Motherwell and Falkirk meet at Fir Park on Saturday as domestic football returns to centre stage.
The international break provided a welcome spell of rest, recovery and preparation for most of the players ahead of this weekend’s game. Eli Just was the notable exception for Motherwell as he served and scored for New Zealand while Falkirk’s contribution to the national teams involved Scott Bain and in the U21s Barney Stewart and Connor Allan.
The visitors need a point to guarantee a top six finish and the earlier meetings of the sides suggest that their fans will come with hope. Falkirk is the only team to leave Fir Park with three points this season and that was followed by a goalless evening in the December fixture at the Falkirk stadium.
The Bairns will look to Stewart to bring cheer but Calvin Miller and Brian Graham will also challenge the Steelmen’s defence. John McGlynn has already shown that he has a counter to Motherwell’s style and an interesting afternoon will play out as two top managers vie for success.
Motherwell have a firm hand on fourth place and any slip up will be best avoided. Jens Berthel Askou has welcomed the return of couple from long absences and his squad as at any time this season.
Tawanda Maswanhise still tops the scorers’ table despite the last three blank games. It’s time for him to return to the score sheet.
Callum Slattery fell foul from a rare appearance of the Compliance Officer and he will miss the last two outings ahead of the league split. Just, Elliot Watt, Lukas Fadinger and Oscar Priestman can offer a midfield perfectly capable of controlling the match.
Another bumper crowd should provide a loud backdrop to this clash of fourth v sixth. The bookies have the ‘Well as odds on favourites and a 2-0 home will justify their forecast.
