Motherwell

Motherwell continued their impressive start to life under manager Alfred Johansson as Ibrahim Said's superb goal secured a narrow Scottish Premiership victory at Hibernian.

Read the match report here.

Have your say on the result here.

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Motherwell manager Alfred Johansson tells BBC Scotland: "It was a game of ups and downs for both teams and obviously I'm really pleased to come out with the three points.

"In the first half we showed some good stuff on the ball, but more than tactics we have to praise the spirit of the team because at time we had to ride out storms.

"We have Martin Moormann throwing himself to make blocks, the front three dropping deep to help and Paulsen making exceptional saves.

"We did that with eight players making their debut in the Premiership. It shows we have the right characters in the door.

"When we hit it off, the good periods look really good, but we want those periods to be longer, but even months from now when we are better we will have to suffer and the guys showed they are ready to do that."

Scott Mullen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Motherwell's Regan Charles-Cook says "pressure makes diamonds" as he and his team-mates attempt to live up to their reputation earned last season.

The Fir Park side caused a stir under Jens Berthel Askou with their free-flowing style of football which secured so many plaudits as well as a European spot.

Now under Alfred Johansson and with a host of star players now away from the club, they breezed by HB Torshavn in Conference League qualifying and now face Hibernian in their Scottish Premiership opener on Sunday (16:30 BST).

"The group was so together, it still feels the same. It feels like a family," said Charles-Cook, who scored in the Faroe Islands on Thursday.

"It's going to be difficult but we just focus on what Motherwell wants to do.

"It's a journey. We understand there will be pressure, everyone expects us to go and do the same thing we did last year. And that shows that we have been doing very well.

"Pressure makes diamonds, you know? We look forward to the challenge."

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After Alfred Johansson began his Motherwell reign with a 5-0 aggregate win over HB Torshavn, the Swedish manager said he wants his side to be "super ambitious".

The new gaffer had big shoes to fill in replacing the Toulouse-bound Jens Berthel Askou, but has gotten off to a near perfect start.

"We are going to be super ambitious," Johansson said. "Our recipe for success, our way of going about being super ambitious, is that we want to consolidate the style of play from last season.

"And as soon as we get it consolidated with all the new players that have come in and others that will come, as soon as we are back to the state we want, we are going to try to evolve it, everyone together.

"We need to develop players in the squad. These are the two big, big targets.

"And the last one is we want to win the first game of the season. I always have a really narrow, short-term focus in terms of performance so it's the game against Hibs on Sunday which is the biggest target of the season as of now."

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Hibs could have Callum Wright and Ante Suto back in the squad after injury but Nicky Cadden and Jamie McGrath (both calf) are set to remain sidelined, along with Rocky Bushiri (Achilles).

Motherwell have added new loan signings Alex Lowry and Jamie Knight-Lebel while Tawanda Maswanhise was back in action on Thursday with a mask protecting his fractured jaw.

Johnny Koutroumbis (hand), Eythor Bjorgolfsson are pushing for comebacks while Apostolos Stamatelopoulos (calf) remains out along with Jordan McGhee (hamstring), Paul McGinn, Callum Hendry and Stephen O'Donnell (all knee).

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Motherwell have been granted planning permission for a brand-new two-storey training facility building and a new synthetic surface on the site of their current training ground.

The club currently train at rented facilities at Dalziel Park, and will use funds generated from recent player sales along with the SFA's 'Pitching In' Fund to build the new centre.

The new base will include "state-of-the-art changing rooms, a gym, a medical room, staff offices, an analysis suite, meeting rooms and a canteen" and will "provide a high-quality training centre for our professional players and staff."

"This is a hugely exciting project for the football club," said club Chief Executive Brian Caldwell.

"As a board, we believe this project meets a need to further improve the club's training facility that is of great benefit both to the club and to our local community.

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Motherwell have signed Canada defender Jamie Knight-Lebel on loan from Bristol City.

The 21-year-old has spent the past two seasons on temporary deals with Crewe Alexandra and then Swindon Town.

"I want to welcome Jamie to the club," Motherwell boss Alfred Johansson said.

"He is a talented young player who has two very strong seasons out on loan playing regularly. A physical and strong defender, he will provide competition in the defensive positions and bring international experience.

"Bristol City rate him highly, and this loan move will provide him with the opportunity to play in a style suited to his game. We look forward to introducing Jamie to the squad, and I'm excited to be working with him."

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Motherwell have submitted an appeal against a £5000 fine from the Scottish FA for a social media post criticising the decision to award Celtic a stoppage-time penalty at Fir Park in May.

On what was the penultimate round of Premiership fixtures, Kelechi Iheanacho converted from the spot for a 3-2 victory after Sam Nicholson was penalised for handball.

Motherwell released a video with the caption: "As the world of football mocks our game, we simply have to draw a line in the sand and shift the focus."

On 16 July, a disciplinary tribunal of the SFA imposed the fine, along with issuing a four-game suspension for now departed Motherwell player Elliot Watt, who described the penalty award as "the worst VAR decision in history" via X.

Rangers manager Derek McInnes, then in charge of Hearts, was given a four-game touchline ban for his comments on the same matter during a television interview.

The Ibrox club immediately announced their intention to contest the punishment.

Scott Mullen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Newcomers to Motherwell need to bring an intensity, says manager Alfred Johansson, as the club close in on more new recruits.

The Fir Park squad are going through a transition after losing star man Elijah Just, fellow midfielders Callum Slattery and Elliot Watt, and goalkeeper Calum Ward.

Those who have already been brought in have hit the ground running as Motherwell sailed past HB Torshavn on Thursday in Conference League qualifying.

But, when asked about transfer news on Friday, manager Johansson said: "We're close to bringing in a player or two.

"The players that we want to bring have to be along the same lines of the recruitments the last couple of years, which is players that fit the style of play at the club, that fit the way we want to behave and treat people here at the club.

"So players that come in, they need to fit into that, obviously. We are a team that we treat each other really well with respect and we care for each other. So people that come here, they need to fit into that.

They need to be intense in how they play their football. They need to be able to sprint for the team. They need to be able to work hard for the team."

Motherwell kick off their Scottish Premiership campaign on Sunday away to Hibernian (16:30 BST), and Johansson added: "A massive task for us, really exciting, really excited to go there and try to bring more good memories, like last year, like the players and all the people did.

"So we're going to do our best, knowing that it's a long season, of course, but we really look forward already to Sunday."

Scott Mullen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Motherwell manager Alfred Johansson has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Scottish Premiership opener at Hibernian.

Here are the key lines:

• The club are closing in on bringing in a "player or two".

• The Swede wants to consolidate the style of play established last year under Jens Berthel Askou this season "in a moment of change", with slight differences.

• He believes HJK Helsinki will offer a tougher test in Conference League qualifying than HB did in Well's 5-0 aggregate win, but remains focused on Hibs.

• The Fir Park boss is pleased Tawanda Maswanhise returned in the Faroes for some minutes after suffering a jaw injury, with the striker now catching up on his fitness.

• Johansson believes the team coped well without Maswanhise in attack despite him having an "X-Factor".

• No team news on who may return for Sunday's match with players being assessed day by day.

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We asked for your views after Motherwell won 3-0 away to HB to complete a 5-0 aggregate win and set up a Conference League third-round qualifier against HJK Helsinki.

Here are some of your comments:

James: Terrific performance by all the Motherwell players. A deserved victory, let's keep up the tempo for the season ahead.

Gilbert: What a brilliant result, now on to Helsinki.

James: Another impressive performance. Some great one-touch stuff, should have scored more, again Lukas Fadinger and Oscar Priestman ran the show. Emmanuel Longelo again looking sharp, hope to have some more experience back soon. COYW.

David: Let's not get too carried away just get, but a double clean sheet and aggregate five-goal victory is not to be sniffed at. Need some additional prowess up front but pat on the back to all at Fir Park so far.

Jim: Impressive start by Alfred Johansson given he has had to contend with injuries, loss of key players, and bedding in new signings. No secret Well fans were concerned before this tie, but last year at this time we were drawing with Clyde and sneaking past Peterhead. Not perfect and very much a work in progress but really optimistic for the season ahead.

Ally: Ibrahim Said looked unbelievable in new role. Played like a prime Messi. Hope he continues form against more tougher opposition

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• This will be Alfred Johansson's first league game in charge of Motherwell. Just two of the Steelmen's last seven managers (including caretakers) have won their first league match (losing three of them), Steven Hammell beating St Mirren 1-0 in July 2022 and Stuart Kettlewell beating the same side 2-1 in February 2023.

• Motherwell have only won their league opener in one of the last nine seasons (losing four times), beating St Mirren 1-0 in 2022-23.

• Hibernian have won their opening game in seven of the last nine Scottish Premiership seasons (losing the other two), although they have lost on the opening day in two of the last three.

• Motherwell won away to Hibs 1-0 on the final day of last season. The Steelmen are therefore looking to successive away league wins over Hibs for the first time since August 2013 – when the second win was on the opening day of the season.

• Hibs have won three of the last four occasions they have faced Motherwell on the opening day of a league season (losing the other), including both of the last two: 3-0 in 2018-19, and 3-2 in 2021-22.

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Motherwell manager Alfred Johansson: "Yes, delighted about the intensity of the team, that we managed to be brave enough to play the way that we want to play football, also away from home and obviously delighted with the result.

"All the credit to the players to be brave enough to do it away from home in Europe.

"I think it's down to two things and that's one, how we play with the ball, as we already spoke about, but I also think it's because we were really strong defensively and we put all the intensity and the aggressivity that's needed.

"So we did not let them bully us with the physicality and the long balls.

"Overall, I think we were superior in terms of chance creation against this team.

"What brought us to this point now is that we've been working really, really hard.

"And I think that when some of our players still are not ready to play 90 minutes in a game like this, then we also need to be humble enough to admit that we still have a distance to go before performing and everyone is on fire like the way we want.

"So we still have a lot of steps to take.

"But all the credit to the players after these two legs."

Motherwell smoothly progressed to the Conference League third qualifying round after a composed and professional performance away to Faroese side Havnar Boltfelag.

Read the match report here.

Have your say on the result here.

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Motherwell cannot afford to sit back on their 2-0 lead in the second leg of their Conference League second qualifying round tie away to HB Torshevn, Joelle Murray has warned.

The Hibernian women's head coach recognises it was "a very good performance" and "a good result" in the first leg at Fir Park.

That is despite "probably a bit of fearfulness from supporters" given the loss of several of last season's top performers and the absence of top scorer Tawanda Maswanhise.

"Very impressive result, but it's going to be difficult because, as has been reported all week, HB have created a fortress," Murray said on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast about the side who are unbeaten in eight home European ties since losing to Levadia Tallinn of Estonia 10 years ago.

"So it certainly won't be easy, but they've given themselves a really, really good chance and given themselves a good foundation to go into this evening's game.

"But that scoreline is probably the most difficult one in football, whether it's for you or certainly against you.

"What Motherwell can't do is go into tonight's game and try to defend the 2-0 because it just encourages pressure, it just builds momentum for HB.

"So I think they need to go over there and try and win the game. I don't think they can sit back, defend the two-goal lead and be complacent.

"They've got the quality - Maswanhise is seemingly available after his fractured jaw, Longelo available, whether it be from the start or the bench."

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Motherwell are determined not to let their European adventure end at the first hurdle after working so hard to earn the opportunity, says Emmanuel Longelo.

The Fir Park side have travelled to the Faroe Islands for the second leg of their second-round Conference League qualifier after beating HB Torshavn last week.

Well hold a two-goal advantage and left-back Longelo says they go into the game "knowing that we need to do a job".

"We worked hard to get this reward in European football, so we're never going to take it lightly," the 25-year-old added.

"It's big for me because I had only ever played in one European game before and I want to be playing in European games.

"When I was at West Ham, we played a Europa League game and lost 1-0 to Dinamo Zagreb.

"It was an amazing experience - it was one of my first starts. It was an amazing day. I still remember it.

"Motherwell want to be playing European games, so it's huge for us. The squad is feeling very good.

"Obviously we know we can't get ahead of ourselves because it's only half-time. And now we know that HB have a very strong home record.

"So we're feeling good, very confident, but we need to keep a steady head."