Motherwell hopeful at season ahead

Mar 18 2009 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

PAUL QUINN believes Motherwell have finally shut up the snipers who were rounding on the club back in December.

Injury ravaged ‘Well slumped to the bottom of the SPL after defeat to Lanarkshire rivals Hamilton a week before Christmas.

Since then the Fir Parkers have gone on a superb run, losing just one game in 11 league outings, in the process re-kindling their prospects of not only finishing in the top six but seriously contending for a European place come May.

The defender returned to action during Motherwell’s narrow win over Dundee United on Saturday that has seen them reduce the gap between themselves and fourth placed United to just four points.

Now Quinn is focused on claiming three points against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park this weekend – a venue that saw him red carded earlier in the season.

“When people shoot you down as a team there is nothing better than shutting people’s mouths and we have done that,” Quinn told the Wishaw Press this week.

He continued: “Since December when we were down near the bottom there was talk that players and the club were not doing this right and that right.

“But we have put these people right and have got in a position where we fancy going on to try and get as high up this table as possible.”

Quinn was also suspended for Motherwell’s last match against Kilmarnock at Fir Park in December and is keen to make up for lost time against a team that have won both league meetings to date.

“I have seen them a couple of times and they have been excellent,” said Quinn.

“We obviously don’t have a great record against them this year.

“We will be looking to start with the same base (as against United) and get in their faces and work hard.

“We’ll definitely be looking to get the three points.”

He added: “They have got the big boy (Kevin) Kyle upfront so they could go direct but they also have (David) Fernandez and have some other good footballers.

“I think it will be a tough match like the United game.

“Kilmarnock are fourth bottom and we are pushing for a top six place which shows the league is really tight.”

The 23-year-old Quinn was surprisingly deployed in a right midfield role against Dundee United on Saturday.

And whilst admitting he would rather play at right back he was happy that Mark McGhee had the confidence to play him in a more forward role.

He said: “As long as I get to play, pass the ball and move then I enjoy it.

“Brian (McLean) has done well but I am glad that the manager has chosen not to leave Brian or myself out and obviously he has confidence in me.

“I am happy that he can see me as a player who can play in a couple of positions.

“Every other position you play in helps you for the position you are actually used to.”

Goal difference is all that separates Motherwell and nearest rivals Hibernian, who currently occupy the final top six place, with just four games remaining before the split.

But Quinn feels that nerves will not be a factor in the final outcome and believes his past experiences at the club have taught him what real pressure is all about.

“I have played when we didn’t know what the club’s future was going to be, when people were losing their jobs, losing their houses and were losing their income,” he said.

“That is real pressure.”

This Saturday’s match is live on Setanta Sports and Motherwell will want to put to bed a worrying statistic that shows they have not won a live televised league fixture since May 22, 2005 when Scott McDonald’s brace thwarted Celtic’s title ambitions on the final day of the season.