Steelmen hoping Killie crumble
Motherwell go into their Scottish Premiership clash with Kilmarnock knowing defeat would all but consign them to the play-offs but manager Ian Baraclough is aiming to play on their opponents' vulnerability on Friday night.
Motherwell have only taken one point from three games but Baraclough's men can still get out of second-bottom spot - mainly because of Kilmarnock's poor form.
Killie have suffered six consecutive defeats and another one at Fir Park would leave them just three points ahead with two matches remaining.
Motherwell missed a chance to claw their way back into it last weekend when they drew 1-1 with Ross County.
But Baraclough said: "We're in a good place at the moment. I think we have played better than what the last two results have yielded.
"It is about taking those chances and making sure we move the ball well, everything we have got in that squad, we make sure we bring it to the party.
"It's been a real buoyant week's training. Talking to Jim McIntyre and his staff and they know that they came away with a point and it could have gone the other way for them. They were very complimentary.
"We've got good players and we are in there fighting and battling."
Baraclough added: "There has been no speak of the play-offs, it has not been mentioned at all. I have watched teams that are in the play-offs because you have to. But we intend not to be there.
"The players are in the mindset that they can go and win the next three games and put pressure on the teams above us."
Killie were eyeing the top six after a seven-match unbeaten run but their recent slump has put their top-flight status at risk.
Baraclough knows how opposite number Gary Locke feels as his team only took one point from the first eight games of 2015, and he is looking to take advantage of the lack of confidence.
"We've been there and it's difficult to get yourself out of it," Baraclough said. "It's difficult to suddenly switch from six defeats to thinking we are a decent side. Players have doubts and players have doubts in each other.
"We have had that period and managed to get some decent results off the back of it, understanding we are a good team, we have got good ability. We will hopefully play on the fact that they are on a poor run themselves."
Kilmarnock manager Gary Locke is praying his side can finally secure Premiership survival so he does not become known as the boss who presided over back-to-back relegations.
The former Hearts manager was in charge of the administration-hit Tynecastle side when they slid out of the top flight on the back of a 15-point penalty last season.
But his new Rugby Park troops could suffer a similar fate if they allow Motherwell to close the six-point gap currently separating Killie from the play-offs.
Victory at Fir Park, though, will be enough to prolong their 22-year stay in the top division for another 12 months.
And Locke said: "The relegation with Hearts last year is different to the situation facing us here because there was a lot of circumstances that contributed to us going down.
"But even so, you don't want that on your CV at any time.
"And you definitely don't want two relegations back-to-back on there either.
"We are working ever so hard to try and turn it around. If you go back four or five weeks we showed what we are capable of. We're more than capable of doing that again and it's important the boys believe in themselves.
"We know if we get a result tomorrow though, we will be okay."
Source: PAR
