Ricki business
Lamie insists Steelmen are fired up for return leg with club’s European hopes stuck on a knife edge
RICKI LAMIE reckons Motherwell are on a road to redemption as they attempt to right a few wrongs against Sligo Rovers tonight.
The Fir Park defender insists defeat to the League of Ireland side in their Europa Conference League qualifier last Thursday need not be a fatal blow.
A 1-0 loss may not have been recorded as the seismic shock of previous humblings for Scottish clubs at the hands of football’s less esteemed outposts but it was an embarrassment all the same.
Sligo’s Showgrounds will have every one of its 3800 seats occupied to see if the club can repeat the feat in the second leg of their second qualifying round tie.
But Lamie is convinced Well’s task is to make amends for the result in Lanarkshire and learn a few lessons from that night.
He said: “We know there is only one goal in the tie, so we have to use that time to rectify things.
“At the end of the first tie there was disappointment.
“We knew we could have done things better and the result didn’t go our way. The boys have all spoken about the fact we have another 90 minutes to put things right.
“When you look at the chances we created, none of them were cutting edge. There were no one-on-one opportunities.
“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. It’s just a case of being able to work our way into a game and being more clinical.”
A sense of context over the continental standing of Sligo can be measured by the fact they’ve only won two of 14 European ties at their own ground.
Rovers boss John Russell has taken umbrage at “ill-informed” reporting about his team being branded “minnows” and, with an average basic wage that wouldn’t make Motherwell blush, he may have a point.
Lamie admits no side at this stage of a European competition should be taken lightly and that Well will afford their rivals nothing but the greatest respect.
He said: “I was asked the exact same question before the first tie. We are all in the same level of this tournament for a reason.
“Sligo have done really well domestically last season and they deserve their place at this level, so why would they not come into this competition to compete?
“They have some really good players and we saw that last week. But they also set themselves up really well.
“They certainly caused us problems and I know there is nobody within our dressing room who is taking them lightly.
“We are fully focused on what we need to do.”
Sligo showed enough seven days ago to suggest they have what it takes to see the job through tonight.
However, the Steelmen also displayed a dominance Lamie believes is a cause for confidence – if they can find a cutting edge.
He said: “They were pretty much as we expected, they are a very well set up team. They are well drilled and possess a real danger.
“They are really good on the counter-attack and at being able to find spaces.
“They created a few chances, which they will have been disappointed not to have taken themselves.
“We didn’t take our chances and Sligo managed to take one of theirs.
“I felt as though we were a wee bit rusty and lacked a bit of a competitive edge. Sligo were that bit sharper. It’s certainly not an excuse on our part.
“We came into that game and I felt we had control of it for large spells and we created plenty of chances but couldn’t take them.”
Lamie can lean on his experience of winning in Coleraine in the Europa League two seasons ago and admits tonight could be similar in terms of intensity.
He said: “I remember that night in Coleraine. It was 100 miles an 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.”
Lamie revealed he’s had a word in the ear of Kevin van Veen to try not to catch refs’ attention this season but has backed the Dutchman to be the key man in Sligo.
He said: “Everyone saw last season just how influential Kevin can be and the quality he possess.
“I’ve had a word with him and told him to stop getting himself booked so he is suspended for fewer games this season.
“Time and again he comes up with game deciding actions and he’s a massive player for us.
“It’s great he’s signed an extended deal and he’s also a valuable addition in terms of the experience he has.
“Hopefully he can come up again with the winning element on Thursday.”
They caused us problems and I know there is nobody in our dressing room who is taking them lightly RICKI LAMIE INSISTS WELL ARE FIRED UP FOR REUNION WITH SLIGO