A GRINNING MENTALITY

BETFRED CUP Tanner: Happy camp will ensure Well won’t be in a drop fight

CRAIG TANNER is already convinced Motherwell won’t be battling relegation this season.

The Steelmen have flirted with the drop twice in the last three campaigns but Tanner insists he is aiming higher this time around after Steve Robinson’s impressive start in the Betfred Cup.

Motherwell followed up last week’s win over Queen’s Park with an equally impressive dismantling of Morton which moved them into top spot in Group F.

Tanner set up first-half goals for debutant Charles Dunne and Chris Cadden before Richard Tait and local hero Louis Moult completed the rout against the Greenock men who had Gary Harkins sent off for a high-studs first-half challenge on Cadden.

Despite Robinson bringing in nine new faces Tanner believes the Steelmen are already gelling. The winger said: “I’d be surprised if we were involved in a relegation scrap again.

“Everyone is here with the same mentality of what we want to achieve. If you aim for first you’ll get second, aim for second and you’ll get third.

“We always aim for the top and strive for perfection. I think the team could do really well. We have clicked quickly together. We always make sure we do things together, go for coffees, get to know each other. There are no cliques and it seems to be paying off.

“When I’m relaxed and playing my best football it seems to suit me a lot better. Me, Biggi (Gael Bigirimana) and Carl McHugh are developing a good understanding.

“You have Cadds’ (Cadden) legs and energy in there and we are all working hard and doing extra in training. We are putting in good performances.”