SPL relegation dogfight is on for Motherwell

Dec 24 2008 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

BOTTOM OF THE ’WELL

MOTHERWELL boss Mark McGhee didn’t hold back in his assessment of his team’s position following their derby defeat by Hamilton, which leaves them joint bottom of the SPL on points and in the middle of a relegation dogfight.

He admitted: “Until we’re out of this position, we can’t deny that we’re in a relegation battle. Until we start playing better or winning games, we can’t claim that we’re any better than we are.”

The Fir Park men are currently enduring an alarming series of results, which has seen them take only one point from their last seven matches, and includes five consecutive defeats.

Apart from conceding too easily at the back, Motherwell are also firing blanks up front, with defender Bob Malcolm’s strike against Hibs a month ago their only league goal since November 1.

McGhee kept his players locked in the away dressing room at New Douglas Park for the best part of an hour, to carry out a post-mortem on the loss to their Lanarkshire rivals and fellow strugglers.

He said: “I wasn’t ranting and raving in the dressing room after the match. But we’ve got to find out why we’re not winning football matches.

“Even with the players we have missing, we’re still a lot better than we’ve shown today.”

The missing trio of Craigan, Hughes and Clarkson may have had a negative impact on ’Well’s performance, but McGhee was in no mood for excuses.

The Motherwell manager stressed: “How can we say, ‘With Stephen Craigan and Stephen Hughes, and Chris Porter playing his best, we’d be third in the league?’ It’s ridiculous.

“Within myself, I know that we’re better than that and there’s better to come, but I can’t say just now, ‘Hamilton have beaten us 2-0 but we’re better than Hamilton and we’re going to finish above them.’

He continued: “There is no doubt that there’s a bit of a malaise about us, but it isn’t just about missing players – we’re just not a team at the moment.

“We have to take that as our starting point, and now we’ve got to come in and be determined to improve on that, to prove to people that we aren’t the worst team and for me to prove that I’m not the worst manager.”

A lack of cohesion among his players has been identified by the manager as an area requiring his attention.

McGhee said: “We’re going out there as individuals and we aren’t connected, so there’s something missing at the moment and that’s what we have to work hard to get back.

“That’s my starting point with the lads – presently we are bottom and now we have to come in determined to work to get back from that, and I’m convinced we will.”

The Motherwell boss also revealed club captain Craigan, who has been out with a groin injury, has resumed training and that tonsillitis victims Hughes and Marc Fitzpatrick are expected to be fit for Saturday’s crucial match against Inverness – another team having a disappointing time of it.