Motherwell

• St Mirren are winless in eight Scottish Premiership games against Motherwell (losing four of them) since a 1-0 victory in September 2023.

• Motherwell have won their past two league meetings with St Mirren, last winning three in a row against the Buddies in April 2015.

• St Mirren have won both of their two Premiership games in 2026-27 but have not won three in a row at any stage in the division since December 2024.

• Motherwell have won their past two away league outings, including their first this season 2-1 against Hibernian. The Steelmen last won three in a row on the road in April 2024.

• Midfielder Killian Phillips has scored in three successive Premiership appearances (four goals), including three goals in two games so far this season. The last St Mirren player to score in four consecutive top-flight appearances was Andy Dorman in April 2009.

Image source, Getty

Motherwell have paid an undisclosed fee to land highly rated Sweden Under-21 forward Jardell Kanga from Finnish top-flight club Ilves.

Kanga, 20, has signed a three-year contract with the option of a further 12 months.

He became Brommapojkarna's youngest-ever player in 2021 when making his first-team debut aged 15 in Sweden's third tier.

Kanga joined Bayer Leverkusen the following year, featuring for their youth sides, and had a loan spell at De Graafschap before a permanent move to Hammarby in his homeland two years ago.

A switch to Ilves, initially on loan, followed in April 2025 and he made 68 appearances for the Finnish club, scoring 18 goals and providing 16 assists.

"Jardell is a player I have followed closely for a number of years," said Motherwell manager Alfred Johansson.

"When Jardell was playing youth football, there were a number of occasions I tried to bring him into my team, but circumstances meant this didn't happen. I have admired his ability for years and I'm so pleased I'll finally be able to work with him.

"He arrives in Scotland with a lot of attention for what he has achieved already in football, but I know in our environment we can help him develop and grow further."

Kanga says his Fir Park move "makes a lot of sense for me", adding: "The style of play is perfect, the group of players are friendly and talented, and the club is ambitious."

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Midfielder Joe Hodge has urged Motherwell to "get rid of that losing feeling" after their European campaign was halted by Freiburg in the Conference League play-off.

Motherwell lost 7-2 on aggregate after being reduced to 10 men in both games.

"We've lost two on the bounce now", Hodge, 23, said.

"As much as it's against good opposition that's tested us, we've got to bounce back and we need to win on Sunday really, so we'll be looking to do that.

"I'm sure if we put in our best performance and play to our level, then we'll be able to do that."

Before facing St Mirren in Paisley on Sunday, Hodge admits he'll be "sore" after the Freiburg defeat but says he'll move on quickly due to the manner of the loss.

"We were well beaten, so it'll be easy to accept, but in general, no, I don't like losing," he added.

"We've got three games now, all three winnable games, so we need to go and try and get nine points."

After St Mirren away, Motherwell have a midweek home game against Dundee United before a trip to Rangers.

As well as eyeing league points, Hodge is also hoping the side can get back to playing the style of football they've become renowned for.

"We struggled across the two legs to play how we wanted for 90 minutes," he added.

"So we'll be looking to go and show that more in the next three games. We've just got to bounce back, not get too low from it, and go and try and get as many points as we can."

Image source, SNS

We asked for your views after 10-man Motherwell lost 4-1 in Germany to bow out of Europe 7-2 on aggregate to Freiburg in the Conference League play-off.

Here's what some of you said:

Robert: It's absolutely no disgrace to lose to a team like Freiburg. The boys gave everything and to score home and away shows the team that they're capable of good things in the future. If they can start defending swinging free-kicks and corners, major bonus! All in all well done boys, let's get stuck into this league now.

James: We are a team in progress and they are making it with every game. I look forward to the future, we are a very good team and will get better. My only problem is we lack height in defence, four goals in these two games all from corners.

Frazer: Held our own against a very good Freiburg team and hoping this will put us in good stead for the season. The only frustration was five of the seven goals we conceded were from pens or set-plays.

John: What if we hadn't received a red card in each leg with the scores at 1-1? Hopefully our youthful defenders will learn from the experience and become stronger, better players. Well done Motherwell and our fans, lots to be proud of.

Ian: It's okay saying Freiburg were Europa Finalists and Motherwell were "brave" but these are sounding like weak excuses for a team that were bereft of ideas. Again - for the third game in a row - the passing was poor, the inability to clear the ball from our own box gave us real problems and we looked like a team that had no confidence when pressing. It was embarrassing. I've got the feeling Alfred Johansson does not have the same presence as Jens Berthel Askou.

Dave: Over the two legs, four headed goals from set-pieces and a penalty - a worry going forward against taller teams. Work for the staff to do, other than that, no disgrace against a good German side.

Image source, SNS

Motherwell Manager Alfred Johansson tells BBC Scotland: "I think we competed really, really well for 60 minutes and after that obviously it becomes much more difficult.

"Once again and there it's about trying to protect as much as you can. Could we have done that a little bit better? Maybe in some decisive actions in our own box but I think the guys they tried everything that they had so all in all it was good for 60 minutes and then it was tough.

"Congratulations to Freiburg, they were the better team over the two legs and congratulations to my players because I think they've done really, really well.

"I don't know if it's a sore night. I bring so much good stuff from this game going forward. I think it was tough at the end that's for sure.

"Alex Paulsen's performance is really, really strong and I can point many others. I think Alex Lowry was really, really strong once again today. I think Joe Hodge, the amount of sprint metres he put in for the team defensively was impressive.

"I think Jamie Knight-Lebel has been growing a lot during those two games, both defensively but also on the ball. So I could mention many others."

Motherwell's Conference League journey is over after a rampant Freiburg side overwhelmed them 4-1 in Germany in their play-off second leg.

Trailing last season's Europa League finalists 3-1 on aggregate, Alfred Johansson's men had an almighty task to qualify for the league phase, after coming through two rounds of qualifiers to reach this stage.

Read the match report here.

Have your say on the game here.

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Defender Jamie Knight-Lebel thinks the Motherwell squad are "well equipped for the challenge" of trying to stage a remarkable comeback against Freiburg, but knows the scale of the task that awaits.

Alfred Johansson's side trail 3-1 on aggregate in their Conference League play-off, before tonight's return leg in Germany.

The Steelmen took the lead at Fir Park, before the German giants' quality told. Still, Knight-Lebel is ready to give it his all.

"It's a hard task, but we've been working hard and we know what our strengths are, what we can work on," he said.

"We've got a real good group that want to learn, take on the manager's information and focus on the small details.

"We're definitely in the right environment to take on these challenges. You could see last week, there were some really good moments in the game and we've obviously had a week to train, so we've got better.

"We'll be ready to give it our best shot."

The 21-year-old is on loan at Motherwell from English Championship side Bristol City, and despite three Canada caps, he says playing on the European stage is a "massive and new experience" for him.

"It is a bit of a surreal moment for me, being my first season in Europe," Knight-Lebel said.

"It's amazing. We're ready for the challenge and I'm confident that we've got the right people around me to introduce myself to this competition."

Jane Lewis
BBC Scotland in Germany

Image source, SNS

Motherwell manager Alfred Johansson has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Conference League play-off second leg with Freiburg in Germany, with the hosts leading 3-1.

Here are the key points:

• On the mindset going into this game given Motherwell trail by two goals, Johansson says they will try to "do our best to perform with our style of play at the top of our mind" and "to do as good as we can".

• The manager's message this week has been "we're going to try to do our thing", adding when they do that "they're at their best".

• Johansson admits he has "learned things" from the first leg and will try "to improve some bits and pieces".

• Motherwell can use Celtic's Champions League play-off defeat and a "million" similar stories as inspiration, but Johansson thinks "we're better off focusing on what we have to do".

• The players "believe we have a lot of quality and we believe that we have the capacity to do well".

• Johansson says Motherwell's weekend off could be beneficial and it was "much needed" while he is not overly worried by Freiburg's convincing win in their weekend cup match.

• Regan Charles-Cook, Stephen O'Donnell, Tom Sparrow, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos and Dylan Williams have travelled and are in contention, though the Swede says they all have to be "managed".

Image source, SNS

Motherwell have issued a plea over supporter behaviour after revealing fan-related incidents have cost the club almost £80,000 this season.

The Fir Park side are to pay £63,000 to repair HJK Helsinki's LED advertising boards, which were damaged when some visiting fans climbed over them to enter the pitch in the Conference League third-round qualifier.

That incident also brought a £12,800 fine from Uefa, who had earlier imposed a £3,400 sanction for the blocking of passageways in the John Hunter Stand at Fir Park against Havnar Boltfelag.

As Motherwell prepare for their play-off second leg against Freiburg in Germany on Thursday, the club said: "We are not targeting a specific group of supporters or anyone in particular for these matters, but if you know you jumped over the barrier, or even worse, entered the field of play, you know who you are.

"And we're asking you to please restrain yourself should another celebratory moment arise. This moment created a lot of uncertainty, and the safety of the fans was compromised, as anyone could have been injured.

"Last week during our home match at Fir Park against Freiburg, despite our calls for everyone to remain in the stands, Uefa flagged supporters jumping over the wall from the John Hunter Stand.

"Even one supporter entering the field of play is regarded by Uefa as a pitch incursion, and this is subject to an ongoing disciplinary decision. A second offence results in a minimum penalty of a further €24,000.

"We fully appreciate how big these moments are, and we can all get a bit carried away. But such behaviour is taking things too far, and it's causing a financial strain on the football club, as well as the further risk of harsher punishments growing."

Jenna Thomson
Fan writer

Scoring against the Europa League finalists a couple of minutes into the game was wonderfully unexpected.

From the first minute Fir Park was twisting, shouting and singing. It would have been easy to take a page out of Steve Clarke's book and park the bus against Freiburg.

Thankfully, we didn't. We showed no fear and we put on a noble show. Our display brings more than just pride to the fans; it brings pride to the town and Scottish football as a whole.

We may not have won but to be defeated after a questionable red card, I can live with that when you consider the calibre of team we were playing against.

I had no hope of us winning and was blase about the result as long as it didn't become a cricket score.

There is no way we will keep a clean sheet in Thursday's second leg but it is still a trip to savour for the players and the fans.

I have never been prouder than in the past 12 months to say I am a 'Well fan. Jens Berthel Askou started it all, but it is Alfred Johansson now creating fresh memories.

Motherwell have agreed a £350,000 fee with Finnish club Ives for 20-year-old midfielder Jardell Kanga, while substantial add-ons could take the price as high as £900,000. (Daily Record, external)

Read the rest of Tuesday's Scottish gossip.

Image source, Getty Images

Freiburg warmed up for Thursday's Conference League play-off second leg against Motherwell with a comprehensive German Cup victory over Dusseldorf.

Last season's Europa League finalists won 3-1 at Fir Park last week and built on that result as they put five past their cup hosts, with head coach Julian Schuster making five changes to the side that started against the Steelmen.

Lucas Holer gave Freiburg the lead on 18 minutes before two goals in four second-half minutes from Igor Matanovic and Lukas Kubler put them in total control.

Dusseldorf pulled one back through Fabian Schleusener, but Jordy Makengo and Matanovic added further gloss to the scoreline for Freiburg late on.

Motherwell did not play over the weekend, with their scheduled Premiership match against Aberdeen suspended to allow them further time to prepare for the second leg.

Image source, SNS

Motherwell manager Alfred Johansson wants his players to take learnings from their Conference League play-off against Freiburg.

Johansson's side scored inside 90 seconds in Thursday's first leg at Fir Park before falling to a 3-1 defeat.

It leaves Motherwell with a sizeable task in Germany next week, but after aggregate wins against Torshavn and HJK, Johansson believes their European campaign has been a productive one.

"They can learn so much because when you train something, whatever it is, and then at some point you face a new level, you have to do everything a little bit better," he said.

"Whether you play the guitar or chess or football, you have to do everything just a little bit better. You need to think a little bit faster, you need to decide faster, you need to execute technically with more quality, you need to move faster.

"And when you put the body into that, you will adapt. And that intensity and that level of difficulty and all of the actions that the players have done, if you go out and you do nothing and you just don't evolve yourself, you learn nothing.

"But if you go on and you try to do what we did, then that intensity and quality and everything, it sticks in your body, in your nervous system, and it's going to stay there.

"As long as you realise that that's how it works, then you will keep it and we will profit from it in the coming months, 100 per cent."

Motherwell revealed before the game they had been fined more than €20,000 so far in their European campaign.

Uefa has now issued some of the decisions relating to those fines. Motherwell were fined €4,000 (about £3,425) over blocked passageways in their home leg against HB and €15,000 (about £12,850) following a pitch invasion after they took the lead in Helsinki.

We asked for your views after 10-man Motherwell lost 3-1 at home to Freiburg in the Conference League play-off first leg.

Here are some of your comments:

Matt: Nights like this are so rare for a club like Motherwell. And the team didn't let us down. Well done to everyone involved. To take the Europa League finalists all the way is an incredible achievement. Pretty soft penalty and ridiculous red card killed the game. But to play with 10 men for half an hour and only concede with the last kick of the ball, there's a reason they're the pride of Lanarkshire.

Alan: This was always going to be a tall order against last year's Europa League finalists. A wonderful start which must have rocked the German team. We could not have asked for more! Maybe the next game will free us up to play our expansive style in Germany and continue the development of this squad with their exciting approach to football.

Jim: Best team won but the referee was shocking, not booking a number of the Germans for holding and diving. Still thought Motherwell did okay with a much depleted squad.

Craig: Cant really grumble after the game to be honest when you look at the vast difference in team stats/value. Super proud of the team. One of Europe's best playing at Fir Park, such a great atmosphere.

James: A great effort from the team but the penalty and red card changes everything. Next game will be really hard to watch but we can't give up.

Iain: Great performance. Red card was tough to take, after a soft penalty. But we didn't roll over. We'll go to Germany with some swagger and see what happens.

Ten-man Motherwell gave last season's Europa League runners-up Freiburg a real fright at Fir Park before the Bundesliga side ultimately won by a two-goal margin in this Conference League play-off tie.

Read the match report here.

Have your say on the game here.

Image source, SNS

Motherwell manager Alfred Johansson: "It's a mixture of disappointment and being proud.

"I think we spoke before the game that we wanted to see a team with a certain strong mentality, a certain bravery to play our game, and I think we saw that today.

"I think the start to the first half was brilliant.

"Then we have a period where we are a little bit too protective, which then ends with us actually turning it around again for the end of the first half, which I think was impressive from the players.

"I think the start to the second half is good.

"Then obviously some things happen throughout the game, which makes the result not so good for us.

"That's where the disappointment comes from, obviously.

"I think that's me talking to you now straight after the game, and I'm pretty sure that when I watch the game back, the sense of pride will take over.

"Martin Moorman is touching the striker, and he falls.

"The referee is assessing that as being a penalty, and then the VAR is stepping in, saying that they believe he should have a look at it, that it could be a red card, and that's what happened.

"That's what's possible with these players, because that goal is an incredibly high-level goal. High level, so high level.

"I think we show other moments during this game with such a high level, such a high quality, and the players, I mean, many of them haven't played a team like this in a competitive game like that before.

"And we learned so much because we understand that, okay, we can actually play really, really well against an opponent like this, and I think that was so good to see how some players, how high level they perform, and I'm super proud of that.

"And then we also learned the hard way some things, right? So if you're not spot on in the defensive set pieces like we were not today, then you get punished so hard at this level."

Image source, SNS

Freiburg are fitting European opponents - and an inspiration - for Motherwell as the Fir Park club reach 10 years of fan ownership.

Well Society director Derek Watson regards the Conference League play-off with the German side as the "pinnacle" of Motherwell's fan-owned journey so far.

"It's such a special occasion," Watson told BBC Radio Scotland.

"When you talk about fan ownership, the German model and probably Argentina are the two you look at as the best examples of that.

"Freiburg are a 100% fan-owned club, they operate as a democratically registered member association, so they've got about 35,000 members rather than the external investors that is often the model in the UK.

"And beyond that, Germany also has the 50+1 rule that requires club members to hold the majority of voting rights against commercial investors.

"So when we're looking at that, and seeing how successful these clubs are, not just domestically but also in European competition, we have to be striving to be just as good as that.

"At the moment we have over a 70% stake in the club but looking at the way Freiburg do it, there's a lot of lessons we can learn from them."

Watson says more Scottish clubs should be looking to become fan owned.

"Not just at Motherwell, you need to look at the success of fan-owned clubs across Scotland," he said.

"Last season you had Falkirk finishing top six after back-to-back promotions, St Mirren winning the League Cup, Hearts almost winning the league.

"It's a really good time to be a fan-owned club. Other clubs across Scotland should be looking at our model and asking, can we do that?"

Image source, SNS

Andy Halliday feels former club Motherwell made too many changes in their League Cup defeat by second-tier Stenhousemuir.

Alfred Johansson's side bid to bounce back from that shock exit when they welcome Freiburg to a sold-out Fir Park for their Conference League play-off first leg.

"It's disappointing to make that many changes," Halliday told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast. "Eight's too many for me.

"Five young academy players started but for four of them, it was their first game of the season.

"It's very, very difficult to try and get a blend together when there's that many players making their first appearance."

Halliday considers last season's beaten Europa League finalists Freiburg "a really top opponent".

"It's just going to be more about the occasion and enjoying it at Fir Park," Halliday said.

"Motherwell will try to test themselves against the very best and try to play a similar style to what they normally do."

Former Motherwell forward Ross McCormack, 40, has joined Giffnock North AAC. (Sun, external)

Thursday's Scottish gossip