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Daily Record
Sport
Andy McGilvray

Motherwell boss Graham Alexander warns his stars that full focus is on Ross County

Motherwell boss Graham Alexander has warned his stars they could find themselves out of his team if they look any further ahead than tomorrow's Premiership crunch with Ross County.

The Fir Park clash against the Staggies is the first of five games that will go a long way towards determining whether Motherwell stay in the top-six after the split, with Dundee also visiting on Saturday, but Alexander says full focus must be on Ross County.

And he warned that his players will fall into a trap if they think tomorrow night's show-down is any 'easier' than drawing 2-2 with Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday.

When asked if this is the start of a vital five-game period, Alexander said: "No. It's the build-up to a very important game, that's the truth.

"We cannot look any further ahead than on the game tomorrow. If we do that we're letting ourselves down.

Alexander says Motherwell's 2-2 draw at Ibrox will help them prepare for an equally tough game (SNS Group)

"We have good leaders in the changing room who know what the game is about and how important this one game is - as Sunday was, and as the previous weeks were. It's one game at a time.

"If I hear anyone even think about any games apart from this then they might not even take part in this one - that's the reality.

"We need full focus and concentration on Ross County, and on ourselves. You can only win three points at a time, and that's what we aim to do.

"Sunday's result was a bonus point for us, to be fair, from half-time. But it's only a good point if we follow it up with wins, and a win tomorrow is the most important thing."

Alexander added: "I think we have to be focused. It's not about a mood situation regarding the previous result. It was a big point for us, and probably a point no-one expected us to get - certainly at half-time - but we have to reset our levels and our mind, first and foremost, going into every game.

"We can't make the mistake that tomorrow's game will be any easier than Sunday's. If we do that we'll fall into a big trap.

Alexander expects a tough game against Ross County tomorrow night (SNS Group)

"Ross County are a good team; we've already had two very tough games against them, we've won one each, and everyone's got a lot to play for at this stage of the season.

"We know we're performing at a level that we can win games. We haven't managed to do that in the last six weeks or so, but we know there are games that we could have, and should have, won, so that gives us confidence that we're on the right track.

"I think Sunday will go a long way to helping the players prepare for tomorrow's game, because we got up for a very tough game, and we're going to have to get up for another tough game."

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