Team news

Well unchanged for Euro clash Motherwell have named an unchanged squad for the Europa League qualifier against Aalesund in Norway.

Craig Brown is likely to keep faith in the players who put Well into the third qualifying round with victory over Breidablik last week.

Marc Fitzpatrick is fighting back to fitness after a hamstring injury ended his 2009-10 season prematurely.

Brown currently only has funds for a striker but he feels a good result could pave the way for much-needed reinforcements.

Motherwell have seen a total of eight outfield first-team players leave at some point since Brown and Archie Knox took charge at the turn of the year.

Jim O'Brien, Giles Coke and Lukas Jutkiewicz were the key departures this summer, while Paul Slane, Steven McGarry, Darren Smith, Michael McGlinchey and Yassin Moutaouakil had all departed beforehand.

However, Brown is yet to add a first-team player to his outfield squad this summer.

"It's still one striker," he said. "One round of Europe has helped - it has helped us get into the next round, which could release some funds." Motherwell recently went public over a debt owed by Cardiff for the sale of Paul Quinn, believed to run into six figures, but Brown does not expect to see any of that cash either.

"I think that money was budgeted for in the overall running costs," he said.

"I don't think that will be added to my player budget. I think that would be absorbed quite quickly. The pitch takes up a lot of the expenditure here and there have been improvements within the stadium." Standing in the way of extra funds are a side sitting fourth in Norway's top flight after 18 matches.

They also feature giant striker Tor Hogne Aaroy, but Brown expects his wide men to prevent the hitman getting his desired service.

He said: "They are a very good team - athletic, fit, organised.

"They have a well-known striker who is 6ft 8in tall, who created the goal on Saturday by outjumping the goalkeeper.

"The goalkeeper was using his arms and hands and he only had his head but he outjumped him.

"So we're aware of the threat of crosses coming into the penalty box.

"The first thing you do is stop the crosses coming in, if you don't get the delivery, he can't score.

"They have a very good Jamaican international called (Demar) Philips on the left and he delivers wonderful crosses, and (Alexander) Mathisen on the right. So we have to be alert.

"I have absolute faith in Stephen Craigan and Mark Reynolds to know when to jump and challenge or when to let him have a header and pick up the headed ball.

Aalesund vs Motherwell

Last modified 20:12 29/07/10

Murphy breaks Well record Jamie Murphy broke Motherwell's European goalscoring record as manager Craig Brown got the away goal he craved in Norway, but an injury-time penalty denied the Lanarkshire side a stunning victory as they drew 1-1 with Aalesund.

Murphy netted his sixth Europa League goal to overtake previous record holder Stevie Kirk and give Motherwell the edge after the first leg of the third qualifying round.

However, Alexander Mathisen's last-gasp penalty denied Motherwell what would have been their greatest European result and kept the tie finely balanced ahead of next Thursday's return leg at Fir Park.

Murphy fired home from close range three minutes after the restart as Motherwell asserted themselves following an even first half.

The Steelmen had enjoyed the better of the first-half chances with Tom Hateley and Stevie Hammell both going close, although the home side threatened from set-pieces and hit the woodwork.

Brown's men looked like they had survived some late pressure to record their third successive victory by the only goal in their European campaign, but a foul by Steven Saunders allowed the hosts to level in a cruel finale.

Brown named the same team that won away against Icelandic league leaders Breidablik last Thursday as they stepped up a level to face a side sitting fourth in the Norwegian top flight after 18 games.

The home side forced several early corners, but Well managed to restrict the space around 6ft 8in home striker Tor Hogne Aaroy.

Hateley came close in the 12th minute with a stunning 30-yard volley that Anders Lindegaard tipped over but Brown's men soon survived a scare when Jamaica winger Demar Phillips struck the junction of bar and post from similar range.

The home side were throwing balls into the box but Motherwell were next to threaten in the 27th minute when Hammell's shot was tipped over following a one-two with John Sutton.

Murphy headed just wide from Hateley's near-post cross but Aalesund controlled possession for much of the latter stages of the half, with the Steelmen surviving more set-pieces.

Brown made a double substitution at half-time with Sutton, who required treatment late in the first period, and Ross Forbes making way.

Chris Humphrey and Bob McHugh came on and the substitutes were instrumental as Motherwell made a lightning start to the second half.

Humphrey's driven ball across the face of goal caused panic in the home defence before McHugh's deflected shot just cleared the bar.

And Motherwell soon struck when Humphrey cut back Hateley's back-post cross for Murphy to fire home from eight yards.

The home side tried to hit back immediately but Darren Randolph held Johan Arneng's strike from the edge of the box.

Saunders almost gifted the Norwegians an equaliser when he was short with an attempt to chest the ball back to Randolph, but Magnus Olsen shot over after intercepting.

The former Charlton goalkeeper was looking assured as Motherwell faced an aerial bombardment from wide areas, and he was grateful to see skipper Stephen Craigan's unorthodox clearance just clear his own bar.

Phillips, who had a brief spell with Stoke, blasted a free-kick just over as Motherwell continued to live dangerously.

Randolph was called into action in the 81st minute when he blocked Aaroy's shot with his feet and Motherwell looked set for a memorable victory when the keeper held a header from the giant striker in the closing minutes.