Motherwell v Kilmarnock: My players will not let success go to their heads, says Stuart McCall

MOTHERWELL manager Stuart McCall is confident his players are too grounded to be affected by the praise that has come their way following their impressive start to the season.

Second-placed Well will close the gap on Clydesdale Bank Premier League leaders Rangers to just four points if they beat Kilmarnock at Fir Park today.

Visiting manager Kenny Shiels this week claimed Motherwell deserve to be second, if not first, as they have played as well as Rangers in most games. Shiels also argued they had the best two full-backs in the SPL in Tom Hateley and Stevie Hammell.

But McCall has been consistent in warning his players that hard work has been the key to their seven wins in 11 SPL games. And the Fir Park manager, whose side are going for a fourth consecutive victory, said: “There is no doubt the players deserve all the plaudits for the way they have gone about their business. The one good thing this season is that when we have had setbacks – and we have had three heavy defeats – we bounce back well. That’s full credit to the character of the players. But they know as well as I know there is not a lot in this division.

“In fairness, we have got what we have deserved in this first third before the split, a really healthy amount of points but all probably deserved. But the players won’t be getting carried away. They are a tight-knit group. We just have to work as hard as we have been doing. It’s the work ethic that has got us where we are.

“Obviously we have got talented players but, first and foremost, we need to defend well as a unit, which we have done in the last three games, which gives us the solid base to go forward and get our attack-minded players on the ball high up the park, and hopefully they can create and we can take the chances.”

McCall was quick to return the praise to Killie and point out that he has not tasted victory in four games against the Ayrshire side since taking over. “It’s very nice of Kenny to say that and we appreciate that, but he may have a psychology A-level, degree or something,” McCall joked. “But I go through their side and his boy [Dean Shiels] is playing terrifically well, [Paul] Heffernan is always a threat, a good Championship player, and they have good young Scottish players as well.”

Alex Pursehouse has set his sights on remaining in Shiels’ plans after forcing his way into the Kilmarnock first team. The 19-year-old defender has started two games this month, including last weekend’s thrilling 3-3 draw against Celtic.

The teenager insists he has plenty of belief in his ability and, although acknowledging he has a lot still to learn, hopes his hard work will be rewarded with a regular starting role. Pursehouse said: “You’ve got to have belief. If you don’t believe in yourself no-one else will. I’m knuckling down and working hard and hopefully it will pay off. For a 19-year-old it’s a dream. To play at such a high level at this age is a great privilege.”