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“There’s no better time for us to find the consistency we’ve been missing.”

Steven Lawless looks ahead to the visit of St Mirren.

Motherwell host St Mirren on Saturday, as the run-in to the end of the Scottish Premiership season picks up pace.

Here are the key topics going into the match.

The first of the split

Both sides find themselves in the bottom half of the Premiership table going into the final five games.

While Motherwell’s fate in that sense was sealed some time ago, St Mirren went into round 32 hoping to tie up a top-six finish.

However, a 1-1 draw at Hamilton put paid to that, with St Johnstone sneaking ahead to claim the final spot.

Competing priorities

St Mirren are almost mathematically safe, and a point on Saturday would potentially ensure that is the case.

The priority for Jim Goodwin’s men instead is likely to be to hold onto seventh place, and finish as the ‘best of the rest’ in the bottom half.

Motherwell sit five points behind at present but are primarily more concerned with what’s going on below.

Graham Alexander’s men are seven points ahead of the play-off spot and eight from bottom, meaning amassing points is crucial to ward off any lingering fears of the drop.

One would think there wouldn’t be much to hear at a football ground these days.

Granted, there are a few things missing from the usual hum of activity on a matchday. The clunk of a turnstile grinding in motion, a growling din of chat among fans, even the rustling of sweetie wrappers from that annoying bloke in the seat behind you. Yes Mr Haribo who never shares in the East Stand, I’m looking at you.

But if you were at Fir Park last month for Motherwell’s triumph over Livingston, you’d struggle to hear yourself think. In fact, those in the Tim Hortons donut queue were probably wondering what the cacophony was.

Step forward Well goalkeeper Liam Kelly.

Throughout the match, the on-loan Queens Park Rangers man barked, shouted, screeched and cajoled for an entire 90 minutes during an extraordinary display of communication rivalled only by the person charged with taking the order for those donuts up the street on a bank holiday.

“It’s not a frustration thing,” laughed the keeper. “If people listen to me they’ll hear I’m just giving clear, simple instructions so I’ve got as little to do as possible.

“I can see everything and I just want the ball to stay away from me, us to keep it and for us to try and score goals. If I can get us organised from the back then I’m confident enough to do that.

“I listen to what the manager wants. I try and be that eye on the pitch to attempt to implement what he wants. I think I try make everyone’s life easier, including mine, and if it makes a difference at least one minute then it’ll be worth it.

“I enjoy it.”

To be fair, nobody told him to be quiet.

And why would they? Since arriving on loan earlier this year, the former Livingston man has performed heroics between the sticks for the Steelmen, keeping them in many a game as Graham Alexander gets used to his charges.

It says a lot for the 25-year-old that he has not looked out of place taking up a role previously occupied by the now-departed Mark Gillespie or the injured Trevor Carson.

While his future beyond the summer remains unclear – Kelly has another two years to run at the London club – he admits the lure of first-team football, and the enjoyment of pulling on a Motherwell shirt, is a key factor.

“Ultimately what happens is going to be on QPR’s terms. The goalie there is flying and doing really well, and I want to play football. That’s as simple as I can say it.

“If the opportunity to play wasn’t happening at QPR but there was one somewhere else, then absolutely I’d do that. I’ve loved my time at Motherwell so if that was an option it’s something I’d strongly consider.

“We’re only in April, so much can happen between now and the new season, so I’m just focusing on Saturday first. Talks that need to happen will happen.”

Turning that attention to today, Kelly is in no danger of looking down as St Mirren come into view.

The Steelmen are seven points above 11th-placed Kilmarnock and eight superior to Hamilton, with many Well fans feels a win on Saturday would secure safety. Indeed, it could mean Motherwell are 11 points clear of Accies with just 12 left to play for.

However, the Well keeper is instead focused on reeling in those above them, including St Mirren, to claim seventh spot.

“We’re going for seventh if I’m being honest,” he said.

“I’m not sure what the points say, but while it’s still achievable then that’s what we’re shooting for.

“That starts on Saturday against St Mirren. I think we’ve played them twice since I came in, both at their place and both finished in draws. It’s obviously a game we’ll be looking to win.

“The results would suggest there’s not a lot between us. It could go either way. I’m sure they’re confident, but so are we.

“It’s a difficult game but we want seventh. We’re not thinking of anything different. We know though if we’re not at it then it could be a long afternoon.”

The following week it’s Morton who come to Fir Park with a place in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals at stake.

With a 5-0 win over Formartine already in the bag, Kelly understands those who may be dreaming Motherwell’s 30-year wait for glory could be this year, but he remains pragmatic.

“Formartine made it that far for a reason,” said Kelly. “They beat Annan and we knew if we didn’t approach it right then it was a potential banana skin. All the boys had the right frame of mind, had their heads switched on and made sure I had a quiet day at the office.

“Every team left will be doing the same. There are 16 teams left and you have the Old Firm playing each other, so that takes out one of the favourites.

“You’re not daft, you see those things. It’s a good opportunity. We’re really looking forward to playing Morton next Saturday. The cup is something we want to go far in, but we know if we don’t take it a game at a time then we’ll be out.”

And what of hopes of a Scotland call up once more?

“It’s in your mind, of course it is, but ultimately it’s not something you can control,” said Kelly, who has been involved before but has yet to be capped by his country.

“What I will say is the talent of goalkeepers in Scotland is so good. It’s not as if I should be entitled to get in, the goalkeepers who are in there are unbelievable.

“I’ve got no complaints. If my time and the manager thought I should be in it then fantastic, but my priority is performing for Motherwell on a Saturday.”

There’s a live stream available worldwide of Motherwell v St Mirren on Saturday.

If you’re in the UK or Republic of Ireland, a live stream of the game is available to buy on a pay-per-view basis for £12.

Season ticket holders can watch the game for free, as usual, at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

International-based supporters can watch via their usual subscription at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

Kick-off at Fir Park on Saturday is at 3pm BST.

St Mirren are the visitors to Fir Park on Saturday in the Scottish Premiership.

Kick-off in the first post-split fixture at Fir Park is at 3pm.

Watch live

If you’re in the UK or Republic of Ireland, a live stream of the game is available to buy on a pay-per-view basis for £12.

Season ticket holders can watch the game for free, as usual, at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

International-based supporters can watch via their usual subscription at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

Tale of the tape

There has been little separating the two sides in their encounters as of late.

The last two matches, both of which came in Paisley, ended in 0-0 and 1-1 draws in February and January respectively.

Earlier in the campaign, St Mirren were victors at Fir Park in a 1-0 win, where Jamie McGrath’s early goal was the difference.

Form guide

St Mirren’s 3-0 Scottish Cup success at Hamilton last weekend was their third win in 10 matches.

Having also defeated Ross County and Kilmarnock in that sequence, Jim Goodwin’s men have also drawn five and lost just two – those defeats coming against Celtic and Rangers.

Devante Cole has been chosen as the Motherwell FC player of the month for March.

The award, in conjunction with our main partners Paycare, comes after the English forward netted two goals across the month’s two matches.

Cole, who returned to Fir Park in the summer for a second stint, has scored nine times in 24 appearances this campaign.

Motherwell will face Greenock Morton at home in the fourth round of the 2020/21 Scottish Cup.

Victory over Formartine United on Saturday saw the Steelmen progress, with Morton doing likewise with success over East Fife.

The game will be played on the weekend of Saturday 17 April.

A confirmed date and kick-off time will follow shortly.

Should Motherwell progress, a trip to Queen of the South, Hibernian or Stranraer will follow a week later in the quarter-finals.

Scottish Cup fourth round draw

Stranraer v Queen of the South or Hibernian

Motherwell v Greenock Morton

St Mirren v Inverness CT

St Johnstone v Clyde

Rangers v Celtic

Aberdeen v Livingston

Forfar Athletic v Dundee United

Kilmarnock v Montrose

Scottish Cup quarter-final draw

Rangers or Celtic v St Johnstone or Clyde

Kilmarnock or Montrose v St Mirren or Inverness CT

Aberdeen or Livingston v Forfar Athletic or Dundee United

Hibernian or Queen of the South or Stranraer v Motherwell or Morton

“We had to earn the right to win the game.

“We wore them down and then showed our quality.”

Graham Alexander praises his players after a 5-0 win at Formartine United in the Scottish Cup third round.

Motherwell put on a professional show to emerge with a 5-0 win at Formartine United in the Scottish Cup third round.

A double from Jordan Roberts, followed by strikes from Christopher Long, Devante Cole and Allan Campbell, secured the Steelmen’s passage to Sunday’s draw.

Declan Gallagher was restored to the starting team for Graham Alexander’s men, with Nathan McGinley, Steven Lawless and Christopher Long also coming in.

The Highland League opposition were seeking a scalp and after a high energy start, could have been ahead within five minutes.

A cross to the back post found Anderson in space but his header was well read and well taken by a diving Liam Kelly.

Motherwell had plenty of the ball against a Formartine side sitting deep but the resistance was finally worn down 33 minutes in.

A direct ball over the top saw the goalkeeper rush out and misjudge the ball, allowing Long to nick in behind. Under pressure from defenders, he fired into the net from just outside the area.

Seven minutes later, it was 2-0. McGinley’s ball to the back post was knocked down well by Cole, and Roberts turned and bulleted his shot into the far right side of the net.

‘Well started the second period with the same intensity and found themselves three to the good eight minutes in.

Cole again was at the heart of things, firing across goal for Roberts to slide in at the back post and score.

Just after the hour mark, Cole got his rewards. A pinpoint Stephen O’Donnell cross was stood up to the back stick and Cole rose highest to head into the net.

There was time for another with 15 minutes left on the clock.

Great interchange play between substitute Jake Hastie, Long and Campbell saw the latter played into the box on the right side. 

Composing himself, he fired low across the face and into the bottom-left corner to send Motherwell home with five goals, a clean sheet and progression in the competition.

“We haven’t performed well enough this season. This is a chance to give the fans something back.”

Bevis Mugabi speaks ahead of the Scottish Cup trip to Formartine United.