Lennon expects exciting encounter with Motherwell

Motherwell are aiming to boost their European hopes while St Mirren remain on a high following their League Cup triumph, having drawn with Celtic and Kilmarnock since their Hampden win. Lennon said: “I thoroughly enjoy these fixtures. Wee Stuart McCall and Kenny [Black] once again take a great deal of credit. Motherwell finished third last season and they could better that this season again.

“Stuart signing a new contract is great because I admire Motherwell’s attacking philosophy. They score goals, they have picked up 13 points out of a possible 15, and have scored seven goals in their last two games. They are an attacking side and, in the good form that we are in at the minute, it’s got the makings of a fantastic game. The games have been really, really exciting in my time in charge and more so in Stuart’s time at Motherwell.”

Despite being eight places behind Motherwell, St Mirren have not lost to the Lanarkshire side this season. And there has been nothing to separate the teams on the pitch during Lennon’s spell at St Mirren Park – both teams have won twice in their eight meetings.

Lennon said: “It shows you what we are capable of doing, and what Motherwell and a lot of teams have shown above that is they can get that consistency along with winning results and that’s something we long to improve on.”

Motherwell skipper Keith Lasley, meanwhile, admits he has moved his sights from securing a top-six finish to hanging on to second place.

After initially battling to make sure Motherwell finish in the top half of the table, Lasley is determined his club remain “best of the rest” behind inevitable champions Celtic.

“Now that we have secured top six we have to focus on trying to get second,” he said. “Second-placed for us is a big achievement in terms of other clubs who have bigger budgets. It really is our focus, that is what we are aiming for now, no doubt, and if we weren’t to get it, it would be a disappointment.

“We certainly don’t have any given right to get it but we are certainly determined to give it our best shot. After the split all the teams have to play each other and it’s going to be tight, as it has been all season, but that’s the aim and if you don’t achieve your aims then it is always a disappointment.”

For his part, McCall is coveting a European place as reward for his side’s efforts this season. “If someone would have given us sixth before the season started I would have taken it,” he said. “I would be a liar to say we are not focused on getting second but I would be disappointed if we did not finish in the top three and get a European spot. It is all to play for. We are second at the moment but we still have a long job ahead of us to make sure we can cement that. There are some very difficult games coming up.

“Look at St Mirren. Player for player they would say they have as good a squad if not better than ours so the lads’ consistency this season has been really good.”

Leaders Celtic can clinch the title today if they beat Hibernian at Parkhead and Motherwell lose to St Mirren but former Scotland midfielder McCall is focusing only on his own team. He said: “We knew before a ball was kicked that Celtic would win the league, there was no doubt about that but it doesn’t come into my thoughts.”