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Daily Record
Sport
Andy McGilvray

Motherwell boss looks for home improvements in Kilmarnock clash

Steven Hammell admits Motherwell's home form must improve in the second part of the season as they prepare to host Kilmarnock on Friday night in their first game for six weeks.

The Steelmen had been due to return to action from the World Cup break last Saturday, but burst pipes and flood damage at Fir Park forced the game to be postponed.

It is understood the club have managed to repair much of the damage and Friday's match is expected to go ahead, giving Motherwell the chance to improve their Fir Park form - which has seen them lose their last five at home in all competitions.

Hammell, whose side last tasted a home win in August when they beat Inverness 4-0 in the League Cup, said: "The home form does need to get better, there has been some decent performances and the results haven’t matched that.

“It’s clear to see for everyone that is something that we want to pick up on.

"The St Mirren game was important to me, that we got a positive result. Our whole mind-set and focus was on that, but that totally shifted to the Kilmarnock game and how we can prepare as best we can for that game."

Motherwell travelled down to a short camp at the FA’s St George’s Park in Burton-Upon-Trent, also squeezing in a game with English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, which they lost 4-0.

Winter weather has caused havoc at Fir Park in Motherwell, resulting in extensive flood damage (SNS Group)

And Hammell says it was like a mini pre-season ahead of a hectic schedule that also see them travelling to Ibrox to face Rangers on December 28 and Livingston on January 2.

He said: “We managed to get some good sessions in, and some good detail.

“Even being away for four or five days, we managed to get a lot in during that time – a lot more than we would have if we had been here.

“It was almost a mini pre-season we did, we benefited from it, and we made the most of it.

“It was enjoyable, it was hard work. We got a lot of tactical stuff in, watched a lot of what we need to be better at, as well as the team-bonding aspect, the environment and culture within the group, all that stuff that comes with a trip.

“Avoiding injuries has been difficult, but that is what we’re looking at recently, in terms of maintaining the players we’ve got, but also progressing their fitness levels.

“It’s about getting that balance right without creating any more problems, which we don’t need.

“That’s why the break was good for us, to get away, to really individualise the boys’ programmes, find out where they’re at, and try to progress them as safely and as carefully as we could.

“For the best part, that’s what it has been.”

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