STEPHEN CRAIGAN is still not sure if he has caught the managerial bug after suffering through his first senior game in charge.

But the Motherwell caretaker admits a win against Dundee tomorrow could be just the tonic to cure his stresses and satisfy his craving for victory when the Steelmen arrive on Tayside.

The Northern Irishman got his interim tenure in charge of Well off to a flying start last Saturday in a 2-1 win over Partick Thistle, a result which prompted many bookies to install him as the favourite to replace Ian Baraclough.

While he hasn’t yet applied for the job, Craigan has refused to rule out the possibility, claiming his focus and that of chairman Les Hutchison is on securing another three points that could potentially take their team into the Ladbrokes Premiership top six.

He did admit last week that he struggled to relax enough to savour the victory, but the 38-year-old is hoping it’s a result he can get more comfortable with tomorrow.

“It kind of dissolves your mind,” said Craigan of being in charge of the Well first-team. “Just the fact the game had finished and the emotions you go through, the intensity, it’s tough.

“I was at a course over in Northern Ireland last Sunday for my Pro Licence and some young guys who just started management who have been doing it for four or five games and they said their first games were horrendous, but you do become used to it as it goes on.

“I said I may only have one more so I may be okay!

“We put the game to bed on Monday and started focusing on Dundee. Football is about winning, that is what it’s all about. The fans go home happy, the players and the coaches have a better weekend and there is a better spirit about the place.

“Obviously there are things you want to improve on and have to improve on, but ultimately at the end of the game when you win you can enjoy it eventually somewhere along the line. But then you know come the middle of the next week you are going to have to go through the same emotions again.

“I’m probably more emotionally prepared for it this week, but during the game things change and situations and injuries happen. You have to think on your feet. Did I enjoy it anymore? Probably not.”

For Craigan to get the chance to try and enjoy that winning feeling, he is aware his players will need to be on red alert for the threat Dundee will surely pose.

Motherwell have only kept two clean sheets this term and go up against a team who have netted 14 times in nine league games.

The caretaker boss has spent a lot of time prepping his men for the defensive challenge they face, but is also hopeful the front players in claret and amber can also cause problems of their own.

“I have told the players there is not an awful lot between the teams in the league. Can we get our influential players on the ball in certain areas? Can we get or three or four main attacking playing well?

“Looking at the Dundee team, they have four front players in [Riccardo] Calder, Greg Stewart, Rory Loy and Kane Hemmings who are a threat to anybody.

“We have done quite a lot of work on them this week. We were straight at on Monday looking at our game and theirs, we have different meetings individually and as a group, while training has been structured towards how we are going to play this weekend.”