Summary

  • Blaney crashes in unstoppable free-kick in early stages before Max Mata makes it 2-0 in injury time

  • Motherwell trailed 1-0 from first leg at Fir Park

  • Sligo will play Norway's Viking in next round

Live Reporting

Clive Lindsay

  1. Premiership next on horizon

    FT: Sligo Rovers 2-0 Motherwell (agg 3-0)

    After a dismal European exit for Motherwell, manager Graham Alexander has the tough job of lifting his players for Sunday's Scottish Premiership opener away to St Mirren.

    Before then, however, there are four top-flight fixtures and full cards in the Championship, League 1 and League 2 on Saturday.

    Join us then for all the build-up, live commentaries and post-match reaction.

    Motherwell's Kevin van Veen looks despondentSNS

  2. Dundee United face AZ

    FT: Tuzla City 0-4 AZ Alkmaar

    As Motherwell exit, Dundee United now know their opponents in next week's Europa Conference League third qualifying round.

    AZ Alkmaar travelled to Bosnia-Herzegovina with a slender 1-0 lead from the first leg, but the Dutch thumped their hosts 4-0 to secure a visit to Tannadice in the first leg.

  3. 'Massive moment'

    FT: Sligo Rovers 2-0 Motherwell (agg 3-0)

    Sligo manager John Russell is proud of his players after they qualified for the third qualifying round of European competition for the first time.

    "It’s a massive moment," he tells BBC Scotland. "I spoke about it to the players before the game in our team meeting - this was a chance to make history.

    “We had to be solid defensively and limit Motherwell. To start the game with that free-kick is a wonderful moment."

    Viking of Norway are up next for Sligo in a weeks' time.

    "We are on a really good journey at the moment," Russell says. "There’s been some fabulous away displays. We were flat against Bala, but tonight we were disciplined and put on a good performance. We’ve got to keep producing shocks."

    Sligo's Aidan Keena and Shane Blaney celebrateSNS

    Sligo's Aidan Keena and Shane Blaney celebrate

  4. 'I back my players' - Alexander

    FT: Sligo Rovers 2-0 Motherwell (agg 3-0)

    Graham Alexander would not rise to the bait when asked if his players let him down.

    "We have to take the criticism coming our way," the Motherwell manager tells BBC Scotland. "I won’t shy away from it, I’m sure my players won’t. We’ll work hard and maybe it’s a reality check of where we are going into the league season on Sunday.

    “I wouldn’t say that, no. I back my players all the time and my responsibility is to lead. If stuff comes my way, that’s okay, I understand it. Some criticism is right after the two ties, not after the first leg, without testing their keeper well enough.

    "I will always take responsibility, I’ve been doing it for decades and I’m not going to change my personality now."

    Motherwell manager Graham Alexander looks frustratedSNS

  5. 'We didn't respond to perfect start'

    FT: Sligo Rovers 2-0 Motherwell (agg 3-0)

    Motherwell manager Graham Alexander admits his side fell flat of the quality they needed to beat Sligo.

    "We didn’t compete at the level we needed to win the game," he says. "We gave away a really poor goal. Good quality from the lad, but I thought we were a little bit naive in game-winning situations at both ends of the pitch.

    "Obviously the goal is so early in the game and put us on the back foot. It was just the perfect start for them, the worst start for us.

    “I just thought any momentum we got going at any time was nullified by Sligo. We didn’t have that killer instinct or the will to beat our opponent in the box."

  6. Alexander response shortly

    FT: Sligo Rovers 2-0 Motherwell (agg 3-0)

    We'll bring you the reaction from Motherwell manager Graham Alexander in a moment...

  7. Humiliation for Motherwell?

    FT: Sligo Rovers 2-0 Motherwell (agg 3-0)

    A humiliating defeat? Motherwell fans will certainly think so.

    However, that's the third time in a row that an Irish side has beaten a Scottish one in European competition.

    Bohemians edged out Aberdeen, with their proud European history at the time, on away goals in 2000.

    Then came that 5-1 thumping Derry City delivered Gretna six years later.

    What do you think? Is it a humiliating defeat? Thumbs up for yes, thumbs down for no.

  8. 'Alexander a very good manager'

    FT: Sligo Rovers 2-0 Motherwell (agg 3-0)

    Owen Coyle
    Former Motherwell manager on BBC Radio Scotland

    Graham Alexander is a very good manager. If you look at his track record, at all his clubs his percentage of wins is very good. He knows how to do his job, but he will be hurting tonight as he knows they could have played better

  9. 'Well should have had enough'

    FT: Sligo Rovers 2-0 Motherwell (agg 3-0)

    James McFadden
    Former Motherwell forward on BBC Radio Scotland

    It is a frustrating night. The manager does carry the can, but you need to look at your own performance as a player. I know it's only Motherwell's second competitive game, but this is a tie they should have had enough to win

  10. Bleak statistics for Well

    FT: Sligo Rovers 2-0 Motherwell (agg 3-0)

    Worrying stats for Motherwell is that they have only won five games in 2022 - and that's one win in their last 14 away games.

  11. What's the Mata with Well?

    FT: Sligo Rovers 2-0 Motherwell (agg 3-0)

    Max Mata scores Sligo's second goalSNS

    Max Mata scored Sligo's second goal

  12. 'Players let Alexander down'

    FT: Sligo Rovers 2-0 Motherwell (agg 3-0)

    Owen Coyle
    Former Motherwell striker on BBC Radio Scotland

    I'm gutted for Motherwell, I'm gutted for Graham Alexander. I think his players have let him down. Players have to take responsibility for a bit of endeavour, a bit of enthusiasm, as Motherwell at their best should have been good enough to win that tie

  13. 'Well didn't deserve anything from game'

    FT: Sligo Rovers 2-0 Motherwell (agg 3-0)

    Pat Nevin
    Former Motherwell winger on BBC Radio Scotland

    For large parts of it, Motherwell didn't offer much. They didn't deserve to get anything out of the game. They didn't show enough initiative, there wasn't a great deal of creativity and, although 3-0 was a wee bit harsh, 2-0 would have been a fair scoreline

  14. FULL-TIME Sligo Rovers 2-0 Motherwell (agg 3-0)

    A famous victory for Sligo as the side sitting fifth in Ireland's Premier Division ease aside Motherwell to reach the third qualifying round of European qualification for the first time.

    Pressure piles on Well manager Graham Alexander as the home side move on to face Viking of Norway, who defeated Sparta Prague 2-1 earlier.

  15. 'Well need drastic changes'

    Sligo Rovers 2-0 Motherwell (agg 3-0)

    James McFadden
    Former Motherwell forward on BBC Radio Scotland

    It's going to be a long, hard season for Motherwell unless they can find drastic changes. Maybe credit goes to Sligo's organisation and they are a good side who have worked so hard as a unit

  16. goal

    GOAL Sligo Rovers 2-0 Motherwell (agg 3-0)

    Max Mata

    Game over!

    It never looked like Motherwell would get back into the game and Max Mata provides the killer touch.

    The New Zealand striker missed a couple of chances to extend the lead in the first leg, but this time the substitute makes no mistake as he breaks behind the Motherwell defence and provides a composed, side-footed finish beyond goalkeeper Liam Kelly.

    sligo goalBBC Sport

  17. YELLOW CARD Efford (Motherwell)

    Sligo Rovers 0-0 Motherwell (agg 2-0)

    Motherwell striker Joseph Efford goes into the ref's book for hauling back Will Fitzgerald in frustration.

  18. Sligo Rovers 0-0 Motherwell (agg 2-0)

    Motherwell have plenty of bodies inside the home penalty box and Scotland right-back Paul McGinn wastefully overhits his cross under no pressure. That sums up Motherwell's performance.

  19. Sligo Rovers 0-0 Motherwell (agg 2-0)

    Callum Slattery sends a ball into the Sligo penalty box, but fellow midfielder Josh Morris sends a wasteful header high and wide.

    Nothing is going right for Motherwell.

  20. Sligo Rovers 0-0 Motherwell (agg 2-0)

    It's Sligo's turn to send a low ball into the opposing six-yard box, but again there's no takers.

    The home support will be happy as it wastes a few more minutes.