Tom Hateley keen on ending Motherwell's home day hoodoo

Dec 14 2011 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

TOM HATELEY hopes Motherwell can end their recent home hoodoo when they host St Mirren at Fir Park this weekend.

The Steelmen have not won on home turf since September with their rise to third place in the SPL built predominantly on their efforts on the road.

Last Saturday’s 3-0 win against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park was Motherwell’s fifth successive away victory and Hateley now wants to replicate that form in front of the home fans.

“People have been saying that we are not scoring at home but it is just one of those things,” the right-back said this week.

“We always go out to win at home but sometimes we don’t create as many chances as we would like.

“We have got a lot of pace in the side and that plays a significant part in why we have done well in away games.

“Home teams have to come at you more and that leaves them slightly more exposed, which works to our advantage.

“We have got plenty of match-winners at the other end of the field like Nicky Law, Jamie Murphy, Omar Daley, Chris Humphrey and big Michael Higdon. They are all players who can win games.

“It hasn’t quite worked as well at home yet but hopefully we will be able to change that and get all three points this weekend.”

Like Motherwell, St Mirren have been praised for their open style of football this season and Hateley thinks that could work in the Steelmen’s favour when the teams face off on Saturday.

The 22-year-old said: “It could help us although St Mirren may have a day where they keep the ball for fun and make it hard for us.

“But we can get right in about them and get the ball in dangerous areas and take it from there.

“We like to play football but sometimes it is not the weather or the game to play attractive football.

“As long as we work hard on Saturday, we can do enough to win.”

Hateley has been an ever-present in the Motherwell line-up this season, playing in all 19 competitive matches.

The former Reading player has been delighted with his form and praised assistant boss Kenny Black for turning him into one of the deadliest crossers of the ball in the SPL.

At the weekend, his pinpoint delivery led to Jamie Murphy heading in Motherwell’s second goal of the afternoon.

“It’s something I have been working on, especially since I have been playing at right-back,” he admitted.

“You try and get the ball out from under your feet and get it into a dangerous area.

“Kenny is good enough to take time at the end of training and help us work on that.”

He added: “I have not missed a game and I am coming up with some assists and a few goals as well and the team are winning so I am happy with the way I’m playing.”

Saturday’s win kept St Johnstone at bay in fourth place and Hateley admits their aim now is to continue fending off any challengers for third place.

He said: “At the beginning of the season, we were thinking top six but now we are third it is a position that we want to stay in. A game at a time might be boring for people to hear but we will concentrate on trying to get three points against St Mirren and hopefully by the end of the season we will have done enough to finish third.”