Champions League is fans’ wildest dream says Michael Higdon

Motherwell striker Michael Higdon savoured the prospect of Champions League football after netting the goal that took his side to the brink of involvement in Europe’s premier club competition.

The former Falkirk and St Mirren forward’s composed left-foot finish at Tynecastle secured a 1-0 win over Hearts that put third-placed Motherwell eight points above Dundee United in the SPL and the Tangerines’ loss to Rangers last night sealed Well’s place in Europe’s Elite club competition .

Stuart McCall’s team have only been out of the top three for ten days this season, following three successive defeats in December and January. But they bounced back with successive wins, just as they have done following a run of one point from four games in March and April.

Speaking before United’s defeat, Higdon told MFCTV: “It would be Motherwell fans’ wildest dreams getting to the Champions League. Over the course of the year we have thoroughly deserved it. We have been third all year. If you ask every manager in the SPL, they would say we deserved it. I’m just delighted for the fans and the lads.”

Both of Motherwell’s brief difficult spells this season coincided with suspensions to either of their central midfield pair, Keith Lasley or Steve Jennings. But McCall has stressed that it has been a true team effort.

Impressive goalkeeper Darren Randolph and his back four have been consistent, while Higdon, Jamie Murphy and January signing Henrik Ojamaa have contributed 38 goals between them in all competitions. And wide men Chris Humphrey and Nicky Law have both had extended spells when they were the team’s best performer.

When asked what the key to their success has been, 16-goal striker Higdon said: “Hard work and all the lads understanding their roles in the team. We have not had to make too many changes over the course of the season and I think that has played a key part.”

Motherwell enter at the same stage as champions Celtic, the third qualifying round, but in a different part of the draw.

There will be ten teams in the non-champions section of the round and Scotland’s representatives will be unseeded. The third team from Portugal, currently Braga, and the Ukrainian runners-up (either Dynamo Kiev or Shakhtar Donetsk) will definitely be seeded.

Motherwell chief executive Leeann Dempster has valued the prize-money for that round at more than £110,000 while the club could expect to make more from gate receipts and television money.

Victory would put them into the play-offs for the highly lucrative group stages and defeat would send them into the Europa League play-offs.