'WELL SUNGLASSES Buy on-line for just £6.00

5.25pm

This afternoon's match against Livingston at Fir Park ended in a hard-fought 1-1 draw.  Terry Butcher yet again named an unchanged starting eleven, with Alex Burns having to settle for a place on the bench.

Motherwell started the better side and took the lead after 28 mins when David Clarkson spectacularly curled a shot into the top corner from around 20 yards out.   However, we were unable to hold on to our lead until the interval, with Lilley equalising for the visitors 10 mins later with a low shot from the edge of the box.

The second half was quite open at times, although neither goalkeeper was called into action on too many occasions.  Motherwell had the ball in the net twice, but both times the linesman had already flagged.  Clarkson somehow failed to connect with a Craig cross in what was probably our best opportunity of the half, and Livi also had a few decent efforts which kept Gordon Marshall on his toes.  We pressed for a winner late on, and Stevie Hammell twice went close with long range efforts, but in the end had to settle for a point.

I suppose that after our recent excellent performances, today's showing was a bit of a disappointment.  I thought we were the better side throughout, and had we played with the same urgency we showed in the closing stages for the entire 90 mins we would surely have come away with the three points.  Yet again when playing Livingston we thumped far too many high balls up the park, which were easily dealt with by Marvin Andrews. Maybe one of these days we'll learn.  That said, a point isn't exactly the end of the world as it keeps our unbeaten run going and moves us 17 points clear of Partick Thistle with a game in hand.

Team (4-4-2): Marshall, Corrigan, Partridge, Craigan, Hammell, Lasley, Adams, Leitch, Pearson, Craig, Clarkson (Burns 70). 
Subs not used: Dair, Corr, Quinn, Fagan. 

Booked: Clarkson.

Attendance: 6,540.

Yesterday's Daily Record reported that the Motherwell's move to come out of administration has been delayed as we have decided to appeal against the £700,000 debt owed to the players made redundant.  Initially the club said they would not content the findings of the SPL tribunal who ruled the players were entitled to compensation for lost wages.  However, the case has now been put before the SFA.

Wigan are reported to be interested in Stevie Hammell.  

And still on the subject of Hammy, the Motherwell left-back played for Scotland Under-21s in their 1-0 win over Croatia at Easter Road on Tuesday night.  Sadly, the young Scots failed to qualify for the European Championship finals next summer, with Croatia winning 2-1 on aggregate.

The latest on the Phil O'Donnell situation from Terry Butcher:
"We are not desperate to sign Phil and he is not desperate to sign for us, we are both keeping our options open. As a result of his injuries at Celtic and Sheffield Wednesday he will take time to gt back to the pace of the Scottish game.   We are currently talking to the SFA to allow us to play him in an Under 21 game, he is now getting used to the tempo of our training and he is coming through with flying colours with his touch getting better all the time but there are no deadlines."

On Stevie Hammell's future, TB added:
"Steven is keeping his options open, but along with Stephen Pearson he is a gifted young player, whose heart is at Motherwell and is desperate to do well for the club. If I noticed anything that was any different I wouldn’t play them."

Cast your vote in our new Opinion Poll:

How will YOU remember John Boyle's tenure as Motherwell chairman?