Motherwell

Watch Sportscene pundit Michael Stewart discuss Motherwell's great run of form and the influence of forward Tawanda Maswanhise, who scored twice in the win at Livingston.

"A lot was made about Motherwell not having somebody at the top end of the park who could find the back of the net regularly," Stewart said.

"It turns out they had him in the building already. They changed the front line and Maswanhise is playing more centrally.

"Motherwell were outstanding in the first half. They were clinical and Maswanhise is loving his football."

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Jack Butland (Rangers)

Made several vital stops to keep Hibs at bay in Sunday's goalless draw at Easter Road.

Paul McGinn (Motherwell)

Continues to perform heroically at centre back for free-flowing Motherwell, who beat Livingston on Saturday. Sticking him in at his more accustomed right-back spot in my team.

Robbie Deas - (Kilmarnock)

Laid a solid foundation as Kilmarnock kept Aberdeen out to earn a much needed and well-deserved win.

Kieran Tierney (Celtic)

Becoming increasingly important as the weeks roll by for Celtic after getting through the first part of the season. 83 good minutes against Falkirk and an assist for the Scotland defender.

Harry Milne (Hearts)

Continually impressive this season for Hearts. Provided the assist for the opening goal at Tannadice as Derek McInnes' side won comfortably.

Brad Lyons (Kilmarnock)

Led by example and got a goal to kickstart a superb performance. The captain showed heart and soul for the cause.

Elijah Just (Motherwell)

The New Zealand winger has been one of the discoveries and players of the season. An assist for Motherwell's first goal against Livingston. Elegance, poise and football intelligence in an abundance. A joy to watch.

Tawanda Maswanhise (Motherwell)

Two goals to sink Livingston, 18 goals in all competitions and the top scorer in the Premiership. The Zimbabwe international has been a revelation this season.

Pierre Landry Kabore (Hearts)

Filling the Lawrence Shankland-shaped hole at the top end of the pitch and did the business away at Dundee United with a double.

Tyreece John-Jules (Kilmarnock)

All round excellent display. Held the ball up, got an assist and a goal.

Alexandros Kyziridis (Hearts)

A livewire presence for Hearts. Always looks a threat, and on the scoresheet from the penalty spot.

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This season's Scottish Premiership top six could be "the best" yet in terms of quality, according to former Motherwell forward James McFadden.

Hearts lead the division, with defending champions Celtic and Rangers six points adrift and Motherwell, Hibernian and Falkirk making up the top half of the table.

"It makes the top six extremely interesting," McFadden told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"Falkirk are in the driving seat at that point as well. They will be a tough opposition for anybody. The next three games, if Hearts can win, I would make them heavy favourites to win the league.

"If they can win all three games and, well, that's including beating Rangers, then it goes to nine points on Rangers.

"Rangers need to play Celtic, throw Motherwell into the equation. Hibs, you look, you know, at their performance [in the draw with Rangers].

"It'll be the best top six that we've had in this split era because so many teams have so much to play for and so many strong teams are in there."

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has indicated the club will need to sign another defender before Stephen Welsh, 26, is allowed to return to Motherwell on loan. (Record), external

Monday's Scottish gossip

Watch highlights as Motherwell win 2-0 in what proved to be David Martindale's final game as Livingston manager before he moves upstairs to become sporting director. (Available to UK users only)

We asked for your views after Motherwell continued their fine form with 2-0 win at Livingston.

Here's what some of you said:

Fraser: Another solid performance with three points deservedly in the bag and another clean sheet. It's great to see players returning and slotting into the system. Scoreline flattered Livi. Jens Berthel Askou's 'Well Army keep marching on. This is a team that is worth watching.

Alan: This team are producing unsurpassed consistency with an easy on the eye efficiency we have not seen from a Motherwell team in many a year. They are confident together, and play with a confidence that surpasses any other Premiership team. Long may it continue and for once maybe we can resist the inevitable approaches for our talented players and manager.

Donald: Looked to me that Jens challenged the defence to keep a clean sheet at half-time. If we had gone at them it could have been a lot more.

James: Another terrific Motherwell result again, the manager finds the players for us to win. Jens well done.

Adam: Another excellent display by the whole team. I suppose the only disappointment was that Motherwell only scored two goals but keeping a clean sheet was equally as important.

Stuart: Another dominant display built on a clean sheet. Would be good to see others chipping in with goals. But hope the results just keep coming.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Motherwell winger Sam Nicholson feared his career may be over after suffering a serious knee injury last year.

The 31-year-old made his comeback for the Fir Park club as a substitute in Saturday's 2-0 win over Livingston been sidelined since February 2025.

A first operation failed to resolve the issue, with Nicholson saying his return was "quite emotional".

The former Hearts player added: "I was at a point where I was thinking I might not play again. Getting back on the pitch, it's a great feeling.

"Two surgeries later, it was a complicated injury, but I feel great now, so I'm just looking to push on now.

"It's been a long road, very stressful, very hard, but I'm just delighted to be on the other end of it now."

Nicholson was introduced after 65 minutes, with Motherwell in control thanks to a first-half double from Tawanda Maswanhise.

"Because I've been out for a wee while, there were times where I couldn't catch my breath," he said.

"A couple of stray passes, which is normal, but I'm absolutely delighted to be back. I've been watching the team all year in the stands and it's nice football.

"I want to be involved, so it's a road to get back into the team now."

Nicholson admits there were some dark days in 11 months out and that got him considering life without football.

He explained: "There has been times where I've been thinking, what am I going to do if this is it for me? It's been hard to sort of try and not be a bad person as well. You know, your head's in a bad place.

"I know football's a short career regardless. You want to stay at the top level as long as you can. I'm enjoying being at Motherwell. I've grown a great feeling for the club.

"I just want to stay involved as long as possible and contribute in any way I can."

Nicholson, who had spells with Colorado and Minnesota in the MLS, praised the way Motherwell have helped him come through such a difficult period.

"I think when you're out injured and it's a new manager as well, it's important to go to the games and see how they play," he said. "See if you can fit in, where you can try and help the team.

"My team-mates have been brilliant with me. The club management and staff have been really good the whole way through, always checking in on me. Checking on mental wellbeing as well as physical, which is huge nowadays."

Motherwell cruised to a completely dominant victory over Livingston to move two points behind third-placed Celtic in the Scottish Premiership courtesy of a Tawanda Maswanhise double.

Read the match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.

Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou: "We got a big scare in the beginning, before we really got started. It took [goalkeeper] Calum [Ward] to get us out of trouble, but from then on we had control of the game.

"I honestly think they are a hard team to play against because they're good on the ball, hard to press, good in the build-up play. There were some really good moments in the first half from us and we could have scored another goal or two.

"Second half, we didn't find out best level, but we stayed in control throughout, which was important."

As for Livingston, Askou adds: "If they keep going, keep believing in themselves, they're going to get some wins eventually, and crawl up the table, and we'll see where that's going to end for them."

"We look for space, and if there is no space, then we have to create it, and sometimes we do that by a lot of counter-movements, and a lot of dynamic positioning in the centre of the pitch, sometimes we play back to Calum [Ward], to open up the opposition, and then accelerate from there.

"Obviously we are getting better and better at it, and today our first half was a lot brighter than last time we were here, and we knew that was needed. It was really good to see that we got the pay-off already in the first half, with two really good goals and some chances for more.

[On Tawanda Maswanhise] "I'm not offering [Maswanhise] to anyone. What's important is that we have a plan that he's here, and we're going to stick to that plan, because he's adding value to the team.

"His performances and the team's performances is adding value to him, which will benefit him when he will move on eventually, and it will benefit the club.

"Until then, we are building a very, very strong team around his qualities, making sure we service him enough, and then it's up to him to keep doing what he's doing.

"It's a discussion when the right club comes in at the right time, and we decide that it's time for him, which is not now."

Image source, SNS

Livingston forward Jeremy Bokila is suspended. Cristian Montano, Scott Arfield and Aidan Denholm are all close to recovering from injury but this game may come too soon.

Motherwell have Sam Nicholson and Andy Halliday back in training while Elliot Watt (hamstring) and Regan Charles-Cook (ankle) are making good progress.

Callum Hendry is a bit further behind while long-term absentee Zach Robinson (Achilles) is continuing his rehab. Filip Stuparevic's contract has been terminated by mutual agreement.

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Filip Stuparevic's injury-ravaged Motherwell career is over after his contract was terminated by mutual consent.

The Serbian forward moved to Fir Park in summer 2024 but departs have made just four appearances, all in the League Cup, and scored one goal.

The 25-year-old suffered a serious knee injury in February last year while out on loan at Morton.

"Filip has had a hard time making an impact in the first team due to his long-term injury," said Askou.

"I'm happy for Filip that he will now get the chance to restart his football career somewhere else and wish him all the best going forward."

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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If you said Eythor Bjorgolfsson sounds like a name straight out of the fantasy world of J.R.R Tolkien, the 6ft 3in Norwegian might actually might be quite pleased.

Motherwell's much-travelled new striker is a big fan of writer Tolkien's Lord of the Rings - or the cinematic trilogy at least.

He says one of the Middle Earth characters is a particular favourite – and might even help him adjust to life in Scotland.

The 25-year-old speaks English with an American twang and said: "I'm trying to lay off on the American accent.

"I lived in America for four-and-a-half years and that's kind of where the accent comes from. But hopefully we can tone it down a little bit.

"I've never spoken in a Scottish accent but I really like it, I love Lord of the Rings and I believe Gimli in Lord of the Rings was Scottish."

Actor Jonathan Rhys-Davies, who played the character of Gimli, was actually Welsh but chose to portray him with a west of Scotland accent to capture his "grittiness".

Bjorgolfsson certainly appreciates the down-to-earth nature of the folks he's met in and around Motherwell.

"The one thing I can say is the people here are very nice," he added.

"Very welcoming, which I like a lot. I think in Norway, stereotypically, we're more locked in, we're not very open and social with strangers.

"But since day one I came here, the taxi drivers, everyone has welcomed me very well.

"It's a country with people that live and breathe football and I think that is one of the things that excites me the most.

"You notice it in the stadium, outside of the stadium on social media, just how interactive the fans are, how much this means to them.

"For me as a football player, it almost means a lot more to me when you're playing for not only your club and your team-mates but a whole community."

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• Tawanda Maswanhise has scored in his past three league appearances, while a goal here would make him the youngest player (23 years 72 days) to net in four successive Scottish Premiership outings since Malik Tillman for Rangers in April 2023 (20y 308d), and youngest for Motherwell in the top flight since Nick Blackman in November 2010 (21y 9d).

• Motherwell have only lost one of their past 15 league games (W9 D5), a 1-0 defeat at Rangers in December. Indeed, since the start of this period on 25 October (which was a 2-1 win at Livingston), only Rangers have more points in the Scottish Premiership (38) than the Steelmen (32).

• Livingston remain winless in 21 league matches (D7 L14); the only side to go 22 games without a win in the Scottish top flight in the 21st century are Hamilton, who did so from November 2010 to April 2011 (D7 L15).

• Motherwell have won their past two league visits to Livingston, never before winning three in a row in the top flight.

• Livingston have lost their past five Scottish Premiership games against Motherwell – their longest ever top-flight losing run against the Steelmen.

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Manager Jens Berthel Askou has been speaking to the media before his Motherwell side travel to face Livingston in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.

Here are the key lines:

• Askou reiterated that Motherwell don't want to sell any of their top players but wouldn't say whether the club have received any bids this month.

• The Dane rates the chances of Stephen Welsh returning to Fir Park on loan from Celtic as 50/50 but says the club have also been looking elsewhere for a centre-back.

• "We started to look elsewhere from the day [Celtic] called [Welsh] back because we know there's a 50% chance - that's what we've calculated - that he will come back," said Askou.

• The manager says the club are spending "every minute of every day" to see if they can add "the last bit of quality and competition" before the window closes on Monday night.

• Eythor Bjorgolfsson is Motherwell's only January addition so far. Askou says the Norwegian striker, who made his debut off the bench in the win against Kilmarnock last weekend, fits the profile the club needed in attack.

• "Eythor fits the profile we felt we were missing, in terms of a really physical, strong nine that is a kind of universal tool for every style of play," he adds.

• On Saturday's opponents Livingston, Askou says: "Even though they've had a very tough spell of not winning games for a long time, I don't see a team that has given up. I see a team that fights for their life. I see a team that fights for their manager."

Motherwell forward Tawanda Maswanhise insists he is only focused on his form amid rising transfer speculation over the 23-year-old. (Daily Record)

West Bromwich Albion striker Eseosa Sule is poised to join Partick Thistle on loan after the 19-year-old had his spell at Motherwell curtailed by injury. (Daily Record)

Read the rest of Wednesday's gossip.

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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."