Sutton slams Motherwell doubters

Nov 11 2009 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

STRIKER John Sutton is not surprised with Motherwell’s encouraging start to the league season despite many people predicting the Fir Parkers would struggle.

The departure of boss Mark McGhee as well as a string of first team regulars including Paul Quinn, David Clarkson, Stephen Hughes and Graeme Smith in the summer became a source of concern for many Steelmen supporters.

But Sutton always believed the new look team built by gaffer Jim Gannon would produce the goods having witnessed at close quarters the emergence of a talented group of youngsters in the youth team over the past couple of years.

“I think everyone associated with the club always knew that the young boys here were really good players, the likes of Ross Hutchinson, Ross Forbes and Bob McHugh,” Sutton told the Wishaw Press this week.

“There was always plenty of them here and this season they were ready to step up. It is more difficult for other people looking from the outside to be aware of that.

“They have come in and done a great job and hopefully they will keep developing as they are at the moment.”

Motherwell have lost just one match in the first quarter of the SPL campaign and sit comfortably in the top six in fifth place after Saturday’s thrilling 2-2 draw against Hamilton at New Douglas Park.

The Englishman said: “I think we have got to be reasonably pleased with our start. Our points total has been pretty decent.

“We are always looking to improve as a team and the younger players who have come in have done really well. Hopefully in the next quarter we can push on.

“It would be nice to get in the top six especially having just missed out last season.”

He added: “It’s a very tight league but I think we are capable of finishing high up and we just have to pick up as many wins as possible and see where it takes us. The challenge is over a season and I think we just have to look at where we are at the end.

“Hopefully we can finish third and fourth and look back at a really good job done.”

Having tinkered with his system in the last couple of weeks Gannon has deployed John Sutton up front with Everton loanee Lukas Jutkiewicz.

Sutton is hoping the partnership can continue when the league action gets under way again on Saturday week (November 21) at home to Aberdeen.

He said: “Hopefully we can score and create a few more goals. We are both quite tall players but what matters is the product on the pitch. If we can combine and cause problems for defenders then that is what counts.”