Motherwell won't contemplate being dragged into relegation drama

Winger Marvin Johnson insists Motherwell are not worried about a repeat of last season's relegation play-off drama as they attempt to force their way into the top six.

The Steelmen currently sit eighth in the Premiership ahead of this weekend's trip to Edinburgh to take on Hearts.

Confidence is high following a string of impressive results and, rather than contemplating another relegation battle, Johnson believes Well should be unwilling to settle for anything less than the top half of the table. He said: "We've not really seen ourselves as a bottom-six team. We all know that.

"We know we are a top-six side and we should be pushing for that now. What happened last season is always in the back of your mind but the club should never have been in that situation in the first place.

"Things like that happen in football but we had the courage to get ourselves out of it in the two games.

"We just have to keep looking forward now and push as hard as we can."

Recent results include last week's 5-0 hammering of Cove Rangers in the Scottish Cup and a morale-boosting win at Celtic Park last month.

Johnson added: "Confidence is high going into games. We're not worried about the other team, we are only thinking about ourselves and how we start the game and setting the tempo.

"I think recent results have just been down to hard work. We've not done anything spectacular or got lucky with any of the results we have earned.

"We have just worked hard and done the ugly stuff and got goals out of it."

Johnson acknowledged part of Motherwell's transformation in fortunes is down to the influence of boss Mark McGhee, who marks his 900th game as a manager on Saturday.

He said: "He's worked us hard, he's got us playing football and he has got the lads' confidence high.

"He's got people being brave on the ball and keeping possession and that's a good thing.

"We're not throwing games away and we are getting results."