Motherwell’s McFadden hoping blip is over

James McFadden celebrates with team-mates. Picture: SNS

The Fir Park side had enjoyed an impressive spell of results, with a defeat to leaders Celtic the only real blip in a sequence of nine matches. The third-placed side were then surprisingly derailed by heavy losses to Dundee United and St Johnstone before getting back on track with a resounding 4-1 win over Hearts.

McFadden said: “It was important to win because of the manner of the defeats in the last two games. If the attacking players are playing well, we’ve got a chance of beating anybody. We have bounced back and, hopefully, we can go on a run again.”

McFadden pulled the strings throughout the match, playing a part in all of the first three goals, scored by Iain Vigurs, Lionel Ainsworth and John Sutton.

Callum Paterson then pulled a goal back for Hearts but any hopes of a comeback were shattered when McFadden topped an excellent display with a goal of his own.

The playmaker revealed how he almost missed out on the opportunity to add his name to the scoresheet.

He said: “The manager asked me if I wanted to come off but I told him ‘no, you’re all right.’ I was enjoying it. These are the days you want to make the most of and enjoy as much as you can.

“I was confident that I could get a goal and I was desperate to get in amongst it. The gaffer puts me in to attack corners and free-kicks and I’m bound to get one or two goals now and again.”

Even so, McFadden insists he is happier being the creative force behind his team-mates’ goals rather than finding the net himself.

He added: “I’m probably more pleased with the assists. I’m in there to link play and create and that’s what I’ve done for the goals.”