Let's win in memory of Phil O'Donnell, urges McGhee

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee believes a victory over St Johnstone would be the ideal way to remember Phil O'Donnell eight years after his death.

Motherwell host the Perth side eight years and a day after their then captain collapsed with heart problems during a game against Dundee United and was later pronounced dead in hospital.

McGhee was praised for guiding the players through their grief during his first spell as Motherwell manager and he is still mindful of the effect of the anniversary on striker David Clarkson, O'Donnell's nephew, who returned to the club this year like his manager.

McGhee said: It was a huge thing for us all and we still remember Phil fondly.

The first thing I did this morning was to send a text off to Clarky just to make sure he knows that I'm thinking that.

It won't be something we will all be talking about today. Those of us who were here and those of us who knew Phil will be thinking about that at some point.

We get on with life and there could be no better way of doing that than maybe winning the game tomorrow night to celebrate that.''

Scott McDonald, who is also in his second spell at Fir Park, had moved on from Motherwell to Celtic before his former team-mate's death, but was also affected by the tragedy.

I can still remember the day like it was yesterday,'' said the Australian.

Obviously I wasn't here like many of the boys and the gaffer were.

We were playing Gretna at Celtic Park and I scored that day then came off into the players' lounge for my wife to tell me what had happened. We didn't know the tragic news of what was going to happen afterwards.

As soon as I got home I found out and sat on my couch for hours just staring at the wall, thinking: 'How could this be? How could such a young man and a great man at that be taken away from us with such a young family and a beautiful family at that?' Our thoughts still go to them.

There isn't a day goes by at this football club that he's forgotten. You can see with all the tributes around this club that he never will be either.''