Motherwell haven’t won in 14 games. Philippe Clement is undefeated in 15 since he became Rangers’ manager in October.
The team second from the top meets the one second from the bottom at Fir Park at lunchtime today and the hosts’ slender hopes of causing an upset rest on the broad shoulders of Mika Biereth, their leading goalscorer. His haul of six goals in eight starts is impressive and would have been greater still if it hadn’t been for a knee injury which ruled the Arsenal loanee out for the best part of three months. Last weekend, Ross County manager Derek Adams – the Gerald Ratner of Scottish football - back in Dingwall for a second spell after working in England’s lower leagues for nine years, variously described the standard in the Premiership as “poor”, “shocking” and “rubbish” following a home defeat by Dundee. Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell played under Adams at Victoria Park and went on to take charge of the Highland club before relocating to Lanarkshire and he believes his former mentor is talking nonsense, pointing out that an elite manager such as Mikel Arteta wouldn’t trust Motherwell to progress the career of Denmark under-21 striker Biereth if he shared Adams’ damning view of the quality on offer north of the border. “I can’t sit here and tell Derek what to think but I just don’t agree with him,” he said. “If that’s what he feels, having spent a period away from Scottish football and come back, then so be it but I don’t think it’s accurate. “Mika doing well for us can help us attract other loanees from the Premier League. We have to be seen – across Britain and maybe further afield - as a club that can provide an opportunity for young players to develop. “We’ve had a few conversations with some bigger clubs because they think this might be a good place for them to place a young, talented player. I believe Scottish football is a brilliant environment for them.” Biereth is equally positive about his experience in the Premiership after an unsatisfactory period on loan with RKC Waalwijk in the Eredivisie last season. “This move has been a lot more productive for me than the spell in Holland,” said the 20-year-old. “That wasn’t good enough in terms of games and goals. “In terms of my outlook on football while I was there, I wasn’t really enjoying it but it’s been a complete U-turn coming up here. I’m playing and scoring goals so it’s been a lot more productive.”
