Well gaffer eyes fight for top-six spot
Stevie Hammell has challenged Motherwell to announce themselves in the top-six argument when the Premiership resumes next month.
The Fir Park boss was content to round off the first phase of the season – and of his managerial career – with a draw in Perth.
But he has seen sides like Livingston and yesterday’s opponents St Johnstone string wins together in recent months to push for high rank.
Hammell doesn’t believe it is beyond his men if the injuries clear up and striker Louis Moult achieves peak fitness.
“The break will do us good; it will give the squad a chance to recharge and refresh,” said Hammell.
“We will be able to get players back and we will be ready to go again. We have some fixtures after the World Cup we really want to be positive with.
“We’re not far off third place, considering where we were at and the tough run of games we’ve had.
“It’s about getting through those tough spells. We knew it wouldn’t be perfect and we would have some difficult moments.
“So to come here and get a draw, it’s gives us a platform for when we come back. We want to be in amongst the group in the top-six, but we are aware of what’s below as well.
“If you put a run together in this league it makes all the difference – that’s what we want to do after the break.”
English forward Moult started for the first time for Hammell and showed glimpses of his old form.
Hammell said: “Louis will be refreshed and recharged after the break. If we had another game coming up, he would’ve come off but the fact we don’t means he has got time to recover.
“He’s someone we want to use more often and you saw out there what he brings. He’s a good option to have.”
Motherwell stay ninth, four points shy of the top half.
“A draw was the right result,” he added. “This is a difficult place to come. I’ve been here as a player with really good Motherwell teams and lost.
“The pitch isn’t conducive to the way we want to play. A point wasn’t what we came for but we will settle for it because we haven’t drawn enough games this season – that’s only our second.”