Stephen Frail says Motherwell beating Ross County made a huge difference in their bid to climb the Premiership table. And the new Fir Park No.2 says the days surrounding that game gave him a great insight into life working with boss Stuart Kettlewell.
Frail says he came in officially on the Thursday, they travelled up to the Highlands on Friday and emerged with a 2-0 win over 10-man Ross County on the Saturday.
A double from Kevin van Veen, after Jack Baldwin was dismissed for a foul on the Dutch striker, left the Steelmen ninth in the table but moved them six points clear of Ross County and Kilmarnock, and nine off relegation-haunted Dundee United. “We trained on Thursday and Friday and went up to Ross County on the Friday for the game, and it was another fantastic result, so that helps,” said Frail. “You could see how big it was.
We knew it would be a tough game. “I came in on the Thursday and the manager had pretty much done all his prep, and my first job was to sit with the analysts Ross Clarkson and Graeme McArthur and watch footage of Ross County. “But he [Kettlewell] had his gameplan in place, delivered that on the Friday to the players, and you see certain things, working on the game. “I probably got a wee bit more involved on the Saturday than I anticipated, but that’s what you want to do. “The manager was turning round, asking for my thoughts on the game, but he had done all his prep and I think it was executed excellently by the players. “It’s a tough place to go; they put you under pressure with their style of play, but the boys showed a little bit of character. “In the end, the quality at the top end of the pitch was there, and it was two really good goals, but I thought the first one was fabulous. “It makes