Motherwell

Andrew Southwick
BBC Sport Scotland

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He may be new to Scottish football, but Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou will come up against a familiar face in Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin on Saturday.

And his opposite number may well have revenge on his mind, after Askou ruined Thelin's Elfsborg farewell.

The two go head to head at Pittodrie for a place in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final, for what will be the second consecutive year Aberdeen or Motherwell have reached the last four.

And it will be the fourth time the two Scandinavians have met each other in management.

Askou made the move from his native Denmark across the border to Sweden to take charge of IFK Goteborg in June 2023. Four games in to his reign, his side made the one-hour trip to Boras, where Thelin's Elfsborg was there to welcome them.

That game ended 1-1, but they would meet again in October in the third-last match of the season. This time Thelin - whose side were battling Malmo for the league title - posted a 2-1 win in Gothenburg.

However, Thelin's side failed to win their final two games of the season, agonisingly losing out on the title on goal difference.

The final time they met was in Thelin's farewell game for Elfsborg before his move to Aberdeen.

Thelin's tenure ended in disappointment after Goteborg eked out a 1-0 win to send the Swede to Scotland on a sour note.

However, Askou was not far behind him in the departure terminal. Just two weeks later he would leave his post to take up an assistant manager role with Sparta Prague.

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland at Fir Park

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The Motherwell support have already taken manager Jens Berthel Askou to their hearts - and that is before he has even given them a league win.

He simply has no idea what would come his way if he was able to guide the club to their first trophy in 34 years.

The Danish coach has emerged as one of the surprise packages in Scottish football this season, rapidly implementing a fearless, free-flowing playing style at Fir Park.

Despite failing to win a league match this term, drawing all five of their games, Askou's side are unbeaten in 10 fixtures across all competitions.

The Motherwell boss is convinced "the best is yet to come" from his players.

The 43-year-old takes his team north to out-of-form Aberdeen on Saturday, with the winner guaranteed one of four Premier Sports Cup semi-final places.

Motherwell have not won a major honour since triumphing in a classic 4-3 win over Dundee United the 1991 Scottish Cup final.

The Lanarkshire club have not won the League Cup since 1951.

Jimmy Thelin is enduring a tough spell at present, but what the Aberdeen manager, whom Askou knows well from the pair's time working in Sweden, achieved in last season's Scottish Cup final should serve as inspiration for all non-Old Firm sides.

A sensational penalty shootout victory against treble-chasing Celtic sparked wild scenes at Hampden and back at home in the Granite City.

If Askou was able to repeat the feat, albeit in a different competition, the jubilation in Motherwell would almost certainly match the emotional celebrations that took place in Aberdeen in May.

When asked if emulating Thelin's cup success is something he allows himself to dream about, the Dane candidly replied: "When we are involved in football, either as fans or working within the clubs, dreams are extremely important.

"I think we all have them, and they start quite early when we are very small and very young. We are here now and obviously we dream to win. It starts by winning a football game.

"That's the way to win a trophy. And now we've put ourselves in a position where we are a few games short of having the opportunity to win a trophy. That means we will do everything we can to make that dream come true.

"Everyone has a dream and that's what we're here for. I expect everyone to dream about doing something above the ordinary with a club of our size."

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland at Fir Park

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Motherwell are set to be without influential Callum Slattery until after the October international break.

The 26-year-old has been one of the standout midfielders in the Scottish Premiership since returning from a long-term knee injury early this year.

He has scored six goals in his past 12 league matches but has not featured since the 3-3 draw at Hearts almost four weeks ago.

Motherwell's first fixture after next month's international period is a home meeting with Falkirk on 18 October.

Captain Paul McGinn is also likely to miss Saturday's Premier Sports Cup quarter-final at Aberdeen, as is forward Callum Hendry.

Fellow striker Apostolos Stamatelopolous is fit, though, after colliding with a post in the draw at Dundee last weekend.

Manager Jens Berthel Askou also confirmed summer signings Jordan McGhee and Eseosa Sule will be out until next year, along with Sam Nicholson.

"Jordan's is a new injury and required surgery," Askou said. "I am gutted for him. Paul McGinn has had a little thing. He is close but probably won't make it for the weekend.

"We have a couple of players who will be with us after the international break. It's tight, but it's probably going to be after with Tom Sparrow and Callum Slattery.

"Callum Hendry we're monitoring, he's been a little overloaded since he came. We will take a decision on when to put him in full training.

"We're doing our best to get everyone back, but it's a chance for other people to play and get minutes."

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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Manager Jens Berthel Askou has been speaking to the media before his Motherwell side travel to Aberdeen in the last eight of the Premier Sports Cup.

Here are the main lines:

• Key midfielder Callum Slattery and versatile Tom Sparrow are likely to be out until after the October international break.

• Striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos will be fit for Saturday but captain Paul McGinn and Callum Hendry are set to miss out.

• Jordan McGhee, Eseosa Sule and Sam Nicholson will be out until next year.

• Askou concedes Motherwell "are not the favourites" for the tie despite Aberdeen's poor start to the season, but he hopes to send an "amazing" away support of more 1,000 fans home happy.

• The former IFK Goteborg boss heaped praise on Jimmy Thelin, whom he knows well from the Dons manager's time working in Sweden with Elfsborg.

• Askou says Aberdeen's "underlying data" shows they have been "unlucky" this term and they have "quality players and a very good manager".

• On allowing himself to dream of emulating Thelin's cup success at Aberdeen, Askou says: "When we are involved in football, fans or working within, dreams are extremely important. I expect everyone to dream about winning something out of the ordinary for a club of our size."

• With extra time and spot-kicks a possibility this weekend, Askou says the team have been "banging in penalties for fun".

• Askou's side have impressed with their passing style but are yet to win a league game, drawing five straight matches, however the Well boss believes his team have been "two actions" away from occupying third in the league.

• When asked if the sky is the limit for this team when a win arrives, Askou says: "I don't think the sky's the limit, but we have a good opportunity to do something over time and develop as a football club. The best is yet to come."

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The draw for the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals will take place on Sunday after Partick Thistle v Celtic (15:30 BST) concludes.

The semis will be played on the weekend of 1-2 November with the final scheduled for Sunday, 14 December.

St Mirren's trip to Kilmarnock on Friday night (19:45) gets the quarter-finals under way before Aberdeen host Motherwell (15:00) on Saturday followed by Rangers v Hibs (17:45).

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The potential for toxicity in the Old Firm "fishbowl" was a key reason Lennon Miller opted to move abroad from Motherwell for the next step in his career, says the midfielder's dad Lee.

Celtic fans are currently at loggerheads with the board over the club's transfer business and failure to qualify for the Champions League, while Rangers supporters have called for head coach Russell Martin's sacking amid the Ibrox side's worst league start in 47 years.

Having been linked with both sides of the Old Firm, 19-year-old Miller chose to join Serie A side Udinese in the summer.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, former striker Lee Miller said: "The first time I noticed that, it was on a smaller scale, going up to Aberdeen. I didn't realise how big a club Aberdeen was until I went up there, and it's the same kind of thing, it's a fishbowl.

"If you're doing well, the fans are buzzing, you'll go to a supermarket, 'Oh big man, you're doing brilliant.'

"But when it's going wrong and you're not playing well and you're not having a good time, they don't miss you. They'll say wee snidey comments, you'll get growled at going down the street.

"Talking about Lennon in terms of being my son in a football environment, he's seen that. He's understood that. He's been brought up with Scottish football.

"He sees the different lifestyles and stuff and that's why essentially he wanted to go away and learn his trade and see different cultures and hopefully thrive and kick on.

"It's a real bad time for the Old Firm just now and the way it's going is toxic."

Jenna Thomson
Fan writer

The history-making Steelmen have drawn again. On the positive side, we are still unbeaten even though we remain winless.

It is a strange place to be where no one is unhappy with the manager or the performances yet we are unable to hold on to a lead.

After being 3-0 up away to Hearts, then 2-1 ahead against Kilmarnock, the latest in the concerning trend was letting a 1-0 lead slip against Dundee.

Before anyone gets the pitchforks ready, I do not blame the manager for this. In fact, it's potentially down to the players' stamina. We are playing in such an intense way right now and it takes a toll.

Of our seven goals conceded, five were in the second half, and three of those came after the 70th minute. Fatigue could well be a factor.

In this weekend's League Cup quarter-final with Aberdeen, I want us to be aggressive and in their face from the start but also making the right substitutions at the right times.

Aberdeen may be bottom of the table but form becomes irrelevant in cup games.

Watch the Sportscene team discuss Motherwell's strengths after their 1-1 draw against Dundee in the Scottish Premiership.

Tawanda Maswanhise's dad was a sprinter and it clearly runs in the family. The Zimbabwe international turned on the afterburners to devastating effect as Motherwell opened the scoring away at Dundee.

We asked for your views on Motherwell's 1-1 draw with Dundee.

Here's what some of you said...

Sinky: Totally frustrating, inability to take chances and trying to walk the ball in rather than having a shot. All that possession and again we get undone by slackness at the back.

James: So many good points. First half was excellent, second half not so good. Great play, great possession, no finishing let us down. Not downhearted, just disappointed.

Adam: The strikers need to find their scoring boots. A point a game is no good. Next week we must win the cup game so Aberdeen fear us for the league game that follows.

Alistair: Motherwell playing really attractive football, some of the best I have seen in the 50 years I have been following them. The issues we have are at the back and up front. We always seem capable of losing a goal through sloppy defending and our lack of fire power means we aren't scoring enough to counter act that. We have a Louis Moult sized hole up front. We need to stop trying the same lovely passing in the penalty box when attacking as it is too congested rather than trying another pass have a shot on goal. I am confident that with confidence up front, the wins will come.

George: It seems a ludicrous thing to say but it is becoming increasingly difficult to watch Motherwell. Sure the football is light years ahead of the last few years efforts but not being able to translate dominance into points is in some ways a more wearing experience than last year. Plus a couple of defeats down the road may result in players losing confidence in themselves.

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Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou: "We play probably one if the best halves of my time here, then by far the worst one in the second half.

"We have everything under control. Then the entire team is completely sleeping on a set play. That's unacceptable because there was time to set up and do much better.

"Totally our own fault we don't have the win. We didn't deserve it, although we had a few good chances, but so did they.

"We have to perform better. We have to take these moments and really look after them."

Motherwell failed to make their domination count and became the first side this century to draw six straight Scottish Premiership games as Dundee fought back to earn a point at Dens Park.

Have your say on the game here.

Read the match report here.

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Stephen Welsh goes into the Motherwell squad for the trip to Dens Park following his loan move from Celtic.

Tom Sparrow remains out alongside long-term absentees Sam Nicholson, Filip Stuparevic (both knee) and Zach Robinson (Achilles).

Dundee are still without Paul Digby due to a calf injury while Cesar Garza is unavailable but Charlie Reilly is back in contention after a broken collarbone.

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Striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos is desperate to start scoring again for Motherwell as he eyes a spot in Australia's World Cup squad next year.

Stamatelopoulos joined Motherwell last summer and scored five goals across 18 appearances in an injury-distrupted first season in Scotland.

The 24-year-old is yet to score in the league after four games this season - his solitary strike came against Morton in the League Cup - but is not getting hung up about the barren run.

"I feel I can get in the box and get on the ball more, it's just about giving myself better chances to score," the Australian said.

"I feel it will come and I'm confident in my ability that it will come. Once it comes I'll kick on from there.

"I trust my ability to put the ball in the back of the net. It's put me where am and it'll take me wherever it's meant to take me. When chances come I just need to be ready for them and I will.

"I haven't scored but I'm not all doom and gloom, I trust my team-mates to deliver the ball. In training they do it all the time. So once I get that first one it'll be great."

The striker is well aware that in order to make it into the Australia squad for the World Cup, he'll need to be hitting top form.

The Socceroos secured a place in next year's competition earlier this summer to qualify for their sixth straight World Cup.

Stamatelopoulos has just one cap but was in the extended squad for Australia's recent camp and is hoping he can earn his place in the Americas next year.

"That's another motivator for me to score goals," he added.

"I definitely want to represent my country and go to a World Cup.

"I was in the extended squad and I was on standby for the recent camp but I'm not going to get in if I'm not scoring goals.

"They need someone that's scoring goals. I know what I have to do. I'm focused on here [Motherwell] first and hopefully if I get there then the full focus will be on that."

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• Dundee have lost both of their league meetings with Motherwell in 2025 (both 2-1), more than their previous seven beforehand (W3 D3 L1).

• After their 2-1 victory in May, Motherwell could pick up back-to-back away league wins over Dundee for the first time since January 2019 (four in a row).

• Dundee have won just one of their past 13 home league matches (D4 L8), failing to win any of their latest four at Dens Park (D1 L3) since a 2-0 victory against St Mirren in April.

• Motherwell are unbeaten in three on the road in the league (D3), and could go 4+ on the road without defeat for the first time since February 2024 – a run of four draws.

• Motherwell, along with Rangers, have drawn each of their past five games in the Scottish Premiership. They are the first sides to draw 5+ successive top-flight matches since Hibernian in October 2019 (also five), with no side drawing six in a row at this level in the 21st century.

Chris Bertram
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

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Jens Berthel Askou has drilled his players on their shape out of possession during the international break because the Motherwell manager believes they have conceded more goals this season than their dominance of possession merited.

Askou, who took over at Fir Park in June, praised his players for taking his possession-based, counter-pressing philosophy into games.

But the former IFK Goteborg coach says their eagerness to win the ball back has left them too open to attacks from sides that should not cause them problems.

Motherwell have drawn all four of their Scottish Premiership games - two were against Rangers and Hearts - but a win on Saturday against second-bottom Dundee could take them to third place.

The Dane has been working during the international break on ensuring his side's play gets the points he feels it deserves.

"We have zoomed in on some tactical details that we need to improve - it's been a good couple of weeks," he said.

"We have had a positive start but we want to improve some phases. We've been a little bit too open because we've been extremely eager to win the ball back, especially in some of the games we've dominated possession.

"So the defensive phase has just been counter-pressing, basically, which has sometimes led to unstructured defensive situations that has caused some chances against us that we shouldn't concede.

"We've been working a little bit on how to sharpen that up. So we don't give big chances away unnecessarily against teams who struggle to produce big chances against us when we're well structured.

"We have had a little bit too much xG against us given the dominance and the control we feel that we have had through most of the games."

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Scottish Premiership game against Dundee.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• He says the international break was a chance to "push some players a little bit fitness-wise, for some to recover a little, and for the opportunity to zoom in on some tactical details that we need to improve".

• Askou says one of the aspects he has been working on is structure out of possession, because the side's eagerness to win the ball back in a counter-press "sometimes led to unstructured defensive situations that has caused some chances against us we shouldn't concede".

• The Danish boss believes there is room for improvement in terms of creating more chances and converting them, and is hopeful Apostolos Stamatelopoulos "will be the one finishing off most of the attacks".

• Askou - who made 11 signings - is "really pleased with the transfer window" and has been impressed with how new players and staff have made effort to build new relations.

• He says it will be a great feeling to get a first league win on Saturday but the "project doesn't stop if they don't get it and it won't be complete if they do".

• The boss believes new signing Stephen Welsh will bring "quality, experience from a high level and an eagerness to learn and develop" and that he will be a "very good character around the dressing room".

• Askou expects Dundee will be a difficult game because "we don't get anything for free" even though they are "a team that hasn't had the best start".

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

The international break probably came at the right time for Motherwell. While unbeaten in the league, their last couple of results were frustrating to say the least.

Following the draw against Kilmarnock last time out, manager Jens Berthel Askou admitted the team should have finished the game off given their dominance and were "gutted" not to win.

Not the best feeling, but one the Dane believes demonstrates the ambition at the club. No doubt he'll have used the past 10 days to impress that upon his players, while also taking to the training pitch to put those not away on international duty through their paces.

With the deadline-day arrival of Celtic loanee Stephen Welsh taking the club's summer signings up to 11, that will be beneficial. Getting players not just up to speed, but more attuned to what he's looking for in style of play.

That will be put to the test this weekend with the return of competitive action. Motherwell visit Dundee in the Premiership followed by an away trip to Aberdeen in the quarter-finals of the League Cup.

Askou will be hoping his side can deliver that elusive win, after four draws in the league, and he maybe couldn't have handpicked better opposition.

Dundee have only mustered two points in the league, while Aberdeen have also struggled and sit bottom on zero points, although they'll take confidence from the trio of late signings that bolstered their squad.

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at ZTE Arena, Zalaegerszeg

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Once it was "job done" in Zalaegerszeg for Scotland, Lennon Miller's attention had already switched back to his new life at Udinese.

The teenager made the move from Motherwell last month and though he is still working his way back after missing a chunk of pre-season, the midfielder is being kept busy... Becoming an adult.

Whether it's finding flats, cars, or the words to order a coffee, Miller is making moves on and off the pitch in Italy.

"I'm really enjoying it," he said after a late cameo in Scotland's 2-0 win against Belarus in Hungary.

"Obviously I've only been there a few weeks and I'm kind of settling in, so I need to find places, I need to find cars, I need to do all that stuff.

"It takes time but hopefully that gets sorted soon. I've learned a lot on and off the pitch - even living by myself."

Miller is just the latest Scot to settle in Serie A and he highlighted the importance - and weirdness - of having national team players such as Scott McTominay and Che Adams around him.

"I've struck up a good friendship with the Italy-based boys," he added.

"It'll be weird playing against them but it's one I'm really looking forward to.

"I need to catch up with a bit of fitness because I missed a wee bit of pre-season, so need to catch up on that and then hopefully we can kick on."

And the Italian?

"I've not started lessons yet but I want to learn the language, that's one of the reasons I came here.

"You pick up loads in training every day, so I'm getting there and hopefully I can start lesson soon."

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Emmanuel Longelo's second half striker against Kilmarnock last weekend made it three goals from four games for the Motherwell left-back.

In fact, only Dundee United winger Ivan Dolcek has found the back of the net more this season than the Motherwell defender, and the 24-year-old looks a real threat going forward.

Since joining Motherwell from Birmingham City in July, Longelo has made a real impact at Fir Park.

Longelo is averaging a goal every 120 minutes, the most of any Motherwell player, and has a shooting accuracy of 100 per cent. He's also had five shots, four of which have been on target, and a perfect big chance conversion rate.

The left-back has generated an expected goals of 1.06 with an expected goals on target of 1.89. Plus his expected assists of 0.61 is bettered only by Callum Slattery.

Defensively he's also done well. He's won five of seven tackles he's made and has made 12 clearances.

Longelo's faced 50 shots, six on target, and has made four interceptions, only Elliot Watt has made more this season.

It looks like Motherwell have unearthed a gem

We asked for your views on Motherwell's business in the summer transfer window under new boss Jens Berthel Askou.

Here's what some of you said:

Gary: Been a lot of really good signings in all areas of the pitch but the goalkeeper is a concern. Calum Ward has cost us four points in the last two games. If Askou doesn't rate Aston Oxborough then he should have signed a replacement.

Stephen: So impressed with how Askou is able to clearly identify a problem area, do his homework, and swiftly bring in a solution. Regan Charles-Cook and Stephen Welsh are prime examples. Best transfer window I have seen in years, in Askou we trust!

Derek: I certainly didn't think we would see as many as 12 players come in during the window. The vast majority of the players we have brought have been of very good quality, one of our best windows for a long time. Signing Welsh capped off what we needed at the back and fits into the manager's style of play.

Craig: Delightful football being played by Motherwell these days and all the new signings have improved the team overall. Looking really strong for the season ahead with the Fir Park faithful's expectation now raised to a new level. Just hope the poor goalkeeping of late doesn't come back to haunt us, I think we should have added an experienced keeper to the squad.

Dillon: Excellent window, the new signings look the part in this exciting new era at Motherwell. Elijah Just, Lukas Fadinger and Elliot Watt look to be exceptional and the biggest compliment I can give them is that we don't miss Lennon Miller in midfield. On that note great business for the club and hope he goes on and has a successful career.

Adam: With the start to the season I'm happy, a little disappointed we haven't been able to close out the last two games. I believe we have had a great transfer window covering all positions and now bringing in Welsh will hopefully set us up for a great season.