MX23RW : Friday, March 5 16:57:50| >> :120:8821:8821:

Stephen O'Donnell insists there is "no drama" at Motherwell

Stephen O'Donnell insists there is
© Reuters
Well were beaten by Hamilton and then St Johnstone.

Stephen O'Donnell insists there is positivity rather than panic at Motherwell despite two heavy home defeats.

The full-back was sent off early in a 4-1 loss to Hamilton and sat out Saturday's 3-0 reverse against St Johnstone, who had 22 shots at goal compared to the hosts' one.

Manager Graham Alexander warned they were in a relegation battle after the latest setback but they have a chance to move seven points away from the bottom two against St Mirren in Paisley on Wednesday.

O'Donnell, who is back from suspension, said: "There's no drama. We are in a position which isn't where we would like to be but it isn't a bad position, it's better than where other boys are.

"We went off track the last couple of games, it doesn't help when somebody gets sent off after 20 minutes, but the good news is we have another game.

"If you are trying to say 'two defeats, we are in terrible form, we are going to get relegated', if you broaden your horizons, we are in one of the better forms out of the bottom four or six.

"A couple of bad results, albeit they are heavier than you would have liked them to be, but two defeats are two defeats. It's six points we have lost, and I don't think there is anything to be panicking about.

"We were in great form before that and circumstances change games in minutes. We didn't start well against Hamilton but when you go 2-0 down with a sending-off it makes it a very difficult task. It's one game that was difficult with circumstances and one bad performance. I don't think we need to look into it any more than that."

Motherwell had previously started well under Alexander and O'Donnell feels the mood instilled by the new boss can help them get back to that form.

"I think just general positivity," he said when asked what Alexander had brought to the club.

"We are having to analyse our games ourselves, put in clips of what we felt we have done well. He wants everything to be positive because we can't dwell on it too long.

"He has had a few words, more privately, with players and selected groups to speak about the negatives. But on the whole the full atmosphere is trying to be positive.

"There is not much that can be achieved when negativity is around. It can come into a club and fester and get very difficult to get out of it. It can make it a rut. I certainly don't feel that's the case with ourselves.

"And if you want to be negative and say we are looking for lifts, we have four or five players who are very close to coming back. The grass will grow again, so I'm sure getting the ball will be a bit easier. There's lots of positivity.

"The manager is encouraging it. When I got sent off, I wanted to be in a bad mood. I let the side down, let myself down, let the club down, but you know he wants positivity. We are going to work hard and smile.

"Whenever you are encouraged to do that from the top, it's very easy to come in, when you maybe see someone who is a bit down, which is going to happen with Covid and other things in the background, you need to pick them up and carry them through. That's what a team does."

ID:436436:cQx:QQ:

Click here for more stories about Stephen O'Donnell

Click here for more stories about Motherwell

Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Callum Davidson pictured in 2018
Read Next:
Callum Davidson delighted to have options for League Cup final
>
Latest Sports Video
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.

rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Premier League
Championship
Scottish Premiership
La Liga
Serie A
Bundesliga
Eredivisie
Primeira Liga
Coupe de France
League One
League Two
National League
National League North
National League South
Scottish Championship
Scottish League One
Scottish League Two
Turkish Super Lig
Belgian Pro League
Greek Superleague
Swiss Super League
Russian Premier League
Ukrainian Premier League
NIFL Premiership
Welsh Premier League
Segunda Division
Serie B
2.Bundesliga
Eerste Divisie
Copa Diego Maradona
Uruguayan Primera Division
Liga MX
Australian A-League
J1 League
Gallagher Premiership
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1RangersRangers3127407496585
2Celtic31207465234267
3Hibernian30157841281352
4Aberdeen3113993230248
5Livingston30117123636040
6St Mirren31109122934-539
7Dundee UnitedDundee Utd31811122843-1535
8St Johnstone31810133240-834
9Motherwell3188152846-1832
10Ross County3075182254-3226
11Kilmarnock3174202743-1625
12Hamilton AcademicalHamilton3067172957-2825

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!