Motherwell Latest Blogs

Well threaten Cardiff with legal action

17/08/2010 16:08:38 by SPLBanter filed in News.

Motherwell have confirmed that they are considering issuing a winding up-order against Cardiff City in a bid to clear a £175,000 debt owed to them by the Championship club.

The Welsh club, who today announced the signing of Craig Bellamy on a season-long loan deal, have failed to pay monies due for the transfer of defender Paul Quinn [pictured].

Motherwell accepted an offer of around £300,000 for Quinn in July 2009 with an initial instalment being paid up front.

The SPL club’s chief executive, Leeann Dempster, who accused Cardiff of showing them a lack of respect, said: “The board now believe that Cardiff’s position is untenable given their recent activity in the transfer market.

“Given all these circumstances and with legal and moral weight behind us, Motherwell FC have no option but to pursue all possible legal routes.

“These include issuing a winding-up order, arresting assets or sending bailiffs to their ground on match day to take possession of cash.”

Well have been owed the balance of the transfer since January this year and claim that Cardiff have been unprofessional in dealing with the matter.

The signing of Bellamy today, who is presumably on a very healthy weekly wage seems to have been the straw that broke the camel’s back with a clearly angry John Boyle appearing on Sky Sports News to state the SPL club’s position.    

Motherwell 2 Hibernian 3

15/08/2010 16:41:56 by SPLBanter filed in Match Reports.

Motherwell  2  Hibernian  3

Last season at Fir Park these two served up that stunning and unforgettable 6-6 draw, today didn’t quite live up to that but it was another thrilling game, and another fantastic advertisement for SPL football.

It was Hibs who threatened first when Stokes used his strength to ease aside Mark Reynolds and only the outstretched leg of goalkeeper Darren Randolph prevented the striker finding the far corner with his low drive.

But with the Fir Park pitch looking resplendent Motherwell quickly seized the initiative with Chris Humphrey in particular causing Hibs all sorts of problems with his pace down the right flank.

It was ironic then that Well should take the lead after some fine work from Tom Hateley on the other wing. With his dad Mark watching from stands he sent a wicked low inswinger into a dangerous area, Chris Hogg was slow to react letting John Sutton get in ahead of him, and the big Englishman stuck out a foot to poke the ball past Graham Stack.

Motherwell remained on top for the majority of the first half with Stack saving well from Sutton and Hateley.

But there were warnings at the other end when Hibs did get out, Mark Reynolds scuffed a clearance into the path of Kevin McBride, but the former Well player hit his shot straight at Randolph who palmed it over the bar.

Hibs hit back with the last kick of the first half when Bamba made a nuisance of himself in the box nodding a Riordan free-kick back across the face of goal, it dropped perfectly for arch-poacher Anthony Stokes to side foot home from 3 yards.

Stokes’ strike must have thrown a spanner in to the works for Craig Brown who had probably already planned his half-time team talk.

Motherwell came out flying again and had the better of the opening exchanges but it was the Edinburgh side who almost took the lead but for a world class save by Darren Randolph to deny Stokes.

It was real end to end stuff as Motherwell went straight up the other end where the impressive Humphrey hit the inside of Stack’s post with a cross-come-shot from the right channel.

However, it was Hibs who got the breakthrough on 64 minutes after another brilliant delivery by Riordan. The former Celtic player swung the ball towards the back post and Hanlon forced it over the line, although the ball did appear to come off his arm.

Motherwell then had a penalty claim turned down when Sutton thought he was illegally barged by Chris Hogg.

With just over 15 minutes left Riordan rolled the ball into the path of Liam Miller who drilled the ball under fellow Irishman Randolph from an angle and what should have been a reasonably comfortable end to the game for them.

And it would have been but for Colin Nish’s crazy tug on the Shirt of Blackman two minutes later who was going nowhere inside the Hibs penalty area.

Referee Craig Thomson was superbly positioned to call the penalty and he was correct to do so.

Jamie Murphy stepped up and calmly rolled the ball past Stack to set up an exciting finish.

The game fizzled out though with Lasley having a last gasp effort to snatch a point blocked by substitute David Stephens.

Craig Brown will be disappointed not to have taken something from a game in which they contributed plenty, but perhaps not about the way in which his players went about their business.

He will be delighted with the acquisition of Darren Randolph who looks very capable and if he can keep Chris Humphrey [who had his problems last season] fit and happy he could be a big player for him too.  

As for Hibs, they had a habit of giving teams a head start last season and coming back and look like they may do that again this season.

One very noticeable thing about Hibs from a totally neutral point of view is the seemingly telepathic understanding between Riordan and Stokes. These two will cause SPL defences a lot of problems this season, if only John Hughes had been brave enough to play the pair in the away leg in the Europa League qualifier.

Motherwell: Randolph, Saunders, Hammell, Reynolds, Craigan, Hateley (Blackman 74), Humphrey (Angelis Charalambous 84), Jennings, Lasley, Murphy, Sutton

Hibernian: Stack, Hart, Hogg, Hanlon, Bamba, De Graaf (David Wotherspoon 65), McBride, Miller, Nish (Stephens 79), Riordan, Stokes

Goals: Motherwell: Sutton [13], Murphy pen [75]; Hibernian: Stokes [45], Hanlon [64], Miller [73]

New strike duo in line for debuts

13/08/2010 17:34:13 by SPLBanter filed in News.

Motherwell have signed strike pair Esteban Casagolda and Nick Blackman. Casagolda [23] joins on a 1 year deal after impressing on a trial spell and Blackman [20] has signed a six month contract on-loan from Blackburn Rovers.

Both Spaniard Casagolda and Blackman have been named in Craig Brown’s squad which hosts Hibernian on Sunday [12pm] but are likely to start on the bench.

Craig Brown has no injury problems ahead of the Scottish Premier League opener at Fir Park.

Motherwell [from]: Randolph, Saunders, Hammell, Craigan, Reynolds, Hateley, Jennings, Lasley, Sutton, Murphy, Humphrey, Forbes, Casagolda, Blackman, Fitzpatrick, Page, McHugh, Hollis.

Brown urges caution with tie on a knife edge

04/08/2010 16:44:24 by SPLBanter filed in News.

Well boss Craig Brown whilst quietly confident is urging caution ahead of Thursday’s Europa Cup qualifier return leg against Norwegian outfit Aalesunds at Fir Park.

Motherwell were in a great position a week ago in Norway at 1-0 up thanks to Jamie Murphy’s opener. But an injury time penalty squared the game and although The Steelmen must now be considered as slight favourites the tie is still on a knife edge.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s showdown Brown said: "It will be a very difficult game as they’re a good side. They deserve the utmost respect. They got an equaliser in the first game which disappointed us but the game overall was fairly even. We expect them to come with a positive approach to try to score here."

Brown who watched Aalesunsds defeated at the weekend on domestic duty was not fooled but the performance.

He continued: "They lost the game but they should have won,

"They should have scored eight goals with the chances they created. They lost 3-1 which astonished me.

"But they played the same way, there were a few slight personnel changes. The shape is known, their ability is known. But if we play to our full potential, I think we have a good chance of winning."

Well have a clean bill of health going into the match with the only concern John Sutton having shaken off a back strain.

Hearts 0 Motherwell 2

26/04/2010 15:50:24 by SPLBanter filed in Match Reports.

Hearts 0  Motherwell 2

Steven Saunders netted his first career goal as Motherwell ended their losing streak in style and put a huge dent in Hearts' European hopes.

Saunders scrambled home the opener three minutes before the end of an entertaining first half and John Sutton claimed his 12th goal of the season moments later.

The goals were reward for an enterprising display and Motherwell came close to adding to their lead in a comfortable second half.

Hearts: MacDonald, Wallace, Bouzid, Zaliukas, Thomson, Palazuelos, Santana, Stewart (Black 46), Templeton, Obua (Stevenson 53), Glen (Elliot 46)

Motherwell: Fraser, Hammell, Reynolds, Craigan, Coke, Jennings, O'Brien (Humphrey 77), Hateley (Forbes 85), Saunders, Jutkiewicz (Murphy 63), Sutton

Goals: Motherwell: Saunders (42), Zaliukas o/g (45)

Skipper set to make Tynecastle trip

23/04/2010 15:18:28 by SPLBanter filed in News.

Motherwell skipper Stephen Craigan is expected to make the SPL clash at Hearts despite limping off in the last two games with a leg strain.

John Ruddy has a slim chance of returning from his thigh problem while Keith Lasley is a major doubt as he battles a calf problem and knee complaint.

Lukas Jutkiewicz will continue to play through the pain barrier but his knee problem may force him to start on the bench while Michael McGlinchey hopes to return from an ankle problem.

Motherwell [from]: Fraser, Hateley, Hammell, Craigan, Reynolds, Lasley, Jennings, Coke, O'Brien, Humphrey, Forbes, Sutton, Murphy, Jutkiewicz, Smith, McHugh, Saunders, Hyslop, Ruddy, McGlinchey.