Motherwell

Jens Berthel Askou has urged his side to “attack the league” after Sunday’s victory over Rangers, putting Motherwell in a commanding position to wrap up European football for the first time since 2022. Goals from Lukas Fadinger and Emmanuel Longelo’s double wrestled a five-goal thriller into the Steelmen’s favour, as they delivered a third Ibrox victory in three seasons. Speaking at full-time, Askou was delighted to watch his side end their five-match winless run. “The result, it’s hard not to say that’s very pleasing. We’ve been a few points short over the last five games in terms of how we’ve performed. “First half was right up there with us at the very best. We know we needed that today to win the game. Second half became a much more difficult half, both because Rangers stepped up and lifted their game and because we didn’t have that same sharpness in our game, especially in the final third, that we had in the first half. “There were moments to score the third goal earlier in that second half but I’m very happy that we took the chance when it arrived at the end, even though the legs and the heads will be a little bit tired. Motherwell’s free-flowing nature under the Dane has been a breath of fresh air for Scottish football’s top flight. The 3-2 win was the third time this season that the Fir Park side has taken points from Rangers. Their ability to stem Ibrox’s raucous atmosphere was reminiscent of a high-level European side regularly playing through the lines. Askou was thrilled with their composure and clinical nature. “To stay cool and to still play our game when you have more than 50,000 trying to help push for the winner and to just be composed and do what we do and first of all defend with our lives, which we needed, and then to produce that final moment of quality to decide the game – really impressed with that. “And extremely happy that just looking at the performances and trying to improve the little things that it finally paid off with a win. With four league games remaining, the manager has urged his confident side to stay hungry, as they chase European football for the first time since 2022. “We want to win every game. I see a group of players that are talented enough to compete for the win in every game no matter who we play and where we play. I’ve said that throughout the season. Today was another testament to that and a demonstration of that anything is possible if you really go for it and reach out for it. “We’ve not arrived here to just say, ‘fine, top six, everything is good, now we’re in fourth place, let’s just try and defend’. We want to attack the league and get as many points as possible because that’s our mindset and that’s what gives us the best opportunity to make sure that we stay in this position.” Motherwell travel to Falkirk this weekend, before hosting Hearts under the lights at Fir Park. If Sunday is anything to go by – Askou’s boys will have plenty to say in this fascinating title race.

Jens Berthel Askou admits his side’s lack of sharpness is “one of the major reasons” why Motherwell have not tipped results in their favour. Saturday’s defeat at Tynecastle extends the Steelmen’s winless run to five matches, but the Dane is “positive” his side can find their cutting edge in the split. “Earlier in the season, we didn’t need many chances to score goals; now we need a little bit more. And we’re working on that every week, and that’s football. “Sometimes you have spells like that, but I’m really positive that we created these chances in a difficult place to create chances.” Askou labelled the award of Lawrence Shankland’s penalty as “very soft”, and VAR urged Matthew McDiarmid to consult the video monitor. Askou asked what Stephen Welsh was expected to do against a player “dribbling” with his head at ground level. “It’s a shame for the game that it gets decided like that.” “You can argue every time there’s contact that there’s a foul. Then it’s about the amount of contact, the speed of contact, the situation.” Despite the defeat, Askou was encouraged by Motherwell’s display. “But what I want to underline again is that I’m really, really proud of our performance. “We took control of a very difficult game against a very good team who are really, really good at what they do, who have an atmosphere that really drives them and can get you emotionally unstable if you’re not there. We dealt with that extremely well. “Some of the play we set up in the second half, leading to our chances, also the goal, was absolutely outstanding.”

Jens Berthel Askou believes his side were denied a clear penalty during their 3-2 defeat against Falkirk, as Motherwell fell to their third defeat in four league games. Speaking at full-time, Askou was full of praise for his opponent, who secured top six with the victory. “They’re a brilliant football team, and I put them up there among the best. Congratulations to them for the win and what they’ve achieved so far. I think they deserve it. The Dane was pleased with many aspects of the performance, but an inability to capitalise on their positive moments cost them dearly. “In terms of intentions, willpower, and work rate, our performance was good, but there were a lot of moments where we should have been better. Both in attacking moments, leading to attacks. But also, there were moments to score goals we didn’t take, but there were moments we lost the ball in critical places where we have to be better. “When we play against the best, then we need, sometimes, the things we cannot control to also go our way, so far this season, that has not happened. I have been hoping that, eventually, it will go our way.” Askou was left frustrated with an early officiating decision on top goalscorer Tawanda Maswanhise. The striker seemingly collided with Falkirk’s Liam Henderson in the box, but Duncan Nicolson chose not to point to the spot. There’s a clear penalty on Tawanda Maswanhise. It is very clear Liam Henderson wipes him out. That’s a clear penalty and a potential red card. After seven minutes we should have been 1-1. It was a massively decisive moment that, for some reason, they cannot get right. “I think the penalty against Ibrahim Said is very debatable. I have seen situations like that many, many, many times where those situations haven’t been given as a penalty. “We can’t get the penalty back now so there’s no reason to start to ask for one. Hibernian’s 3-0 win over Kilmarnock means Motherwell’s hold on 4th place has reduced to three points. European football remains the priority for the Steelmen, and Askou encouraged his side to focus on improvement across the last six games. “I know there are a lot of other clubs who can and will say the same. Our main focus for us is to try to improve, and we try to not let this stop us. “Many of the performances we’ve had lately have been similar to the performances where we’ve just succeeded in winning. We just haven’t been as sharp in moments.”

Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou saw plenty of positives from his side’s 3-1 defeat against champions Celtic. Elijah Just gave the Fir Park side a priceless lead, but replies from Tomas Cvancara and Yang meant the Steelmen would lose further ground on the top three. Speaking after the match, Askou expressed pride in his team’s performance, as they continue to navigate a stellar season. “Of course it hurts. We hate losing, love winning, and now we have got nothing out of the last two games, even though we have put a lot in. “The tempo was really high at times, some of the quality in the build-up was really good, and our pressing was at times extremely good, and it made them change their strategies. “We got a goal from it, and our bravery gave them some opportunities to punish us, which they were able to do. “It could go both ways, and I would have hoped it would not be that kind of moment or incident that tipped the game to one of the sides. I think it was a shame that [the penalty and red card] decided the game. “It’s a penalty, which is a big chance, and a red card, which makes it difficult to get back into the game and get a result.” Hopes of splitting the Old Firm may slip away after back-to-back defeats leave the Steelmen seven points adrift of third place. They return to Fir Park on Saturday afternoon, facing European-chasing Hibernian.

Jens Berthel Askou insists he was “happy with the effort” after Motherwell’s late defeat against Dundee on Saturday, as the Steelmen failed to close their gap on the top three with their game in hand. Finlay Robertson’s slotted finish in the 84th minute sealed three crucial points for Steven Pressley’s side, after Callum Slattery handed the visitors a lifeline with a stunning free kick. Speaking at full-time, Askou was upbeat with his team’s efforts. “We played against a team that has caused us trouble this season, it’s no coincidence they are a well-coached team who work hard, defend the box with their lives and have an attacking threat. “I think we really tried to up the tempo, had some really good moments in the first half, we didn’t take. “Eventually, we got the goal and chased the win; it became a very open game. There were moments at both ends, but Dundee were the better team at being able to take those moments. But the effort was there, although the quality was not quite there. “We switched off in a single moment, which they took advantage of because we’d spent a lot of energy really chasing. That can happen at times; unfortunately, it happened today and gave us a mountain to climb in the last 10 minutes. We tried but didn’t quite reach the top. “We need to make sure when we get the opportunities next week, we need to take them. “We’re here to try and win football games and get as high in the table as possible. We have not, and never will be, no matter how good a season we have, be favourites to win the title, so it’s not something we address. We will try to climb as high as possible in the table. “Even though we have been almost invincible over a large period of time, we knew that there would come a day when the opposition just outplayed us and we didn’t get the result – that was today. “I know the players and staff will do their best to make sure that never happens again and we get back to our best on Saturday, and then time will tell where that’s going to take us.” Motherwell return to league action at Celtic Park. Saturday was a blow for their top three aspirations, but they will remain confident of delivering a result against the Scottish Champions.