Paul McGinn says it’s important for Motherwell to dump former club Hibs on Saturday, because they don’t want to slide down the Premiership table.
The Steelmen head to Easter Road tomorrow in fifth spot after Wednesday’s 0-0 draw at Kilmarnock, three points behind third-placed Dundee United, but only eight clear of second-bottom Hearts.
It’s a tight division and skipper McGinn wants to make sure the Steelmen continue their good run of form this season.
He said: “Maintaining our performances is massive. We got a result at Kilmarnock but we were hoping to play a lot better than we did.
“We’re back on the grass on Saturday, hopefully it’s not as cold, and we’ve got ourselves in a good position, but this league is tight and if you go on a bad run, you’ll fall down that table quickly.
“We need the performance to get back up and hopefully take three points, as opposed to one.”
McGinn expects a tough game at Hibernian on Saturday and is pleased that their boss, and his former team-mate David Gray, has had time to turn around a poor run of results.
He said: “Like everyone I thought he must have been on a shaky peg, but I’m delighted that they managed to be patient.
“I always thought Hibs were going to turn it around, I don’t think anyone thought they were where they’re meant to be, so I’m not all that surprised.
“They seem to have confidence now, so it could be a different animal we face on Saturday.
“I feel for boards and stuff, because it’s everywhere, you can’t hide anymore.
“It’s not just guys going to pubs after games and moaning about the manager on Saturday and Sunday, and on Monday they’re back at work and can’t speak to anyone. They just go online.
“It’s constant, you see it every day, but that’s just the life we live in now, where everyone’s got an opinion and a voice that can be heard by everyone.
“I do think that must be hard to be patient and strong and say ‘we’ve got a plan’.”
McGinn is back in the side after a thigh knock picked up in October and admits he hates watching from the sidelines.
He said: “I feel pretty good, relieved to be back. It’s pretty frustrating. I’m glad to be out there and help, I hate watching, I can’t stand it.
“When you’re invested in it as much I’m not great, I never really enjoy it, I much prefer being in charge.
“I have two young kids that help to keep you pretty busy, but apart from that just make sure you’re doing the right things to get back, especially given I’m at the tail-end of my career. You need to make sure you’re right.”
Part of that lay-off saw McGinn miss the 2-1 Premier Sports Cup semi-final defeat against Rangers at Hampden, and he said: “We were in really good form at that time, and I thought we were going to get over the line.
“It was nail-biting watching that. It’s an experience now, and you just know that was what was meant to happen. We need to get on with it and look to the future.”
McGinn isn’t the only star coming back out of the treatment room, and reckons they will have a strong squad when everybody is fit.
He said: “I think our bench has looked stronger and stronger recently, there’s not really many out long-term and that can only be good for us, with everybody challenging and champing at the bit to get in.
“There has been a right run of fixtures, we’ve picked up points and it shows you, across the board, how many options we do have, even without guys like Callum Slattery, Ross Callachan and Sam Nicholson, who have played in this league for a long time.
“If we can get them back fit then that’s brilliant for us.”