Motherwell manager Mark McGhee does not expect an unfocussed side to be playing his side today. Hearts may have their financial problems but the players have now been paid and will be raring to go at Fir Park today. There may be some win bonuses delayed but the Hearts players seem to be willing to wait for them and the problems did not stop Hearts beating Rangers last week. McGhee expects the players to continue to show the fans that they want to play for the side regardless of wage issues. He said: "They will be under scrutiny from the supporters and they will be determined to show, that regardless of wages, they are not going to let supporters down." Of course, McGhee was a managerial target for the Tynecastle side and therefore will know more than most outsiders about the internal affairs of Hearts. However, he insists their off-field issues were not the reason he opted to stay at Fir Park. He said: "I was totally reassured, by what I heard and saw there, that nothing like this would happen. I think, given the circumstances they got themselves into with regards to large debts, it's a change in the world economic climate that is causing the problems. The people there are good people who will be determined to sort it out."
McGhee is not surprised that Hearts have taken up residency in third place in the SPL under Csaba Laszlo. Hearts have won five successive games while Well have picked up just the one point, but McGhee is showing no signs of regret. When asked about Laszlo, McGhee said: "He has done well. I would have been surprised, though, given how closely I looked at their squad, if Hearts weren't third or certainly chapping at the door. Because I think, had I taken the job there, I would expect to be sitting third as well. It's a long old season and we have plenty of time to climb the league. I think we can get something from the game, but if we don't then we will simply move on to the next game. That's the way we did it last season when we ended up third. Prior to this run we won four out of five. So we are capable of a little run as well. I think Hearts haven't played particularly well but they are really well organised, they have been determined, they are a physical team, a big team. They have ground out results and ended up on a five-game winning run that has taken them to third spot. I think we have that within our capability and I'm waiting for it to happen."
McGhee has pointed to his strikeforce as the men who need to pull Motherwell out of their slump. David Clarkson, Jamie Murphy, Chris Porter and John Sutton have all failed to score in their disappointing five-game run. However, Clarkson returns from a two-game ban today and McGhee expects goals to come soon. He said: "Any three from the four could do well, but they haven't yet. Young Murphy has shown flashes of brilliance yet hasn't showed it consistently, and I think the other three have the potential. If Clarkson, Porter and Sutton find their form together, then I think they will be very difficult for any back four to handle. David Clarkson looks brilliant in training; he has now got to take it out there." | Editor
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