MOTHERWELL legend Willie Pettigrew has backed Mark McGhee to turn around the struggling Steelmen - starting this Saturday against Kilmarnock.

A fine run of form when the new manager arrived was brought to a shuddering halt with the 6-0 loss at Tynecastle, and the concession of late goals has proved costly in the matches since.

Despite the downturn in results though, Pettigrew believes that McGhee is the man to turn things around and repair the damage done by his predecessor in the Fir Park dugout.

He said: “Mark McGhee is caught between a rock and a hard place, because he’s come into a situation that Ian Baraclough left which was not good.

“He’s got a good owner though and he is at least trying to steer the young players through into the team. The only way that Motherwell can survive is by selling one player a year, and the only way they can do that is by bringing the kids through.

“Mark has been left with a lot of baggage, and he can’t just clear all the players out because he’s come in during the season.

“Normally when a new manager comes in they get a bit of a boost, and they had that at first. They’ve hit a rocky patch just now but I’m sure they will be alright.

“You’ve got to trust the manager. Mark has had to repair the damage that Baraclough did to the club, and the owner has put a lot of money in to back McGhee.

“He made a mistake with Baraclough, but he’s put his full weight behind McGhee and I don’t think that will be shaken.

“Mark will turn things around. I think he’s bringing a blend in the team between youth and the more experienced players.

“We’re inconsistent at the moment, but the fans have got back him.”

Through his work in youth development at the club, Pettigrew says that he can see talent emerging that can provide an exciting future for Motherwell.

If they can get through this season preserving their top-flight status, he is sure that McGhee is the right man to nurture these players into the first team.

“Mark has had a meeting with all the youth coaches and explained his vision for the club and the youth system which Les Hutchison has signed off on,” he said.

“If we can get through this season then I think the future is going to be rosy for Motherwell. There are energetic guys coming in like Chris Cadden, Jack Leitch, Dominic Thomas and Ben Hall, but they’re still learning the game.

“Things are looking up. You can’t go back to what Stuart McCall was doing. It didn’t ruin the club, but it was all loan deals and at the end of each season you had to do it all over again.

“Clubs like Motherwell can’t survive that way, they’ve got to bring their own kids through.

“Come the end of the season we’ll see where the team is, but as long as we stay up then we can judge him next season when he has had time to do his own thing.”

While calling on the supporters to show patience, Pettigrew is all too aware of the importance of Saturday’s game at Kilmarnock.

He is certain though that Motherwell have the firepower to get a crucial win, and earn some breathing space at the bottom of the table.

“This is just a small hiccup and they’ll get through it – but they better win on Saturday!” he laughed.

“They were absolutely horrendous to watch last year, whereas at the moment they are playing well enough but are losing late goals.

“He’s got to address these things, because once is a mistake, but when it happens as regularly as it has then it becomes habit.

“I think we’ll beat Killie though. The players will know how important the game is.

"My money is on McGhee and Motherwell.”