A lot of frustration comes from Motherwell’s perceived inability to create once their passing gets them to the final third, but the stats point in the other direction.

According to Opta, their average goals conceded has almost doubled from 0.95 per game to 1.8.

With it, expected goals against has surged from 1.24 to 1.76. On average, they face five more shots this term than last, and win almost 5% fewer duels.

No Welsh is probably the biggest factor in this. They’ve also not had club captain Paul McGinn, while there’s a change of goalkeeper to add into the mix with Calum Ward heading to QPR.

In truth, Motherwell are being blown through by a perfect storm of new players, injured players, new manager, lack of confidence and repeated nods to a season that was most likely never ever going to be replicated this campaign, or even ever again.

On the ball, the blind slide rule passes out of defence to break the press have been replaced with pragmatism and patience, and injury has hindered any sort of selection continuity to attempt to replicate the cohesion of last season.

“It’s not as if you watch Motherwell and you think, they’re really, really poor in all departments. There are signs of performance there,” said Allan, with Motherwell at St Johnstone on Wednesday before hosting St Mirren on Saturday.

“That gives you a bit of belief if they can turn it around. It might just take a 1-0 scrappy goal. But at the same time, the foundations have to be that you don’t give goals away.

“The manager spoke about that, both boxes. And that is what’s killing them at this moment in time.”



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