IT’S points make prizes for Keith Lasley as he targets a maiden home victory for Motherwell today.

The Steelmen welcome Kilmarnock to Fir Park this afternoon having gone down 2-0 to Dundee United and 2-1 to Aberdeen in recent weeks.

A hard-fought 3-1 victory over East Fife in the League Cup on Tuesday has at least halted Well’s losing run of form, and Lasley hopes it will jolt his team into action in this crunch meeting with a struggling Rugby Park side.

The Motherwell captain said: “We can’t keep talking about hard luck stories but the majority of our games we have been on top for long period and not converted that.

“The reverse seemed to happen on Tuesday night where we were probably poor for much of the match but won.

“The bottom line is we need to get points on the board, it’s as simple as that. It’s up to us to do that today.

“We are at Fir Park and that’s a boost. We have performed well at home without any rewards so far this season but I believe that can change this afternoon.

“The performance is great but it’s the points I want.”

The display from the Ladbrokes Premiership club in Methil was concerning for the most part, particularly after the League Two club took a deserved lead in the second half.

Lasley admits at that point he feared the worst.

“Of course you do,” said the midfielder. “I’ve been in these ties before and we know from our recent history we have come unstuck.

“Gary’s team were the better team for at least the first half and deserved their lead. In saying that we had one or two chances but didn’t take them. That’s kind of been the story of my season.

“We have been getting punished and that has put us under an enormous amount of pressure. I think we did show a will to win on Tuesday and that is something we can take out of the game.”

While today’s focus naturally turns to league duty, it was a relief for Lasley and the rest of the Motherwell team to finally get the cup monkey off their back.

Last term Well went out at the first hurdle in both competitions, and in the last 16 knockout matches prior to their trip to Methil they had only won once.

“It’s good to get that record off our back,” said Lasley. “Unfortunately I probably played in most of them!

“Regardless of it including Champions League qualifiers, we know it’s not been good enough for a club like this. Especially when you see others who have had recent success.

“Yeah we got to the Scottish Cup final in 2011 but since then we’ve not done anything. It’s up to us to try and change that. We know how much the fans enjoy a cup run and they get behind us.

“We are just happy to get through anyway we can.”