Motherwell boss demands players remain grounded

Motherwell manager Stuart McCall. Picture: SNS

McCall hailed the character of his squad on Boxing Day after they moved into second spot in the Scottish Premiership after bouncing back from adversity.

Motherwell began December on the back of one of the worst results in their history - a William Hill Scottish Cup defeat by League Two strugglers Albion Rovers - and followed that with a 5-0 home defeat by Celtic.

But they go into the final game of 2013 against Partick Thistle at Firhill on Sunday in second place following three consecutive wins.

After battling to victory against Ross County, they swept St Mirren aside 3-0 and kept the run going with an impressive 1-0 win at Aberdeen on Boxing Day.

But McCall does not want his team to be distracted by their league placing ahead of games against Thistle, St Johnstone and Inverness in the space of seven days.

McCall told MFCTV: “It means nothing at this stage. We have three more games in this festive period.

“It’s the amount of points you amass that is important. We don’t get carried away by league tables, especially when it’s so tight. They can fluctuate from one week to another.

“The main thing was to go up there and win the game and it’s a great tribute to the squad.”

McCall added: “It’s a terrific three points, three wins on the trot as well but it’s a low profile from us because football can change so quickly, as it has proved in the last month.

“But I think what it has proved, after the two defeats we had and the flak that came our way, and rightly so, I think lesser squads might have crumbled.

“But they have shown a backbone and that’s all important.

“We said we had a good dressing room and they have come out and shown that.”