McGlynn “Delighted” as Falkirk Stay in European Hunt
John McGlynn believes his side’s ability to “stifle” Motherwell was critical to their victory over the Steelmen, as The Bairns look to leapfrog Hibs next weekend in the race for Europe. Speaking at full-time of their 1-0 win, McGlynn praised his team’s workrate, as they picked up a vital three points. “The boys gave everything, had to work their socks off. “Everyone knows how good a team Motherwell are but we’ve managed to stifle them a little bit nearly every time we’ve played them bar the first half of the first game. “The first half, the intensity, the pace of the game was ridiculous. We had to defend well, Nicky had one really good save on the first half and I think on another day Barney gets himself a hattrick, maybe it’s just a little dip in confidence. “We managed to defend well as a team, we defended the box and we were a threat throughout the game. I’m delighted for the players, they put so much work into that.” In the other dugout, Jens Berthel Askou believed a lack of clear-cut opportunities proved one of the decisive factors in Motherwell’s defeat. “Disappointed about the outcome, disappointed about some of the moments in the performance. “I think it was an extremely open game in the first half, maybe more open than either team would have wanted. “It gave us all the moments and opportunities for our attacking players to create big chances and score goals we could have wished for but it also gave them too much. Neither team was able to produce enough quality until they finally scored then I think we took control for most of the game in the second. “We had our moments and opportunities but not enough big ones. The intent to really try and take control of the game, especially in the second half, was there. We did our best but our best just wasn’t good enough today.” Motherwell sit comfortably in fourth, but would perhaps rather not give their European rivals any further encouragement, as the Scottish Premiership reaches its climax in the coming weeks.
“I’m sure they will have a say in how this plays out in the next few weeks” – Paul McGinn thinks Motherwell’s Tawanda Maswanhise and Elijah Just can influence this title run-in
It wasn’t to be for either Tawanda Maswanhise or Elijah Just last night at the PFA Player of the Year awards, but the Motherwell duo picked up their own respected awards at the club’s own award ceremony. Tawanda Maswanhise won the Young Player of the Year and received the Top Goalscorer award with his outstanding 22 goals for the season so far. However, the star of the show was Elijah Just. He picked up both Players’ Player of the Year and Player of the Year after a truly tremendous season. The Motherwell duo were both nominated among the four players for the PFA Player of the Year. But unfortunately for them it was Claudio Braga who took that award home. After Motherwell’s defeat to Falkirk on Saturday, Paul McGinn spoke about both Maswanhise and Just’s efforts throughout the season. He said: “Maswanhise with the great numbers he’s scored for us. Eli [Just] is so clever and works his socks off, it wasn’t his day today, but it’s not from a lack of trying. “Even if he isn’t playing well, you know he’s going to work hard. It wasn’t to be but I’m sure they will have a say in how this plays out in the next few weeks.” Motherwell have been very impressive over the course of the year. And with causing upset in Rangers’ hunt for the title already, they have Hearts and Celtic to come to Fir Park in the next two fixtures.
