Saints v Motherwell Preview

Saints gap to bottom club Dunfermline is eight points, with Motherwell a further five points up the road. They are as good as safe already, as the chances of both Saints and the Pars passing them are pretty slim. Eight points may look a relatively safe gap for Saints to defend, but there's still quite a bit of football to be played - so nothing should be taken for granted.

This is a winnable game for Saints, especially when you consider the last three times Motherwell have come to Paisley they've lost twice and should have lost the other, only putting us out of the League Cup with the help of extra time. However, there have been other winnable home games - such as against Dunfermline and Inverness Caledonian Thistle - and we've failed to take advantage. With just one win since the end of September, it isn't looking good - the only positive being that Dunfermline have been even worse.

It will be interesting to see what side Saints boss Gus MacPherson goes with tomorrow. On the one hand, the performance and result on Saturday were good, but it wasn't a very attacking side - with only one striker and a packed midfield. John Sutton will probably return, whilst Saints fans may get their first glimpse of loan signing Paul Lawson. Fellow newboys Stephen O'Donnell and Eddie Malone should keep their places, barring a disaster. Hugh Murray and Craig Molloy are the only injury absentees.

After a pretty awful start to the season, Motherwell have improved over the past few months and could even sneak a top six spot come the split. Striker Scott McDonald has refound his old form and was even attracting interest from Rangers during the January transfer window. It's all a far cry from September and October, when the pressure was very much on 'Well manager Maurice Malpas.

So, a winnable game - but will we win? No. Motherwell to win 1-0.