Motherwell

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• Hibernian have conceded five goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, no team has conceded more in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• The Easter Road side have failed to win any of their last 21 matches when conceding first in the league, since a victory over Celtic on 24 May 2023.

• Nectarios Triantis has received a red card - Hibernian's first sending off in the Premiership this season, and their first since 25th November 2023 against Dundee.

• Motherwell have scored four goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, no team has more in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Motherwell have scored in each of their last six league games, scoring 11 goals in that run.

• Stuart Kettlewell's side have avoided defeat in their last five matches when scoring first in the Premiership, since a 1-3 loss to Celtic on 25 February 2024.

Were you at Easter Road or following the match elsewhere?

Either way, we want your views on the game - have your say here, external.

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Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell: "We didn't show what we can be as a team in the first half, I thought we addressed that right at the start of the second half.

"We then started to grow in confidence and I need to commend my goalkeeper again.

"We rallied round Stephen O'Donnell after his error and we get what is a brilliant victory for us.

"The motivator always has to be consistency now."

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On the evidence of this season, Aston Oxborough looks a serious upgrade on Liam Kelly in the Motherwell goal.

With each passing week, it is more of a head-scratcher that Stuart Kettlewell kept the keeper on the bench throughout last season while Kelly was underperforming.

The 26-year-old Englishman made a string of superb stops with the game was goalless at Easter Road and received deserved from his manager post-match.

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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With a League Cup semi-final to come next month in addition to their fine start in the Premiership, Well fans could not have dreamt of a better introduction to the season.

Stuart Kettlewell's men continue to show a knack of grabbing late goals, which stretches back to last term and highlights the strong mentality of his well-drilled side.

The Lanarkshire club are also benefitting from being patient with their manager, when many clubs might have pulled the trigger during a long winless run last year.

But with each passing week, it is more a head-scratcher that Kettlewell refused to bring Aston Oxborough into the side when Liam Kelly was underperforming last season.

The goalkeeper pulled off a string of stunning stops at Easter Road, including an incredible double save to deny Mykola Kuharevich, who then watched Lennon Miller clear his header off the line from the following corner.

He also had to be sharp to tip Kwon Hyeok-kyu's strike round the post and was quick off his line to thwart former Well winger Chris Cadden in the second half.

And at the other end, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos showed why the Fir Park club were happy to push the boat out and spend a reported six-figure sum to sign the Australia striker, whose fierce near-post opener sparked a wild final half hour.

Despite his side falling to a slim defeat at Rangers last weekend, Hibernian head coach David Gray names an unchanged team for the visit of Motherwell.

The Leith club were unfortunate not to come away with a draw and Gray would have been satisfied with the performance.

The away side, meanwhile, make two changes following their win over St Mirren as Apostolos Stamatelopoulos comes in to make his first start since returning from injury.

The Australia striker replaces Moses Ebiye, while the suspended Dan Casey also drops out.

Kofi Balmer, making his first Premiership start, comes into the back three.

On-loan Hibs winger Jair Tavares is ineligible to play against his parent club.

• Follow live coverage of Saturday's SPFL action

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Hibs captain Joe Newell is available to return after missing the last two games with a groin issue, while Nicky Cadden and Luke Amos are also back in contention.

Forwards Martin Boyle (hand) and Kieron Bowie (hamstring) remain sidelined along with Jake Doyle-Hayes, who is still working on his fitness after more than a year out.

Motherwell defender Dan Casey is suspended while Johnny Koutroumbis and Shane Blaney are edging closer to comebacks.

Callum Slattery, Sam Nicholson (both knee), Harry Paton (ankle), Ross Callachan (hamstring) and Jack Vale (calf) are long-term absentees.

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Kofi Balmer hopes his patience has paid off as he looks to become a Motherwell regular after belatedly making his Premiership debut last weekend.

The Northern Ireland centre-back, a summer signing from Crystal Palace, came off the bench to help the Steelmen to a 2-1 win over St Mirren following Dan Casey's red card.

With Casey suspended for Saturday's Premiership trip to face Hibs, Balmer is in line for his first start in the league.

The 24-year-old scored in Motherwell's opening game of the season, a League Cup win against Edinburgh City, before waiting 11 weeks for his next opportunity to play.

"You always have to be ready because you never know when you're going to get your opportunity," said Balmer.

"For me, it was not to lose my head, not to sort of throw the toys out of the pram, I just had to be patient.

"I was always ready to come on and take the opportunity. The manager said that I will get my chance and that's good for me because it keeps me in the right frame of mind to always be ready when the opportunity comes.

"Saturday probably came quicker than I expected but at the same time I'd done all my preparations and I was ready to come on and do the job that I had to do.

"It was good, it was long awaited, I had to be patient for it and thankfully it happened.

"Now it's just up to me to perform and do well in training to get a certain spot and hopefully keep it.

"When you get the shirt you're always fighting for a position and the gaffer says if you get the shirt you have to play well to keep it, that's all on me, I have to keep concentration and try to perform the best I can."

Kettlewell has high hopes for the former Larne and Ballymena player, who has had loan spells at Port Vale and AFC Wimbledon from Palace.

He said: "I had a conversation with Kofi a couple of weeks ago, it's always important to acknowledge how well people are performing around training sessions when they are not necessarily getting on the pitch. And he has been training really well.

"We knew we were bringing in a good player anyway, he came with a good pedigree and decent match experience for his age, and he has always been one we feel can grow and flourish here."

Former Hearts, Dundee United and St Johnstone defender Ryan McGowan says non-Old Firm fans will have enjoyed Celtic and Rangers being given a "taste of their own medicine" by "taking a pasting" in Europe against teams with a bigger budget.

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Hibernian are preparing to deal with the "mayhem" of Motherwell's long throw-ins when the sides meet on Saturday, says head coach David Gray. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

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Stuart Kettlewell insists Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller is unfazed at being overlooked for a Scotland call-up.

The 18-year-old midfielder, who is set to make his 50th Motherwell appearance in Saturday's match with Hibs, has missed out on a place in Steve Clarke's injury-hit squad for the upcoming Nations League double-header against Croatia and Portugal.

Instead, Miller is part of the Scotland Under-21 squad for crucial games with against Belgium and Kazakhstan as Scot Gemmill's side chase a place at the Euro Championships.

"I'm absolutely not concerned about that whatsoever," said manager Kettlewell.

"All I'm concerned about is him playing well here and trying to create opportunities for himself.

"I always believe if you're getting that right at your football club then the good things will start to happen for you.

"I can confirm that Lennon's got absolutely no concern about that whatsoever. We're not sitting here feeling sorry if he's not in a national team which has done pretty well over a number of years."

Kettlewell paid tribute to Miller as the talented teenager prepares to reach an appearance milestone two years on from his debut.

"Lennon's made a difference," the Fir Park boss added.

"Every time you've put a big task in front of him, whether it be playing as a deep line midfielder, a more offensive midfield player in training sessions, or playing against top midfielders in this country, at no point has he come up short.

"I don't think you'll always get it right, I don't think you'll always perform to an eight, nine or 10 out of 10. What you have to do is show the traits that you're capable of and that's all I ever look for.

"That is definitively a message to everybody at our football club, that these window of opportunities come.

"Lennon gets a chance to play his 50th game this weekend for the first team because he's shown so much quality and so much composure in big moments.

"When you're tested physically, when you're tested mentally and when you're tested tactically and he's a guy that stood up to all of those challenges."

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Manager Stuart Kettlewell has been speaking to the media before Motherwell's trip to face Hibs on Saturday.

Here are the key lines from his press conference:

• The Fir Park boss is "not getting away" with the team's impressive start to the season, adding: "You always want to try and see if you can upset the odds and see if you can achieve something that you haven't for a long time."

• He is "trying to find a level of consistency" and hopes Motherwell can "strive for more of those good feelings" as they build towards next month's League Cup semi-final against Rangers.

• But he insists "our 100% focus is Hibs, it's going to be difficult, it's always a test" at Easter Road.

• As Lennon Miller approaches his 50th appearance, Kettlewell says he has "made a difference every time, he's shown so much quality and so much composure in big moments".

• Centre-back Kofi Balmer brings a "good pedigree and decent match experience" to the squad.

• Shane Blaney, John Koutroumbis and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos are "pushing closer" to a return, Dan Casey is out due to his one-match suspension and Jair Tavares can't play against his parent club.

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• Hibs have only lost two of their last 13 Scottish Premiership home games against Motherwell (W6 D5), going down 2-0 in February 2021 and 3-1 in April 2023.

• Motherwell have only kept one clean sheet in their last 10 league meetings with Hibs (W2 D4 L4), doing so in a goalless draw in January 2022.

• Five of Hibs' last six league wins have come at Easter Road, with the Easter Road side winning five of their last nine home league games (D1 L3).

• Motherwell have won three of their last four league games (L1), as many as their previous 11 beforehand (W3 D3 L5).

• Against St Mirren last time out, Motherwell’s Lennon Miller was the youngest player (18 years, 34 days old) to score a brace in the Scottish Premiership since Ryan Gauld for Dundee United against Motherwell in November 2013 (17y 328d). Should Miller score against Hibs, he will be the first player aged 18 or younger to score in back-to-back top-flight appearances for the Steelmen since Shaun Hutchinson in August 2009.

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"Without Motherwell, I would not have done what I did. Motherwell made me the player I was."

Rarely are the Lanarshire club so lauded in the media room at McDiarmid Park.

But as Simo Valakari greeted the Scottish press for the first time since his appointment as St Johnstone's new head coach, the Finn could not help but share his love and gratitude for the Fir Park side.

Valakari started his career in his homeland of Finland before joining the 'Well from FinnPa in 1996.

He went on to make more than 100 appearances for Motherwell over four seasons, before spending a further four years with Derby County.

He made 32 appearances for his national team, all coming once he'd signed in Scotland.

On his return to these shores, Valakari said: "Without Motherwell, I would not go to the Premier League. Without Motherwell I would not go to the MLS. Without Motherwell, more likely, I would not have played for the Finland national team. Motherwell made me the player that I was.

"I still remember that first day, we were training, we still didn’t have the training park, we were running around some park and I was thinking, 'now I am here with the professional football players,' and that had the biggest impact in my career."

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Douglas Dickie has resigned as Motherwell vice chairman after an eight-year spell, saying his position became "untenable".

Dickie reflects on his time at Fir Park as a successful one, revealing in a statement that the club is "on a sound financial footing, the best for around 25 years".

A former co-chair of the Well Society, Dickie also resigned from the board of the fans' group in June in the wake the majority shareholder's opposition to the potential investment from Wild Sheep Sports.

Four months on, Dickie's club resignation comes after he was surprised "to be told I was going to be sent a pack by a sub-committee of the Well Society board inviting me to attend an interview to assess my suitability to go forward as an executive board director".

His statement adds: "I believe people who know me personally both within and outwith the game will fully understand, due to my own self respect and concern on the way forward, why I will not be entering into the interview process.

"I now consider my position untenable. I am also sure that the remaining 29% of the shareholders of the club will be asking who in the process is looking after their interest."

Jenna Thomson
Fan writer

Another three points for Motherwell means another happy column!

The game against St Mirren was definitely not an easy fixture. VAR incidents split fans across the league over the weekend, but decisions just about worked in our favour. Both teams went down to 10 men and both were awarded a penalty, which brought balance - in some sense - to the game.

Once again Lennon Miller was a shining light for us, scoring both goals in the 2-1 win. He's showing a maturity beyond his years and he just oozes quality on the pitch.

We received around £3m for David Turnbull back in 2020, and with no disrespect to our former player, I can see Motherwell getting at least £5m for Miller when the time inevitably comes.

I am hoping he goes abroad rather than warms a bench at either Old Firm side, but only time will tell.

Hibs away is a big fixture for us. They have been inconsistent this season, but I think we will have to fight tooth and nail for a result.

It will be a tough watch but I am hopeful we can come out on top. It has been a while since I have had a whine and a moan about our performances and I don't see Hibs being the team that brings that negativity back.

Fir Park will host Friday night football once more when Kilmarnock take on Motherwell on 20 December.

Originally scheduled for Saturday, 21 December at 15:00 GMT, the two will now tussle under the lights at 19:45.

In a further update, the reverse fixture at Rugby Park due to take place on Saturday, 2 November will now take place on Wednesday, 8 January 2025 due to Stuart Kettlewell's side participating in the Premier Sports Cup.

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Two of the best young players in Scotland made their mark on the Premiership last weekend as both Lennon Miller and David Watson scored braces for their clubs.

Motherwell's Miller continues to impress this season, having become the club's penalty-kick taker, while Watson came off the bench to score a quickfire double which included a spectacular scissor kick.

Speaking to the Scottish Football Podcast, former Scotland midfielder Graham Dorrans said: "I've watched [Watson] a couple of times and he's very energetic. He makes runs forward so it just causes problems for players. He came on at half-time and he changed the game for Kilmarnock.

"If he keeps doing what he's doing, he could end up getting a move off the back of it. I've watched him a couple of times and he's technically a good player as well, he's done fantastic."

Both 18-year-old Miller and 19-year-old Watson have been called up to Scot Gemmill's Scotland Under-21 side this season, with Miller's double securing Motherwell's win over St Mirren.

"He's done great so far. When you watch him, the maturity he plays with - he steps up last weekend as well and slots away a penalty in the last minute - for me, he's probably the best young talent we've got coming throughout the minute," Dorrans added.

"He seems to have a bit of everything about him. He's got that little bit of arrogance that you can see that he knows he's a decent player. He's another one that, if he keeps going the way he's going, could get a move off the back of the performances that he's producing."

Former Celtic winger Aiden McGeady agreed but suggested Miller would be better off by staying put at Fir Park.

"I do think he's a top talent and I think it's essential for his development that he is at Motherwell because I don't think he would have these opportunities that at Celtic or Rangers at present, and it's invaluable to his development to be playing so many games.

"You look at so many young players who are happy to be at Celtic or Rangers and hope for that breakthrough at a bigger team, which doesn't necessarily always come. It's a lot harder to get games.

"In a year's time, he could have played 100 Premiership games at age of 19. It's fantastic that he's getting such great experience and he's mature beyond his years I think as well. Let's just enjoy him while we can."

• Graham Dorrans and Aiden McGeady were speaking on the Scottish Football Podcast which is available to listen to on BBC Sounds.

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Another gritty win for Motherwell on Saturday as they edged out St Mirren 2-1 at Fir Park.

The first half was the 'Lennon Miller Show' with the 18-year-old scoring twice, as he continues to be played in a more advanced role by Stuart Kettlewell.

The Motherwell boss also heaped praise on goalkeeper Aston Oxborough. The enormous shot-stopper made seven saves, including denying Mark O'Hara from the penalty spot.

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Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell piled praise on Aston Oxborough after an inspired goalkeeping display helped the Steelmen to a 2-1 win over St Mirren on Saturday.

The 26-year-old has mainly been used as a back-up since signing for Motherwell in 2022, but has taken his chance since Liam Kelly's summer move to Rangers.

He made seven saves against the Buddies, including stopping Mark O'Hara's second-half penalty.

"Aston's been outstanding since the start of the season – he's shown his credentials to be a really good number one at this level," Kettlewell said.

"Aston will tell you openly that I've always had a trust and a belief in him, he's at the infancy of his goalkeeping career when you look at the games he's played and the opportunities he's had.

"What he has done is he's really introduced himself to the Motherwell fans as a reliable goalkeeper and somebody that we trust between the goal posts."

Watch highlights from Motherwell's win 2-1 against St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.

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We asked for your views on Motherwell's 2-1 win against St Mirren.

Here's what some of you said:

Stephen: It's always said that the sign of a good team is still winning when not playing well. St Mirren will feel hard done by leaving Fir Park without at least a point but the sheer grit, determination and togetherness shown by this group of Motherwell players to get the win is hugely encouraging. Like many at Fir Park, I'm quiet excited for the season.

Stuart: Really entertaining game, thought we carved out the best chances with both keepers making good saves. The team just need to keep working hard and taking their chances.

Ronnie: What can you say about young Lennon Milller? Totally outstanding as were the efforts of our team. Last year we got beat by St Mirren but we are a different animal this year.

Dave: Good result and great performance by the players. Miller scored a brilliant penalty again and put in a top performance. Long may this continue.

James: No complaints about another victory, a game we would have lost in the past. Again, Miller was a class act, and Ewan Wilson was tremendous. What a future for these two boys. Keep it up, super 'Well.

John: Lennon Miller is a special talent however the whole team played their parts in a tough game which we done week to come out as winner.