BOYHOOD FAN DEAN EARNS SALUTE FROM ALEXANDER
GRAHAM ALEXANDER hailed boyhood Motherwell fan Dean Cornelius after the midfielder scored his first goal for the club in yesterday’s 2-0 victory against St Johnstone.
The 20-year-old scored midway through the first half to set the Fir Park team on their way to a comfortable win against the Premiership’s bottom side.
Kevin van Veen added a second goal after the break but the plaudits were reserved for Cornelius as he revelled in his proud moment in front of the Motherwell supporters who he once stood next to in the stands.
‘We just felt this type of game would suit him and the midfield three,’ said Alexander, whose team moved up to fourth spot in the table.
‘He gives us all the things we want in there and he is a good footballer. You saw that with his strike for the goal and he could have had another in the second half. It was his first start at home and it was a great way to mark it with that fantastic finish.
‘He is a
Motherwell fan and I saw a video of him the other day in the stand as an eight-yearold wearing his kit. He loves this club.
‘That is brilliant and that is what this club is all about — turning out boys through the academy system. He went away but he’s come back and he trains exceptionally well every day.
‘We know what a good player he could be. But he still has a lot to learn and a lot to improve. He will do the work to make those improvements happen.’
Motherwell looked at ease all afternoon and St Johnstone rarely posed any problems to the home defence.
But Alexander countered: ‘It wasn’t comfortable. It was hard fought all the way through but the second goal came at a good time for us. I thought we managed the game in good fashion after that point.
‘We didn’t give them the opportunity to get back into the game which pleased me. St Johnstone are in a difficult moment but they are still a good team with a good manager.
‘They never give up games, they are always in games. We mentioned at half-time that we didn’t think 1-0 would be enough. We had to stay on the front foot. Every player contributed to that.’
Despite their commendable position in the Premiership table, Alexander was not getting carried away ahead of their next game against Livingston at Fir Park on Boxing Day.
‘It is all about getting points,’ he added. ‘We just have to try and keep piling them up because it won’t always be plain sailing.’