Steelmen are ready to strengthen

GRAHAM ALEXANDER has vowed to strengthen Motherwell’s defensive resolve ahead of next season’s tilt at European football.

While eager to place the 6-0 defeat at Celtic in context after being forced into a late team reshuffle because of illness, manager Alexander admitted his team need to tighten up next term.

Dundee United’s win at Ross County confirmed a fifth-place finish for the Steelmen and ensured that their next campaign will commence with a second-round Europa Conference League qualifier.

He said: ‘Our defensive record is not good enough.

Plain and simple.

‘We have scored a lot of goals this season but we have to look at the structure, how we set up, a lot of things.

‘If you look over the course of the season, goals against have hurt us a little, so we have to look at that.

‘Today we had to change the team 55 minutes before coming because of illness. But we came up against a fantastic team on a massive high. They are quality.

‘We need to look at the season as a whole as we have done some fantastic things getting into Europe.

‘We can’t just focus on European football. We need to strengthen and remember the league programme as well. You will see the other big clubs at this level improving a lot.

‘We need to work exceptionally hard to improve what we have if we want to stay as competitive. We have to look to next season with excitement.’