Higdon calls for Motherwell to secure second place

By GAVIN MCCAFFERTY
Published on 18/02/2013 00:56

STRIKER Michael Higdon wants Motherwell to tighten their grip on second place in the SPL after his double helped Stuart McCall’s side jump above Inverness.

Scorers: Motherwell - Higdon (30, 56), Law (52)

Referee: C Murray

Attendance: 4,179

Higdon took his personal tally for the season against Inverness to six goals with a simple tap-in and a wonderful left-footed volley as Motherwell secured an ultimately convincing 3-0 win.

Motherwell can move five points clear in second on Tuesday if they beat Dundee United at home and Higdon intends to keep the impressive home form going after they made it 13 points and 15 goals from five games at Fir Park.

The former St Mirren forward said: “We’re in a good position and have a couple of games in hand on the teams around us.

“It’s good we have a game coming up on Tuesday because we would rather play than train, especially when we are on winning form.”

Higdon opened the scoring on Saturday after an entertaining first half hour when he converted Henrik Ojamaa’s mis-hit shot. In the opening stages of the second half, Nicky Law burst into the box and converted, before Higdon’s first-time strike from 18 yards put the game beyond Caley Thistle in the 56th minute. Kallum Higginbotham made his first start after being brought in when Jamie Murphy left for Sheffield United and the on-loan Huddersfield player produced a cultured display.

McCall said: “He got off to a good start. He did a lot of good things, playing in a similar role to Murphy. We showed him clips of how Jamie had played up at Inverness, just in an area of a park we can try to exploit at times. He can play in that area just off the front and slightly to the left.”

Higginbotham could potentially have competition for a place in the shape of James McFadden, although McCall played down expectations that the Scotland international could sign a contract after rejoining his former club for training.

When asked about McFadden, McCall said: “We have just won 3-0 and gone second top. James has been in training with us just like he was at the beginning of the season.” However, it is understood a more formal arrangement is a possibility.

Meanwhile, Inverness goalkeeper Ryan Esson vowed they would bounce back after their fifth defeat in six games.

Not for the first time in recent weeks, events conspired against Caley Thistle. Andrew Shinnie had a goal ruled out for offside when he followed up Aaron Doran’s saved shot, moments before Higdon’s opener.

Esson said: “We know how good a team we are. We wouldn’t be where we are if we weren’t a good team. Anybody that’s writing us off is underestimating us and the character that we’ve got. You don’t do some of the things we have done this year – (coming back from) 2-0 down at Hibs, 2-0 at Hearts with ten men, 3-0 down at Dundee United – you don’t do comebacks like that and not have character in your team.”