Motherwell focus on Europe and not 'kingmakers' tag

Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou insists not finishing fourth in the Scottish Premiership would be as big a disappointment for his club as it would be for Hearts if they don't win the title.

The Dane insists his side are focused on the "massive" achievement of securing fourth place and European football next season, and are not interested in being "kingmakers" or getting in the way of other clubs' ambitions.

Victory over Derek McInnes' men on Saturday evening would almost certainly mean Hibernian could not catch the Fir Park side in the race to secure a European place, and would be Motherwell's latest say in the title race after recently beating Rangers at Ibrox.

"I know there's been a lot of talk about now we play against teams who have a lot of pressure on them and they can win the title," Askou said.

"We're also in for a big thing for us.

"It will be an equally big disappointment for us as it is for Hearts if they don't finish on top now after they've been there for so long, we've been in this position for so long, we're so close.

"It is a massive achievement for us if we can keep this position in the league, and especially by securing it, winning against possibly the coming champions either on Saturday or the next game.

"We beat another title contender a few weeks back and now it's an opportunity to do that again. We cannot wait to give our best."

Despite their recent Ibrox triumph and posing a challenge to Hearts' title bid, Askou has no interest in being the supposed kingmakers in the title race.

"It's about us, I've said that many times," he said.

"We're not dreaming of becoming kingmakers or in this for getting in the way of other people.

"We want to leave as many teams under us and behind us in the league table to end up in a position where we achieve something massive and that is massive for us if we can.

"On top of a very interesting, exciting and developing season for us as a club, to also clinch a position and hang on to a position and end in a position that gives us some extra journeys after the summer."