Last updated : 18 February 2008 By Ed_ScottishFitba
Motherwell striker Chris Porter claims he and his fellow strikers should be aiming to finish the season with 20 goals each as they look to secure a UEFA Cup place for the Fir Park side. Porter has notched up 12 goals, Ross McCormack has added 11 to his name and David Clarkson just into double figures with 10. The three strikers have 15 league games left to reach Porters suggested achievable target. Saturday saw Porter adding to his tally when he opened the scoring in the win over 'home side' Gretna at Fir Park and then watched partner McCormack score twice to seal the win. Former Oldham striker Porter, who returned to Mark McGhee's line-up after a three-week injury lay-off, said: "We all want to score as many as we can and if all three of us got 20 it would be superb. It is possible and that's what we should be aiming for as it would be a good return. It was a good result and Ross played well." McCormack is poised to leave for pastures new in the summer, with Wigan his likely destination, and Porter is convinced his team-mate could be a big hit in England. Porter said: "I think the two of us work well together up front. He has just been ignoring the headlines and getting on with things as normal. I have never played in the Premiership myself, but I know he is a good player at this level and I think he could do well wherever he goes."
Gretna were not best pleased with the performance of the officials for Saturday's game. Manager boss Davie Irons claimed Kenny Deuchar should have been awarded a late penalty before McCormack grabbed his second goal of the afternoon. Deuchar backed up his manager's claims, but Porter said: "He's a big lad and he's tussling with us all the time so it's a bit of both ways but I think it would have been a bit harsh to give it. It can be hard because I tend to think that if you're a bigger striker you don't get away with as much, so I do sympathise with him."
The 'no-penalty' incident was just one of several occasions during the match when Deuchar felt referee Alan Freeland should have punished roughhouse treatment. He said: "I thought I had four or five shouts for a penalty because we had one man fouling me and another standing next to me going for the ball. At the end, I was up for the ball to head it and the boy just came in and pushed me in the back, but that's apparently not a penalty - and then the referee gave a token gesture on the edge of the box for what I wouldn't really consider much of a foul. I don't understand why I have so many fouls given against me when I want to go for the ball - I'm not interested in touching the defenders but they always want to bump me and stop me getting the ball, and I seem to get penalised all the time and it gets frustrating. We had a couple of chances and shots blocked but we lost out to one long ball which the boy finished it well - it's obviously disappointing but although we keep saying it, we aren't learning."
