MARK McGHEE insists it is still too early for Motherwell fans to fret about the plight of their team after suffering two defeats on the spin.
The Lanarkshire club suffered a double dunt last week on the back of a promising 2-1 win away to Kilmarnock on the opening day of the season.
A 5-0 humbling at Parkhead in the Betfred Cup provided the first painful 90 minutes, before a disappointing 2-1 home slump to St Johnstone in the Ladbrokes Premiership compounded matters.
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A small minority of Well fans voiced their discontent on Saturday as the Fir Park club failed to show much signs of life. While McGhee appreciates their concerns, he is not prepared to panic at this early stage.
“It’s always the case that you accentuate the positive,” said the Motherwell manager. “When things go wrong you need to work out why and that’s when you look at the negatives.
“The negative is that we had a midweek game against Celtic that we got well and truly beaten. Physically and psychologically it was a big test for a lot of our players, and that must have had some bearing.
“It’s not the only thing. We’ve just got to put it down to experience and do everything we can that we are more energised next week.
“We still have to prove ourselves. I expect St Johnstone to finish in a similar position to last season, if not one better, so we have to aspire to get above and after them. I know we can do better.
“In that sense the jury is out. At the start of the season you don’t know where you are until you are two rounds in. Then you can say ‘Yeah we are probably on a similar par to St Johnstone or we’re going to be in a scrap’.”
As the season creeps closer to the summer transfer window shutting, there are still comings and goings at Fir Park.
Yesterday it was announced centre-half Louis Laing had returned to old club Notts County on a five-month loan deal after failing to find a space in McGhee’s starting XI, while the Well boss has not ruled out the possibility of more change before the end of the month.
“The younger ones possibly, but at the moment we are light on numbers,” said McGhee about the notion of sending some of his squad out on loan. “We have Carl McHugh, Stevie Hammell and the likes of Connor Blyth and Faddy [James McFadden] just coming back.
“Louis Laing has gone on loan and wasn’t playing a part and didn’t look like playing a part. We’re as well letting him go.
“There’s still economic issues here that we have to balance things. If there’s any room for swap and change we certainly would consider it.
“The fact is I know we are better than Saturday. That’s the starting point, and on top of that we have one or two to come back.
“We have seen a lot better already this season. If we get back to that we’ll be more competitive, then we’ll add in the ones due back.”
Laing first spent a loan spell at Notts County from rival club Nottingham Forest back in 2014, and he said upon his return to Meadow Lane: “Last time I was here I played what I felt was my best football.
“I love the fans and I love the club. That was one of the main factors – the belief the fans have in me – but the main thing for me was that the manager wanted me here.”
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