Motherwell’s McFadden hoping blip is over

James McFadden celebrates with team-mates. Picture: SNS

JAMES McFadden hopes Saturday’s emphatic Scottish Premiership victory over Hearts can be the catalyst for another fine run for Motherwell.

The Fir Park side had enjoyed an impressive spell of results, with a defeat to leaders Celtic the only real blip in a sequence of nine matches. The third-placed side were then surprisingly derailed by heavy losses to Dundee United and St Johnstone before getting back on track with a resounding 4-1 win over Hearts.

McFadden said: “It was important to win because of the manner of the defeats in the last two games. If the attacking players are playing well, we’ve got a chance of beating anybody. We have bounced back and, hopefully, we can go on a run again.”

McFadden pulled the strings throughout the match, playing a part in all of the first three goals, scored by Iain Vigurs, Lionel Ainsworth and John Sutton.

Callum Paterson then pulled a goal back for Hearts but any hopes of a comeback were shattered when McFadden topped an excellent display with a goal of his own.

The playmaker revealed how he almost missed out on the opportunity to add his name to the scoresheet.

He said: “The manager asked me if I wanted to come off but I told him ‘no, you’re all right.’ I was enjoying it. These are the days you want to make the most of and enjoy as much as you can.

“I was confident that I could get a goal and I was desperate to get in amongst it. The gaffer puts me in to attack corners and free-kicks and I’m bound to get one or two goals now and again.”

Even so, McFadden insists he is happier being the creative force behind his team-mates’ goals rather than finding the net himself.

He added: “I’m probably more pleased with the assists. I’m in there to link play and create and that’s what I’ve done for the goals.”