Motherwell boss apologises for performance against Accies

Feb 18 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

MOTHERWELL boss Craig Brown this week APOLOGISED to the club’s supporters for the team’s performance in their derby double-header against Hamilton.

The Steelmen took a 1-0 win from Fir Park a week ago and a 0-0 from New Douglas Park on Saturday, but Brown reckons those were ’Well’s worst performances in his seven games in charge.

And he said a large portion of the blame lies in Motherwell’s midweek heroics when Rangers were perhaps fortunate to escape with a 1-1 draw.

Brown said: “A 0-0 draw was just about right. It extends our unbeaten run to seven but we’re not proud of our performances against Hamilton.

“We got four points from the two games but I’m not proud of that at all because we didn’t play well – in fact they’ve been our poorest performances.

“We could ask why they could hit the heights in midweek and then be so flat, but I think it’s just tiredness and fatigue.

“The fixture schedule is killing the players and detracting from the quality of play that we’re seeing.”

Brown turned his attentions to Saturday’s visit by Hibs, who were on the receiving end of a 3-0 defeat against Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday.

With the benefit of hindsight, Brown admits he might have freshened up his side against Accies, and that might happen on Saturday.

He said: “We’ve got bright young boys on the bench and maybe, in hindsight, we should have freshened up the team on Saturday.”

On the 1-1 midweek draw against Rangers at Fir Park, Brown said: “I thought we deserved to win the game. I thought we were the better side and might have had a second goal, which I think would have killed the game, but unfortunately that wasn’t to be.”

Motherwell have had two SPL games re-arranged in March.

Their fixture at home to Hearts has been moved from Wednesday, March 24 to Saturday, March 13, at the request of both clubs, since neither side is still involved in the Scottish Cup.

St Mirren’s involvement in the Co-operative Insurance Cup final means the match at New St Mirren Park has been moved from Saturday, March 20 to Tuesday, March 16.