ALL’SWELL THATENDS WELLBUT LASINSISTS PLAY-OFFS AREAGONY

KEITH LASLEY has admitted he doesn’t want to go through play-off agony once more after Motherwell slipped to second bottom of the Premiership following their defeat to Partick Thistle on Saturday.

The veteran midfielder was part of the Fir Park side that defeated Rangers 6-1 on aggregate two years ago to retain their top-flight status and, although there was a happy ending on that occasion, Lasley admits the whole process was a nerve-shredding experience.

Motherwell still have six games left in which to move away from the danger area – starting with a massive match at home to Inverness Caley Thistle on Saturday – but Lasley knows they will need to start playing a lot better than they showed in the first half at Firhill.

He said: “We don’t want to go through that again. It looked rosy at the end of the previous playoff experience but it certainly wasn’t much fun being in the middle of it. The guys who are still at the club know that. That’s the message that has been imparted on to the rest.

“We are just desperate to avoid that scenario once again. Is there enough quality in the squad? There is but, as the manager said, if we turn up and play like we did it in the first half against Thistle then we’ve got as good a chance as anyone of finishing down there.

“But in the second half on Saturday we picked up and looked a lot more like ourselves.”

The split means that Motherwell will end their season by taking on each of the five teams down there with them and Lasley is a fan of the set-up.

He added: “The split gets criticised – and unfairly I think. It provides some extra excitement, especially when you add the play-offs.

“We’d like to back in the top six fighting for things, but even at the bottom it will be exciting. There will be a lot of pressure for those involved but that’s why you’re in this game.”