Stuart Kettlewell adamant Motherwell are in better place 12 months on as he makes Neil Warnock quip

Stuart Kettlewell marks a year in charge of Motherwell today - and insists the Steelmen are stronger now than when he was flung into the Fir Park hotseat. The Well boss may still be reeling from Friday’s Scottish Cup exit to Championship side Morton which ironically mirrored the circumstances of when he replaced Stevie Hammell initially on an interim basis after a cup defeat to second tier Raith.

But with five more points on the board - 25 - from the same number of Premiership games - 24 - and a streamlined squad after some big departures, Kettlewell is convinced his side are in a better place - with room for even more improvement.

He said: “I do because when I inherited the team last year we were everyone’s cannon fodder and favourites for relegation. There was a lot of doom and gloom surrounding the place. From our league placing to goals scored, goals conceded, points amassed, all the bits that have happened in between like players moving on for compensation, players sold for money, the levels some of the individuals are playing at now.. I’d say it’s all improved.

“Obviously there are ups and downs in there. Last week was symptomatic of it. The draw against a really good Kilmarnock side who have invested heavily in their squad and I thought we were a better side than them on the day.

“Then we blow Ross County out the water and there’s been significant investment in their squad as well, far more than we can boast. But then Friday .. you see the highs and lows of football in six days. We have to learn from that and get better.

“We want to finish as high as we can in the league. We’re going to meet some challenges but it’s important we are all in it together. Through the tough spells my favourite thing in the year has