Two Sides Needing Points Meet Today

08 April 2012 11:29
Motherwell and Hibs want to increase leads on teams below them

Motherwell manager Stuart McCall is backing his side to bounce back from consecutive SPL loses when they turn up at Easter Road today to meet second bottom side Hibs. The Fir Park side have seen their lead in third place in the SPL cut to five points after disappointing results against Kilmarnock and Rangers. However, McCall is confident that his team can rediscover their form in Edinburgh. He said: "It doesn't matter how many points there are between ourselves and United or St Johnstone after the weekend. What matters is the gap at the end of the season. We lost three games in a row over the Christmas and New Year period and dropped below Hearts and St Johnstone. At that stage the team showed great character to bounce back. It's going to be an exciting end to the season and I am confident in the ability of my players to bounce back from two defeats in a row and finish the season on a high. The bottom line is you want to get all three points or at least a point and I think our play merited that last week. Overall we take a lot of positives from a good performance against what was a strong Rangers side." Hibs need more points on the board to build on the gap between them and bottom side Dunfermline who lost against Hearts yesterday. Hibs picked up three welcome points against Inverness last week  but are still just six points clear of the bottom side. History shows that Motherwell have secured two wins over Hibs already this season and McCall is confident of adding to that tally when the teams meet again. He went on: "We put in one of our best performances of the season at Easter Road and we have shared some cracking matches at Fir Park too. I am really happy to be where we are. I looked at the fixtures at the start of the season and thought the Hibs game might be the one that decided whether we would make the top six." Today McCall will not be able to count on Steven Hammell and Steve Jennings for the trip to Easter Road after both players accumulated six yellow cards over the course of the season. McCall admits the loss of both players comes as a blow, but is happy with the strength in depth within the squad. He said: "Having to do without both players is a big loss. We have dealt well with suspensions in recent weeks, though, and also welcome back Steven Saunders, who has been out for most of the season. We have a lot of options in attacking areas and that's very pleasing."

Source: FOOTYMAD