Stephen O’Donnell admits the table doesn’t lie and Motherwell deserve to be ninth in the Premiership – even if performances haven’t yielded the results they feel they should have picked up so far this season.
The Steelmen entered a five-week World Cup break with a 1-1 draw at St Johnstone on November 12 and the Premiership table doesn’t make fantastic reading for the Fir Park faithful, with the club just two points off of the relegation play-off spot and only five clear of rock bottom Dundee United after 16 games.
On closer inspection, the middle of the pack is so tight a run of good results could propel ‘Well into the top six and only six points separate them from fourth-place Livingston.
But amidst their five wins, there has been a frustrating 0-0 draw at home to Dundee United in which they did everything but score, a controversial 2-1 defeat to Aberdeen when Ricki Lamie was denied a clear penalty in the finals seconds and a 3-2 defeat to 10-man Hearts, where a point was snatched from their grasp by a late Lawrence Shankland penalty.
There were also two battling displays against Celtic that both ended in narrow 2-1 defeats, so there are plenty of ‘what ifs’ for Motherwell to ponder during the shutdown.
And Wishaw man O’Donnell said: “I think there have been some good performances where we maybe didn’t get what we deserved, but there’s also been a few bad ones where we got what we deserved.
“Over the course of a season, the table doesn’t lie.
“Just now we have been through a tough spell of games and we would have liked to have had more points on the board than we have.
“But it is up to us to reset during the break, work hard and come back raring to go and hopefully kick on.”
Boss Steven Hammell will use the break to get his injury-hit squad back into shape and prepare them for the visit of St Mirren on December 17 when league action resumes.
O’Donnell’s recent run in the team came off the back of a knee injury to Paul McGinn and his fellow right-back joins the likes of Bevis Mugabi and Ross Tierney who are all aiming to recover from knocks in time for the re-start.
The 30-year-old Scotland international added: “We have been unfortunate with injuries but, on the flipside, it is very good timing in terms of being able to try and get people back over the World Cup spell.
“Hopefully we will manage it and get them involved in what will be a mini pre-season.
“Paul has done well since he came in but I just need to take my chance when it comes. That is football.
“It is disappointing that Paul is injured because you would much rather get your chance by training well to get that opportunity, but I hope he is back soon so it gives the gaffer a decision to make.”
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