Motherwell boss says players won't shirk pressure as they chase Euro slot

Motherwell boss Graham Alexander says his side will handle the pressure that comes with their bid for European football, and they and Dundee United deserved their Premiership top-six places.

Alexander reckons the sides have had similar seasons, where they've both dropped out of the elite six groupings, but got back in there and are vying for that coveted fourth spot.

United are a point ahead, with four games remaining, as they head into today's clash at Tannadice.

Alexander expects a tough clash on Tayside, and said: "All three games against them have been tight, even the one we won as well.

"If you look outside a couple of the Old Firm games, all our games have been tight.

"It's a time of the season where sometimes the pressure affects people and it's not a free-flowing game, but I think the incentive and the motivation is pretty much the same for both teams.

"I believe it's two good teams that deserve to be in the top six, who are trying to chase that extra bonus of European football, and both teams will give it their best shot.

"I don't think it's about taking the pressure out of the equation - I think players have to become used to handling pressure. It's a pressurised sport.

"We don't just play for fun. There are serious prizes, it's our careers, and our reputations and so forth, so there's always pressure in professional football, whether you're at the bottom of the league or the top of the league."

Alexander added: "I don't think it's a case of trying to avoid it, and try and make it disappear, it's a case of managing it and handling it.

"They want to be top players and we want to be a top team. Within those situations there's always pressure on games.

"That's where you learn about your team, your players and