10pm

Killie gained revenge for Saturday's cup defeat with a 1-0 win over Motherwell at Rugby Park tonight.  Sounds like it was a poor game, but we were on course for a well deserved point until Francois Dubourdeau needlessly conceded a penalty when he elbowed Craig Dargo with only 9 mins to go, and got himself sent off in the process.  Substitute 'keeper Stevie Woods couldn't prevent Boyd scoring from the spot, a goal which condemned us to a rare defeat at Rugby Park.

Dundee Utd also lost tonight, which means we remain just one point ahead of them with Saturday's match at Tannadice looming.  Dirk Lehmann was again missing tonight, and must be regarded as a major doubt for the United match, while of course we will have both McFadden and Dubourdeau suspended, although Stevie Hammell will be back.

Tonight's team (4-4-2): Dubourdeau, Corrigan, Kinniburgh, Partridge, Cowan, Lasley, Adams (Fagan 62), Leitch, Pearson, Craig (Woods 80), Clarkson.
Subs not used: Ramsay, McDonald, Clarke.

Booked: Kinniburgh.

Sent Off: Dubourdeau

The Official Site reports that four of our promising youngsters have signed contract extensions tying them to the club until 2005.  David Clarkson, Sean Fagan, Paul Quinn and Willie Kinniburgh have all signed new two-year deals, and club administrator Bryan Jackson is quoted as saying:
"All the boys have done well and we are glad to get them signed up until summer 2005.  We like to try to reward players that come in and do well and we are delighted they have accepted.  It now means the future of the club looks bright"

Meanwhile, young Motherwell midfielder James Reilly has been named in the latest Scotland Under-17 squad.  The young Scots will travel to Wales for two friendles in February. 

Terry Butcher has revealed he hopes to complete the transfer of Nottingham Forest defender Tony Vaughan in the next few days.  He said today:
"We’re quite hopeful to get Tony signed up by midweek so he’ll be on board and available for Saturday.  Tony's keen to come to Scotland and we are keen to have him.  Tony is certainly the sort we are looking for because he is a leader, a good talker and a strong tackler.  He's a leader with experience and that's what we are short of at the moment with such a young squad."

TB went on to talk about his other new signing:
"I saw a lot of Steven Craig at Falkirk as I used to go and watch them a lot.  He impressed me when he played under Alex Totten, but he’s not had so many chances this season under Ian McCall.  I think he’ll do well for us as he’s a hungry young player."

Butcher also confirmed that Danish trialist Soren Larsen was not offered a contract, as the manager felt he was no better than the players already at the club.  However Manchester United's 19-year-old Scottish midfielder John Rankin has been linked with a loan move to Fir Park.

Motherwell have received a letter from the SFA disciplinary committee, warning us to clean up our act.  In the first half of the season we amassed six red and 55 yellow cards.  And that was BEFORE Faddy's sending off against Partick AND Dubourdeau's red card tonight!

Terry Butcher is hoping his side can build on the 1-0 cup win over Kilmarnock last week when we travel to face Dundee Utd on Saturday:
"It’s a big one on Saturday, away to Dundee United.  They beat us earlier in the season at Fir Park - and deservedly so.  We’ve got to go up there and play with the same determination and grit that we showed in the cup on Saturday.  We’ve had some good form recently and a good run in the League will get us out of trouble. Winning is a nice habit to have."

Reflecting on the cup tie, TB added:
"We’ve got a good record down there against Kilmarnock.  We’re delighted we were able to extend that record, but it was always going to be a difficult game and it proved to be that way.  It wasn’t the best football we’ve played this season, but we got the win, and I’m pleased we were able to get the clean sheet. Sometimes in the Cup it doesn’t matter how you play, as long as you progress."

However, the 'Well boss warned that Clyde will be no pushovers in the next round:
"It’s going to be a tough one. You can’t underestimate sides just because they’re in the first Division. We’ve got to look what happened to Hearts at Brockville on Saturday.  We know what it’s like to face a side from the lower divisions, as we’ve already beaten East Fife in the League Cup, which was a very difficult game on their ground.  Clyde have some good experienced players with Premier League experience, in Willie Falconer, Paul Kane, Andy Millen and the player-manager Alan Kernaghan.  They’ve got some good quality players who know what to expect from a top-flight club so it won’t be an easy game."

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