The players deserve a huge pat on the back for passing Saturday's test with flying colours. A loss would have had alarm bells ringing and a league place dropped but the thumping victory provided the perfect pick me up.

We had taken only one point from our previous four games and the longstanding hold on third place was under a growing threat.  A scrappy 1-0 win would have been welcome given the circumstances but the glut of goals produced a welcome boost and spirits will be high as we face the last three games.

The next target is to secure third place before the final game of the season.  Although a battle for a place in the Champions League would be a terrific spectacle and the something that would draw the neutrals, Motherwell fans would rather turn up to Fir Park for a certain celebration.  An afternoon of sombreros and beach balls would be far more pleasant that a nail biting few hours.

It is a measure of the club’s success in recent years that a fourth place finish would be viewed as a disappointment but the stakes are high.  Motherwell are almost certain to record a financial loss this season.  We sold no players in either transfer window and our income from TV exposure will be down as a result of our mediocre cup campaigns.  The additional income from third rather than fourth spot is well worth the fight and the extra from a foray into the early stages of the Champions League might allow the club to consider an enlarged budget for the manager.

A win on Tuesday would be very welcome!