Halliday on Lennon move - gossippublished at 09:03 5 March
09:03 5 March
Motherwell's Andy Halliday said he told Lennon Miller to reject the call if Udinese phoned him in January because "the sky's the limit" for the midfielder. (Scottish Sun)
'Wimmer has already transformed us'published at 14:35 4 March
14:35 4 March
Jenna Thomson Fan writer
I am in awe of Michael Wimmer.
Three games in charge and he has beaten Rangers at Ibrox of all places and completely transformed our team.
I may be getting giddily carried away, but hand a Wimmer lifetime contract - we are winning the league next season.
I hope the stunning win over Rangers serves as a massive punch to the gut of the people that spoke out against the German's appointment because he was a new face to Scotland.
We have four games remaining before the split and all are winnable. We can easily get nine points minimum to fuel the pursuit of European football.
The mess Aberdeen have found themselves in has benefited us massively and as long as their fall from grace continues we can profit.
It may be premature to start digging out my passport and beach towels for what will probably be Wales or Ireland away again, but as long as we are walking in a Wimmer wonderland, anything is possible.
Motherwell trio make Premiership TOTWpublished at 12:17 3 March
12:17 3 March
Jonathan Sutherland Sportscene presenter
It'd be remiss of me not to have a fair share of Motherwell players in my team following their mighty-impressive victory at Ibrox.
It could prove to be an important one too as the Well head back into the top six.
Three of Michael Wimmer's steely men have made my side.
Dominic Thompson was full of energy and a key part of a great team display from Motherwell at Ibrox.
Tom Sparrow showed great enthusiasm on the right-hand side. He scored the second against Rangers and epitomised the excellent overall showing as Motherwell went toe-to-toe with Barry Ferguson's side to emerge with all three points.
Callum Slattery was fantastic throughout in midfield against Rangers. Good with and without the ball.
Motherwell carried out Wimmer's plan 'perfectly' - Hallidaypublished at 13:09 2 March
13:09 2 March
Image source, SNS
Andy Halliday believes Motherwell met "fire with fire" and followed manager Michael Wimmer's game plan "perfectly" in their win over Rangers on Saturday - almost exactly a year after their last win at Ibrox.
Wimmer's side sailed into a 2-0 lead and held on after Cyriel Dessers got one back for the hosts.
"It's a bold strategy, Motherwell coming to Ibrox and high-pressing, trying to play through the thirds," Halliday admitted. "A lot of people might feel you could be on a hiding to nothing if you do that.
"But I thought the boys followed the game plan perfectly. We spoke in the changing room about how Rangers are going to expect to start fast. They've got a returning captain [Barry Ferguson], someone that's really respected here, you're going to expect a reaction from them.
"We tried to meet fire with fire, we started fast. It's not even just the result, it's the performance. We thoroughly deserved the three points."
Wimmer has only been in place for three games but has won two of them, turning the Steelmen's fortunes around, and Halliday was quick to praise his new gaffer.
"The manager had a game plan and it's up to us as players to try and stick to that as much as possible," Halliday said. "There was key areas that we looked at out of possession, trying to press them in certain areas of the pitch. In possession was key too, if you come to Ibrox and turn over possession, you're going to be defending for 90 minutes.
"The second goal was the exact pattern we worked on this week, trying to steal the ball on one side of the pitch and work it quickly to the other side and exploit the spaces. The second goal is as good a goal as you're going to see this weekend. It was designed straight off the training ground."
"We won here last year, at the end of last season, which was a fantastic result. This one today felt that wee bit more special given how well the boys played."
Halliday, a former Rangers midfielder, also commented on Ferguson's appointment and insisted he thinks it will work out for his old club.
"Rangers have got quality players and Barry and the guys will get it right given time. They've not had a lot of time on the training ground. They've not had the same amount of time on the grass [as we've had]. It was up to us to bring our 'A game' and Rangers to be off it a wee bit."
'Only way is up' for Motherwellpublished at 12:36 2 March
12:36 2 March
We asked for your views on Motherwell's 2-1 win against Rangers.
Here's what some of you said:
Eddie: They talk about giving homegrown managers a chance but the last two games shows you foreign coaches are on a different level. Great win and everyone is giving 100 per cent.
Fraser: When we play Rangers or Celtic - with historical stats - it's always a nervy one, a game that most 'Well fans just hope we put up a fight and do ourselves justice and we did that, there was composure - using our midfield, playing through, tracking and pressing. Proud of the team. Well done, let's keep it going.
Norrie: Superb as my old dad would say. Pressed well in the first half and a deserved the two goal lead. Worked hard second half and substitutes helped keep up the energy. Hung in there for a deserved win.
Ross: It's truly amazing what a change of manager and tactics can do to lift a club, its players and supporters. It's early days but it's a really positive start for Michael Wimmer at our club. We were well worthy of our three points, the only way is up as they say.
Ryan: What a manager Wimmer is. Night and day the tactics under previous who shall not be named.
Alan: The new manager has instilled a sense of positivity and it's producing results! A well-deserved win from a team that now believes they can win matches regardless of the opposition. We now have momentum so let's push for a top six place before the split and hopefully qualify for Europe.
Rangers 1-2 Motherwell: Analysispublished at 17:44 1 March
17:44 1 March
Martin Dowden BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNS
Image caption,
Motherwell players salute their fans at Ibrox
Motherwell were hanging on a little come the end but this was a brilliant win.
They had a real structure. They were brave on the ball. They showed quality at key moments and were clinical, for the most part, when given the opportunity.
Michael Wimmer talked about having to win duals before the game and they fought for everything in pursuit of the points.
The concession of the goal was down to an individual error and for most of the match they held Rangers very well, limiting clear-cut chances.
Rangers fell short but Motherwell played a big part in that.
They will take a lot of encouragement from how they performed in delivering a second win on the trot that will do wonders for their top six hopes.
Rangers 1-2 Motherwell: What did the manager say?published at 17:32 1 March
17:32 1 March
Motherwell manager Michael Wimmer told BBC Scotland: "We had to change the atmosphere in the stadium and I think the guys did really well.
"The subs did really well and we defended until the end.
"This is something I want to see from the guys on the pitch that we are brave, that we have courage on the ball, that we find the right balance in possession.
"I think we were good in pressing so I'm very proud of the guys.
"I have to say it was a very tough game. We had chances to make the third goal, especially in the first half. In the end, a little bit of luck, and also we deserved to win."
Image source, SNS
Image caption,
Michael Wimmer has won two of his three matches in charge of Motherwell
Rangers v Motherwell: Team newspublished at 21:15 28 February
21:15 28 February
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Rangers quartet John Souttar, Oscar Cortes, Leon Balogun and Dujon Sterling all returned to training this week. Neraysho Kasanwirjo remains out.
Apostolos Stamatelopoulos and Marvin Kaleta are pushing for returns for Motherwell.
Shane Blaney, Sam Nicholson (both knee), 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.
Balcombe targets top-six push under 'positive' Wimmerpublished at 18:10 28 February
18:10 28 February
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Motherwell goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe says new manager Michael Wimmer has brought a "much more positive outlook" to the club.
The Steelmen arrested a run of seven games without a win by beating Dundee in midweek on Wimmer's home debut and second game in charge after replacing Stuart Kettlewell.
"Obviously it's been a tough time. I think the manager coming in and giving that real positive impact has just settled us down a bit," Balcombe said.
"Wednesday was massive for us. It's good to get that first three points after what we've been through, but hopefully it's just a start."
Wimmer is now the second-newest manager in the top flight, with Barry Ferguson, who is now in the Ibrox dugout, next up for the German and his side in Govan on Saturday.
"The manager has been really positive and is just trying to keep all the boys in that same sort of mindset. So definitely upwards and onwards," added Balcombe.
"It's a much more positive outlook. He wants us to play football and not go long all the time, which is what I suit anyway, so I prefer to do that."
Balcombe, 25, had an unsettled start to the year but is hopeful he can now kick on at Fir Park.
He had started 2025 on loan at St Mirren and briefly returned to Brentford before moving on loan to Motherwell, where he played under three managers in his first four games, including caretaker Stephen Frail.
"It's been a bit of a whirlwind, but it's football and I'm just looking to play games and help out the team," he added. "It's football and these sort of things happen.
"I've played under four or five gaffers in a span of six months, so this is nothing to me. It's just how football works and hopefully now the boys can really get around the gaffer and going forward we can get that top six like we want."
Rangers v Motherwell: Pick of the statspublished at 12:55 28 February
12:55 28 February
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This will be Barry Ferguson's first home league game as Rangers manager. The Ibrox side have won each of the past eight occasions a manager has taken charge of his first home league match since Stuart McCall drew 1-1 with Livingston in the Scottish Championship in March 2015. The last to lose his first such match was Tommy McLean in November 1983 (2-1 v Celtic).
Rangers have lost just one of their past 60 league meetings with Motherwell (W43 D16), a 2-1 reverse at home in March 2024.
Motherwell have only won once in their past 40 away league games against Rangers (D7 L32), losing their first such visit this season 2-1 in August.
Motherwell have lost their past three away league matches, last losing four on the bounce in December 2017 (run of five).
James Tavernier is one away from his 500th appearance for Rangers in all competitions. Since his debut for the club in July 2015, the right-back has featured in 92.4% of Rangers' matches (499/540).
'There will be many minutes we have to suffer' - Wimmer on Ibrox trippublished at 18:36 27 February
18:36 27 February
Image source, SNS
Motherwell manager Michael Wimmer admitted his team will "have to suffer" at times at Ibrox on Saturday but wants them to be brave on the ball.
The Fir Park side go into the Rangers clash off the back of Wimmer's first win in charge and the German is eager to bring the "self-confidence" of that 2-1 victory over Dundee to Glasgow.
"It's a big challenge on Saturday," Wimmer said. "But I like it, to compete with the best teams, it makes us better. And I like this challenge.
"It's not easy, but it's easier to drive to Ibrox with a win after Wednesday. But it's a great team, they're in the last 16 of the Europa League, which says everything. But we will bring our performance and who knows what is possible?
"I think there will be many minutes we have to suffer. But this is football, it's always like this against a great team."
Rangers were stung early by Kilmarnock on Wednesday night, going 2-0 down before roaring back for a 4-2 win in Barry Ferguson's first game in charge.
"If we are good out of possession, perhaps we can win the ball, and then we have good counter-attacks," Wimmer added. "We can be dangerous in these scenarios.
"But I also want to see that my team is brave in possession, that they also have the courage to have possession. Because if you never have the ball, it's not fun and it's too much suffering."
'Manner of win extremely well received'published at 18:08 27 February
18:08 27 February
Jane Lewis BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Michael Wimmer wants his Motherwell side to play with energy and desire. That was his message from day one.
While we didn't see much of it in his first game in charge against Dundee United last weekend, it was a different story last night against United's city rivals.
The intensity, the press, the energy - it was there in bucketloads.
It wasn't just the passion from the Motherwell players that was on show. In his managerial home debut, Wimmer was fully invested, cutting an animated figure in his technical area.
He was extremely vocal, throwing his arms about with every kick of the ball, and the players seemed to respond positively to his spirited involvement.
It's still early days for Wimmer and even centre-back Dan Casey, on a high from scoring two brilliant goals against Dundee, said no one should be getting carried away… just yet.
But that win and performance was warmly welcomed by those inside Fir Park and supporters left the ground with a spring in their step.
Little wonder, as it ended a run of six league defeats. A win at any cost would have been welcomed, but it was the manner of the win that was extremely well received.
After months of negativity around style of play and results, you could sense a real feeling of positivity around the club.
Wimmer told me pre-match he's still building a picture of his squad, but on last night's evidence he surely can't be far away from knowing his starting XI and most effective shape as Saturday's trip to face Rangers looms.
Should Dundee have had a penalty at Fir Park?published at 17:49 27 February
17:49 27 February
Media caption,
Sportscene pundits Michael Stewart and Richard Foster analyse a Dundee penalty shout for a potential handball by Motherwell's Stephen O'Donnell. (Available to UK users only)
How Casey 'stopped the rut' for Motherwellpublished at 15:17 27 February
15:17 27 February
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Dan Casey was determined to "stop the rut" of Motherwell's six straight defeats.
He did exactly that with an impactful display at both ends of the pitch in the 2-1 win over Dundee.
The defender was solid at the back, making six tackles - the most of any player on the pitch - and winning them all. He also won possession four times and contributed eight clearances.
And when it came to attacking, he excelled. From four touches in the opposition box, the Irishman had three shots - all on target - and scored a match-winning double. Not half bad for a centre-half from an xG of just 0.31.
"It was full of emotions," Casey told BBC Scotland.
"I think it was a big night for the club. I'm just glad I could help the team and now I think it has to be a starting point for the rest of the season."
Casey's heroics made it a winning Fir Park bow for new manager Michael Wimmer and the 27-year-old praised the German's calm and methodical approach.
"I think he's been brilliant, he's been very clear with his gameplan. High intensity, and I think you could see that in the first half and possession keeping the ball," Casey added.
"His details are very good. He's quite calm on his approach. He'll pull you over and he'll be very clear with you. We all enjoy working with him and hopefully we can kick on."
Image caption,
Dan Casey's touch map in an all-action display against Dundee