Now it’s time for the real thing to begin

Aug 6 2008 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

MOTHERWELL .....1 PRESTON ......................1

MOTHERWELL endured the ideal workout before their first league fixture of the season after drawing with Championship side Preston last Wednesday.

With ‘Well not playing at the weekend – giving them ten days to prepare for Saturday’s trip to Tynecastle – McGhee opted to start with his strongest possible line up which may well be the one which starts against Hearts.

In front of the usual back four of Paul Quinn, Steven Hammell, Mark Reynolds and Stephen Craigan, were Keith Lasley, Stephen Hughes, Bob Malcolm and Steven McGarry, while David Clarkson partnered Chris Porter in attack.

After a goalless first half worthy of the description ‘a typical pre-season knockabout’ it was substitute Jamie Murphy who opened the scoring for the Fir Parkers after 75 minutes before Mellor equalised for Preston – who fielded Scots Callum Davidson and former Dons midfielder Barry Nicolson – a minute later.

Murphy broke the deadlock with a wonderful chip over the on-rushing Preston keeper Andy Lonergan from just outside the box.

But Mellor levelled with an even better strike from long range that lobbed over the hapless Graeme Smith in the Motherwell goal.

With the impending season so close, McGhee has set young striker Murphy a challenge of being more involved in the first team saying: “We think he is going to do well for us.

“Whether or not he starts right away is another matter, we’ve not made our decision on that as yet.

“At the stage we introduced him (against Preston), both teams had changed therefore both teams had become that little bit more spread out.

“Up till then it had been fairly compact and space was at a premium.

“It was a nice move all round and an excellent finish from Murphy.”

Meanwhile, Mark McGhee has yet to make a decision over whether to offer 22-year-old Togo international midfielder, Souleymane Mamam a contract along with Gambian defender Seyfo Soley.

After the Preston match he said: “Mamam came on again tonight and I thought he did well.

“We’ve got to decide on whether or not we can accommodate another midfield player.

“We do have the three that started this evening along with Marc Fitzpatrick and Darren Smith and it may prove a luxury that our finances can’t stretch too but we certainly like the look of him.

“Seyfo Soley didn’t get on because this was our last game and we felt it vital that our back four and goalkeeper got a full ninety minutes.

“We are not 100 percent certain if he is going to be here or not come the Hearts game so I didn’t feel I could afford to blood him when I am trying to get the back ‘five’, who will play at Tynecastle, working as a unit again.”