Motherwell

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They may be 10 points behind league leaders Hearts, but pundit Michael Stewart has urged fans not to write off Motherwell's title credentials.

Jens Berthel Askou and his side have won many plaudits for the attractive brand of football they play, and with just 11 games to go they are keeping the pressure on the top three.

"I did a game against Morton in the Premier Sports Cup group stage and there'd been some sort of good performances prior to it but they were really struggling to score in the group games before that," Stewart reflected.

"They managed to score a few goals that night but just watching them, you could tell there was substance there.

"I made the prediction that if they were able to find somebody that can score goals, they'll be the surprise package, they'll be in the top six."

Come mid-February, Motherwell can claim one of the top goalscorers in the league. Tawanda Maswanhise is joint-top alongside Celtic's Benjamin Nygren on 13 goals

In 31 games in all competitions, he has 18 goals and has helped fire Motherwell to the League Cup semi-final and the quarters of the Scottish Cup.

"As every marker comes along, they've surpassed it and we're now at a position where I genuinely, wouldn't write them off.

"I don't think they will do it. I think it's a long shot, but I would not write them off because they've progressed.

"Maswanhise was more of a wide man. He's now their centre forward. They've got the likes of Eli Just and Callum Slattery as sort of two tens.

"Then they've got midfielders that have got great energy and a bit of poise with Elliot Watt and Lukas Fadinger and Oscar Priestman as well. They've got a great balance to the team."

• Michael Stewart was speaking on the Scottish Football Podcast, available here.

Two Celtic stars, duos from Dundee and Dundee United, and a pair from Motherwell. It's time for Jonathan Sutherland's team of the week, so let's take a look and see who impressed...

Raphael Sallinger - Hibernian

Not a vintage weekend for goalkeepers. Sallinger gets the nod for a couple of stops and a clean sheet. An overall impressive addition at Easter Road.

Julian Araujo - Celtic

What a big goal. Ended up in hospitality with his celebration, but it was a big moment.

Stephen Welsh - Motherwell

Outstanding again after his goalscoring heroics midweek. An assist for Just as well. Not sure what Celtic don't see in him.

Ross Graham - Dundee United

Goal and a doughty warrior at the back. His four touches in the opposition box was only bettered by teammate Kristijan Trapanovski, while he made more clearances than any other player.

Cameron Congreve - Dundee

A continuous threat down the right for the Dark Blues. What a good loan signing he has been by Steven Pressley. Took eight shots and created three chances.

Craig Sibbald - Dundee United

Pulled the strings in midfield and scored a vital goal. Set up four chances, the most of any United player, and won more duels than any of his teammates.

Elijah Just - Motherwell

For me, Elijah Just has to be in with a shout of player of the season. The New Zealand international has been consistently excellent, showing guile, creativity and goalscoring ability. On the scoresheet again this weekend, against Aberdeen. Ghosts around the pitch with elegance, class and endeavour.

Sebastian Tounekti - Celtic

Loves Rugby Park. Great on his debut there, scored there against Auchinleck Talbot and sparked Celtic's comeback on Sunday with a goal of the season contender.

Simon Murray - Dundee

Murray in a hurry at Dens Park. After a barren spell, the Dundee captain looked pumped for action with his quick fire double.

Youssef Chermiti - Rangers

Michael Stewart told me on Sportscene he doesn't think Chermiti has the potential to be a top striker. But he has scored six of his seven goals this season against Celtic and Hearts, including his hat-trick yesterday on what was a huge occasion.

The challenge for the 21-year-old is to start delivering this sort of performance more consistently against the other sides in the Premiership.

Tyreece John-Jules - Kilmarnock

The former Arsenal youth - and nephew of Red Dwarf star Danny John-Jules - was a force of nature for Kilmarnock against Celtic, following on from his midweek hat-trick.

Scored a great goal, clipped the crossbar from a free-kick and just generally showed star potential. Such a shame he limped off with what looked like a thigh muscle strain.

We asked you Motherwell fans for your views on the 2-0 win over Aberdeen. Here's a taste of what you had to say...

Alan: Another comfortable win despite some close calls at the other end. The composure of every player in the team shone through and we should have scored at least five goals.

However, this win probably ensures a top-six finish and we are looking at a European spot as well. This transformation is primarily down to the manager but he couldn't have done it without some very competent players who have excelled themselves this season.

Derek: I'm calling all Well fans to pinch themselves. This is absolutely the best time since the Ancell Babes. In folklore, we've had this team's exploits passed down through the generations. Even the Willie Pettigrew years can't beat this. A trophy would be the icing on the cake. Take a bow JBA.

Mark: Solid performance from the Well. For all the chances missed from both sides, it could have finished 5-4. Teams are now realising that to stop us from flowing they need be be cynical in their tackling. Just need to repeat the win on Wednesday!

Gerry: I'm a Celtic fan who went along to sit with the Well fans today. Motherwell are currently playing excellent football. Very pleasant to watch, great team spirit and a deserved victory against an Aberdeen side that offered very little throughout.

Nice atmosphere at Fir Park today too. Well done Motherwell. Breath of footballing fresh air.

Stuart: Wasn't the best performance by a long way, but possibly more satisfying to win when not playing as well as we have had in recent games. We were a bit careless in possession and gifted opportunities to Aberdeen, but created some great chances for ourselves. We still need to be more clinical, but I'm living the dream as a Motherwell fan this year - where could we end up?

Motherwell score in each half to defeat Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership (UK users only).

Motherwell kept their impressive home run going as Aberdeen spurned a host of missed chances as their search for a manager continues

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Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou kept his cards close to his chest when asked about his team's title credentials following their 2-0 win over Aberdeen on Sunday.

"I don't think anyone has won the championship yet, have they," he asked.

"The league is not over, whether we are a part of it is for you to discuss. I think we're in the group of teams in the league that reach for the maximum potential.

"It could and maybe should have been under a lot more control at half-time than it was.

"I can't blame anyone for not trying to score that second goal, we invested a lot in that - at times maybe too much. We had to work as a team and individually to make sure the opposition don't score.

"Big praise for the subs to come on and make a big difference. That's what we need and have needed to be where we are.

"We have used most of the players in our squad and, now we're entering that final phase, we need everyone to be ready and to step up."

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Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou intends to continue evolving as a coach and says he may change his style of play over time.

The Dane has enjoyed huge success after implementing a brave approach in his team, who have been encouraged to play out from the back and take risks this season.

Though it's helped the team climb to fourth in the Premiership and proven popular with Motherwell supporters and neutrals, midfielder Elijah Just has revealed that when he played under Askou at Horsens, the style of play was more direct.

Askou says he is open to new ideas and lessons that might lead to further change.

"It's important to keep developing as a coach," he said. "In two, three, four, five years from now, I will have picked up new ideas and developed them.

"If I'm playing the same system, who knows? But it's about developing and learning all the time, not just for players, but certainly also for coaches.

"Back then (at Horsens) there were different circumstances. Now here there are some really, really good circumstances in terms of being able to do what we do here.

"I wanted to get there back then, but I had to be a little bit more patient with that, and then I left before we arrived where we are now, as a football team, in terms of style of play.

"And here there were some really good circumstances in terms of being able to accelerate that process from day one."

The 43-year-old has enjoyed his experience of Scottish football so far but also said his style was adapted to counter Premiership teams.

"You get to play teams who play very differently, and that is very demanding," he said.

"We need to make sure we develop a style which is different from many other teams, but we still need to be extremely competitive against the traditional way of doing things up here. And we've worked hard on that, and I think we've improved the ability to do that.

"But it just asks a lot of questions of you, and I think that is cool and extremely exciting to really be challenged against that."

Motherwell striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos has praised manager Jens Berthel Askou's man-management skills after he allowed the 26-year-old to return to Australia on loan to Sydney to try to win a place in the Socceroos' World Cup squad. (The National), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Motherwell Lukas Fadinger drops out through suspension. Johnny Koutroumbis (calf), Callum Hendry and Zach Robinson (Achilles) remain out.

Aberdeen are without the suspended Graeme Shinnie and Jack Milne, while Emmanuel Gyamfi just misses out with a muscle problem.

Mats Knoester (concussion), Kristers Tobers (knee) and Nick Suman (ankle) remain out.

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Elliot Watt says it would be a "dream" to play for Scotland as the Motherwell midfielder looks to recapture the form he felt had him pushing for a call-up.

The 25-year-old missed five weeks with a muscle injury before playing 45 minutes in Motherwell's 1-1 draw against Rangers on Wednesday.

Watt has been one of the most influential players in the Steelmen's stunning season in which they sit fourth and have lost just four times in 33 matches.

"Listen, it would be a dream come true to get into the [Scotland] squad one day. I'd be lying if I sat here and said that it hadn't crossed my mind at all," said Watt.

"It is something that I think about and, the level I was playing at before the injury, I felt as though I maybe would have been knocking on that door and into those conversations, which was the frustrating part about the injury.

"So now it's the mindset of getting back to those levels, mainly to help the club and the journey that we're on and where we want to get to. I touched on European football, that's an aim for the club. That's where we want to get to.

"But ultimately, if that coincides with a Scotland call-up, then that would be the dream."

Before his time on the sidelines, Watt was linked with a January move to Rangers.

"I was coming off the back of winning player of the month in the league and I felt as though my form was in an amazing spot, the form of my life really," he added.

"I try to play through these little things and ultimately probably would have made it worse, I went from maybe missing one game to missing four.

"But I'm still relatively young and these are things I need to learn from quickly because ultimately it could have cost me even more."

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Lennon Miller is "loving watching" Motherwell this season and would have thrived playing under Jens Berthel Askou, says the midfielder's father Lee.

The 19-year-old earned Motherwell a club record fee when he moved to Udinese last summer and has scored one goal in 14 appearances for the Serie A club.

"He's loving watching [Motherwell]," Lee Miller told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"I spoke to him last night. He would have done so well in that team but it was time for him to go and do his thing over in Italy and he's loving life just now.

"He's loving it watching it from afar."

Motherwell found themselves 1-0 down after just six minutes at home to Rangers on Wednesday night but deservedly rescued a draw despite Lukas Fadinger's red card.

"What a great performance again from Motherwell," Miller added.

"We've seen it so many times this season, they get the draw and nobody could have said they didn't deserve it. I thought they were excellent, they created loads of chances.

"You go down to 10 men, you think they're out of it and they get the point."

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Celtic defender Stephen Welsh admits it feels "even sweeter" to be back at Motherwell after an "odd" couple of weeks.

The 26-year-old spent the first half of the campaign on loan at Fir Park during which he became an integral part of a successful side.

But the centre-back was recalled by Celtic during the January window to bolster Martin O'Neill's defensive options.

Welsh started the Scottish Cup tie against Auchinleck Talbot and made one further substitute appearance before the arrival of Benjamin Arthur on loan allowed the defender to return to Fir Park on deadline day.

Welsh made an immediate impact in his first game back with the Steelmen, scoring a late equaliser against Rangers on Wednesday night.

"It was an odd couple of weeks for me because I didn't know what was going to happen," he admitted.

"The communication between the clubs was good but you truly never know what could happen.

"It went down to the last few minutes before coming here. I'm thankful that it did and I'm just glad to be back.

"It was a difficult couple of weeks. People don't see what goes on behind the scenes but I'm delighted to be back. I just want to play and hopefully that continues.

"It's no secret that it's hard to come through at a club like Celtic. To play the amount of games I have there, I'm very proud of that. But I'm a realist as well. A lot of different players come into the club.

"I made the decision to come here because I could see the manager's vision. To actually come back a second time is even sweeter. To come back, have my first game and experience such a good moment is great."

Motherwell's draw with Rangers allowed Celtic, who beat Livingston, to move a point behind their Glasgow rivals with a game in hand.

"I know it does [do Celtic a favour] because they're my club," Welsh added.

"But the main thing for me now is to help Motherwell.

"It's a massive point even though we deserved three. To actually dominate a full second half, including half an hour with 10 men, is excellent."

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• Only bottom side Livingston (16) have conceded more goals from set-pieces (excluding penalties) than Aberdeen (12) in the Scottish Premiership this season. However, Motherwell have scored a league-low three goals from non-penalty set-plays.

• Aberdeen have won just one and lost six of their past eight league matches (D1), losing their latest five in a row away from home.

• Motherwell remain unbeaten in nine home league games (W7 D2), with their seven wins in this period as many as their previous 19 at Fir Park beforehand (W7 D6 L6).

• Aberdeen have only won one of their past four league games against Motherwell (D1 L2), after having won six of their previous seven versus the Steelmen prior (D1).

• Motherwell have won their past two home league meetings with Aberdeen, just one fewer than their previous 16 beforehand (W3 D3 L10).

Motherwell forward Tawanda Maswanhise says he is keeping his head down and ignoring speculation linking him with Celtic and Rangers, but the 23-year-old admits his ambition is to play Champions League football. (Scottish Sun), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Motherwell's Tawanda Maswanhise has been named Scottish Premiership player of the month for January, the second time this season the prolific forward has picked up the award.

The 23-year-old makes it three in a row for Jens Berthel Askou's men, having won it November before team-mate Elliot Watt took the December award.

Maswanhise impressed on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Zimbabwe before netting five goals in four league games for Motherwell last month, plus the winner against Ross County in the Scottish Cup fourth round.

Maswanhise, who is the Premiership top scorer this season with 13 goals, said: "January was such a good month for the team.

"I missed games due to representing my country and I was eager to hit the ground running when I got back. We managed to have another unbeaten run and won four of our five matches.

"My team-mates work so hard to get me chances in front of goal. It's my job to keep finding the back of the net and I'll keep working hard to do so.

"I want to keep the fire burning in February until the end of the season. We've got some huge matches coming up and lots of opportunities."

Manager Askou said: "Tawanda is in great form and has developed into a very sharp forward who can score goals in many different ways.

"I'm positive that getting more recognition for his performances will spark further motivation to strive for more success for the team."

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Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou couldn't believe how "cynical" Rangers were in the 1-1 draw at Fir Park.

Rangers took an early lead courtesy of Nicolas Raskin's goal and looked as though they would hold on to the three points when Motherwell were reduced to 10 men for Lukas Fadinger's challenge on Mikey Moore with just over 10 minutes to play.

But a late goal from Celtic loanee Stephen Welsh rescued a point for Askou's men, which was no more than the manager felt his side deserved, especially given the tactics employed by Danny Rohl's side.

"It was an absolutely sensational performance from start to finish," Askou told Sky Sports, external.

"We dominated the game in so many ways, even with one man down we dominated and looked like a team who wanted to win the game.

"I thought our intensity and speed of play was outstanding and it caused a tonne of problems for Rangers out there. They had to [concede] one free-kick after another to stop us.

"I was surprised that they didn't get more yellow cards in the first half and I don't think it's good enough.

"It's an absolutely top game, probably the best game you can get in Scottish football right now, and you get to play that cynical?

"I think it's a shame for the game, that's the reason why there weren't more goals in the game.

"We didn't let frustration take over, we stuck in it and adjusted a few things at half-time and knew there would be chances in the second half."

While Askou acknowledged Fadinger deserved to be sent off, he didn't see a huge difference between that challenge and some on his own players.

"Lukas gets sent off and it's our first red card." Askou added.

"The intensity of the tackle was not worse than many of the other tackles we received.

"He's just a little bit unlucky that he catches him five inches off the ground."

We asked for your views after 10-man Motherwell came from behind to snatch a draw against Rangers thanks to Celtic loanee Stephen Welsh's late goal.

Here are some of your thoughts:

Stuart: Great game despite going a goal behind and the ref not giving us any breaks. We outplayed Rangers for most of the match. Deserved the point we got as a minimum. Well done everyone.

James: With a reasonable referee we probably would have beaten Rangers. 'Well were by far the better team and dominated large sections pf the game. Best 'Well team I've seen, long may it continue.

Grant: In years gone by we would have been really happy with a point or a defeat against Rangers when we went down to 10 men but in truth we are disappointed in not beat them.

Ian: Great result for Rangers. Outplayed for 90 mins by the best football team in Scotland. A treat for the Rangers fans.

Ross: This Motherwell team just keep on giving to the fans. Fair play to Rangers, they scored an excellent goal but the 'Well never gave up and got something from the match. Jens Berthel Askou is the most brilliant manager.

Derek: We were absolutely terrific, battled really well and showed great character. Going a goal down early on, we then showed even more resilience when Fadinger was sent off, the manager wasn't fazed in the slightest and made positive subs in Sam Nicholson and Regan Charles-Cook to come and we deservedly got a point we richly deserved from the game. Bring on Aberdeen on Sunday!

Motherwell will listen to offers for 23-year-old forward Tawanda Maswanhise this summer amid interest from both Celtic and Rangers. (Football Insider), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Watch the best of the action as 10-man Motherwell come from behind to snatch a point against Rangers with a late goal from on-loan Celtic defender Stephen Welsh. Available to UK users only

Rangers failed to match Hearts' pace in the Scottish Premiership title race as they conceded an 89th-minute equaliser to 10-man Motherwell, with the gap at the top of the table now five points wide.

Read the full match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou: "We are pleased and happy that we fought our way back with one man down and got a goal, but it was fully deserved.

"When you look at the game, the performance was sensational from start to finish. The dominance we showed in possession, twice the touches in the opposition box as Rangers... it was a performance that got people out of their seats.

"Had we been 11 v 11, maybe we'd have had even more to push with at the end. Fair enough, it's the right decision to send Lukas [Fadinger] off. If you ever to get a red card, then it has to be in a situation where you do everything you can to stop a counter attack, with no bad intent.

"A lovely game of football, which I feel we played a very big part in.

"We talked yesterday, after our last training session before the game, that eventually a team is going to score at Fir Park again. We just need to deal with it, and score twice to win the game, and not be too disappointed or surprised.

"It was a very good goal by Rangers, so credit to them. It was about taking these moments and they were good at that.

"The intent and intensity, the willingness to run and be aggressive, and some of the quality we showed was outstanding. I couldn't ask for more. I'm extremely proud of that performance. So many positive things to say about it."

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Motherwell midfielder Andy Halliday says his side can be considered title contenders if they beat Rangers at Fir Park tonight.

Jens Berthel Askou's men are currently fourth, 14 points behind league leaders Hearts having played two matches fewer.

Victory over second-place Rangers would move Motherwell five points behind the Ibrox side with a game in hand.

Halliday admits he has quite enjoyed Motherwell being discounted from talk of a three-team race for the title.

"It's been quite nice actually to avoid being a part of that title challenge conversation," he told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"But when you're winning games and you're starting to creep up the table, certainly, a win tonight will put you in that bracket.

"I think the manager and the players have done a fantastic job of focusing on one game at a time.

"Even when you look at big games that Motherwell have won this year, the manager has always referenced that next game in the interview. He's always had that approach and the players have tried to take that on board.

"But you're kidding yourself on if you don't understand as a player, or as anyone that's part of the club, that when a big game comes along - and yes, they are all big games for different reasons - but at this stage of the season, the opponent, where they are in the table compared to ourselves, it's obviously a big one for ourselves and absolutely no doubt it's big for Rangers as well."