This is our final game before the split but in our case it is just another match as it won't decide which half of the table we're playing in. Dreams of making the top six ended long ago - probably as early as our horrendous run at the start of the season - and now we have to get ourselves ready for five crucial matches that will define both this season and next. We don't have a game next week due to the Scottish Cup and the last time that happened we went into our fortnight off on the back of a terrific home win over Kilmarnock. We need to repeat that feat tomorrow.
While this game is irrelevant in terms of which half of the table we'll be playing in, it does mark the end of a rather tricky run of fixtures. Since that win over Killie we have played teams that have either been firmly ensconced in the top six or battling to make it there, rather than teams kicking about with us at the bottom of the table, and tomorrow is no different. Motherwell are looking at making it into Europe again and this is a particularly tough game to have ahead of the split. We're probably overdue a win against them at home too, having only beaten them once at Greenhill Road since Danny Lennon took over.
It's debatable how much impact the hard run of games has had on our lack of points. We should have beaten Dundee United, there was no shame in losing to Celtic, then we were awful against St Johnstone and were unlucky not to beat Inverness Caley Thistle. A point from those four games has us in huge trouble. There were certainly encouraging signs last week and we really need to keep that going. It's not out of the question we could go into the split a place or two up the table - but it's also possible we could find ourselves a good few points adrift, which would be incredibly hard to claw back.
The improved performance against Caley Thistle was surely down to the changes we made to the team. It was about time Adam Campbell and Gregg Wylde got starts again and there's no reason either of them should be dropped. Jim Goodwin played at the back before being moved into midfield and it'll be interesting to see where he lines up tomorrow. If Marc McAusland comes back into the side and Goodwin keeps his place then we're going to lose one of Kenny McLean, John McGinn and Conor Newton.
One of them might be dropped anyway if Paul McGowan is back. He was missing through injury last week but is seemingly fit enough to start tomorrow. Christopher Dilo will probably continue in goals as Marian Kello is rumoured to be a week or so away from full fitness. David van Zanten should be fit but the fact both fullbacks Jason Naismith and Sean Kelly scored means it's unlikely he'll get a start. The same goes for Stephane Bahoken, who is presumably still injured...
Stuart McCall continues to do a fantastic job at Motherwell. Each season he seems to lose some key players and see his budget reduced, yet in the past two years they've finished third and second. They look good to take one of those two slots again this season - not bad considering the loss of top scorer and former Saint Michael Higdon during the summer - and you wonder how long McCall is prepared to do that until he gets bored, especially if his budget continues to be cut. He turned down a move to Sheffield United last summer but if he takes Motherwell into Europe for the third year running you wonder if he'll call it quits and move on. That looked rather likely towards the end of last year when they lost to Albion Rovers in the cup, but they haven't half put that shock behind them.
Motherwell, like ourselves, made a signing out with the January transfer window but theirs wasn't anywhere near as high profile as Eric Djemba-Djemba – although he's probably been more useful. A lack of defenders saw McCall bring in Craig Reid, who had been without a club since leaving Morton at the turn of the year. This is the first time he has played in the top flight but he's been pretty handy while with Morton and Queen of the South. Before the injury problems, McCall had had a fairly settled defence with Stephen McManus and Shaun Hutchison in the middle and Simon Ramsden – currently injured - and Steven Hammell at fullback. Zane Francis-Angol looks exciting, although is perhaps a bit too adventurous for a defender, while Fraser Kerr and Euan Murray are prospects. Lee Hollis has a broken finger, which is a problem if you're a goalie, so we're likely to be up against Gunnar Nielsen.
Towards the end of last year Lionel Ainsworth seemed to explode into life, to the extent that his loan deal from Rotherham was extended to the summer. The winger was in terrific goalscoring form and has hit nine goals for the season so far, with McCall no doubt keen to keep him on a permanent basis. James McFadden has shown signs of his old self at times and is capable of producing terrific moments of wizardry but also of being anonymous. Keith Lasley continues to go strong and is now so old he is playing alongside the sons of former team-mates - such as Jack Leitch - while Iain Vigurs has done well since his move from Ross County. Paul Lawson and Stuart Carswell are likely to be out with injuries.
Saints, Motherwell, John Sutton and relegation battles have all mixed rather famously in the past but sadly he'll be playing for the Steelmen rather than the Buddies tomorrow. He has done well after returning to Fir Park in the summer following two miserable years at Tynecastle, during which no one seemed to grasp he's not a very good lone striker. For most of the season he has been joined up front by Henri Anier. The Estonian was only on loan in the first half of the season but McCall managed to convince him to sign permanently. The pair are pretty potent with 26 between them. Bob McHugh has been loaned out so Craig Moore has taken on the role of the young striker tasked with making an impact from the bench.
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