Motherwell

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Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell told BBC Scotland: "So professional, so proud of the players, so happy with the result.

"It puts to bed the ghost we had in terms of the 3-0 defeat we had up here earlier in the season.

"The quality of the goals pleased me. It's the final bit at the end. It would have been very easy to go into holiday mode and just scrape a 2-1.

"A lot of positives to be taken. I've had a long history here [Ross County] but I wanted to win the game.

"I'm employed by another club. Our players showed what they're about and it's a good day for us."

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Did you make the trip up to Dingwall or were you following along from elsewhere?

We want your views on Mothewell's win here.

Jack Herrall
BBC Sport Scotland

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At 2-1, it looked increasingly likely that Motherwell were going to be pegged back again by Ross County. Clearly, they weren't thinking that.

With players like Spittal in your side and players in such rich form like Theo Bair, you know that chances will come.

As the game began to open up they cut through Couty with ease and all five finishes, regardless of how easy they may have looked, were clinical and composed.

Seventh place, and the increased money that comes with it, has to be the target now for Kettlewell's side.

Two goals and assists for Blair Spittal. He was sensational this afternoon.

He's signing off from Motherwell in style, that's for sure.

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Ross County: Laidlaw, Randall, Baldwin, Dhanda, Murray, King, Efete, Brophy, Nightingale, Leak, Reid

Substitutes: Wickens, Sims, Loturi, Harmon, Henderson, Khela, Jenks, White, Ayina

Motherwell: Kelly, O’Donnell, McGinn, Cassy, Blaney, Gent, Halliday, Miller, Nicholson, Spittal, Bair

Substitutes: Oxborough, Mugabi, Paton, Zdravkovski, Shaw, Devine, Moses, Ferrie, Butcher

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Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell names an unchanged starting line-up from the side that hammered Livingston 4-1 last time out, for this afternoon's match in Dingwall

On-loan Adam Devine returns to the bench for the away side.

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Ross County boss Don Cowie expects to be selecting from an unchanged squad. Max Sheaf (muscle), Dylan Smith (ankle) and Scott Allardice (knee) are still out. Ross Callachan is back training after 13 months out with a knee injury but is unlikely to be involved this weekend.

Motherwell are also set to be unchanged as Jon Obika (hamstring) and Adam Devine (knee) work their way back to fitness. Callum Slattery (knee) and Adam Montgomery (hamstring) are out for the season.

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Harry Paton is looking to make his mark for Motherwell in order to earn a place in Canada's Copa America squad this summer.

The 25-year-old returned from a serious knee injury off the bench against Livingston last week, making his first appearance since February.

Ahead of the Steelmen's trip to his former side Ross County on Saturday, Paton is hoping to stay on the national team radar before the tournament kicks off in Argentina next month.

“For me the big goal was to get back fit and help the boys out for the last few games and also potentially getting some Canada call-ups this summer - that’s a big thing for me," he said.

“They have reached out to see how I was recovering from my injury.

“My goal is to represent my country as many times as I can and to have that prize at the end of it made me work a little bit harder in the gym, for sure.

“It would be huge for me. To be part of the team that goes to the Copa America for the first time would be amazing for me.”

Motherwell sealed their safety last weekend but travel north to Ross County on Saturday with the hope of ending the season strongly.

Who should Stuart Kettlewell hand starts to? Choose your XI here.

• After their 3-0 win in December, Ross County could win back-to-back home games against Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership for the first time since November 2015.

• Motherwell have only lost one of their last eight league meetings with Ross County (W5 D2), winning 5-0 against them most recently in February.

• Ross County have won each of their last three home league games, their second-longest ever such winning run in the top flight, behind only a run of five wins from February to April 2015.

• Motherwell have kept just three clean sheets in the Scottish Premiership this season, half as many as any other side (Ross County next fewest with 6). They have gone 11 league games without a shutout, although their last was against Ross County in February (5-0 win).

• Theo Bair has scored 15 goals for Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership in 2023-24. Since the SPFL was founded in 2013, only John Sutton in 2013-14 (22) and Kevin van Veen last term (25) have netted more in a league season for the club.

Motherwell are considering a move for Perth Glory right-back John Koutrombis, who is out of contract with the A-League club next month. (Daily Record), external

Celtic have placed Motherwell goalkeeper Liam Kelly on a list of summer transfer targets. (Daily Mail), external

Read all of Thursday's Scottish Gossip

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Lee Miller insists his son - Motherwell midfielder Lennon - is "quite happy doing what he's doing" amid speculation surrounding the teenager's future.

The 17-year-old has enjoyed a stellar breakthrough season at Fir Park, making 29 appearances and playing an integral role in Stuart Kettlewell's midfield.

Miller won Motherwell's young player of the year at the weekend and on Wednesday was named on the Scottish Football Writers' shortlist.

The Scotland youth international was also in contention for the PFA award, which was eventually claimed by Kilmarnock midfielder David Watson.

In recent weeks, reports have suggested interest is growing in Miller, who signed a contract extension until the summer of 2026 in November last year.

"You see things coming up on Twitter and different Facebook groups," father Lee said on Wednesday's Scottish Football Podcast.

"But Lennon’s quite happy doing what he's doing just now. He's doing fine. He's in a team where he's allowed to play. He’s enjoying his time at Motherwell just now.

"He's been trusted as a first-team player and he's just loving playing first-team football. We'll see what happens going forward."

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"I think you're mad, don't do that!"

When Pat Nevin gave former Motherwell owner John Boyle the option of three plans to take the club forward in the infancy of his stewardship, he wasn't expecting the "gold standard" blueprint to be his pick.

Why? Because "he would have to accept losses of £2m a year," former Fir Park chief executive Nevin says on the Sacked in the Morning podcast.

A flamboyant figure during his 13-year tenure, Motherwell went in and out of administration under Boyle's ownership.

Success on the pitch fluctuated, but the Lanarkshire club's financial difficulty perhaps stemmed from Boyle's decision to opt for a plan "you shouldn't touch with a barge-pole" shortly after he bought the club in 1998.

"He had bought Motherwell and admitted he didn't know much about football," says Nevin, who was a player while doing the role of CEO at Fir Park.

"He asked if I fancied running the club for him. So I gave him three plans. If he carries on the way it is, possible relegation. Basically £1m more will get you mid-table and the odd wee cup run.

"Gold standard, which you shouldn't touch with a barge-pole, will get you third in the league, good chance of cups and we can really build the whole system.

"He said: 'We'll do the gold standard!'. He basically accepted losses of £2m a year. I told him: 'I think you're mad, don't do that!'.

"I tried to talk him out of it but that's what he wanted. It was his money."

Click here to listen in full to Sacked in the Morning with Nevin.

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Connor Barron, Lyall Cameron, Lennon Miller and David Watson have been named on the shortlist for the Scottish Football Writers Association's young player of the year award.

Kilmarnock teenager Watson claimed the PFA prize last week and will be looking to make it a double, but the teenager faces competition from fellow midfielders Cameron (Dundee), Miller (Motherwell) and Barron (Aberdeen).

Cameron and Miller, along with Rangers' Northern Irish winger Ross McCausland, were also in contention for the PFA award, but Aberdeen and Scotland Under-21 midfielder Barron replaces the Ibrox forward on the SFWA shortlist.

Since 2019, the SFWA prize has been restricted only to players who are eligible to play for Scotland's U21s.

Jenna Thomson
Fan writer

It has officially been confirmed. Livingston, you may be back, but in the meantime you will always be remembered.

I take no joy in seeing a team get relegated, especially when you can see how much the club means to David Martindale, but Saturday's 4-1 win for Motherwell was absolutely fantastic as it secured our top-flight survival.

We needed a response after the defeat to Aberdeen and, boy, did we respond. A result like that makes a bank holiday all that much sweeter.

I have lost count the number of times I have re-watched the goals. It is just unfortunate voting had already closed for the goal of the season, otherwise Sam Nicholson's beauty would have been a guaranteed winner.

Now we have to maximise as much points as we can. A trip up north to Ross County certainly won’t be easy, given their home form, but if we can knuckle down I can see us travelling back victorious.

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Aston Villa and Bournemouth are both interested in 17-year-old Lennon Miller, but Motherwell are working to convince the midfielder to stay at the club at least until the end of his contract in 2025. (TeamTalk), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

It was a stellar Steelmen showing on Saturday as Motherwell condemned Livingston to life in the second tier.

Hardly surprising to see Theo Bair make this team after his brace. A confident penalty and acrobatic header make it 15 for the season for a player transformed.

His second was crafted by a fine cross from Georgie Gent, who has become a fan favourite after a series of fantastic performances.

For Sam Nicholson, his spot was earned simply by his majestic strike in the first half. Some way to make the most of a rare start.