THE REAL DEAL
Talisman Van Veen gave Motherwell a major boost by extending his contract... now he can turn Euro tie around too, says Lamie
MOThERWELL defender Ricki Lamie accepts the steelmen deserved the hefty criticism that came their way following last week’s dismal Europa Conference League loss at home to sligo Rovers.
But he believes influential striker Kevin van Veen can help them repair the damage in the west of ireland tonight after the Dutch talisman signed a one-year extension with the Lanarkshire club.
Graham Alexander’s men travel to sligo for the return leg of the second qualifying round tie with it all to do at a sold-out, 3,800-capacity showgrounds.
Already well into their league season, their opponents were fitter and sharper in the first leg at Fir Park, where former hearts striker Aidan Keena netted the only goal to hand the scots a dreadful home loss.
Lamie reckons Van Veen’s decision to prolong his stay until 2024 has given them a pre-match boost, however, and although the striker wasn’t at his best last week, he believes he has the ability to help turn tonight’s game in Motherwell’s favour and secure a lucrative tie against sparta Prague or Viking stavanger.
Former Livingston star Lamie, who also signed a new deal at the end of last season after changing his mind about a pre-contract deal with Dundee, believes the extra week will help Alexander’s side in terms of fitness — and insists Van Veen could play a major role in easing them into the third qualifying round.
he said: ‘Everyone saw last season just how influential Kevin can be and the quality he possesses. Time and again he comes up with game-deciding actions and he’s a massive player for us.
‘it’s great that he’s signed an extended deal and he’s also a valuable addition in terms of the experience he has. he’s a great character within the dressing room as well as on the pitch and, hopefully, he can come up again with the winning element on Thursday night.
‘At the end of the first tie, there was certainly disappointment. We could have done things better and the result didn’t go our way, but there’s only one goal in the tie so we have to use that time to rectify things.
‘i felt as though we were a wee bit rusty and lacked a bit of a competitive edge and sligo were that bit sharper.
‘it’s certainly not an excuse on our part as we came into the game. i felt we controlled it for large spells and we created plenty of chances, but couldn’t take them. The chances we did create came from going down the sides and getting crosses into their box. We didn’t take advantage of that and we had a load of set-piece opportunities as well. ‘There was plenty there for us and it’s just a case of being able to work our way into a game and being more clinical.’ Lamie knows what to expect from irish opposition having been part of the Motherwell team that squeezed through against Coleraine of Northern ireland two years ago after a penalty shoot-out. he is anticipating a similar battle against the League of ireland side, who sit fifth in their table. ‘i’m sure it’ll be an occasion which we will thrive on. The atmosphere won’t be a negative for us, it all adds to it,’ he said. ‘i remember that night in Coleraine, it was 100-milesan-hour and, in any cup competition, that’s always going to be the case. it’s now a one-off game. We only have 90 minutes between ourselves and the next round. Both teams will be well up for it and i’m sure there will be a good atmosphere.’
Manager Alexander insists his team’s perceived lack of sharpness last week has been exaggerated — and claims the stats back him up.
he said: ‘Personally, i didn’t think we were that off the tempo. Given that was our first competitive game i was happy with the players’ physical condition. i saw the stats and their condition was high.
‘Even in comparison with our first league game last season, which was maybe our fifth or sixth competitive game because of cup games, we were above that.
‘But match sharpness and match intensity, you never get them until that first competitive game. it’s just impossible to recreate.
‘i don’t think that had anything to do with how the result went, to be honest. We gave a poor goal away and didn’t take the chances we had.
‘The more 90 minutes you get into players, the better they become physically and mentally. i would like to think there will be a little bit more sharpness in terms of our movement and our thoughts.’
sligo boss John Russell reckons his team are still underdogs in the eyes of the scottish media despite last week’s victory and says he will use that as motivation for his players.
‘When you’re playing games against teams from the UK or scotland and you hear some of the comments, they are reflecting on (our) league from ten or 15 years ago,’ he said.
‘But the league has come on leaps and bounds since then.
‘A lot of these teams are signing our players, so it’s funny when you see some of the “minnows” comments in the media.
‘But we can use it as motivation. it drives you on and it’s ammunition, it’s something we can use and channel it in the right way.’