09/08/2025 – MOTHERWELL (H)

Occasionally a 0-0 draw can be an exciting match, where goals sadly evade teams in an open match. This wasn’t one of those rarities, and the match on Saturday was perfectly summed up by the final score.

In truth, we never really got going. We started strangely passively and looked lethargic, something the manager was equally puzzled with after the match, and had no real explanation for.

The opposition of course could be a reason for this, and Motherwell have a new manager, the Danish coach Jens Berthel Askou, and he appears to be straight from the school of Pep Guardiola as possession is the number one aim of his team.

Unfortunately for Motherwell, it was possession just for the sake of possession, and despite 67% of it, they created no chances in open play and had 2 attempts the entire match, however Saints struggled to get to grips with this approach without doubt.

Saints, despite being nowhere near our best, did carve out good chances, however. O’Hara scuffed a great opportunity from 5 yards over the bar after only a couple of minutes, after Killian Phillips had won a couple of headers in the swirling wind that undoubtedly contributed to the poor match.

Phillips and O’Hara were joined in midfield by an old face, that of Keanu Baccus, who returned to Saints during the week after a season at Mansfield Town. It gives Stephen Robinson an extremely strong midfield three, and once the correct balance is found they will be as good as any trio in the country, in our opinion.

Back to the match, and although Saints improved in the second half, we still didn’t reach the standards we know is possible. Despite this, we still created the only chances in the half from open play.

Evan Mooney, who came on at half time and once more looked sharp, instinctively poked his left foot at a driven cross a few yards out early in the second period, but he couldn’t control the shot due to the pace of the ball, and diverted it wide.

Alex Gogic then had probably the best chance of the match when Conor McMenamin picked him out with a fine right foot cross, but the wind caught the ball late meaning the Colossal Cypriot mistimed his header slightly and the Motherwell keeper, Ward, pushed it over.

After this, Baccus drove into the box and smashed a left foot shoot goalward, however again the ‘Well keeper diverted it away. Following this, Phillips and Baccus both had long range efforts that tested Ward, without ever making him work that hard though, it has to be conceded.

At the other end, Shamal George turned wide a long range Slattery free kick in the 2nd half, adding to his near post block from Maswanhise in the first half. This was as close as it got for Motherwell, who were well organised and neat in possession without ever offering a threat.

This was Shamal George’s first shut out for the club, hopefully many more will follow, and his job was undoubtedly helped by a fine debut from Migual Freckleton at left centre back, who strolled through the match as though he’d played for the club for years.

With the focus very much on our midfield after Baccus returning, the strength and depth of our defence shouldn’t be overlooked, even with Alex Iacovitti returning to Ross County during the week.

This leaves probably the forward line slightly behind the rest of the squad in terms of depth and quality. We know one thing however, the manager will be tirelessly looking at options in that area, and maybe by next week, we’ll see another forward run out in black and white…………….

Back to yesterday, though. It wasn’t anywhere near a classic of course, but we are now unbeaten in 8 home matches in all competitions. We’ve also only been beaten once in the previous 12 games home or away, which was last week at Parkhead. We’re on the right path to something exciting again this season, in our opinion.

Next week we face Hearts in the League Cup at Paisley. Our old foe and jinx, Derek McInnes, is of course in charge of the Tynecastle side. The last time he was in Paisley, earlier this year, he was lucky to escape with a 5-1 hiding as Saints ran riot. Whether this result consigned the hoodoo to history, remains to be seen, but if you can, get down and roar the side to the quarter finals!

COYS!

Motherwell Players of the Match:

5 points – Miguel Freckleton

3 points – Alex Gogic

1 point – Shamal George

Check our the Player of the Season race here –

PLAYER OF THE SEASON 2025/26