Motherwell

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Motherwell manager Michael Wimmer tells BBC Scotland: "I'm very happy, very proud of the guys.

"They did well, especially in the second half - and the first half, we lacked a little bit of energy and also the defence from the two throw-ins was not good enough.

"We spoke about this at half-time, but the second half was brilliant with certain shots on goal and also after the red card there was no feeling that we could not win the game."

On John Koutroumbis' sending off, Wimmer added: "To be honest, during the game, I thought, no, I thought this was a wrong decision and now I saw the first pictures, the first clips on television and so I have to say it's okay, you can give the red card.

"We spoke about what we were doing for the red card and I felt the whole bench, I felt the whole players on the pitch, no worries, we do this together."

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Dundee attacker Oluwaseun Adewumi returns after missing the victory at Hearts but Jordan McGhee is still missing.

Motherwell have Tawanda Maswanhise back in contention after he missed the win over St Johnstone with a minor injury.

Centre-backs Kofi Balmer (hamstring), Shane Blaney (knee), Paul McGinn (thigh) and Liam Gordon (concussion) remain out along with Apostolos Stamatelopoulos (wrist), Sam Nicholson (knee), Jack Vale, Zach Robinson (both Achilles) and Archie Mair (hand).

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Harry Paton says he "would love to extend" his Motherwell stay as he has his hopes set on the 2026 World Cup.

The midfielder's deal expires at the end of the season, but the 26-year-old believes staying at Fir Park would give him the best chances to earn a place in the Canada squad. The club also hold an option to retain his services.

"I just want to focus on the rest of the season and finish on a strong note, it's a little bit out of my hands, but I'm going to keep doing my thing and hopefully see what happens," said Paton.

"But I've really enjoyed my time here and would love to extend it, 100 per cent.

"You can see the aspirations of the new management team coming in and how close we were to the top six this year, and definitely the goals will be increasing next year.

"From a personal note, I've really enjoyed it. He's so ionate about what he wants to bring to the team.

"It kind of fits my style as well – speed, playing a lot of attacking football, playing forward, the league really suits my style.

"Also, tying in with Canada, I've got my opportunities through the club here and that's a big aspiration for myself next year with the home World Cup in Canada.

"That's a goal I want to achieve and definitely if I'm here, I can definitely have a good shot at getting in there."

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Michael Wimmer has played down the prospect of a Motherwell g spree this summer, insisting he expects to add up to four players.

Midfielder Andy Halliday and goalkeeper Callum Ward this week signed new contracts with the Fir Park side, who can guarantee top-flight survival against Dundee on Saturday.

"I like to start the pre-season with the majority of the squad so I can work with them," said boss Wimmer.

"We have 18 contracted players at the moment. I think it's a very, very good situation.

"And I would not expect that we have such a big transfer window. But I'm looking forward to the transfer market. I think we will do one, two, three, four transfers."

The former Austria Vienna boss will look to utilise his knowledge of foreign markets, adding: " or Austria is possible because I know many players over there. I've worked with many players. So it's also a possibility.

"But I think it's also important that the guys you bring in should be better. And it's also important to know the culture, to know the tradition, to know the league.

"So our eyes are open for everything, for each country. But I also want to have the majority from Scottish players or UK players that know the league and are not surprised if they come into the league and they play the Premiership."

Club captain Paul McGinn, who is among the players out of contract at Fir Park this summer, is nearing a return from long-term injury but won't be rushed back before the end of the season if not ready.

"I have not seen him on the pitch but I know him from video clips and before I came into the club, I watched many games," said Wimmer of the 34-year-old.

"But my experience now in the chats with him is he's a brilliant guy with experience. He's a quiet guy, but he's a big character in the dressing room. Everybody has respect for him."

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• After their 4-1 win in December, Dundee could earn back-to-back home league victories over Motherwell for the first time since October 2015, and first time within a single season in the top flight since 2001-02.

• Both sides have scored in six of the past seven league matches between Dundee (13 goals) and Motherwell (11 goals), with the exception a 1-0 win for the Dark Blues in October this season.

• Dundee have won three of their past five league games (L2), as many as their previous 16 beforehand (W3 D4 L9). They are looking to pick up back-to-back wins in the Scottish Premiership for the first time since March 2024.

• Motherwell have lost seven of their past nine away league games (W1 D1), conceding 18 goals in this period (two per game on average) while scoring only five.

• Simon Murray has scored in seven of his past eight league appearances (eight goals), and is now the t top scorer in this season's competition with 16 goals (level with Daizen Maeda) – the most by a Dundee player in a Scottish Premiership campaign since Kane Hemmings in 2015-16 (21).

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Midfielder Andy Halliday and goalkeeper Calum Ward have both signed contract extensions to stay at Motherwell until next summer.

Halliday, who ed in January last year, has played every game this season and says he "was really eager to extend" his stay at Fir Park.

The 33-year-old, who won the club's players' player of the year award, added: "It's really encouraging to see the groundwork being put in place for next season, which I think everyone should be optimistic about."

Ward arrived on deadline day in February on a deal until the end of the campaign and has yet to make an appearance.

Manager Michael Wimmer said he was "keen to get him on board for next season", adding: "It will be interesting to see the competition for the goalkeeping position".

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It will come as little surprise to anyone that the latest attempt at reconstruction of the Scottish Premiership has failed to get off the ground.

A change from the current 12-team set-up to one of 10, 14 or 16 were the options being discussed but the SPFL said "there was no reasonable prospect of achieving consensus".

Maintaining the status quo is a consequence of there being "no perfect option" for change, according to The Herald football writer Stephen McGowan.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish football podcast, McGowan said: "If you look at the options for expanding the Premiership, for 14 you would have to have probably a top six and a bottom eight and a different number of fixtures. So that's less than ideal.

"Look at the 16, which is the one that ers really want. But Neil Doncaster has been saying consistently that you would then have to find a way to still preserve your four Celtic v Rangers games because Sky sports are not a charity. They're a subscription network who want to get the biggest numbers for games. So they want more Celtic and Rangers games.

"So it's how you square that circle with the 16 that's the problem. So it's not so much I don't think there's no great desire for expansions. There's no such thing as a perfect option and one that they can all vote for. That's the problem basically."

Former Scotland defender Maurice Ross, meanwhile, has accused Premiership clubs of "self-preservation".

"If they're going to remain the same, okay, let's put two clubs [automatically] down then and have a third-place play-off," said Ross.

"And we'll see what the reaction is of the clubs in four or five years' time. Then they'll want reconstruction."

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Young player of the year nominee Lennon Miller says he's learned a lot from the "mistake" he made with his terminology that left him feeling like the world was against him.

The Motherwell midfielder's first international call-up last month was most notable for the headlines he caused by revealing he wanted to be Scotland's best player "in a few months".

What he meant to say was that in striving to be the best player he can possibly be, he hoped one day to overtake the likes of Scott McTominay, John McGinn and Billy Gilmour in the international pecking order. It's a long-term ambition, rather than a quick fix.

"That's how it was supposed to come across. I've obviously added the 'few months' bit which is a mistake on my part but I want to be the best player," said Miller.

"Whether that's with Motherwell or with Scotland, I want to be the best. The 'in a few months' was a mistake on my part but that is what I want to be.

"At the time I didn't really think anything of it and then you get the few news bulletins who've picked it up wrongly. That's different for me, I've never really had that side of things before. I just try to focus on the football side."

Thankfully for the Motherwell captain, the whole episode hasn't left a sour taste in his mouth. He now knows just how careful you have to be with your every word.

"When I found out [about the call-up], I didn't really know what to think, what to do. It was a pretty surreal moment. And then you say a few wrong words and it feels like the world's against you, basically," said Miller.

"I feel like everybody that was involved backed me and it was nice to hear a few words from people who've played and the manager as well which helped. It was a surreal moment to be involved in and hopefully I'll be back there soon."

If Miller keeps up his club form, a return to the international fold is a certainty. Despite an injury-hit campaign, there have still been flashes of the talent that propelled him into the Motherwell first team six days after his 16th birthday. Still only 18, Miller already feels more mature.

"I feel like I've come on as a player and a person in the last year," he added.

"The captain's armband has probably helped that. Getting that at such a young age, more responsibility.

"You've senior guys in there that have played a lot more games than me that probably felt they could have been the captain and it was me who was chosen, so that was a nice moment that has helped me."

Jenna Thomson
Fan writer

It was a bittersweet weekend for Motherwell. Three points for the men's team but defeat at Hampden for the women's side in the Scottish Cup semi-final.

I want to say a massive well done to the women of steel for showing so much determination and giving it their all. A semi-final is rare for our club and their feat should not be understated.

Paul Brownlie has taken the women's team to new heights every season and I am immensely proud of them.

As for the men's team beating St Johnstone, it wasn't pretty but we got the job done. There were periods of the game where I was longing for the end of the season, but two goals in a minute helped lift my spirits.

If St Johnstone hadn't missed their header with seconds to go the game would have changed entirely. However, at the business end of the season, three points is all that matters regardless of how we got them.

Tony Watt, for the first time in a long while, looked as though he was playing for the club and not just himself. His performance was reminiscent of his original spell with us, however it is a little too late.

If he is choosing now to play in the hope of a permanent contract, he should have started that back in January rather than at the end of April.

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Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller has been nominated for this season's PFA Scotland young player of the season award.

The 18-year-old has scored twice and set up six goals in the Premiership so far this term and received a call-up to Steve Clarke's Scotland squad in March.

He is nominated alongside fellow teenager and Hearts striker James Wilson, Rangers forward Hamza Igamane and Celtic midfielder Arne Engels.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Tony Watt has been a peripheral figure at times this season, but he was hugely influential on Saturday as Motherwell allayed their relegation fears with an important win over St Johnstone.

He duly earns a spot in my team of the week.

Watch highlights as Motherwell dent St Johnstone's survival bid.

Available in UK only

We asked for your views on Motherwell's 3-2 win against St Johnstone.

Here's what some of you said:

Matthew: Tony Watt can be very lazy at times but credit where credit is due, he worked hard and deserves the credit for his assists. Clearly still not 100% fit as you're not going to get 90 minutes out of him. I know they are all fighting for contracts but playing now isn't good enough when it should be the same effort every week. Happy to get the three points and hopefully another step closer to safety.

James: Great result but I always feel Motherwell need to be more ruthless in attack and defence. A better standard of player required for next season.

Alan: Callum Slattery has played exceptionally well since coming back from injury and he has been our main scorer. It was good to see a fightback having been 1-0 down. We still require at least one winger and a centre forward to enable proper penetration of opposing defences. This was a vast improvement on the last match against Hearts and a few more wins would boost team and er morale for next season. Let's see some of our younger academy players in the next games along with some foreign imports from Michael Wimmer's knowledge of the European leagues. A formal link-up with a team from , the Netherlands or Belgium can only be of benefit to our development.

Colin: Best performance in some time but there is a fragility in defence that needs to be addressed, hanging on in the end. Slattery was our best player yet again, just as well he has returned from injury at this point of the season to drag us through. We should avoid the play-off now but complete overhaul of the team is needed.

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• Motherwell have won after conceding the opening goal in the Premiership for the first time since 28 September 2024 against St Mirren (13 games without a win).

• St Johnstone have lost after scoring the opening goal in the Premiership for the first time since 26 December 2024 against Dundee United (five games without defeat).

• Motherwell attempted 360 es in this match, higher than their season average of 310.1 in the Premiership.

• St Johnstone have lost 20 points from winning positions in the Premiership this season, only Dundee (23) have lost more.

Were you at Fir Park or following the match elsewhere?

Either way, we want your views on the game - have your say here.

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Motherwell manager Michael Wimmer: "I feel good, it was a big win, a very important win.

"Very good to get the feeling back to celebrate after the whistle. More important was that we came back from going 1-0 down very well.

"The game from minute 20 to minute 45 was how I want to see us play, to think forward and to play forward. We stayed calm and we deserved the two goals.

"We also have to speak about the goals we conceded because it was too easy.

"I spoke a lot with Tony Watt and told him he has to keep going and he'll get his chance. This was the Tony I want to see. Hopefully he keeps working, but I'm not scared that he'll stop working.

"I'm also very happy because I know how tough and tight the other games were."

Calum MacDonald
BBC Sport Scotland

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Motherwell came into the match without a win since the 1st of March, and there was concern they could become embroiled in a relegation battle, but a small change to Michael Wimmer's preferred system paid rewards today.

Tony Watt was crucial to everything that Motherwell did, St Johnstone found his movement difficult to deal with and he was involved in both of his side's goals in the first half and was close to adding a goal of his own to make the game safe in the second half.

That all adds up to an important three points, which leaves them 13 points ahead of bottom-placed St Johnstone with just four games to play.

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Motherwell have Steve Seddon back in contention, but Kofi Balmer (hamstring) s fellow centre-backs Shane Blaney (knee), Paul McGinn (thigh) and Liam Gordon (concussion) on the sidelines.

Apostolos Stamatelopoulos (wrist), Sam Nicholson (knee), Jack Vale, Zach Robinson (both Achilles), Ross Callachan (hamstring) and Archie Mair (hand) remain sidelined.

St Johnstone could hand Uche Ikpeazu a league debut while Zach Mitchell (hamstring), Drey Wright (ankle) and long-term absentees Bozo Mikulic (knee) and Sam McClelland (Achilles) remain out.

BBC Sport Scotland's Nick Mheat has been answering some of your Motherwell questions.

Ronnie asked: We are very light on the striker front, which brings me to my question. When will Zach Robinson and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos be fit as they are very much missed?

Nick answered: Not until next season, I assume. Stamatelopoulos was ruled out for at least two months with a fractured wrist in mid-March and Robinson ruptured his Achilles in December, which is unfortunate as they are probably the first and second-choice picks for the number nine spot.

There's obviously been a lot of back luck in there, but the injury situation across the whole of this season is something the club need to get to the bottom of over the summer.

William asked: Where on earth are the goals coming from in this team? Our goal threat is appalling just now.

Nick answered: Motherwell would have hoped Stamatelopoulos was going to be the guy to provide that goal threat when they spent a reported six-figure fee on him last summer. It isn't often they spend that kind of money on one player.

The Australia striker has looked pretty good when on the pitch, scoring five goals from 13 league starts, but he has sadly been plagued by injury. Tawanda Maswanhise has chipped in but has been in and out of the team under Michael Wimmer.

Callum Slattery has probably looked the team's most dangerous attacking player since he came back from injury, but that isn't ideal given he's a midfielder and there are eight (yes, eight) strikers on the books.

Motherwell will take goals from anywhere just to get themselves over the line, though, then the attack can be properly addressed over the summer.

BBC Sport Scotland's Nick Mheat has been answering some of your Motherwell questions.

Eddie: Why after three games in charge have we given up on the high-press tactics?

Nick answered: It's an interesting one. In the wins against Dundee and Rangers, particularly the first halves, the high-pressing style and "proactive football" Michael Wimmer is keen to implement was there to see.

But for some reason the performance level seems to have dipped, even after the manager has had extra time on the training pitch. Maybe the team has just lost momentum with the spare weekends they have had throughout the past couple of months?

Another wee thing to note is that before Wimmer's arrival, Motherwell averaged the lowest possession in the league and were statistically the division's most ive team in of intensity.

Wimmer's approach is almost the complete opposite of that, so fans will need to be patient. Securing survival is the priority, then pre-season will be crucial for the German to implement his high-octane style.

James asked: How many of the current huge squad will be let go? Many of them have not contributed anywhere near enough this season. Time for a huge clearout?

Nick answered: Eh, my guess is a lot. Just taking into consideration the loan players who are set to leave, you are already into double figures.

Although it will be a huge turnover of players, the manager has said it's a positive thing. He will be relishing essentially having a blank canvas and the wages that will be freed up will allow him to bring in players more suited to his style.

It will be a really busy summer for him, though, and it will be interesting to see what happens with captain Paul McGinn, Andy Halliday and Dan Casey in particular, given they are all out of contract.

Callum Slattery, Tom Sparrow and Stephen O'Donnell recently signed new deals, plus Dundee's Jordan McGhee is set to arrive after penning a pre-contract in the winter.

His versatility to play anywhere across the defence and in central midfield could make him an excellent g. Wimmer has also expressed an interest in keeping Luke Armstrong when his loan from Carlisle United expires in the summer.

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Sister club Chelsea are backing Strasbourg's £4m bid for Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller, 18. (Sun), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

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• Motherwell won their first home league game against St Johnstone this season 2-1 in November, but haven't beaten the Perth side twice on home soil within a single league campaign since 2013-14.

• After their 2-1 win in January, St Johnstone could win back-to-back league meetings with Motherwell for the first time since August 2022, and first time within a single season since May 2016.

• Since the start of 2025, no side has picked up fewer points in the Scottish Premiership than Motherwell (12, level with Dundee).

• St Johnstone have won just one of their past 11 away league outings (D2 L8), a 1-0 victory at St Mirren in February.

• St Johnstone's Nicky Clark has been directly involved in five goals in his past seven league appearances against Motherwell (three goals, two assists), despite only starting five of those seven games. Clark has scored in both of his past two Scottish Premiership games at Fir Park.