Motherwell's focus is entirely on securing Premiership top-six, says striker

Connor Shields says Motherwell will focus on trying to secure a top-six Premiership finish against Livingston today before even thinking about a Euro spot.

But the 24-year-old former Albion Rovers and Sunderland striker says it's 'massive' that the Steelmen are a win away from securing the target they set themselves last summer.

Shields bagged his third goal of the season in Saturday's 4-2 win over St Mirren that put Motherwell fifth in the table, and they know victory at Almondvale today will guarantee their place, regardless of results elsewhere.

With 2-1 wins over Livingston home and away this season, Shields hopes to get a similar result today, and that he scores as well.

The Coatbridge star said: "The top six is the main focus just now. If we get top six then we can focus on that [Europe] but just now it's about winning on Saturday and then taking it from there.

"But it's massive for us and the club. At the start of the season that was probably the main objective, to get into the top six.

"Now, going into the last game before the split it's in our hands to make that happen. Hopefully we can put in a good performance.

"It's in our own hands, that's what we wanted to make sure was the case, that we weren't waiting on somebody else's result.

"We've played Livingston twice this season, we'll hopefully get another good result against them again.

"It will be tough, they're fighting for top-six as well. I think whoever wins is guaranteed top six, so it will be a tough game.

"They're at home, but we'll give it our all, that's all we can do, and hopefully it will be enough."

Shields says it was only a matter of time before Motherwell grabbed their first league win of 2022, though it only arrived when they beat St Mirren 4-2