O’Brien’s scars are evidence of desire to survive dogfight
THE black eye he was sporting would have done a prize fighter proud. The assortment of sticking plasters and bandages on his hands and elbows would more normally be associated with the victim of a mugging than a professional footballer.
If any Motherwell fan has reason to question their side’s appetite for the battle in these increasingly desperate days, one look at Mark O’Brien’s bashed and bruised frame will at least give them some degree of comfort.
When the walls are closing in, talk of being ‘up for the battle’ always rolls effortlessly off the tongue. Actually backing that up by putting heads where others fear to put their feet tends to separate the wheat from the chaff.
I an Baraclough’s men are evidently going to need more than mere rhetoric to pull off an increasingly unlikely escape over the next three games. But, starting against Kilmarnock on Friday, the absolute commitment to the cause epitomised by O’Brien can at least give them a foot in base camp as they seek to scale the mountain.
The defender was at fault as Liam Boyce c a ncell e d out Scott McDonald’s opener here, but there was absolutely no debate over the Irishman’s desire throughout.
‘With the quality we have, we still can’t get away from the second nature of football which is the battle, the tackling and the intensity,’ said the on-loan Derby County defender.
‘In the latter part of the season, we kind of lost that way where we tried the nicer style of football.
‘In the fight we were in, it wasn’t working for us.
‘I just feel now we are getting this fight at the right time and now what we need to do is keep pushing with that fight and the quality will outshine it. And, hopefully, we will get the results we deserve.’
Assessing his own remarkable collection of abrasions, O’Brien continued: ‘ To be honest, that is just a normal Saturday for me when I get to play.
‘I i njured my elbow i n the Under-20s, I injured my eye and hurt my chest, too, while I needed protection on my finger which I injured a few weeks ago.
‘It is the position I play in and if I don’t come off with these bumps and bruises then I don’t feel as if I have done enough.
‘Coming from Ireland, you play Sunday League football and then an English team picks you up at the age of 16.
‘All through those years in Ireland it is hustle and bustle, you’re tackling, scrapping and fighting.
‘When you get to England, they teach you the other side of the game and you become more refined.
‘ Growing up in that kind of scenario has helped me in the long run because I prefer the old school type of defending where you stick your head in at someone’s foot if needs be.’
Given that Baraclough had conceded this was a win or bust affair, it was c uri ous t hat Motherwell were still making some optimistic noises after coming up just short.
The remarkable decline of Kilmarnock allowed them to take some solace from failing to see out the game after McDonald had fired t hem ahead from trademark distance following Josh Law’s cross on 19 minutes.
But make no mistake — Friday’s affair really is being played out in Last Chance Saloon. Even if Motherwell win, they’ll still need to peg back three points over two games. Draw or lose and it’s the play-offs without question.
There was just about enough in their display against County to convince Baraclough that the cause remains worth fighting for.
Just when his thoughts would have been turning to his positive half- t i me address, O’Brien’s botched clearance let in Boyce.
The striker knew exactly what he was doing as soon as the ball broke to him on the edge of the box and, after weaving the ball on to his right foot, he picked his spot in the far corner for his ninth goal of an impressive individual campaign.
By f ull- time, both sides had convinced themselves that a draw had left them hard done by.
Inarguably, given their six-point cushion remained intact, it was a better afternoon’s work for Jim McIntyre’s men.
With home games to St Mirren and Hamilton up next, they are now in an enviable position. Even if they fail to muster another point, there is every chance they will play Premiership football next term.
In Boyce, they also have a player who has improved as the season — his first as a full-time player — has worn on.
It’s indicative of how confident he has become and how remote he considers relegation to now be that he readily penned a contract extension last week.
‘It was the management team as well as the rest of the team,’ he replied when pressed f or his reasons. ‘I’m comfortable here. It’s like a family club and they made me feel welcome, so it is good to be wanted.’