Motherwell told to stick to ‘Baraclough’s bullet points’

Motherwell manager Ian Baraclough has urged his players to retain belief and their team shape as they bid to rejuvenate their survival hopes against Ross County this afternoon.

Motherwell have scored nine goals without reply in their last two games at Fir Park before the Dingwall side visit but have since lost 2-0 on the road to both Partick Thistle and Hamilton to leave them six points – and eight goals – adrift of tenth-placed County.

Motherwell have little room for error if they are to avoid the play-offs and Baraclough wants his players to impose themselves on Jim Mcintyre’s side.

When asked what attributes are needed to get back on track, he said: “Passion, endeavour, a team ethos, work hard as a group and be very, very confident in your own ability and your teammates’ abilities, and you will get your rewards. If you can guarantee those bullet points you will win most games.

“We have opposition who have done very well and are not going to roll over, we have to be ready for what they throw at us and be ready to counter that with our own style of play.”

Motherwell have three of their last four games at home so there remains a glimmer of hope for their bid to avoid a season extension but that could be extinguished if they fail to win today.

Baraclough is looking for his players to throw off the fears and go out and take the game to County. “A manager is the focal point for the football club, the one who sits here and speaks to the media a lot of the time, he tries to instil confidence in players to try to go out and perform to their best with no inhibitions, with no shackles on, to allow them to express themselves,” he added.

Ross County suffered a rare defeat against Partick Thistle last weekend but eight wins in their previous nine games mean they travel to Lanarkshire knowing another victory this afternoon would all but confirm their top-flight status for another season.

Midfielder Rocco Quinn, who made a comeback from hip surgery in the 2-1 loss to Partick, believes County’s impressive team spirit has carried them through to this favourable position.

“Even when we were getting beat, the one thing that never left us was the team spirit and I noticed it even more when I wasn’t playing,” Quinn explained. “The team spirit has really carried us through. The manager has given us so much belief and the boys have really bought into everything he has tried to do.”

PARTICK THISTLE v ST MIRREN

St Mirren goalkeeper Mark Ridgers admits that even he was shocked by struggling Saints’ 4-1 trouncing of Kilmarnock last weekend.

The Premiership’s bottom side went into the match on the back of five straight defeats and without a clutch of key players but goals by Sean Kelly, Kieran Sadlier and two Steven Thompson penalties took Gary Teale’s side to within seven points of Motherwell with four games remaining – the first of which is at Partick Thistle today.

Ridgers believes being written off as relegation certainties may have allowed the Buddies players to play with a freedom they have not enjoyed all season to give them a glimmer of hope that they can swap places with relegation play-off candidates Motherwell and give themselves a chance of survival.

“We have a relatively young squad and we are in a position now where a lot of them can maybe relax a bit more and enjoy the games a bit more,” said the 24-year-old goalkeeper.

“And that produced us a performance on Saturday that to be fair, even I was a bit shocked at. Not a lot of people have seen it coming but we have to build on that in the remaining four games and see where it takes us.

“It is also an opportunity for younger boys to express themselves and show what they can do because everyone has written us off and saying we are down.

“Mathematically we still have a chance. We have to rely on other teams but first and foremost we have to look after ourselves.”

Partick aren’t out of the woods yet but know that victory over St Mirren would be enough to keep them in the top flight next season. And Abdul Osman says the quicker Thistle can guarantee Premiership football the quicker he can resolve his own future.

Osman, 28, is out of contract at the end of the season after penning a oneyear deal with the Firhill outfit last summer. The former Gretna and Crewe midfielder is loving life in Glasgow and is keen to extend his stay with the Jags.

“The sooner we know we are staying up, the sooner things can move on regarding contracts. I’m happy to wait but I want to stay,” said Osman. “I’ve said it often but it comes down to the club. We’ve had a few talks and it’s still ongoing. They have shown their interest and I’ve shown my interest in staying.

“If we win this game, the future of the club is clear and hopefully we can get things sorted as soon as possible.”

KILMARNOCK v HAMILTON

Kilmarnock midfielder Jamie Hamill is today set to make his first appearance since Valentine’s Day after undergoing ankle surgery. The visit of Hamilton is a big chance for him to impress manager Gary Locke, not to mention help Killie move closer to Premiership safety.

Hamill still has another 12 months left on his contract but is taking nothing for granted after Locke warned his ten out-of-contract players they need to prove they are worthy of a new deal in the final four games of the season.

“I’ve got a year left with the option of another, so hopefully I’ll still be here for another couple of years,” said Hamill. “I want to stay in the manager’s plans for next season but football can be fickle sometimes, you just don’t know if you are going to be required. So you have to play to the best of your ability on the Saturday.”

Hamilton’s win over Motherwell last week was the first victory Accies had enjoyed in 14 matches since player/ manager Martin Canning took over from Alex Neil in January. The 2-0 triumph also ensured Hamilton’s status in the Premiership and means that, for now, they’re the only bottom-six team who can truly relax this afternoon.