Motherwell

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Motherwell manager Alfred Johansson has been speaking to the media ahead of their trip to face Kilmarnock this weekend.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• After a run of four consecutive losses, Johansson recognises the character in the squad to maintain a positive outlook throughout the squad: "I think here I see a group of people coming into work with a smile on their faces, working really, really hard, both staff and players. So obviously that's not always easy when you don't win, so I think it shows even more character and speaks loud about the personalities and the commitment that we have around this place."

• On what needs to be improved, he adds: "I think our intensity and how we protect our own box needs to be improved. I think we need to press with more togetherness, so that's two things in the basics that we need to improve. I think we need to play a little bit more forward in the offensive half of the pitch, putting more bodies inside the box when we attack."

• Johansson says that while every team, in every season, will have ups and downs, he admits four straight defeats were not expected, but insists Motherwell are still building a strong team: "So am I surprised? No, I'm not. Did I think that we were going to lose four games in a row? No, but obviously, knowing that we will not just bring 11 new players in and then go on and consistently win all the games and be in the top [of the league] straight away. That's not how football works," going on to add, "If you could do that, then everyone would just do that. So we are still building something here. We're building a team."

• However, he knows that he cannot ask the fans to be patient: "I'm never going to ask supporters for patience because what they're thriving off of is their passion. And passion is an emotion. It's a feeling. It's instant," adding, "They should be happy when we win and they are allowed to be angry and disappointed when we lose. Simple as that. They need to be behind the team."

• On whether or not he would be happy to start winning games while sacrificing the performances on the park, he says: "You can't say win or play the way that we want to play. It doesn't make any sense. So what we do is we have a philosophy, we want to play in this way because we believe that that's the best way for us to win. So if we do something else, we have fewer chances of winning."

• Johansson welcomes back Johnny Koutroumbis and hopes the injury list will continue to go down in the next few weeks: "I believe Johnny Koutroumbis will be available for selection, and we wait for other guys for the next couple of weeks. We will look better in a couple of weeks."

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• Motherwell's Emmanuel Longelo has created the most chances of any player without an assist yet in this season's Scottish Premiership (14), while also ranking joint-fourth for most shots without scoring (12).

• Motherwell have lost four consecutive Scottish Premiership league games for the first time since February 2025 (5 in a row). It wasn't until their 29th league match of last season that the Steelmen suffered their fourth defeat.

• Kilmarnock have the joint-fewest points (1, level with Hibernian), joint-fewest goals (2, level with Aberdeen), and most goals conceded (11) at home of any side in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Motherwell have won three of their last four Scottish Premiership matches against Kilmarnock (D1), as many as their previous 12 beforehand (W3 D5 L4).

• Kilmarnock have lost both of their last two league games against Motherwell, last losing three in a row in September 2017.

Jenna Thomson
Fan writer

After what has felt like an eternity, the first international break is over and the real football has returned.

For as long as I can remember Motherwell have never been the best team to watch for the first game after a break, and Sunday proved that further.

People will sensationalise the result and vilify certain players, and even the manager, however, I think we need to keep a clear head with our criticism after a 2-0 loss to Celtic.

Was the strongest team selected? Absolutely not. Should Ibrahim Said have been brought on at half-time? Yes. Is losing 2-0 to Celtic a terrible result? Absolutely not.

When you take the claret and amber glasses off and look at the game, it is not as bad as it appears. Tactically and team-sheet wise as mentioned, we were miles off and Alex Paulsen stopped it from becoming a cricket score.

Now don't get me wrong, Celtic weren't exactly playing world class either, but they had a bigger point to prove than what we did after the humblings they experienced against Rangers and in Europe.

If I have said it once in this column I must've said it a million times. Bad results against Celtic are not what define our seasons.

Our recent results are grim, there is no denying that, and we need to bounce back fast. Going away to a struggling Kilmarnock side where their manager is under a lot more pressure than ours may just give us the boost we need to stop flirting with the drop zone.

At this stage I am not scared that we will remain so low down the table for very long. The season is only three months old. If we are still floating around ninth to 12th in February, then I'll start to panic.

No-one was ever going to truly be able to replicate what Jens did last season, and that is OK.

It's panic stations for a lot of fans, which I can understand to a slight extent, but I do genuinely believe if we as a fanbase take a step back and breathe, we'll realise it is not as bad as it appears.

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Willy Vogt's hard work in training earned him a place in the Motherwell starting XI for Sunday's defeat to Celtic, manager Alfred Johansson revealed, after some fans were left bemused by the out-of-form winger's inclusion.

The 24-year-old, a summer signing from Swiss club Bellinzona, was handed his first start in two months on the right side as Johansson's men looked to end a losing run that has now stretched to four games.

However, the forward underwhelmed once again in his 13th appearance since joining the club and was substituted to the sound of sarcastic cheers and boos from some home supporters at Fir Park.

Asked why Vogt had started ahead of Ibrahim Said and Tawanda Maswanhise, Johansson replied: "It's just, from the last couple of weeks, how we've been seeing it in training.

"We believe we picked the right starting XI. And that's why Willy played. He's been working really hard, looking much better in training in the past couple of weeks. It's a competition for spots and we went with Willy.

"I think we struggled on our right side, in the low block and in the medium block, and in the high pressing, which is something we need to look at."

Sunday's 2-0 defeat means Motherwell have scored just once in their past four matches, and Johansson believes his side rushed the final pass when they reached promising positions.

"The last pass and the coolness in that moment needs to be improved in that first half," he added.

"That is probably natural when you're in a moment now where you have lost a couple of games. You force things a little bit at times."

Motherwell fans, we asked for your views after Sunday's Scottish Premiership defeat to Celtic.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Michael: We're giving the ball away far too easily, the movement off the ball is poor, the formation isn't working and the tactics are all wrong. We started the season with a massive injury list yet somehow looked a far better side than we do now. We've had three weeks to prepare for this game and that's the performance we produce? Nowhere near good enough.

Graeme: Yet again terrible. Wrong tactics and formation from a manager who is looking out his depth.

George: Our worst performance of the season. We seemed unable to press when out of possession, which simply afforded Celtic time on the ball. I confess I'm at a loss to understand what Willy Vogt brings to the team, as he seems unwilling to take his man on or put in a cross - seems to have little confidence.

Taylor: Not the worst performance you will see this season and those calling for the manager's head are a tad premature, however if Willy Vogt is a professional football player then I am the King of France. Gave nothing for 58 minutes and then replaced with Ibrahim Said (who should have started) who gave more in two minutes than Willy did the full game. Need to find something in the final third and we will start to click like last season.

Rhona: Really disappointing overall performance. I can accept defeat by a better team but the apparent lack of fight and determination is a big concern. After a three week break I'd have expected more of an appetite for the match. Could have been 10-0, the keeper kept the scoreline respectable.

Alistair: The first real concerns over our manager's capabilities are starting to surface. Opting to play Vogt, who has failed to show he can play at this level in any of his appearances, ahead of Said poses a question on player assessment. We remain toothless up front and while the possession style of last season appears to be the preferred blueprint, we are failing to execute it in a manner that produces positive outcomes.

Watch all the highlights as Celtic ended their three-game losing run with a comfortable 2-0 victory at Motherwell as the hosts' winless streak continues. Available to UK users only.

Celtic returned to the top of the Scottish Premiership and recovered from their pre-international break woes with a comprehensive victory at Motherwell.

Read the match report

Have your say

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Motherwell manager Alfred Johansson tells BBC Scotland: "We are the second best team today. Celtic are better than us.

"We were not sharp enough in and around their box. Second half, we started okay, then you concede the second goal in the way we did. After that, we tried to be positive and we created a couple of chances. When the game opens up like that, they look dangerous in transition.

"Some of the things that did work well was that we played more forward, we found Seb Palmer-Houlden in behind. I didn't think our counter-press was particularly good, or that our high press was good.

"[Goalkeeper] Alex Paulsen played a really good game. Still, from the good sequences we had, we need to create more chances from these moments. We are still lacking the last pass - that's something we need to continue to work on.

"Motherwell has a clear football philosophy. This is something I and the players are fully behind. Building a new team is not done overnight. We will get more players back from injury, young players will grow, but we will not change anything [in terms of style]."

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Motherwell boss Alfred Johansson reported no fresh injury concerns following the international break.

Defender Dylan Williams, though, is facing a spell on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring issue.

Forward Regan Charles-Cook is stepping up his recovery but will not be ready for Sunday.

Celtic winger Jota could return after almost 18 months out injured but Cameron Carter-Vickers is a doubt and Yang Hyun-jun, Alistair Johnston (hamstring) and Callum Osmand (ankle) are set to remain sidelined.

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Motherwell boss Alfred Johansson hopes his squad have been able to "clear their heads" over the international break and refocus for a return to Premiership action against leaders Celtic.

After a largely positive start to the new campaign under the Swede, who took over from Jens Berthel Askou in June, the Steelmen have lost their last three games.

However, Johansson feels the break - which also featured a bounce game in Bolton for players not away with their countries - will have provided just the reset needed to go again.

"Everyone that has been at home has been working really hard and the players that come back now are also hopefully boosted with confidence from playing with the national team," Johansson said.

"For us it was good to get some time off in the beginning to clear your heads, everyone, players, staff, myself included. After that, being able to get two good training weeks with the group has been beneficial for sure."

Johansson wants his players to be brave when Martin O'Neill's side visit Fir Park on Sunday looking to avoid what would be a fourth straight loss.

"We need to be a strong collective defensively and aggressive when we press," the Motherwell boss said. "We need to be covering each other's back when they are a bit more direct – and we also need to be brave to play because if not, you can go wrong in these games.

"We need to be brave to show the quality we have as well and the team has been doing that at times this season, so why not?"

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Motherwell manager Alfred Johansson has been speaking to the media before the Premiership match with Celtic at Fir Park on Sunday (12:00 BST).

Here are the main points:

• The break was "beneficial", with those not involved in international duty taking part in two "really good weeks of training" and a bounce game against Bolton. Johansson adds it was good to get some time off in the beginning to "clear their heads" before returning to training.

• Dylan Williams has picked up a hamstring injury and will be out for a couple of weeks. Regan Charles-Cook's fitness is still being managed and he won't be available for Sunday.

• With Motherwell on a three-game losing run, the Swede says his side need to "be always intense in everything that we do. When things are going well and not so well".

• On Celtic, the Fir Park boss admits at being bemused by some of the "ridiculous" criticism they're getting after three successive defeats. "I don't understand these things in football," he says. "If you check now the stats from the league, they are smashing almost all of them in the Premiership. The amount of quality they have in their squad, the amount of talent, they're a good team. Let's just stop there and let's not be ridiculous."

• Motherwell will need to be "brave" on the ball against Martin O'Neill's side, with Johansson adding "we need to be aggressive when we press and cover each other's back".

• Johansson's Rosenborg side faced current Celtic striker Kasper Hogh "many times" during his Bodo/Glimt career and rates him as a "really, really good player".

• Celtic lost their last league match 1-0 to Rangers; only once before have they suffered successive league defeats under Martin O'Neill, doing so in May 2001.

• Celtic have won their past six away league games, while the last side to win 7+ in a row on the road in the Scottish Premiership were the Hoops themselves from April to December 2024 (10).

• Motherwell have won just one of their past 34 league matches against Celtic (D5 L28), although that was a 2-0 victory in December last season.

• Celtic have won 11 of their past 12 league visits to Motherwell (L1), scoring 2+ goals in each victory.

• Motherwell have lost their past three league games, their longest losing run since suffering five successive defeats in January/February 2025.

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

Are underlying numbers from the start of the Scottish Premiership season suggesting a refreshed approach could be taking hold across the league?

Well, the success stories at Motherwell and Falkirk last season seem to have had an influence.

Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin was humble enough to reveal that Jens Berthel Askou - now head coach at Toulouse in Ligue 1 - has inspired him to change his ways after more than 15 years as a player and manager in Scotland.

Goodwin's side are one of a number of Premiership teams to have undergone a stylistic shift this term, and that is reflected in the league's overall numbers, albeit the sample size remains small after just seven matches for each club.

Compared with the previous five Scottish top-flight seasons, passes per game have soared to 886. That is an increase of 58 on last term. Five years ago, the average was 795.

Passing accuracy is also at a high of 81%, which is quite a remarkable increase on the 73% recorded in 2023-24.

That is down to more short passing. The percentage of long passes across the league (13%) is now at its lowest level of the past five years. Perhaps surprisingly, Hearts and Rangers go long more than any other teams.

Goodwin's United, meanwhile, have gone from average possession of 42% last term to 50% this season. Their accurate passes per match have rocketed from 219 to 320.

It is a similar story for St Mirren under Craig McLeish and Neil McCann's Kilmarnock, while league leaders Celtic and Alfred Johansson's Motherwell are locked at the top of the possession chart on 61%.

The promotion of St Johnstone back into the league, replacing Livingston, has added another side who aim to play a more expansive brand.

The recent appointment of Dutch head coach Marink Reedijk at Hibernian will only enhance that.

Read more: Why early-season data points to Premiership style shift

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Motherwell manager Alfred Johansson does not "buy" that there's a crisis at Sunday's opponents Celtic.

The reigning Scottish Premiership champions and current leaders travel to Fir Park having lost three games in a row, one each in the League Cup, Europa League and Premiership.

"I find it quite strange when the team that is number one in the table, they lose a couple of games and then it's a crisis," Johansson told Sky Sports. "I don't buy it.

"The team that we'll face on Sunday is so talented. They have so much quality in their team and in their staff so obviously it's going to be a very tough game and we need to make sure that we are the best version that we can be rather than thinking about them, so that's going to be our task.

"We expect the atmosphere to be great. We expect two teams that want to play football on the pitch. Massive, exciting."

Well themselves have lost three in a row and Johansson hopes his side can get their strategy right in order to play with bravery.

"We need to make sure that everyone knows exactly what to do and we need to gel all these new relationships together and they need to understand everyone," he explained.

"We need to be, as a team, intense in the way that we defend, intense in the way that we press, intense in the way that we protect our own box.

"We need to make sure that we play with a lot of movement. We're a mobile team.

"Then we can be brave to play our way with deep runs, with movement between lines and all of that."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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BBC Sport Scotland has been taking a look at away ticket pricing in Scottish football.

It is an issue which has been tackled at the highest level south of the border, with a £30 away ticket cap having been in operation in the Premier League for a decade.

Nothing like that is in place in Scotland and doesn't appear to be on the agenda at the moment.

Nevertheless Motherwell's away ticket prices appear to stack up pretty well against the English Premier League cap.

An adult away fan going to a league game at Fir Park will pay £27, with concessions ranging from £6 to £21.

Read more: Are SPFL away tickets too expensive?

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

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In an effort to get game time, Stephen Welsh signed a loan with Mechelen in Belgium before making the move of his life to Motherwell from Celtic. He says he had one conversation with Jens Berthel Askou and he was hooked.

"Going from Celtic to Motherwell doesn't look the most brilliant move in the world, but…" it made him.

"How he coached me on and off the pitch, it was top level," Welsh recalls. "I didn't realise how good a decision it was to join Motherwell until close to the end of the season, when you start getting the recognition. I would say that's all down to how he coached me."

Players speak about Askou with something approaching awe and Welsh is no different. "He just gave me pure belief," he says. "He made the game so simple for the team and that helped me as well.

"Every single day, so detailed, how he analysed teams, how he analysed specific ways of playing against teams. The biggest influence on my career by a distance. He completely changed how my career path turned out."

The move to Swansea - his Motherwell pal EIijah Just is alongside him - was another good decision. A manager, Vitor Matos, who appreciates him. A dressing room that's talented and driven. Top of the league after eight games. So far, so good.

Watch: Welsh on Scotland, Celtic & Askou, external

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We asked you to rate Motherwell's season and tell us what Alfred Johansson should be focusing on during the international break.

Here are some of your comments:

Gary: Losing five key players and bringing in 11 new players and dealing with injury list was always going to be difficult. Season of transition and manager needs time.

James: After a bright and promising start, it's gone downhill. We were never going to win every game, but the draw at St Mirren and the three league defeats were abysmal, not so much the results, but the manner in which we lost goals and the lack of threat in attack. Unless there is a vast improvement, we could get sucked into a dogfight.

Jaime: It's been up and down. Performances have been good, mostly, especially how we played in Europe but I do think Europe quickly tired out the thin squad that we had due to all the injuries. International break has come at a good time. Refresh the tired legs and hopefully a few come back from injury as well and crack on with how we started. Not at panic stations yet.

Edward: Goals! He needs to give Eythor Bjorgolfsson a chance from the start. He's hardly played since joining. Johansson should adapt his shape to get two strikers on the pitch. Tawanda Maswanhise needs to work on his game. If Alf is a coach he must know what's needed to reawaken his goalscoring instinct.

George: New manager, new team, always a settling in period. The desire to keep the same style as last season is reassuring, and the team overall still playing good football. As is often the case in clubs at our level, finding a consistent goalscorer is the big issue. However, this can be mitigated if the rest of the team are prepared to have shots on goal. That's what I hope has been hammered home in the break.

William: Still some positive signs even if results have not been the best. Was always going to be an indifferent start after the unbelievable highs of last season.

Alan: It is unrealistic to expect a repeat of last season given the changes in players and management. There have been some good signings in midfield but we continue to lack proven strikers who can score regularly. Happy to give the team time to bed in and a top-six position must be a target. A good cup run would be a bonus.

As the extended international break continues, we want to hear your thoughts on Motherwell's opening seven games in the Scottish Premiership.

After the exciting European adventure under new boss Alfred Johansson, the Steelmen's form has faltered and they headed into the hiatus on the back of three consecutive league defeats.

There has also been a League Cup defeat to second-tier Stenhousemuir - albeit with a much-changed team - in Johansson's eventful early tenure.

How do you rate Motherwell's start to the season and why? And what should Johansson be focusing on during the extended break?

Let us know here

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Motherwell have been fined £21,500 for pitch incursions and the use of pyrotechnics in their Conference League qualifying round tie with Freiburg.

The Scottish Premiership club have been ordered to pay £4,300 by European governing body Uefa for a pitch incursion in the home leg and a further £17,200 for pyrotechnic discharges during the second leg in Germany.

Motherwell add that they have also been "officially reprimanded by the SPFL for a pitch incursion during last month's match against St Mirren in Paisley".

The Fir Park club reiterate that they called for "responsible behaviour" from supporters due to already facing significant Uefa fines and added that they are "disappointed that our recent communication appealing to supporters to act responsibly was ignored by a small minority of fans."