Victory over Aberdeen isn't vital, says McGhee

Apr 1 2009 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

MOTHERWELL gaffer Mark McGhee does not believe that Saturday’s crunch game against Aberdeen at Fir Park is a must-win and has ruled out the possibility of goal difference deciding the final top six positions in the SPL.

The Steelmen are currently sitting in seventh position with just three games remaining before the split.

Four points separate Motherwell and fourth-placed Aberdeen with Hibernian in sixth only ahead of their nearest rivals ’Well by two goals.

Nothing will be decided this weekend but a win could go a long way towards securing Motherwell a top-six slot for the second consecutive season despite being joint-bottom of the SPL during the festive period.

“I wouldn’t say three points is a must but it would be a fantastic step towards the top six and also in terms of getting closer to them once we make the top six,” McGhee told the Wishaw Press this week.

“It won’t be about goal difference, it will be about points.

“We first and foremost need to win games and not worry about that.

“Points will make the prizes, not goal difference.”

The Dons are still reeling from their shock Scottish Cup exit at the hands of First Division Dunfermline last month and manager Jimmy Calderwood has come in from some stinging criticism ever since.

In an open letter to the club's director of football Willie Miller, the Aberdeen supporters’ society claimed Calderwood should be sacked.

Nevertheless McGhee does not feel that will have a major bearing on the outcome of Saturday’s match saying: “I think they are under a wee bit of pressure and they have been getting criticism but I don’t know whether it will be terribly relevant when it comes to the game.

“They have had a break to get it out of their minds.

“We have had a few disappointments in the Scottish Cup as well but we didn’t dwell on it and we moved on quickly.”

The Motherwell squad returned to full training on Monday having had a few days off as international football took centre stage.

And after their insipid bore draw against Kilmarnock in their previous outing, McGhee is determined his side start strongly against Aberdeen, a team that beat Motherwell 2-0 at Pittodrie back in November.

“I have not even looked at their (Aberdeen) teamsheet yet or their reports,” he said.

“I will not do that until Wednesday.

“I am concerning myself with my own team and how we are looking. Do we look right? Do we look sharp?

“That is what I am working on this week so we start the game at a good tempo, a tempo that we never ever managed to find against Kilmarnock with a 12.30pm kick-off time.

“Thankfully it is a 3pm kick off on Saturday and hopefully we will start off a bit better.”

Meanwhile the Motherwell boss is hoping youngster Jamie Murphy can return from international duty and inspire his side to a top-six place.

The talented forward impressed during Scotland under-21’s 1-0 victory away to Albania on Saturday and is set to retain his starting berth for tonight’s (Wednesday’s) return fixture.

After a positive start to the season Murphy has failed to hold down a regular first team slot at Motherwell.

But McGhee believes his exposure on the international arena can help him on his return to Fir Park.

The former Wolves manager said: “We know what he is capable of but he has not always been consistent when he has come into the team.

“He is still a young lad who is developing but it is good that he is doing well at that level. This season he has not played as well as we had hoped.

“But hopefully if he does well in the internationals it gives him the confidence to come back here and contribute to our next three games.”