Motherwell getting off to a winning start against Dundee would be massive, says boss

Motherwell getting their Premiership campaign off to a winning start against Dundee today would be “massive” but boss Stuart Kettlewell expects a tough test against the league newcomers.

The Dens Park club have spent big and brought in former Kilmarnock assistant Tony Docherty in as boss, which Kettlewell reckons is a shrewd appointment.

But Kettlewell will be looking for ways to wreck the Taysiders’ top-flight return and take three points back to Lanarkshire.

He said: “Getting off to a good start is massive.

“We’re trying to keep that momentum going that we spoke about from last season, but even through pre-season, we’ve been winning games.

“We won our [Viaplay Cup] group, so I think it’s essential that you don’t think you’re going to take three or four games to get up to speed and get off and running.

“Even though we’re away from home, even though we’re facing a good side, we want to try and start the campaign off with three points – as does every team.

“The quicker we can do that, the better position you put yourself in early.

“I don’t really look into the context of a promoted team, I look very much at the new manager, Tony Docherty, coming in.

“I think it’s a shrewd appointment by Dundee, somebody who knows the game inside-out, who has spent so much time at a high end of the game, has been an assistant, and now gets his chance to go on and be a manager.

“I look at the players they’ve recruited, not so much on it being flag-day for Dundee, and the side-effects that can come from that.

“I think it’s important that we brace ourselves as much as we possibly can for what are they going to be, how are they going to play, what questions are they going to ask of us, and how can we try and expose them at the other end.

“I