Motherwell

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• Heart of Midlothian have won four of their last five home league meetings with Motherwell, losing the other 1-0 in September 2023.

• None of Hearts and Motherwell's last 11 league meetings have been drawn, with the Steelmen winning five and losing six since a 1-1 stalemate in March 2020.

• Hearts won their opening Scottish Premiership match in 2022 (2-0 v St. Johnstone), 2023 (3-0 v Hibernian), and 2024 (2-1 v Livingston).

• Motherwell haven't won their opening league game of a calendar year since 2020 (1-0 v Aberdeen), failing in four years since (D2 L2).

• Heart of Midlothian's Lawrence Shankland has been directly involved in eight goals in his last eight league appearances against Motherwell, scoring six and assisting two.

Watch Sportscene analysis of Motherwell's 2-2 draw against Rangers in the Scottish Premiership.

(Available to UK users only).

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Motherwell's third goal against Rangers should not have been disallowed, according to the Scottish FA's key match incident panel.

Stuart Kettlewell's side were 2-1 up when Jack Butland pushed the ball into his own net but referee Kevin Clancy adjudged Tony Watt to have fouled the Rangers keeper and disallowed the goal.

The majority of the KMI panel deemed the onfield decision to be incorrect and believed VAR should have intervened and recommended an onfield review.

Motherwell went on to draw the game at Fir Park 2-2.

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We asked for your views on Motherwell's 2-2 draw against Rangers.

Here's what some of you said:

Edward: On Tony Watt's disallowed goal, please watch the Crystal Palace goal against Southampton and tell us what is different. Same scenario with the goalkeeper timing his jump wrong. Goal for Palace. Fully understand the frustration Stuart Kettlewell felt and shows what a farce VAR has become!

Fraser: I was getting tired of the manager's referee comments in previous games but I totally concur on the disallowed goal. Jack Butland slapped it in. The 'Well were good for a point and if that had been adjudged to be in for a 3-1 lead, different outcome and we would have been leaving Fir Park three points for the good.

Derek: Excellent performance first half. Great that we had a go. Shafted by another referee and a shocker in the second half. This will be brushed over because the small teams lose out against the Old Firm all the time.

James: Seems churlish to moan about the officials, but, for the second time against the big two, decisions go against us. A tremendous effort from the players, and Kettlewell was only voicing what the fans felt. Apologies at a later stage from the SFA won't change the result.

Alan: Let's celebrate an impressive team performance from all! It's never easy playing against Rangers but our tenacity, verve and commitment did us proud. And to lose two goals to VAR suggests we were far superior than our opponents. Keep up the good work 'Well.

Former referee Bobby Madden suggests Motherwell captain Lennon Miller was fortunate not to be sent off for a tackle on Rangers winger Oscar Cortes during Sunday's 2-2 draw at Fir Park. (Record), external

Meanwhile, former Motherwell forward James McFadden believes Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland was lucky to be awarded a foul after punching the ball into his own net. (Sun), external

Motherwell head of coaching Richard Foster says the 2-2 draw felt like a defeat after being two goals up on Rangers. (Herald - subscription), external

Hearts supporters plan to stage a protest against the club's hierarchy before Thursday's home fixture against Motherwell. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Read Monday's Scottish gossip

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• Rangers have scored in each of their last 10 games in the Premiership, scoring 19 goals in that run.

• Apostolos Stamatelopoulos has scored five goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other Motherwell player.

• Rangers have attempted 35 crosses in this match, higher than their season average of 23.7 in the Premiership.

• Lennon Lee Miller has assisted six goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), no player has more.

Watch all the highlights from Motherwell's 2-2 draw with Rangers in the Scottish Premiership.

(Available to UK users only).

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Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell: "I'm immensely proud of the players and what they gave us again today. The disappointment comes in our start to the second half.

"We spoke about getting a fast start, cementing that advantage and we didn't do that. We concede the goal at 2-1, then for me we score a perfectly good goal to go 3-1 up and that obviously doesn't go in our favour.

"That frustration boils over from myself and for that I would always apologise to the players but it's because I'm in there with them.

"There's a wee bit of disappointment that it's only a point for us today, but no disappointment in the personality, the character and what they showed. This was always going to be tough but I think we showed an unbelievable effort."

On Tony Watt's first disallowed goal: "I'm flabbergasted, and it's complete over-protection of the goalkeeper, I think he gets it all wrong. I'm baffled with the whole thing but it's another huge decision that goes against this football club - adding to the many in the last few weeks."

Substitute Hamza Igamane's second-half double rescued a Scottish Premiership point for Rangers at Motherwell in a frantic game at Fir Park.

Two goals down at half-time and staring back-to-back league defeats in the face before Thursday's Old Firm game at Ibrox, manager Phillipe Clement called on the Moroccan to make amends.

He did so clinically, first lashing in after the ball fell at his feet, before hauling second-place Rangers - who are now 14 points behind leaders Celtic - level with a sweet strike into the far corner.

Stuart Kettlewell - who was sent off after voicing his frustration at a string of decisions - side took the lead through Apostolos Stamatelopoulous' instinctive play, as the Australian pounced on a bouncing ball to poke beneath Jack Butland.

Tawanda Maswanshise's magnificent solo second had Motherwell dreaming of a first top-flight win against Rangers in Lanarkshire since Boxing Day 2002, but the cards didn't fall.

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Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

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It might seem churlish for Motherwell turn their nose at a point against Rangers, but they will feel three were well within their grasp here.

In the first 45, they outmuscled and outsmarted their visitors, particularly in the midfield and attack, and were ruthless in their finishing.

In Maswanhise, they have a real maverick. The skill he showed for his goal was superb and he often left a wretched Rangers defence in a spin.

A spark of some sort was always likely to come from Rangers, but when it did, it wasn't as if Motherwell lay down and let them shine.

The fight, through the tired legs, was still there late on. All 100-odd minutes of it.

There will no doubt be a whack of disappointment at the first disallowed goal especially, where Watt was merely brushing against Butland, but it's another point in a fine Premiership campaign for Kettlewell's side.

If you missed it, be sure to catch Tawanda Maswanhise's goal on Sportscene tonight.

The touch, the turn and the finish were fantastic and fired Motherwell into a well-earned two-goal lead.

He caused Rangers all sorts of trouble and impressed once more with his creativity.

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Motherwell have doubts over striker Apostolos Stamatelopolous and an unnamed player through illness, while Liam Gordon is hoping to shake off an issue that led to the centre-half dropping to the bench at Celtic Park.

Captain Paul McGinn is back training, but Steve Seddon, Ross Callachan, Callum Slattery, Jack Vale and Zach Robinson remain out.

Rangers will assess Leon Balogun after the centre-half came off injured in the first half of the defeat by St Mirren.

John Souttar and Neraysho Kasanwirjo remain sidelined, while Tom Lawrence and Rabbi Matondo continue their return to fitness.

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Motherwell defender Shane Blaney is relishing being back in the thick of the action after a "frustrating" injury kept him out for the opening period of the league season.

Blaney suffered medial ligament damage against Ross County in Motherwell's league opener and missed about 10 weeks before regaining his place in the starting line-up against St Mirren earlier this month.

Motherwell took seven points from three matches with the Irishman in the back three, and he is ready to bounce back after the Boxing Day defeat by Celtic.

"I'm loving it," Blaney said. "It's been great to get back in.

"It was really frustrating in the first game of the season to pick up the injury. It was at a time where I felt really good throughout pre-season. It was probably the strongest pre-season I've had so far in my career.

"It was really frustrating because obviously you're so excited for the first game of the season, you're so excited for the season, and then to be hit with that was a nightmare.

"But I'm delighted now to get back in the team in the last four or five games. There's been a good few positive results, barring Boxing Day.

"Hopefully now we can just kick on again Sunday and throughout the festive games."

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• Motherwell have lost eight of their last nine meetings with Rangers in all competitions, winning the other in March of last season (2-1). The Steelmen have already lost twice to the Gers in 2024-25 (August and November).

• Rangers are unbeaten in 29 league visits to Motherwell (W20 D9) since going down 1-0 on Boxing Day 2002 under Alex McLeish.

• Motherwell won their final league match of 2023 3-1 against Livingston; not since 2015 have they won their last such game in successive calendar years (3 in a row).

• Each of the last four occasions that Rangers have lost their final top-flight league game of a calendar year have been against Celtic; when facing a side other than their Old Firm rivals in their last such match (excluding 2012 when they were expelled from the top division at the end of the season), the Gers are unbeaten in 26 games (W23 D3) since 0-2 defeat to Hearts in 1985.

• Rangers' James Tavernier has been directly involved in nine goals in his last 10 league appearances against Motherwell (four goals, five assists). Indeed, he has five goals and four assists in his last seven league matches at Fir Park.

We asked for your views on Motherwell's 4-0 defeat by Celtic.

Here's what some of you said:

Michael: It's time Stuart Kettlewell stopped blaming and criticising referees. He is becoming like a broken record every week. He has to look no further than himself and the team. Six shots and one on target in the last two games. Says it all. It's not a new phenomenon, it's been typical of the season.

Alan: When you consider the value of both squads, Motherwell managed to do very well in the first half. However the strength and creativity of Celtic, along with class showed through in the second half. Given the money invested in both squads it ends up men against boys, but credit to the 'Well for their effort. Financially it's never going to be even!

Billy: Stop complaining about the officials, it's becoming boring. The next few games should be interesting.

David: Motherwell have punched above their weight more than anyone in Scottish football, but this result is just further evidence of the growing cavern that exists in Scottish football. No one can compete with Celtic and their ever increasing budget.

Andy: Zero shots and 16% possession is embarrassing. No effort at all to get something out of the game. Kettlewell has mentioned we needed to better on the ball. What is he doing about it? Feel sorry for Lennon Miller with the tactics.

Craig: Conceding the penalty on the stroke of half time never helps - not saying it would have changed the final outcome, but it would've given us something to build upon going into the second half. I've not seen a decent replay, but there looks to be minimal contact at best!

James: Shocking penalty decision, but we were not at the races in the second half. Not positive enough, a vast improvement required.

Watch highlights from Celtic's 4-0 win against Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership.

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• Motherwell attempted two shots in this game, their lowest total in a single match in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Celtic have kept a clean sheet in each of their past five games in the Premiership, a run of 510 minutes without conceding a goal.

• Celtic have scored in 16 of their 17 games, no team has done so more often in the Premiership this season.

• Nicolas Kuhn has scored six goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), no Celtic player has more.

• Celtic are undefeated in their past 26 games in the Premiership, their last longer unbeaten streak was from 1 October 2022 to 7 May 2023, a run of 27 games.

• Motherwell failed to attempt a shot on target in this game, it's the first time they failed to attempt a shot on target in a game in the Premiership since facing Rangers on 24 December 2023.

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Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell said after Thursday's 4-0 loss at Celtic Park that referee Ross Hardie spoke to the visiting players like school children. (Record), external

Kettlewell feels his Well side were on the wrong end of debatable penalty calls against Celtic. (Scotsman - subscription), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

Celtic returned to winning ways after overcoming a shaky start to record a 4-0 Scottish Premiership victory over Motherwell.

After drawing at Dundee United on Sunday, the league leaders took time to get going but the breakthrough came in first-half injury time when Aston Oxborough collided with Hyunjun Yang to give Celtic a penalty.

Arne Engels stepped up and slotted into the bottom-left corner, sending the Motherwell keeper the wrong way.

Celtic had enjoyed the better chances in the first half, most notably when Daizen Maeda's strike was blocked by Oxborough, and although the Motherwell goalkeeper almost sent the ball into his own net, he and his defence scrambled it clear.

Motherwell fans, were you at Parkhead or were you following along from home? Either way, we want your thoughts.

Have your say on the game., external