McGhee hoping good run continues at Celtic Park

Nov 5 2008 by Graham Miller, Wishaw Press

MARK McGhee is hoping his Motherwell team’s recent run of good form continues this weekend as they head to Celtic Park to face a tough test from the reigning SPL champions.

A repeat of the result from the Steelmen’s last visit to Glasgow’s east-end would do the ’Well boss nicely.

On that occasion a first half Simon Lappin goal was sufficient to secure three valuable points which helped put Motherwell into the UEFA Cup berth.

The victory that day was made all the more impressive as it was achieved with 10 men – after Bob Malcolm was sent off early in the second half following a challenge on Donati.

However, the ’Well boss is under no illusions about the magnitude of the task facing his players.

He said: “Celtic are one of the two teams in the SPL who are better than all the rest – particularly when they are at home.”

He continued: “I actually thought we performed better in an earlier game against Celtic when, although we lost 3-0, our play was excellent.

“So ideally I would like that level of performance but obviously combined with the result we achieved in April.”

Celtic, of course, face an extremely tough midweek test when the current English and European champions, Manchester United, roll into town.

And McGhee hopes that the Scottish champion’s Wednesday night exertions will benefit his team on Saturday.

He added: “Celtic are going to be worked very hard in midweek and their players will be running on average 12,000 to 13,000 metres during the course of the match, while my players will be at home resting, with their feet up.

“So purely on an energy basis I’d hope that it will have a detrimental effect on the Celtic players, but whether that equates to us beating them remains to be seen.

“I have to prepare the players mentally for the next two games as, after Celtic we take on Rangers here at Fir Park.

“The players have to know that we’re not just there to make up the numbers and be cannon fodder, we have to go out and try to win the games.

“And it is my job to motivate the players and convince them that we are good enough to win the games.”

McGhee is pleased with his team’s current form but knows there is still a lot of work to be done if Motherwell are to emulate their achievements of last season.

He said: “We set out this campaign to consolidate on last season and it’s satisfying that we’re putting some wins together.

“However, there are going to be a lot of teams in third position in the SPL over the course of the season.

“We have consecutive games against the Old Firm coming up, so arguably Dundee United, Hibs or Aberdeen could win two games, take six points and be ahead of us.

“If we’re still third after our next two matches, then that’s a different matter and I’ll be very happy as we will have given a good account of ourselves.”

Motherwell head into the match at Celtic Park with no new injury worries, although Northern Ireland international Stephen Craigan is still out with a groin problem.

The team’s confidence has been buoyed by back-to-back victories and three goals in two games from an inform Chris Porter.