Motherwell

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Motherwell have apologised to any "inconvenienced" fans after next month's home Scottish Premiership game against Aberdeen was moved back 24 hours to help players through a hectic schedule.

The encounter was due to take place at Fir Park on Saturday, 14 February, but both clubs have agreed to move the game to the following day (14:30 GMT).

Over the next two weeks, Motherwell face Livingston, Dundee, Aberdeen - in the Scottish Cup at Pittodrie - and Rangers before the visit of the Dons.

Aberdeen play Kilmarnock, Celtic, Motherwell and Dundee United in that same period before their trip to Fir Park.

"With this fixture marking the fifth game in 14 days, both clubs agreed to move the game to the Sunday to allow the players more time to rest, recover and prepare between their midweek matches and this fixture," the Lanarkshire club said in a statement.

"We appreciate that Sunday matches are not appreciated by all supporters, and for those that will be inconvenienced by this change, we apologise."

Jenna Thomson
Fan writer

Fortress Fir Park remains unscathed for a ninth game in a row!

We have been phenomenal this season, but Saturday's game against Kilmarnock was the first time we have delivered a lashing to a team and it was sensational. I can't think of a single player that doesn't get an A+ for their performance.

That being said, with the game being one of the elected matches the SFA and police granted an alcohol license to, it made it different.

I personally agree with the alcohol trials but feel communication about the roll-out could have been clearer.

But, as far as I am aware, the trials when carried out at Fir Park have been good and have not had any clear or obvious links to any disruptions.

There were valid reasons for the alcohol ban being brought into place, but not drinking for 90 minutes during a game isn't going to make football fans sober.

Fans can easily drink in the pub or at home before a game, and if people are able to sneak pyrotechnics into games without being detected, they can do so with alcohol too.

If the ban is lifted or at least scaled back, I wouldn't be against it.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Jens Berthel Askou's Motherwell were superb in their 4-0 win over Kilmarnock on Saturday and they have three players in my team of the week.

Stephen O'Donnell was outstanding at centre back as his side won comfortably, and a clean sheet to boot.

Tom Sparrow played at right-back against Kilmarnock and the midfielder performed brilliantly. An assist for Tawanda Maswanhise as this versatile and inspired Motherwell side romped to victory.

Lukas Fadinger has been a seriously impressive player all season for the Steelmen in the heart of midfield and got on the scoresheet.

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

Jens Berthel Askou deserves "so much credit" for orchestrating a "remarkable run" of "unprecedented" form at Motherwell, says midfielder Andy Halliday.

Saturday's 4-0 victory at home to 10-man Kilmarnock means the Fir Park side have set a new club record of keeping nine home clean sheets in a row.

That defensive solidity has been built without compromising Askou's attractive style of play, which is also bringing huge success.

In the league, Motherwell have lost just once in their past 15 Scottish Premiership matches and have not conceded in 10 of those games, form Halliday describes as "title-winning numbers".

The Lanarkshire club are currently fourth in the the top flight, five points ahead of Hibernian in fifth and five adrift of Celtic in third.

The next two league fixtures for Askou's men are away from home, firstly at bottom side Livingston on Saturday before a midweek trip to ninth-placed Dundee.

Positive results in those matches would set up a massive encounter with Rangers under the lights at Fir Park on Wednesday, 11 February.

"We've been in the top half of the table for a long period of time now," says Motherwell midfielder Halliday.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, he adds: "[The form] isn't too dissimilar to the numbers Rangers are putting up, form people are now saying has put them in a position to go and win the league.

"It's a remarkable run of form, and I think the players, the manager and the club in general deserve so much credit for it.

"I think it's unprecedented what the team's doing at this moment in time. Give or take, the club probably has the ninth or 10th biggest budget in the league.

"So it's certainly not a team that's flinging big money around or big money in transfers to bring players in.

"What's been missing throughout the course of the season has probably been goals in terms of the amount of control we've had in games and the amount of chances we've created.

"So it was fantastic over the weekend for us to finally put a team to the sword."

Watch the best of the action from Fir Park as Motherwell continue their superb home form with a 4-0 rout of Kilmarnock. (Available to UK users only)

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Elijah Just suggested "anything is possible" after being asked if his Motherwell side could catch Celtic or Rangers in the Scottish Premiership.

A 4-0 win over Kilmarnock moved Jens Berthel Askou's fourth-placed side to within four points of the Old Firm, who sit level on points behind leaders Hearts.

Just, who scored his side's second goal, admits he would not have expected to be so high in the league when he joined Well from Danish club Horsens last summer but thinks "there's plenty" room for more improvement.

"It's still a group of players and staff that have only been working together for a short amount of time," the New Zealand winger said.

"So we're improving every week. Of course, anything is possible.

"I think we're just taking every game one at a time and, as well as Rangers and Celtic being above us, we know that Hibs and Falkirk are just below us and they're also playing well at the moment."

Just suggested the 4-0 scoreline was a bit unfair on second-bottom Kilmarnock considering the visitors had an goal ruled out and were then reduced to 10 men and stressed his "confident" side could not afford to "get complacent".

As for life under highly-praised manager Jens Berthel Askou, Just added: "I think he gets the mix right between instructions and also freedom.

"At the end of the day, what he wants is for the players to play to their maximum potential.

"So it's a lot of small-sided games, a lot of freedom in training just to create those with each other and then, at the same time, a mix of the tactical aspects and how he wants us to play."

We asked for your views on Motherwell's 4-0 win against Kilmarnock.

Here's what some of you said:

Mark: What a result for the 'Well. The disallowed goal really woke us up and from there on it was a demolition job. Four really well worked goals cementing us in fourth place and five clear of Hibs. Just hope Martin O'Neill wasn't watching on again - hands off Tawanda Maswanhise.

Eddie: I never thought I'd see a Motherwell team play football like that. The manager deserves all the credit, the transformation from the last three seasons is unbelievable.

James: Another fantastic performance. All of the players are performing to a top quality, and a great watch every week. Long may it continue. Thank you so much Jens Berthel Askou.

Alan: The flair and adaptability of the whole squad has taken Motherwell to new heights. It's very pleasing to see the goal scorers are varied along with the ever so dependable Maswanhise. Another excellent performance. Let's see this for the rest of the season and who knows what our achievements will be come May. The squad togetherness shines through.

Colin: A really good all round performance from every player in the park. It's good to see some great goals resulting from our excellent play. It's a great time to be a 'Well fan.

Alan: 4-0 at Fir Park, and nine home games without conceding, Motherwell aren't just in form, they've turned their ground into a fortress.

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Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou said substituting hot property Tawanda Maswanhise during Saturday's 4-0 win over Kilmarnock was "like telling your son it's time to go to bed".

The 23-year-old Zimbabwe forward scored his side's second goal in first-half stoppage time and looked frustrated to be withdrawn after an hour shortly after his side extended their lead further.

Having returned from the Africa Cup of Nations, Maswanhise has moved on to 16 goals for Well this season amid media speculation that his form is attracting interest from other clubs, including Celtic and Rangers.

"The transfer talk is mainly in the media, not in this building and not with him or his agent," Askou said.

"It's very easy to focus on what we need to do here. That's to make sure we're successful, that we improve and that he improves.

"He's doing really well. When I took him off, it was like telling your son it's time to go to bed. He wanted to play another half hour."

Including a goal in a 3-2 defeat by South Africa, Maswanhise has now scored in five straight games for country and club.

"I got a little smile when I told him that we were just looking after him," Askou added. "He's been to Afcon and not been rested much since he came back.

"We're getting into a spell now with a lot of games. We need to keep him fresh and sharp."

Rangers will have to splash out upwards of £4m if they want to sign in-form 23-year-old Motherwell forward Tawanda Maswanhise this month. (Football Insider), external

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Motherwell maintained their superb home record and deepened Kilmarnock's relegation fears as the hosts strolled to a comfortable Scottish Premiership win.

Read the report

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Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou tells BBC Scotland: "We started bright and then we switched off for a second and the ball was in the back of the net. We were lucky to be saved by a sharp offside.

"After that disallowed goal we really stepped on the pedal and didn't look back.

"I'm really impressed with the tempo and quality on a pitch you wouldn't expect us to.

"Fantastic stuff and I was really happy we were able to speed up again at the end and get the fourth goal.

"A lot of good stuff and it was good to see some new faces. Rocco [McColm] getting his debut - he still needs to grow a bit, but you can see he's an intelligent player.

"Our new player up front [Eythor Bjorgolfsson], he is a handful and is going to be a good player for us. Some really positive moments for us today."

[On potential interest in his players this month]: "We have a plan and the plan is made to be followed - that is to keep building on what we have.

"There is interest, which is understandable because the players are performing at a very high level. We will see what comes in the summer."

Hibernian and Motherwell are poised to miss out on Sheffield Wednesday's Barry Bannan as the 36-year-old Scotland capped midfielder holds advanced talks with Millwall. (Daily Record), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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New Motherwell striker Eythor Bjorgolfsson could feature against Kilmarnock. Sam Nicholson is almost back in full training while Andy Halliday is on his way back from injury. Elliot Watt (hamstring) and Regan Charles-Cook (ankle) remains out with long-term absentees Filip Stuparevic (knee) and Zach Robinson (Achilles).

Greg Kiltie is closing in on a comeback for Kilmarnock, who got relatively positive news on Marley Watkins' injury this week. Long-term absentees Max Stryjek (heart), Kyle Magennis (knee), Jamie Brandon (ankle/groin), Djenairo Daniels (knee) and Matty Kennedy (hip) remain out while James Brown has also been missing with a knock in recent weeks.

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Motherwell midfielder Oscar Priestman recalls the "surreal" experience of sharing a dressing room with Juan Mata.

The 22-year-old joined the Steelmen in August having previously played for Western Sydney Wanderers where he spent a season playing alongside World Cup winner Mata.

"It was great," Priestman said of his time with Mata.

"He is an unbelievable human being, unbelievable person, unbelievable footballer.

"I learned so much just from little things, even stories that he has to tell. He won everything so for him to be sitting next to me in a changing room, it was a bit surreal.

"Juan's an amazing person. Like I said, just the experience he's had all over the world, winning so many things and I just tried to soak that up every day.

"I loved playing alongside him and seeing what he could produce on the football pitch."

Priestman joined fellow Australians Johnny Koutroumbis and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos at Fir Park, but admits he still feels a bit homesick.

"That's natural," he added.

"But I speak to my parents lots and speak to my friends back home lots too," he added.

"I've been really enjoying it and that's all part of it. My dad and my brother will be here in a few weeks, so that'll be really nice.

"My mum came over a little while ago, so I saw her probably a couple of months ago so that's always really nice."

Jens Berthel Askou's side are currently fourth in the league table and unbeaten at home in their last eight matches in all competitions.

'Well have kept a clean sheet in each of those and have only lost one game in their previous 13 fixtures as they prepare to face Kilmarnock on Saturday.

"I think we always feel confident," Priestman said.

"Obviously, it's really nice to have the home fans behind us and feel that backing.

"But playing home, playing away, it is what it is. It's not something I place too much emphasis on."

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• No Scottish Premiership side has had more direct attacks this season than Motherwell (43, level with Aberdeen), with their three direct attack goals also a joint-high (level with St Mirren).

• Kilmarnock have only won two of their past 24 away league games (D7 L15), and none of their latest eight (D3 L5) since beating Dundee United 2-0 in September.

• Motherwell have won six of their past seven home league matches (D1), including their latest four in a row; the Steelmen last won five in succession within a single season in March 2019.

• Kilmarnock are winless in eight league visits to Motherwell (D4 L4) since a 2-0 victory in December 2020 under Alex Dyer.

• Motherwell have won two of their past three league meetings with Kilmarnock (D1), as many as their previous 10 beforehand (W2 D5 L3). The Steelmen could win back-to-back league matches within a single season against Killie for the first time since 2019-20.

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Jens Berthel Askou says Motherwell will not wait until the end of the window for Stephen Welsh's possible return and are actively working on alternative targets.

Welsh, 26, was recalled by parent club Celtic earlier in January after a string of superb performances at the heart of Motherwell's defence.

Celtic boss Martin O'Neill refused to rule out Welsh returning to Fir Park and the defender's Scottish Cup appearance against Auchinleck Talbot means he cannot join a third club this season.

Askou has already signed striker Eythor Bjorgolfsson to bolster his squad and expects further arrivals.

When asked if there was a timescale for Welsh's potential return, he said: "We do, yes, but not something that I will share here.

"We have a good dialogue with Celtic and with Stephen and his background backroom team, his agent and we'll see where that goes.

"But we hoped that would have been resolved earlier. And obviously, we need to do our work in the background so we don't end up with nothing there.

"There's a situation where we lost a very good centre-back and what's going to happen is uncertain.

"We have a really good dialogue with them, but obviously time is passing and the window is closing and we need to obviously prepare and have something lined up so that's what we are doing to have alternatives there because we can't leave that to the final [day] so we are obviously working really intensively on that.

"And then we're always looking to see if we can make the squad even stronger. So hopefully one or two more before the window is closed."

Sam Nicholson, out since February 2025 with a knee problem, "is almost back in full training" while Andy Halliday is also close to returning from injury.

Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou is on the radar of the Celtic board as they search for someone to take over at the end of the season. (Football Insider), external

Thursday's Scottish gossip

Motherwell's Jens Berthel Askou is a potential Celtic managerial target. (Football Insider), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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Tawanda Maswanhise only needed 92 minutes at the Africa Cup of Nations to be recognised among the tournament's most promising talents.

The Motherwell forward, who won the Scottish Premiership's player of the month for November, received the Afcon accolade despite starting just one of Zimbabwe's three group matches.

After playing only two minutes off the bench in his nation's opening defeat against Egypt, then not featuring at all in a draw with Angola, the 23-year-old delivered a statement performance in a loss to South Africa.

A stunning individual display - scoring a sublime solo goal before playing a key role in a South Africa own goal - was not enough to gain Zimbabwe progression, but his showing in the 3-2 defeat clearly made a mark.

Since his return to Lanarkshire, the former Leicester City youngster has netted in three consecutive games, taking his club tally for the season to 15 in all competitions.

Celtic boss Martin O'Neill watched from the stand as the striker scored the winner for Motherwell in their Scottish Cup win over Ross County on Saturday, intensifying speculation surrounding his future.

Having signed an extension until the summer of 2027 just last August, with the club holding an option of a further year, Maswanhise won't leave cheaply.

"A football mission" was how O'Neill described his Fir Park visit. Motherwell's mission is now holding on to their star attacker as a special season under Jens Berthel Askou bubbles away.

Jenna Thomson
Fan writer

The double-chasing Steelmen are still in for a chance of a trophy this season now we are through to the fifth round of the Scottish Cup.

The enjoyment from cup games comes from having the chance to play teams you normally wouldn't. That said, our draws so far this season in both competitions have been disappointing.

In the League Cup groups, we played Clyde for the second summer in a row and Greenock Morton, a side we have faced five times in the past seven years across all competitions.

Then we had St Johnstone, who we used to play minimum three times a season, followed by Aberdeen, who again we play three times a year.

So far in the Scottish Cup we have had Ross County (please see above as to why this is disappointing) and Aberdeen again.

When playing in these competitions you want the most unusual team possible, and preferably away from home so you can experience a game and trip you haven't before.

However, I'm pleased we avoided the big Glasgow two, so I can't complain too much, but the lack of variety does make it feel very bland, especially since we'll be playing Aberdeen twice within a week for the second time this season.

Given we're unbeaten - two wins and a draw - against the Dons this campaign, I fancy our chances and don't fear them.

And maybe with a bit of luck, by the time we get to the final it will be against more favourable opposition.

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Rangers are keen on Motherwell winger Tawanda Maswanhise and have initiated preliminary discussions by sounding out the 24-year-old Zimbabwe international's agent. (TeamTalk), external