Motherwell boss targets eight wins in a row for third place

Jan 21 2009 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

MOTHERWELL boss Mark McGhee has targeted a run of eight wins from his side’s next eleven league matches as they look to challenge for third spot in the SPL for the second season in succession.

The Steelmen are undefeated since losing to near neighbours Hamilton just before Christmas, a result that left them at the bottom of the division.

But ten points from a possible 12 in the last four games has given them renewed hope they can compete at the top end of the league in the second half of the season.

“I think we probably need to win eight out of eleven to give ourselves a realistic shot at third place going into the split,” McGhee told the Wishaw Press this week.

“But it is a big big ask,” he cautioned.

“When we have got our best team out we are as good as anybody in the league outside the Old Firm.”

Last Sunday seemed to prove McGhee right when his full strength side produced their best performance of the season, thrashing Dundee United 4-0 at Tannadice – a team that had lost just one of their previous 17 Premier League fixtures.

McGhee continued: “The performance against Dundee United was the reason why I stayed at this club because I knew this team were capable of that and I expected it.

“That has been totally undermined this season by injury and illness as well as a couple of suspensions and that is why were so far behind Dundee United and Hearts.

“It was a big result and we had to win the game.

“It is always a difficult place to go at the best of times so it was a really top performance.”

The Fir Parkers were due to leave Lanarkshire early this morning for tonight’s (Wednesday) re-arranged Scottish Cup fourth round tie against Inverurie Locos. However, a pitch inspection at Harlaw Park took place yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) and the game was called off due to adverse weather conditions.

The match has been rescheduled for next Monday, January 26 at 7.45pm.

Nevertheless McGhee revealed last night that he will be putting out a strong team against the Highland League outfit as they look to set up an all Premier Division clash against St Mirren in the next round.

“If I can put out the team that played against Dundee United then I will be doing that.

“I know everything we need to know about Inverurie but I have not been to see them partly because their games have been postponed.

“But we have had reports on them and we have good information.”

Last week McGhee admitted the midweek trip to Harlaw Park would disrupt his preparations for their next league outing against Falkirk this weekend.

But now his side will have the rest of this week to fully prepare for Saturday’s crucial league meeting.

McGhee is looking to continue his team’s undefeated start to 2009 in the league with another victory on Saturday against the Bairns, who are currently just one point off bottom side Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

But the Motherwell boss expects a tough game against a team that defeated them one nil in their last league outing back in November.

“If we have got real ambitions we need to win this one,” McGhee said.

He continued: “I was at Ibrox on Saturday (Falkirk lost 3-1 to Rangers) and they are a good team.

“Their shape gave Rangers all sorts of problems so I think we will have to come to terms with that and match them as individuals.”

He added: “I don’t care what the table says, they are not the worst team in this league by a long stretch. They are not even the second worst team as their position in the league would suggest.”