Motherwell

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Jonathan Obika may only have had 25 minutes or so playing alongside his new Motherwell team-mates but he believes there's a togetherness in the squad that can help them in their relegation fight.

The former St Mirren striker came off the bench at Fir Park to make his debut as he replaced Kevin van Veen but could not prevent a 2-0 defeat by St Johnstone in what was a poor performance by Well.

Steven Hammell's team are only avoiding bottom spot in the Premiership on goal difference. Their last league win was against Dundee United on 29 October.

Looking ahead to Saturday's match against Aberdeen at Pittodrie, Obika said: "When I was at St Mirren and we were in a period where things weren't going too well, it sometimes just takes a spark and everybody reacts.

"We had already had some words here and I know the boys will be ready for Aberdeen.

"Any time when results aren't going your way, things can be difficult going into games but I just feel we need to stay together. I've only been here for a few hours but I can see this group is tight."

The 32-year-old, despite being fit, had not played since 24 September after being sidelined by Derek Adams at Morecambe. A return to Scotland after an 18-month absence was "an easy decision".

"I've felt like I've been in a freezer," he said. "I've been ready but I've not been able to express myself on the football field. I'm just looking to work hard and get some game time and then I can show what I am all about.

"I always felt when I was first here in Scottish football that I would stay in Scotland.

"When I left St Mirren it was late in the window and Stephen Robinson was at Morecambe. I liked how he worked and had trained under him before [at Motherwell] so I was looking forward to working with him."

Motherwell are desperate to stop the rot on Saturday by taking the points at Pittodrie against managerless Aberdeen.

Who makes your starting line-up?

Choose your Steelmen for the job here.

We asked for your reaction to the home defeat by St Johnstone that leaves Motherwell without a win in 10 Premiership games.

Here are some of your thoughts:

Stuart: Worried! Not sure if Stevie has the experience to get us out of it. Expected so much more after the January window. Do we need a change now before it's too late? I say yes!

Anon: Some of the players didn't look match fit and the team runs about like headless chickens. No tactics apparent - makes you wonder what's happening on the training ground as simple things like ball control and passing to your own players feet seem be difficult for them.

Iain: Motherwell are fast becoming the "model" of a team deep in relegation trouble. Nervy, lacking cohesion and resorting to humping the ball up the pitch just to get rid of it. Add to the mix an inexperienced manager, a leaky central defence and the fact that most goals against are scored early in either half and it's no wonder they're in trouble.

Jim: An absolute embarrassment. No fight, no hunger, the body language is all wrong. Bereft of creativity, don't look like scoring, and too easy to score against. The end looks nigh, and the fans are being cheated. Cannot see how it can be turned around. I fear the worst.

Edward: Frankly what we are being served up week after week is just not acceptable! We play 4-3-3 every game regardless of the opposition. That makes it so easy for the opposition to get behind us and ends up with us hoofing the ball up the park to get out of trouble, giving the strikers no chances. Hammell is out of his depth.

Andrew: Since Robinson left there has been no direction. A sacking to appease the fans with no forward plan. Every appointment from players to managers since has been a "that will do" effort. If Hammell goes I cannot see anyone that would want to take on this role with that squad. I fear the worst.

Anon: Absolutely toothless. It pains me to say but we had absolutely no desire to try and win that game. Easily beaten by a below-par and low on confidence St Johnstone side. Any sense of gameplan went out the window and we resorted to bypassing the midfield kicking the ball long which was food and drink for the St Johnstone defence.

Stuart: You can't just throw players in who arrived 24 hours earlier. Need a defensive central midfielder who runs the team making sure everyone does their job. We are in a relegation battle for sure.

Jamie: I know he's just bought his players, but Hammell needs to step aside. We have been in freefall for far too long. We need an experienced manager to guide us to safety. Worrying times indeed but some of these players are letting another manager down.

Anon: Shambolic, disgraceful, unacceptable, take your pick. The spineless board now need to take action, which should have been taken approximately five weeks ago. Hammell is simply not up to the task. Next step is us being detached, and the consequences that will ensue.

Anon: Hammell has to go or we're going down. Most mangers would be shouting or actually showing they care but he just stands there. Also, there's no passion or fight in the team.

Motherwell manager Steven Hammell speaking to BBC Sport Scotland: "It's not good enough. It's nowhere near good enough. We apologise to the fans.

"I've been on here repeatedly trying to convince people that we're very close, but that performance is probably the worst since I've been here. Individually, we're nowhere near good enough. It's something you don't want to be associated with.

"We went out with a bit of a whimper, and the players we see on a daily basis - that did not translate one bit."

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Were you at Fir Park as Motherwell once again failed to win in the league?

We want your thoughts - how can Steven Hammell's side arrest this slump?

Have your say here.

George O'Neill, BBC Sport Scotland

That is now 10 league games without a win for Motherwell, who face the very real prospect of second-tier football next season for the first time since 1985.

On a day of bleak stats, the most eye-catching is that St Johnstone now have more wins at Fir Park this season than Motherwell.

A side that gives up easy goals and struggles to create tends to struggle, and that is exactly what Steven Hammell's side did.

Both goal scorers were left in acres of space to fire past a helpless Kelly, who must look at the chaos in front of him with utter despair.

Motherwell: Kelly, McGinn, Blaney, Lamie, O'Donnell, Goss, Slattery, Danzaki, Crankshaw, Aitchison, Van Veen.

Substitutes: Oxborough, Spittal, McKinstry, Cornelius, Johnston, Furlong, Tierney, Dunachie, Obika.

St Johnstone: Matthews, Wright, Mitchell, Gordon, Considine, Montgomery, Phillips, MacPherson, Hallberg, May, Clark.

Substitutes: Sinclair, Brown, Wotherspoon, Rudden, Carey, Bair, Crawford, Murphy, McLennan.

Scott Mullen, BBC Sport Scotland

Motherwell announced the loan signing of Jonathan Obika earlier today, but the club are still working on one more player coming in, who plays at centre half.

Riku Danzaki, the midfielder signed from Consadole Sapporo, Jack Aitchison, who has arrived from Barnsley, fellow striker Jonathan Obika, signed on loan from Morecambe, and James Furlong, the defender from Brighton & Hove Albion, could be handed Motherwell debuts.

But Mikael Mandron, Josh Morris, Jake Carroll, Nathan McGinley, Joe Efford and Bevis Mugabi remain on the sidelines.

Zak Rudden goes straight into the St Johnstone squad following his loan move from Dundee, while fellow striker Nicky Clark is available after his appeal against Saturday's red card against Rangers was upheld.

But Ryan McGowan is out with a groin issue and fellow midfielder Murray Davidson and striker Chris Kane are still short of fitness.

Jenna Thomson, Motherwell fan

Deadline day is over and although Alan Burrows assures us that the club's business isn't done yet, I have mixed feelings about how the window went down.

Losing Sondre Solholm and putting Barry Maguire and Connor Shields out on loan when faced with a relegation battle seems like a bad idea. In a time where injuries have been plaguing us, trimming the squad seems counter-productive.

That being said, Shane Blaney looked promising on his debut, and I am excited to see how the other new players - Jon Obika's arrival this morning takes Motherwell's January signings total to seven - settle into the team.

I am a little sceptical of the amount of players that are young and don’t have much experience but I shall keep an open mind.

We are badly in need of more defenders, especially full-backs, and with one of our new signings - striker Mikael Mandron - already picking up an injury we could have got 12 players last night and it wouldn’t have felt as if we were prepared.

It is a bit of a relief that not all signings we made this window were loans because do desperately need more long-term investment in the team.

Tonight’s game against St Johnstone is a must-win for Motherwell or else Arbroath and Raith Rovers away may become normal days out…

Motherwell winger Olly Crankshaw stressed the importance of developing a winning mentality as the Steelmen look for a long-awaited league victory.

Steven Hammell's side have not won a league game at home since August 20 and have not picked up three points anywhere since October 29, although they recently beat Arbroath in the Scottish Cup.

Ahead of Wednesday's visit of St Johnstone, on-loan Stockport winger Crankshaw said: “Over the next couple of weeks we really need to drill that winning mentality into us and just go and win as many games as possible.

"When you are in a little rut it just takes one game for things to change and we have enough quality in the dressing room to do that.

"A winning mentality would change that dressing room massively. When you start winning games it's hard to knock you off your pedestal."

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• St Johnstone have only lost one of their last seven league meetings with Motherwell (W3 D3), a 2-0 defeat in December 2021.

• Motherwell are winless in eight home league matches (D3 L5) since beating Livingston 1-0 in August.

• Stuart McKinstry has scored in both of his last two home league games for Motherwell; the last player to score in three consecutive home league appearances for the club was Devante Cole in May 2021 and the last Scottish player to do so was David Turnbull in May 2019.

Motherwell have signed Brighton left-back James Furlong on loan until the end of the season.

The 20-year-old has played 16 times for Brighton’s under 21s this season, and came off the bench for the first team in an EFL Cup tie against Forest Green in August.

“James is a young player who came highly recommended to us from Brighton,” manager Steven Hammell said.

“It’s a good opportunity for him and is seen as a potential first-team player for Brighton so we feel this is a great move for both parties.”

Connor Shields has left Motherwell to join Queen's Park on loan until the end of the season.

The striker has played 19 times for Motherwell this season.

“We had a discussion and came to the conclusion that a loan move would be in the best interests of both parties,” manager Steven Hammell said.

“I have no doubt Connor will impress in his time at Queen’s Park and will play a big part in their promotion push this season."

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Centre-back Sondre Solholm has left Motherwell to join Odds BK in the Norweigen Eliteserien for an undisclosed fee.

The 27-year-old Norwegian made 47 appearances for Motherwell after signing in 2021, scoring one goal.

“Sondre is a great person and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with him,” manager Steven Hammell said.

“He became a real fan favourite in his time here and it shows the lively character that he is.

“I hope this move works out for himself and his family. I wish him all the very best.”

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We asked for your Motherwell transfer wishlist as the deadline looms at midnight tonight.

Here are some of your thoughts:

Derek: Motherwell desperately need to add a leader into the squad, someone with backbone that will naturally inspire some desire and fight within the team.

Callum: Need to free up some wages, Morris & Shields out - both made no impact this season. New signing Mandron rumoured to be out for the season so probably need another striker - is Tony Watt the answer? Johansen rumoured to be going back to Norway so we need another centre-half - a leader at that - and a left-back to fill the glaring hole on that side.

Stuart: A holding midfielder or defender - we don't keep clean sheets.

Anon: It is unlikely that we are going to get what we need at this late stage of the window, however, an experienced midfielder that has the ability to control a game. A loan deal is obvious to try and assist with the mess we are in.

Harry: Hearing that Adam Cummins is returning to the club till the end of the season to replace Sondre Solholm Johansen who is leaving today.

Billy: The Well need at least three signings today. A plumber to fix the leaky defence. An electrician to add some creative spark in midfield. An optician to urgently test the current strikers as they have lost sight of the target.

Motherwell manager Steven Hammell is braced for a busy deadline day and hopes to sign a couple of players, but is staying tight-lipped on a potential move to bring Tony Watt back from Dundee United.

"We are hoping to do a little bit of business, maybe some ins and outs," Hammell said.

"It's always moving. We thought we had something done late on Monday night and then it turns out it's maybe not.

"We are looking to bring players in that will enhance us. I think we need one or two, I think we need a bit of freshness."

Motherwell are reportedly vying with with St Mirren for 29-year-old striker Watt, but Hammell said: "We spoke with the media team this morning and they ran a few names past me that were getting linked with us. Some of the players we hadn't even heard of before.

"Everything just now is speculation. I can't confirm or deny any player that is attached to another team."

Hammell has already signed a forward this month but Mikael Mandron missed out against St Mirren on Saturday after suffering a thigh injury and Hammell is still not sure how long he will be missing.

" I think it's going to be a couple of weeks,” he added.  “We have not got the official (diagnosis).”

Motherwell are trying to line up a deadline day deal for Fleetwood Town striker Gerard Garner, who would cost a five-figure fee. (Daily Record), external

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