The Fir Parkers travel to Glasgow to take on Partick Thistle tomorrow afternoon, looking to follow up on last weekend’s impressive derby win.
Mark McGhee will be keen to string together consecutive victories and gain momentum, with his side now in the top six of the Premiership table.
But with just one victory at Firhill since 1997 for the ‘Well, Saturday’s match is likely to be a tough test.
Speaking to the press yesterday, McGhee touched on the fact that in this tightly contested division, every match is expected to be a challenge.
He said: “It’ll be a difficult game and I say this all the time, even with the Hamilton game where we played very well in the first half, they were just as good as us in the second half.
“It was the same with Ross County the week before and Dundee the week before that and I’m sure it will be the same with Thistle – there won’t be much between us.
“On the day you can suddenly gel and get the half-hour that we got on Saturday or you get one player that plays exceptionally well and they have players that can play exceptionally well on the day as well.
“What we do have is a bit of confidence going in to it on the back of last week and hopefully that can get us another result which would be great.”
[pullquote]What we do have is a bit of confidence going in to it on the back of last week and hopefully that can get us another result which would be great.[/pullquote]
McGhee knows that Partick can threaten any team in the league on their day, and added that their slow start to the season isn’t worth paying attention to.
He said: “They have good attacking options, they have good movement, they have a variety of abilities and skills and pace, they have a bit of football as well.
“They can be a good team on their day so we have to go there expecting the best Partick Thistle.”
Thistle boss Alan Archibald will be keen to push on from a positive result at the weekend too, after he watched his side pick-up an important point away to Kilmarnock.
A late equaliser from Liam Lindsay secured the draw for the Jags, but it wasn’t enough to lift them from the foot of the table, as Inverness picked up a point against Celtic.
A win for the home-side tomorrow could lift them as high as seventh, but a win for the ‘Well could see McGhee’s men potentially surge to second.
Midfielder Craig Cay has enjoyed a solid start to his career with Motherwell so far, nailing down his place in the starting eleven and impressing in every game he has played in.
But despite his form, the Englishman believes he is just reaching his physical best now.
With competition for a spot in the team surely to rise over the coming weeks with the return of Carl McHugh and Lee Lucas picking up fitness, Craig Clay’s performances will be interesting to watch – starting tomorrow.
Speaking to the press yesterday morning, the 24-year-old said: “I had a bit-part pre-season in terms of fitness and I feel like I’m just coming up to my best now, but in terms of the games so far I’m loving it to be honest.
“The way we play football – trying to get it down and play football – that suits me and I’m loving every minute.”
He added: “The majority of games, give or take the Celtic game, are quite close games and one goal here or there normally nicks it and you have to be concentrated for every single minute.
“Down South in the Conference there’s a lot of games where you go in to it and it’s just hoof ball where it goes over your head as a midfielder, so I like it when you can get it down, play it through the midfield and play a bit more.”
[pullquote]I had a bit-part pre-season in terms of fitness and I feel like I’m just coming up to my best now, but in terms of the games so far I’m loving it to be honest.[/pullquote]
Clay eluded to the level of confidence among the squad during the press conference, where he also touched on the fact that a big win last weekend can be the catalyst for further victories.
He said: “We already knew before Saturday that we’ve been a bit unlucky with a few of the results, like the Dundee and Rangers games.
“We know we’ve got a good team but obviously with some players coming back, like Moulty on Saturday getting four goals on his first start since coming back, we have a confident squad.”
He added: “That win on Saturday sets us up well for this Saturday – if we go and win that we can stay in the top six so hopefully we can go there, put in a good performance and get the three points.”
Manager Alan Archibald has been in charge of Partick Thistle since 2013, when the Glaswegian club were in the Championship.
But after overseeing their return to the top-flight, the Scotsman has kept Thistle there ever since.
As a player, Archibald made over 350 appearances for the club, in a career spanning 17 years and just two clubs.
A legend among the supporters, the manager will be hopeful to kick-start the season this weekend.
A legend among the supporters, the manager will be hopeful to kick-start the season this weekend.
The Jags finished 9th last term but have made a slow start to the current campaign.
Currently bottom of the Premiership, the incentive to move up the table will be a big factor in tomorrow’s league match for the hosts.
The last trip to Firhill ended in a 1-0 victory for the home side, thanks to a deflected strike from Steven Lawless.
But few Partick fans will need reminded of the last time Motherwell won at the Jags home ground, when a James McFadden inspired Motherwell stormed to an incredible 5-1 victory.
With a threatening, creative attack, Partick will be a tough test for the Steelmen tomorrow.
But Motherwell will be looking to extend their run of form having now gone three league games undefeated.
A busy summer window for Thistle has seen the additions of the likes of Ziggy Gordon, Danny Devine and Adam Barton.
But it’s the signing of Chris Erskine from Dundee United that is perhaps the most exciting for Jags fans, with the midfielder already among the goals this season with two goals and an assist in five appearances.
The 29-year-old Scotsman was signed on a free from the Championship side and is a main attacking threat for the home side.
Last seasons top-scorer Kris Doolan is yet to get off the mark this term and once he does, manager Alan Archibald will be hopeful his goal-scoring form returns.
Partick will be without club captain Abdul Osman, who was sent-off against Kilmarnock after picking up two bookings, meaning Adam Barton or Sean Welsh will step in for the midfielder.