Motherwell boss Graham Alexander recognises the importance of winning games against teams round about them in the Premiership, but says the outcome of tomorrow's clash against Dundee United at Tannadice won't define their season.
With the Premiership top three decided, the race for fourth place will heat up, with hosts United one point ahead of Alexander's men.
However, Alexander says individual results, including the 3-1 defeat at home to Rangers last weekend, won't define his side either, and that will only come with the last game of the season when the Steelmen travel to Celtic Park, with Ange Postecoglou's men the only side they haven't yet taken points from.
Ahead of the trip to Tayside, Alexander said; "I think [games against Dundee United] have an impact because you're playing your direct rivals, but I don't think they define you.
"I think if you look at how we collected our points over the course of 33 games, getting into the top six, we picked up points against everyone bar Celtic.
"It was games against all sorts of teams to get that tally so it's the same now. Within the last four now we don't know where the points could come from, so every game is an opportunity for us.
"I know the importance of taking points off your closes rivals, that's pretty standard, but one result doesn't define your season unless it's the last game of the season."
Alexander has been impressed with a Dundee United side that have beat his side 2-1 and 2-0 on both previous visits to Tannadice this season, but a 1-0 Fir Park win for Motherwell suggests it will be a tight game on Tayside.
He said: "I think they've had a similar season to us in many respects. If you look at home much time both teams have spent in the top six it has been reasonably similar.
"They've been competing to get in those top spots, but they've dropped out of it at times, similar to us.
"The wins have come for the home teams this season, in the games. I think they've got very good players throughout their team, they've got a very good manager, and they are where they are on merit, because they've done it over 34 games.
"We know it will be a tough game - we haven't had an easy one yet this season - but we're looking forward to it. It's always a test when you go to Tannadice."
Striker Kevin van Veen serves the second of his two-match suspension tomorrow, but Alexander says otherwise it's as you were from last weekend.
"It's the same squad as last week, no-one has recovered in time, no-one has got the training time under their belt," he explained.
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