Paul McGinn hopes Motherwell can pile the pressure on Celtic this week by taking something off the title hopefuls and bounce back from a week of disappointing results.

The Steelmen lost 2-0 to Hearts in Gorgie on Saturday, off the back of blowing a three-goal lead in their draw at Aberdeen last midweek and suffering a Scottish Cup exit to Championship side Morton the week before.

Now stuttering Celtic visit Fir Park on Sunday after dropping points in recent games – most recently in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock – that has seen Rangers overtake them at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

And McGinn is hoping the Steelmen can capitalise on Celtic’s recent dip in form.

The defender said: “I don’t think teams will find it easy against us. Maybe a few games before Christmas we could have said they did.

“There is a bit of pressure on Celtic this week, so hopefully we can take advantage of it.

Under-fire Celtic were knocked off the top of the Premiership table at the weekend as rivals Rangers took over
Under-fire Celtic were knocked off the top of the Premiership table at the weekend as rivals Rangers took over (Image: SNS Group)

“I don’t imagine it’s one they would want after a result like Saturday.

Lawrence Shankland and Kenneth Vargas struck in the second half at Tynecastle to consign Motherwell to their first Premiership defeat of 2024, with the Fir Park side losing in the league for the first time since Christmas Eve at home to Rangers.

McGinn said: “We had a plan and gave them respect. You can’t go too open there as you could lose it straight away.

“We countered well at times but I thought their subs made a difference, and I suppose that’s what you get when you get the size of clubs.

McGinn says Motherwell must make life as difficult as they can for Celtic on Sunday
McGinn says Motherwell must make life as difficult as they can for Celtic on Sunday (Image: SNS Group)

“But we know Shankland is the biggest threat so he shouldn’t be on his own in our box.

“The manager made it clear as we know it’s a mistake. If you give him an inch he’ll take a mile.”

Reflecting on the draw with the Dons, in which boss Stuart Kettlewell felt his side got “spooked”, McGinn said: “I’d rather we had seen it out, but it was a bit of misfortune and Aberdeen scored right after they made subs and got some momentum.

“I don’t think we got spooked, and we were glad we didn’t completely throw it away.”

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