Tony Watt 'lazy argument' rejected as Motherwell departure keenly felt

Motherwell boss Graham Alexander admits Tony Watt 's exit has influenced their results - but he is convinced a change will come.

Well went into the winter break in fourth place in the cinch Premiership but then sold their top scorer to Dundee United after the forward signed a pre-contract at Tannadice on the back of hitting nine league goals.

Alexander concedes the transfer window was a "destabilising" period and could not argue with the assessment they have been missing Watt's goals.

He said: "It's not a lazy argument, he was the top scorer in the Premiership,

"I think we are creating as many chances as we did previously, but we're not taking advantage of those chances. Tony, in that period, for us, was taking advantage of those chances.

"It's quite clear. It would be silly for to say it's a lazy argument. It's not. It could be any player who has been a significant part of what you are doing, when they are missing there's going to be an adjustment period.

"That's what we have to do, we have to adjust. We have lost a certain type of player and haven't got a direct replacement in how he plays so we have to adjust our game for whoever is going to play in those positions.

"That's where we are finding those adjustments but we are still creating chances and the stats tell us that."

Alexander added: "It's why strikers get the most money, because they do the most important thing and that's score goals.

"Other players have to take that responsibility, and I'm talking about midfielders who break into the box, defenders who go up for set-pieces, which we are not taking advantage of.

"We have to find that adjustment quickly but we have players who will score goals."

Motherwell bounced back strongly from a difficult October when