Motherwell

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Jens Berthel Askou is relishing the challenge of dealing with tricks from Premiership rivals, saying it keeps his Motherwell side "on their toes".

The Steelmen are unbeaten in nine league matches and occupy fourth in the Premiership before Saturday's visit of Dundee.

When asked if he felt like they now had a target on their backs, Askou said: "I think we felt that quite early, actually.

"Was it the second game in the league where we went to, actually a very nice pitch at St Mirren, but they decided not to water it because that was probably in their favour. Or they at least felt that was in their favour.

"So we've experienced that from more or less day one that clubs are doing whatever they can. Moving the balls behind the goals further out towards the corner flag so we can't start fast from goal-kicks, stuff like that.

"That's just something for us to see if we can up our level. So it doesn't really matter what they do and what they try to do to compete with us.

"We also try to see what little details are important against any opposition, where we can find a little idea or a little trick where we can get an advantage against the opposition.

"I think it's only fair and expected that everyone will try and do that against us.

"Not many teams have the approach that we have, which means that often when we play teams, they change up their normal approach a little bit, either formation-wise or in terms of their basic ideas and how they want to attack the game.

"And I welcome that, I think it's good. It keeps us and everyone on their toes. There's been some thoughts put into how to be competitive against each other. So I think that's a good thing for the league in general."

Motherwell have kept five consecutive clean sheets but have drawn three of those matches and the Dane is working to ensure they can break teams down.

"We are working hard to make sure that no matter what plan they come up with, A, B, C, D, E, F and so on, we have a better one," he said.

"Sometimes we have. Sometimes we haven't quite been able to be as dominant as we would like and create as many open chances. That is something we are constantly working on improving."

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With 13,050 touches in the league so far this season, Motherwell top the Premiership charts.

The team closest to them, Celtic, have taken 12,810 touches, with Hearts and Rangers behind them on 11,122 and 11,735 respectively.

Motherwell - who have impressed as a possession-based team under Jens Berthel Askou - are also top for forward passes (3,079) in the Premiership.

Celtic are next on 2,844, then it's Hearts with 2,687 and Falkirk on 2,646.

In fact, Motherwell midfielder Elliot Watt has played the most passes into the final third (227) of any Premiership player this term.

And he is fourth for forward passes (442) behind Celtic's Liam Scales, St Mirren goalkeeper Shamal George and Dundee goalkeeper Jon McCracken.

Dundee manager Steven Pressley believes Motherwell as well as Hearts are the Scottish Premiership's shining lights this term. (Record), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Jenna Thomson
Fan writer

St Mirren's triumph over Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup final should act as inspiration for Motherwell.

There is no reason to think it can't be us lifting the Scottish Cup in the summer and potentially finishing in the top three.

It is almost Christmas and yet here we are in fourth, only two points behind Rangers and five adrift of Celtic.

I know we can't get too far ahead of ourselves, but this is the most interesting the top end of the table has been for years.

If things stay the same and Hearts win the league, St Mirren have already won the League Cup, and if a non-Glasgow team is able to clinch the Scottish Cup it'll be a season for the history books.

As much as I am a Motherwell fan first and Scottish football supporter second, if we give the Old Firm a run for their money it can only be good for the game.

Watch Sportscene pundit Stephen Craigan discuss Motherwell's season so far following a goalless draw at Tannadice on Saturday.

Watch the highlights from Dundee United's goalless draw at home to Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership.

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Dundee United's winless run stretched to seven, while Motherwell made it seven games unbeaten, in a largely forgetful Scottish Premiership draw at Tannadice.

Read the full match report here.

Have your say here.

Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou: "We never really peaked today in our performance. Defensively, solid again.

"We didn't really find our speed in the game enough. We didn't have enough moments in the game where we accelerated the game that we wanted.

"It got better in the second half. We tried to push up the tempo a little bit but we just lacked the quality in the final third in the decisive moments. There were a few, not enough and not big ones.

"It's a clean sheet away and we'll take another point."

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Calum Ward has signed a contract extension until summer 2027 after showing "fantastic progression" as Motherwell's first-choice goalkeeper this season.

The 25-year-old joined in February on a short-term deal amid an injury crisis but did not make an appearance last term.

He then signed a one-year contract in the summer and, with Aston Oxborough out injured, has overcome a rocky start to keep 10 clean sheets in 21 outings.

"Calum has really taken his chance this season and shown fantastic progression since the summer," manager Jens Berthel Askou said.

"He has all the qualities we are looking for in a goalkeeper. His quality and composure in the build-up have been of massive importance to us.

"Seven clean sheets in the league so far this season indicate a very strong relationship between the goalkeeper and the players in front of him, and I'm really happy that we can now build on that going forward."

Ward's new contract comes with a club-held option for a further year.

"Results have been going well and performances have been strong," said Ward.

"The future is exciting. The manager and all the coaching staff have worked so hard to get us to this point and we're improving as people every day. It's a pleasure to be involved."

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Dundee United welcome back Max Watters and Julius Eskesen but Krisztian Keresztes is suspended and Dario Naamo, Pan Camara (hamstring), Isaac Pappoe (knee) and Yevhen Kucherenko (calf) are out injured.

Motherwell midfielder Andy Halliday is still working his way back to fitness while Filip Stuparevic (knee), Aston Oxborough (hand), Sam Nicholson (knee), Zach Robinson (Achilles), Jordan McGhee and Eseosa Sule (both thigh) remain out.

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Elijah Just has been taken aback by Motherwell's success - even though he was already well versed in Jens Berthel Askou's methods.

The Steelmen sit third after an eight-match unbeaten league run and will move three points behind Celtic if they beat Dundee United on Saturday.

New Zealand attacking midfielder Just was signed by Askou at both Danish side Horsens - where they fought relegation - and Motherwell.

Just said: "The situation I was in with the manager last time I worked with him was very different from now.

"Obviously I spoke to him a lot before I signed. But everything he spoke to me about has come true.

"I've been pleasantly surprised and I think exceeded my own expectations of what the season was going to be like.

"But there's a long way to go and I think the true test will be how we fare over the next few months to really see what the table will end up looking like.

"Of course, you always look at the table. But the teams are so close together at the moment that, it might look nice now where we are, but in two or three weeks, it can change drastically.

"So we are just focusing on each game and then by the end of the season, I think you'll get a fair representation of where we belong."

Just has an added incentive to maintain his and his team's form with the World Cup looming next summer.

The 25-year-old has scored eight goals in 40 internationals and is on course to face Belgium, Egypt and Iran in North America.

"I didn't enjoy watching the actual draw, but when they finally pulled the names out of the hat, it was exciting," he said.

"We were the last team drawn out, so we had to wait a while.

"But after the draw, things have started to feel a little bit more real. We only have one more window in March before the actual World Cup so there's a lot of incentive to play well."

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• Dundee United have won four of their past six home league games against Motherwell (L2), as many as their previous 12 beforehand (W4 D4 L4).

• Motherwell have won five of their past seven games against Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership (L2), as many as their previous 19 prior (W5 D4 L10).

• Dundee United are winless in six Scottish Premiership games (D3 L3), their longest run within a single season in the competition since April 2023 (11).

• Motherwell are unbeaten in eight league games (W5 D3), their longest run within a single season since April 2013 (also 8).

• The Steelmen last enjoyed a longer unbeaten run within a single league campaign in March 2010 (12).

• Motherwell haven't conceded in four successive league games, last going on a longer run of clean sheets in February 2010 (5).

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Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou insists it has been "extremely satisfying" to see existing players prove they can flourish in his bold style of play.

While new signings such as Elijah Just and Elliot Watt have been key in Motherwell's evolution to a slick passing side, Askou's methods have reaped rewards with players who were already at Fir Park.

Premiership Player of the Month Tawanda Maswanhise has 12 goals already this season - double the total he got last term - and the often underappreciated Stephen O'Donnell was serenaded by the Fir Park fans after a man-of-the-match performance in last Saturday's 3-0 win over Livingston.

The starting line-up in that game featured eight players who were signed before Askou's arrival.

"In general it's been pleasing that players that some would have maybe written off and said, 'no, that type of football is not for him', that they have managed to actually be really, really good and strong players in what we're doing," said the Dane.

"That has been extremely fulfilling and satisfying for them as individuals, but especially for us as a club and as a group, that a lot of the players who were already here have been thriving in this, which means we don't have five, six, seven players that have been left behind by the development.

"There's always one or two that might be caught on the wrong side of the competition, who need to move on when the next window of opportunity comes, and then we'll see.

"But it's very, very few, and it's not like we have players who have not done well. When they have played or when they are in training, they all look comfortable and really good, and I think that has been extremely satisfying."

Motherwell are now unbeaten in eight Premiership games and sit third before Saturday's trip to face Dundee United.

Askou said: "The key thing is not to dwell on that and think we're fantastic because we've had a good run.

"It's going to be harder and harder to win games the more you win, and we also know that the team we are playing on Saturday is a very good team who have not had the results that I think they're worth as a group."

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Jim Goodwin is hoping Dundee United can transform their fortunes against a Motherwell side he describes as "the most in-form team in the league".

While Motherwell are up to third with an eight-game unbeaten league run, United are enduring "the toughest period" of Goodwin's tenure.

The Tannadice side, currently in eighth place, have just one victory in 10 games and are seeking a first win in seven this weekend.

"It's only natural when you're on the type of run that we're on that your confidence is going to take a bit of a hit," manager Goodwin said.

"But we believe in what we're doing. We are going through, probably, the toughest period that I've experienced during my time as United manager.

"Football is not a bed of roses all the time, you've got to find a way to get through these difficult periods."

United are now tasked with overcoming a visiting Motherwell side that Goodwin feels have been "totally transformed" under new boss Jens Berthel Askou.

The Steelmen defeated United 2-0 at Fir Park in late October and have lost just twice in 16 league outings.

"It's quite a remarkable transformation and he deserves a huge amount of credit," the Irishman added.

"Given results, and where Motherwell are sitting in the table, I imagine there's people all over Europe taking notice.

"Motherwell are the most in-form team in the league. The new manager has been incredible in terms of their playing style and they're as difficult an opponent as you can face at this moment in time.

"But we have to believe we're capable of winning the game. We didn't do ourselves justice at Fir Park, the second half was a lot better from us, so we have to make sure we start this game the way we did in the second 45 over there."

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Motherwell forward Tawanda Maswanhise has been confirmed in Zimbabwe's squad for the Africa Cup of Nations and will depart after this weekend's game against Dundee United.

The 23-year-old is the joint top scorer in the Scottish Premiership this season with eight goals in 16 appearances, helping Jens Berthel Askou's side to occupy third spot.

Zimbabwe are in Group B at AFCON where they will play Egypt (22 December), Angola (26 December) and South Africa (29 December) in Morocco.

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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Tawanda Maswanhise believes Motherwell's Jens Berthel Askou has the ability to reach the level of his former Leicester managers Enzo Maresca and Brendan Rodgers.

The Zimbabwe forward was a product of the English side's youth academy and worked under current Chelsea head coach Maresca and ex-Celtic boss Rodgers during his time with the first team.

Despite making just one senior appearance for the club, Maswanhise gained valuable experience working under both coaches before making his move to Motherwell in August last year.

The 23-year-old has already had three different managers at Fir Park, but current boss Jens Berthel Askou is receiving heaps of praise for implementing a brave and exciting brand of football in Lanarkshire.

With the side third in the Scottish Premiership amid an eight-game unbeaten run, Askou is demonstrating in impressive fashion that he can punch above his weight while successfully coaching an attractive style.

When asked if he can see the Dane potentially reaching the level of a Maresca or Rodgers, Maswanhise told BBC Scotland: "Yeah, I can see that type of thing. With those two managers, I'd say he's similar.

"Every manager's got their own system. In pre-season, we just needed time to work on it. It's clearly paying off right now, we're third in the league.

"We're competing with the top teams in Scotland. If we can keep doing this, maybe we'll see ourselves on a European tour next season."

Read more: Maresca, Salah & Motherwell - story of Maswanhise's rise

Motherwell forward Tawanda Maswanhise has been named Scottish Premiership player of the month for November after rising to the top of the scoring chart.

The 23-year-old Zimbabwe international netted three times in four league appearances and is joint leading scorer on eight goals for the season with Hearts' Lawrence Shankland.

Helped by Maswanhise's contributions - a double in the 3-1 win at Kilmarnock and penalty in 2-0 victory over Hibs - the Steelmen remained undefeated during November with two wins and two draws.

"I'm absolutely buzzing to pick up this award," Maswanhise said.

"It's my name on the trophy, but this is a team game, and the way the full squad has contributed to our recent success has been impressive.

"We're all together in this dressing room and I'm delighted with the way things have been going this season.

"We're hoping we can continue that form well into December and the new year."

Jenna Thomson
Fan writer

The high-flying Steelmen did it again.

Another three points gathered means we remain third and if things continue we may just stay there.

It's not just on the pitch where Motherwell are doing great work. Saturday marked the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and in true Motherwell fashion we ensured our community offered a safe space for disabled fans to enjoy the game.

We have always had the wheelchair shelter next to the Phil O'Donnell stand. However, bringing technology that allowed blind supporters to be able to actually see what was happening on the pitch is life changing.

As someone with family members that have varying degrees of sight loss, knowing these special augmented reality headsets are an option is mind blowing.

I would never have known this technology existed if it wasn't for the awareness the Well Society and the club's Disabled Supporters Association brought to it.

Motherwell is one of the greatest clubs in the country for what they do for the people of the local community regardless if they are a fan or not.

Outside of having facilities for blind supporters and fans with mobility issues they also released videos of the mascot using sign language. In a society where accessibility can be overlooked it makes an enormous difference.

One thing I will always be proud of is the club truly puts their money where their mouth is when it comes to making sure the people come first.

Motherwell continued their superb league form with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Livingston on Saturday.

Jens Berthel Askou made seven changes to his starting line-up, but there was no drop in performance level as they made it eight games without defeat and four successive clean sheets.

Sportscene pundit Richard Foster is impressed by the depth Askou has built at Fir Park.

"Motherwell have invested in their squad - they have a lot of quality and depth," he said.

"The way they play - they want to get the ball down and pass it - and that pitch is the best in the league, so it works out really well."