Boxing Day brings high flying Kilmarnock to Fir Park as Motherwell aim to make amends for Saturday’s embarrassing defeat to St Mirren.
Stephen Robinson will serve the second of his three match ban on Wednesday but his players will be all too aware of his disappointment following the loss of a match that would have given a dozen point advantage over the bottom two in the table.
Kilmarnock last visited in February
The recurring mystery of our inability to cobble together any consistency must drive both management and players to distraction. There is no doubt that Motherwell fans have no idea what to expect of their favourites for this holiday fixture. Will we see the Motherwell team that worked so well to earn home points against the Glasgow teams earlier in the season or will there be a repeat of the plodding defeat that will put a damper over many a claret and amber Christmas dinner?
Our best football has come when Turnbull and Bigirimana are able to exercise their skills in midfield but more often we choose the fast route forward and hope that we can develop opportunities in our opponent’s last third. What strategy will we employ?
Kilmarnock will bring a decent support as befits their early season success. They are a point behind third place and have lost only to Hearts, Hibs, Aberdeen and Celtic so far. They will present a big challenge.
Brophy and Stewart share 16 league goals between them and our back line will have their work cut out. If we are to take anything from the game our defence will have to be on their toes.
One strength that we do have is an ability to produce some form when a big occasion arises and the last two games of the year present us with a chance of widening the gap over our pursuers. Let’s be optimistic and go for a 1-0 win.