Motherwell

Following the 3-2 win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie, Motherwell manager Steven Hammell told BBC Scotland: "I'm delighted, more so the performance if I'm honest than the result. We were excellent. We played with a real intensity and a real purpose. It was pleasing to see.

"It's one win, we're not getting carried away.

"We knew we had the better of the first half and we knew there would be a reaction. But we stuck to what we were doing and we believed in what we were doing, we scored a couple of nice goals and we could have scored more."

By Andrew Southwick, BBC Scotland

Aberdeen had received plaudits for their performances this season; cruising through their League Cup group, and responding to an opening-day defeat by hammering St Mirren.

However, perhaps the real test of their mettle would be provided by Motherwell, a side the Dons had failed to beat in four meetings last season, losing three of them.

They look to have more firepower than last term, and they scored twice from just three shots on target. But defensively they were pulled apart time and again and manager Jim Goodwin still has plenty of work to do.

Motherwell's start to the season was as bad as it gets; losing their Europa Conference League clash to Sligo Rovers which led to the dismissal of manager Graham Alexander before a Premiership ball had been kicked.

Two wins from three gives Steven Hammell a solid base to start from though, and they looked like they could score at will at Pittodrie as the newly-found confidence flowed through the side.

New Motherwell manager Steven Hammell tells BBC Scotland: "We're still trying to find a perfect formula with our attacking options.

"We were hoping to get one or two in before this game but that's not been the case. We're confident before the window closes we will get a couple in. We need players that are going to come in and be ready to go.

"It's going to be different no matter what manager came in. We need to improve the players that are already here, we need to be clever with the recruitment, and over the next year or two we need to promote the youth.

"It's one of the proudest moments of my life [becoming Motherwell manager], but that's not what I'm thinking, I'm thinking how we can get a positive result this afternoon."

Goalkeeper Aston Oxborough has joined Motherwell on a two-year deal. 

The 24-year-old makes the move to Fir Park after 14 years at Norwich City.

Oxborough was signed by previous manager Graham Alexander, but international clearance was only granted this week.

He goes into the squad for the visit to Aberdeen, with Scott Fox filling in as temporary goalkeeper coach after the departure of Andy Dibble.

“This is a really good club full of good people,” Oxborough told the Motherwell website.

“I’m excited to be here and I’m looking forward to the season ahead.”

What should Stevie Hammell's starting line-up be away to Aberdeen on Saturday? Here's your chance to pick your XI.

Pick your team here.

Motherwell fans, get in touch with BBC Sport to tell us what you think about Steven Hammell's appointment as manager. You can let us know here.

Scott Mullen, BBC Scotland

Stevie Hammell is someone who will need no introduction to the Motherwell support. And in a time when change is needed at the football club, having someone who knows the place so well will be key to making sure those changes are implemented quickly.

Of the three interviewed for the post, Hammell undoubtedly will know the place far more than the other candidates. Having been a player and then academy director, he is best placed to know of the talent coming through that could bolster things. He's also been close by to see exactly what's been going wrong over the last weeks and months.

It's clear that the Motherwell squad need reinforcements and a new style of play implemented, and that's something Hammell has eluded to already. He now has a busy three weeks to wheel and deal and get his squad ready to be moulded in his vision.

The talent is there, and there will be more to come. It's now down to this Motherwell icon to get the best out of them.

Motherwell will announce their new manager today after late night board discussions to whittle down their shortlist to replace Graham Alexander. (The National), external

Andy Dibble has left his post as Motherwell goalkeeper coach by mutual consent, the Fir Park club have announced.

The former Wales keeper, 57, joined Well this summer but moves on following the departure of manager Graham Alexander.

Scott Fox will take on the goalkeeper coach role on an interim basis.

Former Motherwell midfielder Simo Valakari will be interviewed for the Fir Park manager's job on Wednesday. (Sun), external

Former Scotland midfielder Kevin Thomson, the 37-year-old who left Kelty Hearts after leading them to the Scottish League 2 title, has refused to rule himself out of the running to be Motherwell manager having missed out after being interviewed by Hibernian, Kilmarnock and Raith Rovers. (Scottish Sun), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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Motherwell interim boss Steven Hammell says his squad "needs time and a lot of work" after they were beaten by a late St Johnstone goal on Saturday.

Hammell is among the candidates to replace Graham Alexander on a permanent basis, but having won his opening game in charge at St Mirren, his team were sloppy and ineffective at Fir Park.

Stevie May's 94th-minute strike sealed a 2-1 St Johnstone win after the hosts had levelled three minutes earlier.

"It's difficult," Hammell said.

"I'll maybe speak to [the club hierarchy] just now and see where we're at. It doesn't change the fact that if the club have seen enough, we've had one week and two games to work with a team that needs time and a lot of work.

"It does need some surgery here and there, regardless of whether I'm manager. It's clear what we need and what we're lacking."

Brian McLauchlin, BBC Scotland

Interviews for the vacant Motherwell manager's position took place on Friday. Today, they'll be whittling the list of candidates down to a shortlist. That will consist of no more than four names.

Simo Valakari, a Motherwell player in the 1990s, will be one of them, as will caretaker manager Stevie Hammell. There was huge noise coming from the large Motherwell support in Paisley last weekend, singing 'there's only one Stevie Hammell', after he guided them to a 1-0 win in his first game in charge.

I would suggest Stevie Hammell holds all the aces and I wonder if victory today against St Johnstone could do the trick.

Motherwell: Kelly, O'Donnell, McGinn, Mugabi, Solholm Johansen, Maguire, Goss, Spittal, Morris, Shields, Van Veen.

Substitutes: Fox, Efford, Ojala, Cornelius, Tierney, Mahon, Wilson, Spiers, Ferrie. 

St Johnstone:  Matthews, Wright, McGowan, Mitchell, Considine, Montgomery, MacPherson, Hallberg, Carey, Murphy, Bair.

Substitutes: Paris, Kucheriyavi, Mahon, Gordon, Crawford, Ballantyne, May, O'Halloran, Brown.

Remi Matthews says he has "a lot more experience" as he returns to a ground where he once lost four goals to a single player.

The St Johnstone goalkeeper, 28, joined on loan from Crystal Palace last month, having previously been on loan at Hamilton Academical from Norwich City.

On his first trip to Fir Park in 2016, Matthews was in an Accies team beaten 4-2 by a Louis Moult-inspired Well, the striker scoring all of their goals.

"I was young at the time, I was new to that sort of loan experience," said Matthews. "I have got a lot more experience coming into this football club.

"When I was at Hamilton I really enjoyed it and I really enjoyed playing in the Scottish league and that was a big factor in why I wanted to return."