The fact that we have ten points from a possible twelve and no goals conceded is a delight to Motherwell fans who feared at the start of the season that the size of the squad would be a real hindrance to our hopes. It might yet prove to be a discomfort though the manager will be working hard to add a few players before the window shuts in a fortnight.
I
t is becoming clear that one of the strengths of the current team is the close knit bond that is evident. There are no prima donnas and everyone deflects personal praise in favour of the whole team. Goal scorers are quick to praise the defenders for clean sheets while those at the back point out that we have goal scorers aplenty in the team.
The manager was fulsome in his praise for the heroics that kept a barrage of half chance from ending our invulnerability. “I don’t think I even had four clean sheets in a row when I was a player. We threw our bodies in and got blocks in all over the park. This is what our form so far has built on. I think we can play better, but if you come away from home and win and say that then you have to be happy.”
Happy indeed! The roar that erupted from the 1001 fans in the away stand as Hateley’s free kick crashed into the net almost took the roof off. The parallels with the final minute in Odense are all too obvious – except on this occasion there was no second chance for the opposition. It was a shot worthy of winning the game.
McCall, in his post match message to the fans, asks for a big turnout to cheer the team on Sunday. It might be worth a search through the record books to find the last time that Rangers came to Fir Park to face a Motherwell team on top of the league.