Latest news with #StephenODonnell
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
O'Donnell embracing 'exciting & interesting' Askou approach
Stephen O'Donnell is enjoying the challenge of learning fresh "exciting and interesting" demands under Motherwell's third manager of the two years of relative stability under Stuart Kettlewell - who departed in January - Motherwell appointed their second manager of 2025 when Jens Berthel Askou replaced Michael Dane has a similar attacking philosophy to his predecessor but his desire to play the ball out from the back has been more faces a big test on Tuesday when Motherwell host Greenock Morton in the Premier Sports Cup needing victory to guarantee progression to the second adapting to the new boss, O'Donnell said: "We found it with the old manager when he came in. It was a different kind of style, different ideas and the gaffer has probably amplified that a wee bit more."I find it exciting and interesting. You're learning different ideas and different ways in which people think of the game. You're always trying to learn and I think that's something I'm capable of doing. I'm excited to continue to learn."I've been enjoying it, trying to work on different things. The most important thing is that we are seeing progression on the pitch and in the style, and hopefully getting the wins that make that progression easier."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Askou 'not happy' with second half at Ochilview
Manager Jens Berthel Askou says he was "not happy" with Motherwell's second-half display as they laboured to another win over a lower-league side at Stenhousemuir. Stephen O'Donnell's fortunate back-post finish in the 41st minute proved enough to send the Fir Park side top of their Premier Sports Cup group, but Askou felt his team were too content to sit on their lead at Ochilview. "The first half was actually quite good," he said in a club video. "We found a high tempo at times, were dangerous also on set-pieces, should have produced some bigger chances. "But being 1-0 up at half time, it gave us the composure and the calmness in the team that we maybe haven't had the first couple of games where we've been chasing and chasing and chasing. "And maybe that was the reason that we slowed down a little bit in the second half, I don't know. No matter what, I'm not happy with the performance in the second half. "We need to produce more, bigger chances in a game like that when we dominate so much."
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Askou 'not happy' with second half at Ochilview
Manager Jens Berthel Askou says he was "not happy" with Motherwell's second-half display as they laboured to another win over a lower-league side at O'Donnell's fortunate back-post finish in the 41st minute proved enough to send the Fir Park side top of their Premier Sports Cup group, but Askou felt his team were too content to sit on their lead at Ochilview. "The first half was actually quite good," he said in a club video. "We found a high tempo at times, were dangerous also on set-pieces, should have produced some bigger chances."But being 1-0 up at half time, it gave us the composure and the calmness in the team that we maybe haven't had the first couple of games where we've been chasing and chasing and chasing."And maybe that was the reason that we slowed down a little bit in the second half, I don't know. No matter what, I'm not happy with the performance in the second half."We need to produce more, bigger chances in a game like that when we dominate so much."
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Livingston, Motherwell & St Mirren lead in Premier Sports Cup
Update: Date: 15:42 BST Title: GOAL Stenhousemuir 0-1 MOTHERWELL Content: Stephen O'Donnell The former Scotland defender with a penchant for baking makes the breakthrough from a corner. Update: Date: 15:39 BST Title: GOAL St Mirren 3-1 ANNAN ATHLETIC Content: A Trialist The deficit is reduced in Paisley and a mystery trialist has done his chances of a move to Galabank no harm. Hang on. The St Mirren X account says it's Myles Gaffney. Update: Date: 15:34 BST Title: Post Content: Ayr United 1-0 Arbroath Curtis Main thinks he's in for a second close-range finish but a slight deflection on the cross takes the ball through the striker's legs... Update: Date: 15:31 BST Title: GOAL LIVINGSTON 1-0 Brora Rangers Content: Danny Wilson The former Scotland defender breaks the deadlock in West Lothian. An acrobatic finish by the sounds of it. Update: Date: 15:28 BST Title: Post Content: We've still got 12 games without a goal, including Inverness Caledonian Thistle against St Johnstone. There's been a couple of good saves at either end in that one. Update: Date: 15:22 BST Title: GOAL Elgin City 0-2 EAST KILBRIDE Content: Jack Leitch Scott's boy has done it again for EK. Update: Date: 15:21 BST Title: GOAL AYR UNITED 1-0 Arbroath Content: Curtis Main It's scrappy but they all count as an effort from Curtis Main trundles in. Update: Date: 15:18 BST Title: Goals galore in Paisley Content: St Mirren 3-0 Annan Athletic If you were late in to St Mirren v Annan Athletic or stopped to get a pie, you may well have missed a goal or two. The hosts were three up inside 10 minutes. Update: Date: 15:14 BST Title: GOAL Dumbarton 0-1 DUNFERMLINE Content: Josh Cooper The Pars are in front as Josh Cooper lashes home from outside the penalty area. Update: Date: 15:10 BST Title: GOAL ST MIRREN 3-0 Annan Athletic Content: Mikael Mandron This could be a long afternoon for Annan, who conceded six to Ayr United on Tuesday. Update: Date: 15:08 BST Title: GOAL ST MIRREN 2-0 Annan Athletic Content: Killian Phillips And another one for the Buddies midfielder. Update: Date: 15:05 BST Title: GOAL ST MIRREN 1-0 Annan Athletic Content: Killian Phillips The Buddies strike early, with Killian Phillips banging one in from 20 yards. Update: Date: 15:04 BST Title: GOAL Elgin City 0-1 EAST KILBRIDE Content: Jack Leitch The League 2 newcomers are off to a flyer, fresh from their shock win at Raith Rovers. Update: Date: 15:00 BST Title: Nearly there... Content: Sportsound has got reporters at a few grounds today while the first dedicated match commentary comes from Somerset Park, with Ayr United hosting Arbroath. Then it will be over to Forthbank for Stirling Albion v Hearts at 17:15. You can listen in via the tab at the top of the page. Update: Date: 14:57 BST Title: Wasps boss on standby Content: Alloa Athletic v Dundee (15:00) Alloa manager Andy Graham has got the boots on since he is among the seven subs listed by the home side, but the 41-year-old has told BBC Scotland that doesn't expect to be involved. Graham made one appearance last season, for all of 45 minutes, so he might be blowing hard if he does get on. Update: Date: 14:53 BST Title: Pressure on Dundee Content: Alloa Athletic v Dundee (15:00) It's a big afternoon for Dundee following last week's home loss to Airdrieonians. This could be an awkward game at in-form Alloa Athletic for Steven Pressley's side. Dundee's Tony Yagane warms up Update: Date: 14:49 BST Title: Buddies seek home comfort Content: St Mirren v Annan Athletic (15:00) St Mirren got their group campaign back on track with a midweek win away to Forfar Athletic after losing on penalties at Arbroath last weekend. The Paisley side are at home for the first time this season against Annan Athletic. Jayden Richardson scored a screamer at Station Park but is one of St Mirren's substitutes today Update: Date: 14:45 BST Title: Still no Miller for Motherwell Content: Stenhousemuir v Motherwell (15:00) Lennon Miller's recent injury keeps him out of Motherwell's trip to Stenhousemuir. The Scotland international has been heavily linked with a move away from Fir Park but he will be cheering on the Steelmen at Ochilview Park. Update: Date: 14:40 BST Title: All smiles for Simo Content: Inverness CT v St Johnstone (15:00) St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari looks in a good mood before today's meeting with Inverness Caledonian Thistle. It's very tight in Group F, with four teams on three points. Update: Date: 14:35 BST Title: Post Content: We had a whopping 51 goals across Tuesday night's games, without a single draw. Remember, if it is all square after regulation time we go straight to penalties with the shootout winners getting an extra bonus point.
BBC News
10-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
World Cup would make Clarke 'one of Scotland's best'
Steve Clarke can become "one of the most successful managers in Scottish history" by reaching the World Cup, according to Stephen O' Scots defeated Liechtenstein 4-0 in Vaduz on Monday, three days on from a 3-1 home loss to Iceland. Clarke's side will begin their quest to reach a first men's World Cup since 1998 away to Denmark in September and will also face Belarus and Greece.O'Donnell played 26 times for Scotland, mostly under Clarke between 2018 and 2022, and was also part of Clarke's Kilmarnock side."If you'd offered Steve Clarke the chance of qualifying for two Euros and a World Cup, I think he'd have bitten your hand off at the start of his tenure," he told BBC Scotland. "We were a country that was in a real kind of, I don't want to say a mess but in a troubled time. Lots of players calling off, lots of players not wanting to turn up."Now you see, with the recent friendlies against two lesser sides, it would have been very easy for a lot of these big players who earn very good money to say, 'do you know what, I want to have a couple of weeks off for my summer'. They didn't. They all come because that's where the country is just now."We're wanting to compete for major tournaments, to try to qualify and hopefully bring success. So Steve Clarke, if he managed to qualify for the World Cup, he'd probably be one of the most successful managers in Scottish history."The problem facing Clarke is meeting renewed expectation from a Scotland support that has attended the past two European Championships without watching their side win a game at either to the Americas next year without the need for a play-off will require topping their qualifying group."That's what probably makes it the most interesting group," 33-year-old Motherwell vice-captain and right-back O'Donnell said."The three of us are only separated by 20 Fifa world ranking points, so it's tight. We'll be up for it, we'll be ready and hopefully the country can come together and get, in these six games, six big performances and enough to make history again." 'Qualifying difficult - but Scotland good enough' Scotland's home form will need a shot in the arm if history is to be made, given the national side has conceded six goals in the past two matches at Hampden, including three to Greece.A stirring win over Spain on Glasgow's southside is now more than two years ago, with a new generation of players, including teenagers Lennon Miller and Ben Doak, now being asked to take Scotland winger Doak, in particular, could be key to how Scotland line up in future and to the country's chances of success when the difficult-looking World Cup campaign gets under way in Denmark in the autumn."If Ben Doak's available, I think he makes a massive difference with the attacking prowess he has, the pace he has," O'Donnell added. "There are not many other players of a similar profile in the squad, so if he's fit, you'd probably opt for a 4-3-3 formation."Five at the back is good away from home, but at Hampden, you'd like to give a bit more momentum to the fans and having players getting at full-backs would certainly have that impact."It's going to be difficult, but I do think we're good enough. We showed it in the last campaign for the Euros with how well we started. "That's going to be needed again against top opposition. We're capable of it, we have more than enough quality and experience."Don't forget, the thing this squad has done is develop as a team and gained international experience, not only in qualifications but in tournaments. That's going to be needed not only to hopefully get us over the line but to then perform well at the World Cup. I think we can qualify."
