Quinn: We need to be at our best against Hearts

Jan 7 2009 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

MOTHERWELL defender Paul Quinn believes tonight’s re-arranged league clash against Hearts will represent one of the toughest tests of the season so far for the Lanarkshire outfit.

Last month’s scheduled fixture was called off after the failure of the Fir Park underground heating system which left the six-yard box at one end frozen solid.

Since then (December 6), The Steelmen have welcomed back a number of first team regulars from injury and suspension in the form of Quinn himself, captain Stephen Craigan, midfielder Stephen Hughes and Scotland striker David Clarkson.

And this has helped put an end to their wretched run of form that saw them go seven games without a win.

A 3-2 home victory over Inverness last weekend was followed up by an encouraging draw at Love Street on Saturday.

But the 23-year-old defender, back in action after suspension, believes the Tynecastle club will provide an altogether different challenge.

“There will not have been a more difficult fixture at home so far this season,” Quinn told the Wishaw Press.

“Hearts are on a really good run of form at the moment and won five games in a row recently.

“They also did really well against both sides of the Old Firm so we know how difficult a game it will be.”

The return of Quinn and Stephen Craigan alongside Mark Reynolds and Stevie Hammill in the starting line-up has meant a welcome reunion for last season’s back four that helped Motherwell on their way to third place in the SPL.

And it meant they were able to snuff out the attacking threat posed by the Buddies at the weekend.

“I thought we defended pretty well against St Mirren and it is good to have last year’s back four together again,” said Quinn.

“It definitely helps when you have a settled defence who know each other’s good and bad points.

“We will need to be at our best against Hearts.”

Motherwell lost out to The Jambos on the first day of the new season in an entertaining game that ended 3-2 to the hosts despite a double from David Clarkson.

And Quinn would not be surprised if there were more goals tonight saying: “Both teams like to attack so yes there could be goals.”

Meanwhile, the Wishaw born defender is hoping there will be no upsets when Motherwell travel north to play Highland League outfit Inverurie Locos in round four of The Homecoming Scottish Cup this weekend.

The ’Well suffered a disappointing exit from the Scottish Cup last season crashing to a 2-1 defeat against Division One side Dundee.

But Quinn is determined to have an extended run this term, especially after their early season defeats to Hamilton in the Co-Operative Insurance Cup and Nancy in the UEFA Cup.

He said: “The one thing that we have got to be wary of is complacency.

“They will be really up for it and will want to cause a shock but if we fully concentrate in the task at hand then we hopefully should be okay.”

What should be encouraging for Motherwell fans is that Quinn will not be treating the match like a pre-season kick-about – like his manager Mark McGhee did once in his playing career.

He encountered lower league opposition in a cup tie when playing for Hamburg.

The ’Well boss amusingly recalled: “When I was at Hamburg we played the first round of the cup before the league started but because I didn’t speak German I thought it was just a pre-season game.

“So we lost to this team, I can’t even remember their name, and suddenly there was all this wailing in the crowd so I knew something was wrong.”

He added: “It turned out we’d been knocked out by a small provincial team and it’s not an experience I’d wish to repeat.”