the boss said.

"Apostolos (Stamatelopoulos) trained the whole session with the team. He's back, this is very good. There are two good players.

"It brings us other options. I don't know if it is enough time for Wednesday, but I think after the break, after the Rangers game, we will have more options."

Motherwell remain without Jack Vale, Steve Seddon, Ross Callachan, Paul McGinn, Zach Robinson and goalkeepers Archie Mair and Aston Oxborough with long-term injuries.

Watch the Sportscene panel discuss Michael Wimmer's tactics.

Watch highlights as Dundee United win 1-0 against Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your views on Motherwell's 1-0 defeat against Dundee United.

Here's what some of you said:

Colin: Better performance than the previous efforts but unfortunately avoiding the play-off place has become priority. With a couple of exceptions, players aren't good enough for this level and I worry we might not come out on top of a two-leg tie with our current players.

Derek: Stuart Kettlewell's legacy is a club tenth in the league and going down. Signed far too many sub-standard players - quantity over quality.

Not one of our signings in the last year would make it into another Premiership team. Says a lot about scouting and strategy at Fir Park. Looking forward to days away at Arbroath and Ayr next season.

Edward: Although we have a new manager, the question is - why, again, are we on a losing streak at this time of the year?

The weather's the same for everyone yet we continue to gift teams points! The squad was upgraded in the summer, we started off great, European football on the horizon, yet now we're scrambling to stay clear of the trapdoor. Why?

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• Dundee United have kept a clean sheet in nine of their 27 games, only Rangers (13) and Celtic (19) have done this more often in the Premiership this season.

• Sam Dalby has scored 12 goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other player. He now has four goals against Motherwell in three appearances.

• Dalby has now scored the opening goal in five Premiership matches this season.

• Dundee United are unbeaten in their last six league matches when leading at half-time (W2, D4) dating back to 4 February 2023 against Hearts (L1-3).

• Dundee United have stopped the opposition from scoring a first-half goal in 17 of their 27 games, only Celtic (22) have done this more often in the Premiership this season.

• Motherwell have lost their last five games in the Premiership, their last joint longest losing streak was from 1 January 2015 to 24 January 2015.

• Motherwell have failed to win any of their last 10 matches when conceding first in the Premiership, since a victory over St. Mirren on 28 September 2024.

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland at Tannadice

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Michael Wimmer's Motherwell debut ended in disappointment, with the visitors beaten 1-0 by Dundee United at Tannadice.

So, what are the first impressions of the German manager as the Fir Park side slumped to a sixth successive defeat?

The 44-year-old turned up looking and sounding relaxed. Dressed in faded jeans and a hooded jacket, he talked excitedly about seeing his team in competitive action.

As a reporter you get a bit of a sense of someone in between the first handshake and pressing the record button. Wimmer was really pleasant on first meeting, even saying it was a "pleasure to meet me". We also exchanged a joke about the Scottish weather.

During the match he paced up and down his technical area and was pretty animated as he gestured and encouraged his players.

What did we glean from his interviews?

Pre-match, he was at pains to point out that he had only had time for three training sessions with his new players. He also admitted that he found team selection and formation a bit tricky, giving me a sense that there could be a bit of trial and error over the coming weeks.

But his message in these early days is simple. He wants to see "passion and energy" on the pitch.

Post-match, Wimmer felt his side deserved a point after their second-half showing.

Interestingly, he suggested that his players "maybe had too many thoughts inside their minds".

He spoke about "getting a picture" from his first competitive match, and it seems his main learning is that his players need to be "braver in possession".

It will be interesting to see his team selection for Wednesday's visit of Dundee. Will he chop and change personnel or formation?

Like he says, he's getting a picture and we'll maybe get a better idea of where he's going with this Motherwell side a few more games in.

What are the fans saying?

Around 700 Motherwell supporters made the trip to Dundee and from the few I spoke to before kick off, most were looking forward to seeing what the new era might bring.

Although one admitted he had to "Google" Wimmer when the appointment was announced, he, like the others, have welcomed what the new boss had to say about attacking play and bringing on youth.

Those I spoke to weren't expecting a miracle and are willing to give the manager time.

In saying that, style of play seems to be important to the Motherwell fans and seeing a change on that front sooner rather than later will be vital.

What is the pundit view?

BBC Scotland pundit Alan Preston said he "hadn't seen anything different under the new manager."

The former Dundee United and Hearts midfielder added: "They've not created much. From what I've seen, Wimmer likes his full-backs to get forward, but they were rarely allowed to do that - and when they did they didn't use the ball well enough."

He also questioned the deployment of Lennon Miller, who was playing in a double-pivot in front of the back four alongside Andy Halliday.

"That's to enable the full-backs to get forward," said Preston. "But, with Lennon in that position, you lose his ability to create."

Michael Wimmer's reign as Motherwell manager began with a defeat as Sam Dalby's goal earned Dundee United a first win in four Scottish Premiership games.

The Fir Park side have now lost six consecutive matches and now slip down to ninth.

United's own form had been pretty poor of late, but they got back on track thanks to division's top scorer Dalby converting a towering first-half header for his 13th of the season.

What did you make of that, Motherwell fans? What went right, what went wrong?

And what do you think the future holds under Wimmer?

Let us know your thoughts, external.

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Motherwell manager Michael Wimmer told BBC Scotland: "We are a little bit disappointed because in the second-half, we perhaps deserved a point.

"The first half, there were too many thoughts in the minds of the players. We were a little too slow. But it's normal, we worked for three days together with a new formation.

"We can work with the second half, it was really good. It was aggressive, we had opportunities and played forward. That's what we want to see.

"I want to get a picture from the players and I got my first picture, I got better impressions. Training and matchdays are always different.

"We have to be more brave in possession. It was very good in training, but today in the first-half we only had 30% possession and this is not enough.

"We should be positive because the second half was really positive and I saw many good things."

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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United did not have to be on their best to see off this Motherwell side desperately lacking in resolve or confidence.

Wimmer spoke this week on "intensity, energy and passion" but in the opening stages, none were apparent. These were players trying to impress a brand new manager, not that you could immediately tell.

The second-half was a mild improvement, but they're still lacking someone to show the clinical edge at the top of the pitch.

This is now their joint longest losing streak since 2015, and they're sliding worringly down the table. Wimmer needs to arrest this run of form, or else they will find themselves left behind the top-six chasing pack.

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Dundee United midfielder Craig Sibbald is back in training after a groin injury but not ready to play. Kevin Holt and Will Ferry return for United while Lewis Fiorini is also pushing to be fit.

On-loan United striker Tony Watt is ineligible for Motherwell, who remain without Jack Vale (Achilles), Apostolos Stamatelopoulos (calf), Steve Seddon (ankle), Ross Callachan (hamstring), Paul McGinn (thigh), Zach Robinson (Achilles) and goalkeepers Archie Mair and Aston Oxborough (both hand).

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Stephen O'Donnell hopes the arrival of new manager Michael Wimmer will bring "a spring of life" to Motherwell as they aim to avoid a relegation scrap.

The Fir Park side have slipped from fourth to eighth in the Scottish Premiership amid a dreadful run of five consecutive defeats, winning just one of their last 11 matches in all competitions.

Motherwell have spent most of this season in the top six, and despite only being in the bottom half of the table due to goal difference, they are just four points clear of the relegation play-off spot, such is the tight nature of the league.

European qualification remains possible, but O'Donnell has told his team-mates to accept their main focus for now is to pull away from the drop zone.

"I hope I'm wrong and we go on and win the next five games, but I think we've been aware for the past couple of months that we are in a scrap," the former Scotland full-back said.

"We need to get safe first. You can say that's a negative attitude, but that's for me a realistic attitude.

"We haven't been consistent enough, nor has the rest of the league. We just need to make sure we bounce back from what's been a tough run with the new manager and start his reign off with a good performance."

O'Donnell and co will have the chance to do that at Tannadice on Saturday when they take on fourth-placed Dundee United, and the 32-year-old is aiming to impress.

"I think there's always pressure and enthusiasm around a new manager," the defender added. "You need to impress him, and I just hope over the coming weeks I'm able to do that.

"The manager hasn't been over in Scotland before with a team, so hopefully that just comes a real spring of life for the full squad."

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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Visiting a side who have suffered four defeats in a row - and only one win in six - presents a great opportunity for Michael Wimmer in his debut as Motherwell manager.

Especially as they have already beaten Saturday's hosts Dundee United in all three meetings this season - and won four in a row all told.

In saying that, the 44-year-old German inherits a side who themselves have lost five in succession - and are without a win in six.

Four of those defeats have come in the Premiership and they have not lost five in a row since January 2015 - when, you might have guessed it, their fifth was a 3-1 defeat at Tannadice.

Well will be hoping for the much-vaunted new manager bounce this time after the appointment of former Austria Vienna boss Wimmer.

Following the recent resignation of Stuart Kettlewell citing personal abuse that was affecting his family, it will be interesting to see how quickly the new boss is able to deliver to their fans the intense, attacking football he has promised.

German football expert Derek Rae described to BBC Scotland the choice of Wimmer as a "calculated gamble" given his only spell as a manager ended in May after only 16 wins in 47 matches in Austria's Bundesliga.

However, Wimmer has a reputation for developing young players during coaching spells with Nuremberg, Augsburg and Stuttgart, just what you need when you have 18-year-old Lennon Miller as your key figure.

Despite poor results, United are still in a healthy fourth spot, while Well are a mere six points behind and only behind sixth-top St Mirren on goal difference, albeit also just four ahead of Dundee in the relegation play-off spot.

United have not lost three times in a row at home to the Steelmen in the top-flight since May 2000. Match that and Wimmer would be quickly on to a winner.

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• Dundee United have lost both of their last two home games against Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership but haven't lost three times in a row at home to the Steelmen in the top flight since May 2000.

• Motherwell have won both of their league meetings with Dundee United in 2024-25 so far and could win three league games in a single season against them for the first time since 2004-05.

• Dundee United have lost each of their last three league games – as many as their previous 13 beforehand (W6 D4 L3).

• Motherwell have lost each of their last four league games, last losing five on the spin in January 2015 – when the fifth defeat was away to Dundee United (1-3).

• Only Motherwell's Aston Oxborough (85) has made more saves in the Scottish Premiership this season than Dundee United's Jack Walton (79). Walton has conceded 31 goals (excl. own goals) from an expected goals on target faced total of 38.7 – with his 7.7 goals prevented based on xGoT the highest of any goalkeeper in the competition this season.

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Stephen O'Donnell pleaded patience from the Motherwell fans as his side gets to grip with the way new manager Michael Wimmer wants to play.

The German boss has been vocal on his intent to play intense, attacking football - quite a change from the style under previous gaffer Stuart Kettlewell.

"When the manager leaves, it's really disappointing and especially when you've been in the team, you've been a big part of his spell, it hurts," O'Donnell reflected on Kettlewell's exit.

"But that's also part of football, we go on. It was sad that he left but there's obviously a new fresh slate and all I'd ask is that the fans give the team that the gaffer picks a bit of time to hopefully start to see improvement.

"I hope it comes on Saturday against Dundee United but Rome wasn't built in a day and hopefully there'll be improvements."

However, the Motherwell vice-captain was confident about how quickly he and his teammates have gotten to grips with Wimmer's plans.

"All we can do, as players, is ask for clarity - and that's what was disappointing, I thought we had that before, I have been at clubs and we've not had that.

"The gaffer has come in and he looks like he's going to be very clear on what he expects from us. You get the impression that if it isn't delivered then you won't play and that's how it should work. That's how it will hopefully be, and you just hope that you're in the team whenever the team's picked."

Despite the difference in perceived playing styles, O'Donnell assured fans that it hasn't been night and day from the previous regime.

"It doesn't look like he's ripping up everything, so that's always a good start.

"We've obviously got a lot of bodies in the building, which again is a positive for him he can start to cipher through where he thinks people are best suited.

"That will take time but I certainly see what he's looking to do, things that we maybe have come away from as a team, and hopefully the manager coming in reinvents that and starts to spring it back to life."

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Stuart Kettlewell says the abuse he received while Motherwell manager got to a point where his wife had to take their children away from games because they "physically couldn't sit there anymore".

The 40-year-old resigned from his position on 27 January, citing the personal nature of criticism he had received during a downturn in results.

In one of his first interviews since his departure from Fir Park, the former Ross County boss told Sky Sports, external: "If I was a single guy and we weren't invested in it as a family, I could've handled it.

"When you feel things may have an effect on your family, then I believe you have a decision to make.

"One thing I need to clear up, there were one or two things mentioned that it was abuse directed at my family, that's not true. It was abuse directed to me.

"It doesn't matter whether it's shouted at your wife or your children, of course that would be worse, but you have to understand the impact that has on them."

This week Kettlewell was replaced by German Michael Wimmer, who will bid to end a five-match losing sequence away to Dundee United on Saturday.

"I've had plenty of abuse along the way, as have most people in football," he added. The booing and the jeering when people aren't happy with a result or a performance, I get that.

"But I think for myself, it's when you feel that even if it's a minority, even for a period of time, when you feel that starts to cross the line.

"There were a number of different things, the vast majority of it centres around the game day, the match day.

"Getting to the point where my wife has to take the children away for the game because you physically can't sit there anymore.

"I didn't do it [resigning] for effect, I got to the stage where you feel you don't want to overstay your welcome."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Michael Wimmer has held his first media conference as Motherwell manager.

Here are the key points he made:

• Wimmer said it is "not a sprint, it's a marathon" when asked if he could implement the style he seeks quickly. However, he believes from what he has seen in a short time with the squad that the players "are hungry to get information".

• The German outlined his style of football as being "proactive, to be dominant with control and energy".

• He said he was not in a position to talk about the departure of Stuart Kettlewell but going forward he was "looking to have a good connection with the fans", adding it is important that relationship "is tight".

• On Scottish football more generally, Wimmer said he likes the "intensity, honesty and passion".

• He added one topic discussed before being appointed was the development of young players as one of the clubs' aims.