Double-header season defining

MANAGER Mark McGhee has described Motherwell’s end-of-year double-header as potentially season defining.

The Fir Park side are one point ahead of Premiership bottom side Inverness, who they travel to play tonight.

However, such i s t he congestion in the bottom part of the table that the 10th-placed Steelmen, without a win in five games, are only three points behind Ross County who are sixth.

After their trip to the Highlands, Motherwell face Lanarkshire rivals Hamilton at the SuperSeal Stadium on Hogmanay before the three-week January winter break and McGhee insists the two games will shape their return.

He said: “It i s almost pivotal. It can kind of define our season in a way because if we get two good results, even a win and draw, whichever way round, remain unbeaten but win one of them, we will look forward to January and February and the rest of the season with a really positive, let’s try to head for the top six, attitude.

“If we don’t, then I think we have to roll up our sleeves and accept we are in a scrap, regardless of how we feel if we have done quite well.

“We should have won against Kilmarnock, could have beat St Johnstone and I don’t think we should have lost against Aberdeen.

“The reality is that we only drew two and lost one so we are in that position.

“If we were to beat Inverness and Hamilton we would come back with no fear. If we had to lose both games then we would come back asking questions.”

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee.