MOTHERWELL manager Stuart Kettlewell thanked Hibernian goalkeeper David Marshall for ‘angering the beast’ as his spat with Kevin Van Veen motivated the striker to fire home his second goal in the Steelmen’s 3-1 win at Easter Road.
Van Veen was already on the scoresheet as his penalty somehow crept under Marshall’s body, but after a shoving match with the Hibs keeper, he smashed home a free-kick from 25 yards to seal a deserved win for Motherwell.
Kettlewell praised his forward – who has now hit 20 goals for the season - after the game, and said that the clash with Marshall may have driven the Dutchman to make his point.
“He maybe angered the beast,” Kettlewell said.
“Kevin has been terrific since he came in. I’m not making it all about him but in the last 10 minutes you see the energy levels in pressing and working.
“He got a lift from his goal today. The reason you keep him on the park is evident. That’s the quality he has got.
“He’s a personality, he’s a big character in our dressing room.
“Kevin said something to me after the game which was really interesting. He felt he was short of his levels but his teammates really stepped forward. That’s what we are trying to create here. I thought we were good for our three points.
“I thought the goalie was going to throw his hat on Kevin’s [penalty] effort. I had my heart in my mouth at that point.
“Kevin is an honest lad and he will say himself he didn’t have his best first half. But he’s such a goal threat and he was much better in the second half.”
Kettlewell was also pleased with the debut performance of Harry Paton, who came on as a second half substitute after only signing for the club on the morning of the game.
“I know Harry so well, I signed him as a young kid at Ross County,” he said.
“I know he’s been out of the game for a period of time. I think our staff and players have been absolutely flabbergasted by his energy levels and how conditioned he is to play in the game.
“He has not had a game this entire season and he got thrown on for 30 minutes plus, it’s quite incredible when you see what he does and covers the ground.
“He is very, very infectious, good quality and I’m delighted to give us more options in that midfield area.”
