McInnes lauds 'problematic' Motherwell before Fir Park test

"They could have beaten us in all three games."

Derek McInnes needs no reminding of the threat Motherwell pose as he bids to inch Hearts closer to the title with victory at Fir Park on Saturday.

While Jens Berthel Askou's impressive Steelmen have yet to beat the Tynecastle side in three attempts this season, they've provided plenty of problems.

Motherwell led 3-0 in Gorgie back in August before the hosts mounted an incredible comeback in the final 25 minutes to salvage a point.

Then came a goalless stalemate at Fir Park in November, before Hearts needed another Tynecastle rescue when the sides met again last month, the visitors eventually losing 3-1 after spurning chances to burnish their lead.

"They carved us open a few times," McInnes said of that encounter.

"But they're a team who constantly test your organisation throughout the game, and they can make little subtle tweaks and little different ways of playing that can maybe test your organisation.

"I'm not the only opposition manager to sit before you play Motherwell and say how well they've done.

"They're a good team, well coached, they're a confident team, they look like a team who enjoy playing and what they've been asked to do."

Hearts forwards Claudio Braga and Lawrence Shankland and Motherwell attacking duo Elijah Just and Tawanda Maswanhise were the four candidates for PFA Scotland's Premiership player of the year award.

Braga was the eventual winner but McInnes thinks his opponents don't get enough credit for the individual quality throughout their side.

"I think they've also got very good players," he said.

"I sometimes think that gets left behind, it's all about how well coached they are and how they play, the style, but they've actually got really good individual players as well.

"I know you've said they've been problematic, and they have, but they've been problematic for most teams. But we have to be honest, they could have beaten us in all three games.

"But we've managed to do our job well enough for long enough in all the games to pick up points against them.

"And this game will be tough again for loads of reasons.

"You have to be so on point when you're out of possession, because if you're not, they're the type of team that can punish you.

"And that's what happens when you're up against good teams and well-coached teams."