Top Six Beckons

With twenty six league games played and only seven remaining until the split, Motherwell is in the best ever position for a top six finish.

There is a long running debate about the success (or otherwise) of the idea of the split and many argue that it should be abolished. But there’s no doubt that the lure of another home tie against one of the Old Firm and the associated income (whether through the gate or from TV) is a fine incentive for middle ranking teams in these financially troubled times.

There remain four away games at Parkhead, Easter Rd, Tannadice and Aberdeen while the three home fixtures will see Hearts, Rangers and Dunfermline visiting Fir Park.

We have to face every other team currently in the top six and only Hibs and Aberdeen will provide opposition from the bottom half of the table. Not an easy run of fixtures.

We have failed to beat five of the seven upcoming opponents so far this season though we have not dropped any points against United or Aberdeen.

So the form book suggests that we may struggle to finish alongside the ‘big boys’. But we have to realise that the side have been producing results all season which have , in truth, surprised even diehard fans. Can we keep the momentum going?

There is a cushion of six points between us and United and that margin will be vital. For example, if we were to gain two wins and a draw we would reach the split with forty three points. In order that United, our closest challengers at the moment, overtake us they would need close to five wins from seven. Surely that is unlikely.

We are almost there. The team has a big incentive ahead of them not only league places and bonus money ahead but contract negotiations on the horizon. One more effort and we’re there.

Come on ye ‘Well.