Fir Park hosts its first fixture of 2025 when Aberdeen visit on Sunday.
Both teams lost their matches on Thursday. For Motherwell that’s now four games without a win but Aberdeen’s winless run now stretches to nine. Who knows what will happen when sixth versus fourth in front of the Premier Sports cameras?
Stuart Kettlewell made no attempt to cushion his players after their woeful showing at Tynecastle. They were unrecognisable as the side that swept aside Rangers in the first half of last week’s game. The loss of Lennon Miller and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos can go some way to mitigate the performance but it was disappointing to see that none of those present stepped up to fill the gaps.
We'll miss him
The manager will have to fashion an eleven capable of restoring pride if he is to keep the long held top six place.
The visitors made a powerful start to the season before the spectacular collapse. Such was their early haul of points that they were in third place until their loss to Ross County in the Pittodrie blizzard.
The injury to Dimitar Mitov means that Ross Doohan will continue in the Aberdeen goal. The Dons’ defence has been more than a little leaky of late with ten conceded in the last four games. At the other end reliance has shifted to Kevin Nisbet but there is the possibility that he may recalled to Watford, his home club.
The prize of three points will ensure a scrap between two sides searching for form. The result may depend more on determination and hard work than on silky skill. Kettlewell has a habit of producing a recovery after a slump so, with fingers crossed, we’ll plump for a home win, 2-1.