Motherwell Boss Mark McGhee not taking Top 6 place for granted

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee has told his team they need to get something from champions Celtic after their last-gasp 2-1 win at Inverness failed to confirm a top-six spot.

Motherwell moved into fourth place after Marvin Johnson sealed a fifth consecutive win deep into stoppage time but they could still be caught by St Johnstone, Dundee and Partick Thistle before the Ladbrokes Premiership splits into two next weekend.

If Dundee lose to Celtic or Partick Thistle fail to beat Dundee United on Tuesday then a top-six place will be secure for Motherwell before Saturday's lunchtime clash at Fir Park.

Motherwell fans will now be thinking about a push for a potential European spot after the split, but McGhee told MFC TV: “It could be a big five games at the bottom of the league. We can't think like that. We are not in the top six.

“We cannot be complacent, we have to think we need something out the Celtic game.

“If that does change in midweek then great but this game has a habit of not doing you favours so we have to assume we have to get something off Celtic.

“The lads will be told in no uncertain terms that we start preparing on Monday for the eventuality that we need to get something off Celtic and it's a massive, massive game for us.

“We just have to keep our focus and our work ethic up so that we are right for the Celtic game.”

McGhee admitted his side were lacking energy in the Highlands but they took the lead in the 62nd minute with more than a touch of fortune. Substitute Lionel Ainsworth mis-hit a volley on the edge of the box after Scott McDonald's lay-off, but the ball looped over Owain Fon Williams and underneath the crossbar.

Iain Vigurs levelled from the spot in the 70th minute after Keith Lasley's tired challenge on Ross Draper, but Inverness were caught out trying to win the game from a late corner.

Ainsworth sent Johnson clear with a ball over the top and the former Kidderminster player slotted it past Fon Williams.

McGhee said: “Once Lionel got on the ball and I saw it was Marvin running through, I was confident then that something good was going to happen. It was a super counter-attack goal and the right man was on the end of it.

“I don't think, apart from maybe Louis Moult or Scott McDonald, that there's a better player in the SPFL.

“Marvin is an absolutely fabulous player. Mentality, temperament, ability, athleticism, he has everything.

“He gets whacked and he gets up and gets on with it. You never see him complaining. His attitude is first class. He is in sensational form.”

Ninth-placed Inverness can revive their slim top-six hopes with a victory against Hearts on Tuesday but manager John Hughes wants his team to show more initiative from the start.

“I feel for the boys,” he said. “I felt their performance was good enough, but why are we not right out of the traps? Why the trepidation? Go and play with a free spirit.

“Strong characters go and have a great belief and play with a free spirit.

“I'm not being critical of these guys - they gave me everything they had. But once again we beat ourselves.”