LIAM’S WAIT GAIN
Keeper Well’s hero with penalty save
MOTHERWELL were delighted to see Liam Kelly’s stalling tactics work when Jamie McGrath failed from the spot for the first time this season.
Now Graham Alexander will hope the keeper is prepared to commit without delay when deciding which way to go regarding his future.
Kelly revealed how a mixture of homework from Well staff and training ground practice stretching back to last season at QPR helped him save McGrath’s penalty.
The 35th-minute stop was a result of refusing to make the first move and spoiling McGrath’s own trademark waiting game.
Kelly’s terrific save prevented the Irishman from nailing a ninth successive penalty for St Mirren and paved the way for Motherwell to grab all three points.
The 25-year-old’s been in excellent form during his loan from QPR, an arrangement both player and boss Alexander seem open to extending on a permanent basis.
And given the amount of studious work Kelly puts into gaining an edge over opponents, there’s no surprise Motherwell want to press ahead with negotiations.
Kelly said: “I need to give a big shout out to my goalkeeping coach Craig Hinchliffe and Rossy [Ross Clarkson] who does our analysis.
“They sent me the work over but McGrath is such a difficult one because he waits for you to move.
“He scored his penalty against me in my first game against St Mirren back in January, he’s obviously a brilliant penalty-taker and I don’t think he’s missed many.
“He went the other side the last time but he doesn’t think about sides. He waits for the goalie to go.
“You’ve got to try to stay up as long as you can. When I was at QPR, Eberechi Eze, who is now at Crystal Palace, did the same. And I did a lot of work with him in training.
“So I took a lot of my training into the match there and I’m delighted it helped the team get the win.
“I’m sure if Jamie took it again he’d score. So I’m glad I got a wee bit of luck. It does look like it’s played a big part in the game, just like Devante’s goal played a part.”
Striker Cole struck the winner in the 62nd minute when he was fortunate Buddies keeper Jak Alnwick knocked the ball right into his stride after saving from Christopher Long.
But St Mirren were the dominant side, enjoying 64 per cent possession and Motherwell requiring Kelly for more than just one inspired spooking of McGrath.
Kelly knows QPR bosses are watching his good work but that’s unlikely to be enough to land him the No.1 job next season. Top choice Seny Dieng has been in terrific form and earned a call-up to Senegal’s national team last month.
Kelly said: “I speak regularly with the two goalie coaches at QPR and I spoke to Mark Warburton before the Formartine game last week.
“Their keeper is doing really well and they got a 4-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday, which was great.
“My future is still so unknown. It’s on QPR’s terms as I’m their player for the next two years.
“So they’ll decide. But I do know I want to play. If that’s at QPR, brilliant. If it’s not there I’d like another crack in England. But you want to be where you’re appreciated and not forced on people. Motherwell feels like home and I’m loving it.”
The start of 2021 was all about putting distance between themselves and the three sides scrapping it out to avoid relegation.
With four games to go, that job’s as good as done with Well 11 points clear of Hamilton and nine in front of second-bottom Kilmarnock.
But on-loan Hearts forward Jordan Roberts was stretchered off after a collision with Marcus Fraser.
Kelly added: “St Mirren were probably the better team but we’ve played better and got beat so you take it. Now we want to finish as high up the table as possible.”