When we scraped a win against Aberdeen on January 12, I probably wouldn't have believed it if you'd said we'd fail to win any of the following nine games. Sure, there were some hard fixtures on the schedule, but there were also matches against the likes of Hamilton, Kilmarnock and St. Johnstone. Surely we could win one of them? Somehow not, and we now find ourselves just three points above the drop zone. In contrast, we played Hearts off the park in the League Cup and recorded a terrific win. Why can't we do that in the league?
It's not something Motherwell have had a problem doing in the last few months. I'll freely admit I had a good laugh when they chose Craig Brown to replace Jim Gannon, who left in mysterious circumstances just after Christmas. It smacked of desperation and was the mark of a club that was asking for trouble. Well, he's fair shown me. Motherwell have been on a terrific league run since then, Brown has won two manager of the month awards and they're pushing for Europe. I suppose the only good thing from our point of view is we shouldn't have to play on a Fir Park pitch that masquerades as the surface of the moon when it comes to the SPL's split!
As if things weren't bad enough, Motherwell have conceded just two goals in their terrific league run. If I'm honest, I can't see much danger of us troubling that record - and certainly not decisively. When we do seem to score these days, it's either to claw our way back into a game or to put us into a lead that we seem unable to hold. It's probably about time we changed the strikeforce. Billy Mehmet and Michael Higdon have been playing together for the past couple of months, but they've just a handful of goals between them. It's about time we put Craig Dargo back into the team to give us some much needed pace and movement up front. Failing that, why don't we finally see why Rory Loy was brought to the club? He's hardly played since we got him and is beginning to look as pointless a signing as Allan Johnston, although in fairness to the youngster he isn't allowed to play against Rangers - who we seem to have been playing every other week since he arrived.
It would not be a surprise to see a return to 3-5-2 tomorrow night. The injury to Chris Innes, combined with the continuing absence of Jack Ross, means we simply don't have the personnel to go with that system. David Barron has played in a back three before, but moving him there would mean Andy Dorman or Hugh Murray at right wingback, far from an ideal situation. 4-4-2 would make a lot more sense until at least one of Ross and Innes is back. On the plus side, Shuggy should be back after missing Saturday's game while his wife gave birth and should start. I can only assume Steven Robb is injured again as he wasn't on the bench on Saturday, meaning Graham Carey should start. Let's hope he can conjure up another fantastic free-kick, or at least some decent deliveries into the box. The return of Shuggy for Innes and a switch to 4-4-2 are the only changes I can see, meaning Johnston and Stephen O'Donnell will start on the bench. Chris Smith and Tom Brighton are still out, but hopefully we can find a youngster to give us seven subs again.
Motherwell have no selection problems. They have a nice big squad, most of whom are fit. Brown didn't even have to add to it during the transfer window, with New Zealand international Michael McGlinchey they only arrival. Technically, he did do some other business by getting loan pair John Ruddy and Lukas Jutkiewicz signed up until the end of the season. This was a pity from our point of view as they are both fine players - Ruddy is one of the best keepers in the league while Jutkiewicz has been in fine form up front.
In even better form at the moment is Jamie Murphy, the young forward having bagged three goals in his last three games. John Sutton, who'll probably be booed by a few idiotic Saints fans tomorrow, has also been doing well and has scored a few goals against us in the past. Whoever Motherwell field up front we'll have to be careful, but they also have dangerous players in midfield. Jim O'Brien is a tricky winger, Ross Forbes has broken through this season and Tom Hateley may soon be able to make a match report without a mention of his more famous dad (although he should maybe speak to team-mate Sutton about coming out of a relative's shadow). Even at the back Motherwell are strong - Stephen Craigan and Mark Reynolds are good defenders who can threaten at set-pieces.