Stranraer 0 - 2 Motherwell: Steve Jones aiming to cash in after opening Motherwell account

Published on Sunday 6 February 2011 14:19

Steve Jones is looking to continue on the goal trail for Motherwell after getting off the mark in the Scottish Cup win at Stranraer. Jones scrambled home the opening goal of the fifth-round tie at Stair Park following a Steven Saunders cross in first-half stoppage time.

The Northern Ireland international created several chances for himself to add to his first Motherwell goal with a number of impressive runs, but finished poorly.

But he hopes he can step up his goalscoring in the coming months after finding his feet in Scottish football following his loan move from Walsall.

"I'm really enjoying it. I'm getting my fitness back up to maximum now and I'm looking to push on and hopefully score and create as many goals as I can," Jones said. "I finished top-scorer at Walsall last year, with ten, so it's something I bring to a team, goals.

"I set up quite a few as well so I'm looking to do that."

Jones scored following a period of sustained pressure from the visitors, but the Irn-Bru Third Division side had enjoyed a good spell midway through the half without troubling Darren Randolph.

Motherwell were comfortable without being convincing after the interval, before John Sutton made sure of their progress by forcing home Chris Humphrey's near-post cross in the 83rd minute.

The win came at a cost with Steven Saunders suffering a recurrence of a hamstring injury and Keith Lasley taking a heavy knock to his ribs.

Steve Jennings received his second yellow card of the competition, ruling him out of the quarter-final against Dundee United at Tannadice.

Manager Stuart McCall, who is set to tie up a short-term deal for former Everton striker Francis Jeffers, felt his side looked jaded. "We were sloppy in possession at times," he said.

"I wasn't happy with the possession of the ball. We did have some good movement and good moves but picked the wrong decision in the end.

"The second goal was well-worked and that's what we had to do more - we had to move the ball better and quicker.

"I thought they would tire but they kept at it. While it was only 1-0 they were still in the game and they showed great endeavour. All credit to their manager and players.

"Our lads looked like they need a little break. It's nice we haven't got a midweek game. I will give them a few days off to recharge the batteries."