Stuart McCall is not about to dig out is passport for European travel just yet, He wants to make sure of Champions League football before he relaxes. Michael Higdon scored his 16th goal of the season after 29 minutes to secure a 1-0 win - their ninth away win of the season as the Fir Park side moved eight points clear of Dundee United in fourth. To spoil Motherwell fans plans for foreign travel, United must win their last three games - at Rangers tonight, against champions Celtic on Sunday and at Fir Park on the final day of the season.McCall said: "We're not there yet. If it is the Champions League and I keep saying 'if' because we've got to get there, it will be by default, because of the nightmare that Rangers have gone through. But for us to finish third will be an outstanding achievement. To get Europe alone has been terrific, but hopefully if we can clinch that place and it does end up being Champions League, then it would be beyond any wildest dreams."
McCall was pleased to see just how hard his players worked last night at Tynecastle, a venue where the Steelmen lost 2-0 on their last visit. McCall added: "We came at Christmas Eve and we didn't turn up. We gave them too much possession, so tonight we had a go. Everyone put a shift in for the side and that's what was needed. They have got individual players in the team that can hurt you. I thought we controlled them really well."Higdon signed from St Mirren last summer and his goals have been a major factor in Motherwell's results this season. He has had his share of luck like last night when Hearts goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald parried Jamie Murphy's shot into Higdon's path, but the finish was composed and clinical. While praising the striker, McCall was reluctant to single out individuals. McCall said: "He had a little bit of criticism early in the season which I thought was nonsense. He was probably one player at the end of games when managers come in for a cup of tea afterwards and they say: 'He was a handful today'. He might not be the quickest in running channels, but a lot of teams in the SPL would like him for his hold up play, his work ethic for the team and his goals. He's been outstanding, but most of them have. I would struggle to pick a player of the season this year, because we've had so many good performances. It's been a team effort."
Hearts had numerous opportunities to score but were unable to test Well goalkeeper Darren Randolph and missed the presence of Craig Beattie up front to remain sixth, a point behind Sunday's opponents St Johnstone. Manager Paulo Sergio rued the decisive moment when Higdon pounced. He said: "Jamie made a save, the only save of the game, and they had a second ball to score their goal. We defended poorly at that moment. We shouldn't give the inside to Murphy, but we made that mistake and they scored a goal to get three points. We had two, three good chances in the first half and four in the second. Motherwell defended well but we had clear chances to score and we didn't."
Source: FOOTYMAD
