Summary

  • Both sides on 14 points, Motherwell eighth on goal difference

  • Slattery returns from suspension for Motherwell; County unchanged

  • Simon Murray glances in James Brown corner after just 116 seconds

  • Yan Dhanda curls home delightful second from outside the box

  • Ben Purrington taps home third after Liam Kelly error

  • Will Nightingale sent off for second bookable offence late on

  1. Triple change for Wellpublished at 20:47 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2023

    HT: Ross County 2-0 Motherwell

    We believe that Davor Zdravkovski, Calum Butcher and Georgie Gent are coming on for Motherwell.

    Stuart Kettlewell presumably not happy then...

  2. Penny for your thoughts Stuart...published at 20:40 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2023

    HT: Ross County 2-0 Motherwell

    Stuart KettlewellImage source, SNS
  3. HALF-TIME Ross County 2-0 Motherwellpublished at 20:35 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2023

    Oh dear, Stuart Kettlewell. He's a man under pressure, and this might be too much to come back from.

    From the first whistle, County have dominated. The first corner resulted in a goal, and every set-piece since has resulted in a chance.

    Yan Dhanda is having a ball out there, nutmegging Motherwell players, dancing around defenders. He looked pretty happy with his goal - his first in the league this season - that he swazzed into the corner.

    Motherwell have come back from two goals behind before. They don't look likely to repeat that trick tonight.

    Scott Allardice and Yan Dhanda celebrateImage source, SNS
  4. Postpublished at 44 mins

    Ross County 2-0 Motherwell

    Yan Dhanda has just rolled the ball through Callum Slattery's legs. That was very, very naughty.

    Jordan White then goes into the book for a naughty tackle on Bevis Muyabi. Different type of naughty.

  5. Huge chance!published at 40 mins

    Ross County 2-0 Motherwell

    That really, really should have been a goal. County knocked it about beautifully before Yan Dhanda slipped in Connor Randall... but he put his shot straight at Liam Kelly when one-on-one.

    Anyone but him.

  6. Postpublished at 34 mins

    Ross County 2-0 Motherwell

    If you want to know how things are going for Motherwell at the moment, they've just tried to win a free-kick in their own half by walloping the ball off a County player who was not 10 yards away.

    Instead, they miss the County player and shell it up the pitch.

  7. Postpublished at 30 mins

    Ross County 2-0 Motherwell

    Simon Murray almost scores from a corner - again!

    It's from the other side this time, a James Brown outswinger. Murray is able to burst through two defenders and loop a header at the front post, but it lands just over the bar. Not far away at all.

  8. Dandy from Dhandapublished at 26 mins

    Ross County 2-0 Motherwell

    Yan Dhanda whips in County's second goalImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Yan Dhanda whips in County's second goal

  9. Look away now, Motherwell fans...published at 25 mins

    Ross County 2-0 Motherwell

    Some stats for you... Motherwell have conceded 11 first-half goals in 16 games, more than any other team in the Scottish Premiership this season.

    They have also only won once this season after conceding the opening goal. They've also drawn three, and lost seven.

  10. HITS THE WOODWORKpublished at 21 mins

    Ross County 2-0 Motherwell

    Almost a quickfire double for County. Simon Murray collects on the edge of the box and curls towards goal. It takes a wicked deflection and bounces towards goal... but hits the post and goes behind.

    Meanwhile, David Dickinson has booked Blair Spittal for a nasty challenge on Yan Dhanda.

    There's a VAR check on the challenge... check complete - no red card.

  11. goal

    GOAL Ross County 2-0 Motherwellpublished at 18 mins

    Yan Dhanda

    Ohhhhhh that is superb from Dhanda.

    Receiving the ball 30 yards from goal, he jinks away from Conor Wilkinson and whizzes the ball in from outside the box.

    Liam Kelly is unmoved. Could he have done better?

    Ross County goal graphicImage source, BBC Sport
  12. Spot Simon Murraypublished at 19:58 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2023

    Ross County 1-0 Motherwell

    Simon Murray heads home through a crowd of bodiesImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Simon Murray heads home through a crowd of bodies

  13. Motherwell chancespublished at 10 mins

    Ross County 1-0 Motherwell

    Motherwell have enjoyed a little spell of pressure and forced two good saves in a row Ross Laidlaw. Callum Slattery blasts one, and it rises into a decent height to punch away.

    It comes back to Stephen O'Donnell who goes low, but this time Laidlaw gets a foot to it.

  14. Postpublished at 6 mins

    Ross County 1-0 Motherwell

    Spare a thought for that Motherwell fan we showed you earlier... he can't be best pleased.

    Motherwell have given themselves a mountain to climb after 1 minute 56 seconds.

    Ross County have not lost this season when they've gone ahead.

  15. goal

    GOAL Ross County 1-0 Motherwellpublished at 2 mins

    Simon Murray

    It's a brilliant start for County!

    A corner comes into the front post, Murray rises and flicks his header into the net. There's a big appeal for a foul, VAR will have a look...

    Goal given!

    Ross County goal graphicImage source, BBC Sport
  16. KICK-OFFpublished at 19:45 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2023

    Ross County 0-0 Motherwell

    And we are under way! Will Motherwell's rank rotten run continue, or will Stuart Kettlewell get one over his old side?

    We're about to find out!

  17. Questioning everything, and it's not even kicked off...published at 19:44 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2023

    Ross County v Motherwell (19:45)

    Sad Motherwell fanImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Would you go to Dingwall if your side hadn't won in 11 games?

  18. Postpublished at 19:42 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2023

    Ross County v Motherwell (19:45)

    It's all been pretty bleak for Motherwell recently, but they can take heart from their recent visits to Dingwall.

    Motherwell have won each of their last three league visits to Ross County by an aggregate score of 8-0.

    How they would love three points tonight.

    Van Veen celebImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Kevin van Veen's hat-trick helped Motherwell to a 5-0 win over County in October 2022

  19. 'I had a fantastic time here' - Kettlewellpublished at 19:40 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2023

    Ross County v Motherwell (19:45)

    Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell tells BBC Scotland: "I can look into the stands and see so many people I know, but my job is to get a win for Motherwell. I'm loving my time at Motherwell, both clubs have very good people but it's business.

    "I enjoyed it last time I was up here, we got three points, but everyone in the stadium wanted to beat me and Motherwell. That's the nature of football, but the true friendships will stay afterwards.

    "It's strange how football throws up these stories and situations. Derek brought me up here in 2009, and I'm forever grateful for it. I had a fantastic time up here. It gave me a chance to play in the Premiership and I'm not sure that would have happened otherwise."

    Stuart KettlewellImage source, SNS
  20. Adams remembers managing Kettlewellpublished at 19:34 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2023

    Ross County v Motherwell (19:45)

    Ross County manager Derek Adams tells BBC Scotland: "It was following on from the good performance against Kilmarnock. We created a lot of good opportunities against Kilmarnock and didn't get the three points we deserved on the day.

    "We took that performance into the game on Tuesday against St Mirren, and were able to get the better of them. We started quickly, got our forward players onto the ball.

    "It's extremely tight. We're trying to look after ourselves. We'll do that by taking the game to Motherwell and taking our chances.

    [On managing Kettlewell] "I saw the character and determination. I remember a player who wanted to win football matches. What we he gave us was a lot of dig and determination in the middle of the park. He's taken that into his managerial career."

    Derek AdamsImage source, SNS