A below par performance in the first half against Dundee earned Motherwell a half-time blast from manager Stuart McCall. The score was 1-0 to the home side at the time but with some well chosen words still burning in their ears, the Steelmen came back in the second half to get a couple of gaols and earn three points that keeps them at the top of the table. Striker Michael Higdon attributed the win to the half-time ear-bashing from McCall. He scored a brace to ensure the Steelmen preserved their unbeaten start to the SPL season. Higdon, who has scored six times in his last three SPL games, said the team's first half showing angered manager McCall. Higdon said: "We got a bit of a kick up the backside at half-time and we came out and played much better football in the second half. We were terrible in the first half and it just wasn't going for us. They hadn't watered the pitch which made it difficult for us to play our passing football. We got a bit of a roasting at half-time but we showed a lot of character to come through and win the game." While Motherwell are sitting at the top of the table now, it is at the end of the season when they really want to be in that position. Higdon went on: "It is irrelevant as we are not looking to win the league. If we are still top of the league and four points clear come the end of April then there might be a different answer to that question but at the moment we just want to take each game as it comes." Dundee's season is not going the way manager Barry Smith had hoped and his side prop up the rest of the SPL after failing to secure a league win at home this season following the painful defeat to Motherwell. At times like this you are looking forward to a game where you are confident of winning to get a break. However, Dundee may have to look further than next week for such a game as they face the daunting prospect of a trip to take on Celtic. Dundee goalscorer Nish was one of the walking wounded on Saturday and played on despite undergoing lengthy treatment for a suspected broken nose early in the second half. And, despite feeling a bit battered and bruised afterwards, the on-loan Hartlepool striker felt his side can take positives from the game. He said: "It was a killer to lose that game. I know they were on top of us for spells but I couldn't see them creating a lot of chances. We were defending well and breaking up the park when we got the chance. We had a bit of luck when we beat Hearts 1-0 but it just didn't go for us today. I think we have proved we can win games as Motherwell are top of the league but they have struggled to beat us. That's a positive we can take from the game." The result could have been different if Nish had not passed up a glorious opportunity to take his side in to a two goal lead that would have probably won the game for Dundee. He added: "I had a great chance and it looked for the life of me like it was in as soon as it hit my foot. I don't know how it didn't go in."
Source: FOOTYMAD
