‘Well boss Mark McGhee took a number of positives from his sides pre-season friendly against Cowdenbeath.
Despite losing 3-1 at Central Park, the manager was pleased with his new signings and the fact the team avoided injuries.
And looking ahead to the league cup opener against Rangers, McGhee was also happy to give his players yet more game time.
He said: “I’m pleased that so many of us got 90 minutes, its only another game or so really before we go into the league cup game against Rangers so it’s important, and again we’ve come out of it unscathed.
“I think when you play a game the way we played tonight, there was a reasonable amount of commitment to the running and working, but there were times when maybe we didn’t go in to challenges the way we normally would.
“So it’s difficult to gauge really how important that is at this stage and how much more important it is that we didn’t get anybody injured and we go into the next game with most of the boys having played 90 minutes.”
[pullquote]I think on a better surface we would’ve turned better opportunities in to better chances and those better chances into goals.[/pullquote]
He added: “So from that point of view it’s another good exercise, obviously we’re always disappointed to lose a game but it’s a pre-season game.”
After creating a series of chances in the first half, the manager believes the squad will start to improve with more game time.
He said: “I think the surface [played a part] as well, to be fair. But that’s no criticism as I know the restraints that are on clubs like this financially, but the pitch was shocking really and we found it difficult at times to pass the ball.
“I think on a better surface we would’ve turned better opportunities in to better chances and those better chances into goals.”
On the new signings, the manager added: “I’m pleased, we’ve also signed Carl McHugh – a midfield player and we needed that.
“I thought Richard Tait was excellent, really no problems with him. I think anyone that was here tonight would’ve seen a good replacement for Josh Law and seen a good player.”
The ‘Well boss added: “With [Jacob Blyth] I think what’s happening is we’re all coming to see what he can offer us, he’s going to win the ball in the air, we’re going to get flick-on’s and we’re going to score goals off his centre-forward play.”
With Dumbarton and Hibs awaiting Motherwell on Saturday and Sunday, McGhee is looking forward to the next fixtures.
He said: “One of the great things about playing at Easter Road is we’re going to be playing on a good surface and we can enjoy playing on a good surface for perhaps the first time this pre-season, so we look forward to that.”