MOULT Tweet a tre at MASTER
Hard work pays off for ace Louis
The Motherwell striker bagged his eighth goal of the season before creating a clinching second for partner Scott McDonald as the home team surged into the Premiership’s top-six.
Moult’s strike put an end to his own six- game scoring drought and drew praise from his gaffer Mark McGhee. The 24-year-old put in extra hours on the training ground during the international break and his boss, who was on Scotland duty, was thrilled to see his English hitman reap an instant reward.
McGhee said: “While I was away for a week, Louis stayed behind and did extra work with James McFadden, getting fitter and building up his strength.
“That paid off because he looked sharper than he has been, hungrier and more aggressive and he was well worth his goal.
“He and Scott made a goal for each other and I always tell them that it’s their job to make the other one look better and, along the way, you’ll get your goals.
“It worked for them because they operated well as a pair. They stayed close and worked around each other. They did it brilliantly. “Scott could have shot late on, when Moult played him through, but tried to play in Chris Cadden. That was a tired decision. He looked as though he was running down a staircase by that point.
“But every manager talks about the importance of the first goal because it gives you something to hang on to.”
Motherwell had two to hang on to by the interval, a cushion they merited.
Thistle had their moments with Liam Motherwell Partick Th
Louis Moult put in the graft before sinking Partick Thistle with his craft.
“Great performa the lads, nce by Couldn’t clean sheet! be happier.” Lindsay venturing forward from defence to test home No.1 Craig Samson with a long-range strike and Sean Welsh also having a shot blocked after a break by team-mate Ade Azeez.
But it was McGhee’s men who took the lead in 13 minutes. Thistle keeper Thorsten Stuckmann crashed into Lindsay trying to punch clear a McDonald cross and Moult was on hand to gobble up the scraps.
The improved goalscorer also had two shots blocked, as did Craig Clay, before the Steelmen sealed the deal seven minutes from the break.
Moult used that extra sharpness to escape down the right channel and his precise pullback was arched beautifully into the bottom corner by McDonald for a key second.
Thistle were toiling and, although they continued to play neat football, they lacked the cutting-edge of the hosts.
Chris Cadden almost extended the lead with sizzling strike that hit the bar.
Kris Doolan and Steven Lawless were introduced as Thistle chased a lifeline and the latter created chances for Azeez.
Lawless also had a shot saved by Samson but McGhee’s team always held a threat on the counter and saw it through without concession.
The clean-sheet was just their second of the Premiership campaign to put the icing on the cake for the delighted boss.
McGhee said: “I asked our players to win their individual battles all over the park – and they did that. We worked really hard from back to front.
“That’s only our second clean-sheet this season so that’s pleasing. Craig Samson has done well without getting them so this is for him. He deserves it.”