Motherwell prepares for first home game against Aberdeen

Aug 13 2008 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

MOTHERWELL boss Mark McGhee has warned his players that his side’s impressive results against Saturday’s opponents Aberdeen last season are now rendered meaningless.

The Fir Parkers were unbeaten against the Dons in their four league meetings last term – winning three out of the four matches; including a 1-0 victory at Fir Park which sealed third spot and UEFA Cup football for the Steelmen.

But McGhee feels Motherwell’s 3-2 defeat at Tynecastle on Saturday proves that you cannot rely on last season as an indicator to how this weekend’s match will pan out.

“Last year has got nothing to do with it now,” McGhee admitted.

“We had a good record at Tynecastle last year and lost this year.

“This weekend it is solely about us and them on the day and we will not be concerning ourselves with last year’s results.”

He continued: “They were beaten on Saturday and so were we.

“I’m not quite sure how they are feeling about their defeat but we don’t feel all that bad about ours.

“We go into the game in a positive frame of mind, that is all we can do.

“So I have no fears for that game.”

Having closely studied video footage of Saturday’s game, the former Wolves manager felt that his defence could have done better for all three Hearts goals.

But despite these defensive deficiencies that plagued the team last season as well as on Saturday, McGhee insists that his side will continue to play the expansive football that has thrilled the Fir Park faithful since he arrived at the club in June 2007.

“There is no danger we are going to change the way we play our football.

“It is the only way we can play and we don’t know any other way of playing.

“We have a group of players here that are proper footballers and that is what we will continue to do.”

He added: “We approach every game the same home and away.

“We have not played in any game since I have come here where we have set up in what I think to be a negative defensive way.

“On Saturday we went for it from the first minute and dominated territory in the first half away from home.”

Meanwhile two-goal hit-man David Clarkson has been rewarded for his performance on Saturday with another call-up to the Scotland squad to face Northern Ireland at Hampden Park next Wednesday.

National boss George Burley was in the stands watching Clarkson net an early season brace at Tynecastle and was clearly impressed.

But McGhee feels that Clarkson did not play as well he can against Hearts saying: “A few people I spoke to at the Celtic game (on Sunday) were talking about Clarky and they seemed to think he played better than I thought he played on Saturday.

“We know him intimately and know how well he can play and there is more to come.

“But to get two goals as a striker in the first games is always a good way to start the season.

“It puts you in a frame of mind to go on for the season and accumulate a lot of goals.

“So yes it is a terrific start for him.”

Clarkson scored on his debut for the senior side last May after coming off the bench during Scotland’s defeat to the Czech Republic.