Motherwell: McCall calls for side to be more clinical

Motherwell manager Stuart McCall has urged his side to be more ruthless in front of goal following their 2-1 victory over Kilmarnock.

Killie led through Darren Barr's deflected header, but the hosts replied with goals from Henri Anier and John Sutton.

Well boss McCall, though, wants his side to be more clinical.

"If we take our chances while we are in the ascendancy then we kill teams off," he told BBC Scotland.

"We had two good chances to score before Kilmarnock did - which gave them a lift - but we hit back with two good goals and then, in the second half, we had that chance to extend the lead.

"If we can just take our opportunities when they come and kill teams off - we've not been able to do that.

"Goalkeeper Lee Hollis made two fantastic saves to get us the points. I still think, if we had been a bit more clinical, we could have had the game sewn up."

The Steelmen were reduced to 10 men as Simon Ramsden was sent off for a second bookable offence and McCall had no qualms about referee Craig Charleston's decision.

"His first mistake is to backchat to the referee and he deserves his yellow," the Well boss added.

"The second one was a rash challenge. He thought he was going to win the ball and it's bad decision making.

"I thought he was excellent all day today. We spoke to him about it and he is the first one to put his hands up and apologise.

"It would have been a sore one if we had lost because I think, over the piece, we've had enough chances to win the game."

The result lifts Motherwell into third place in the Scottish Premiership, while Kilmarnock remain without a win this season.

However, McCall believes, with other clubs strengthening this campaign, that the race for second is wide open.

"It will be a massive fight to finish in the top six to be honest," he said. "I don't think there's much in these teams.

"Hibs brought in a couple of players yesterday and there's teams that are very capable of putting a run together.

"We've put two wins together and, although we've not been at our most fluent at times, we have played some very good stuff.

"If we can score the goals after playing that good football then we can kill teams off.

"But, in the end, we've got three points, which we are delighted with."