IT has been a campaign of ups and downs - only once have Motherwell drawn in the league this season - but almost unnoticed is the fact that the Fir Park side are five points better off than they were at this stage last season, with eight victories to five at the corresponding point a year ago.

The major disappointment, of course, was their Scottish League Cup loss to Aberdeen after the competition had been blown open by the failures of the Old Firm.

"The performance on the night was poor," said Paul Lawson, the Motherwell midfielder. "We let ourselves down. It's something we want to put right and everyone tells you a cup run is great so it will nice to have one."

Motherwell take on Lanarkshire rivals Albion Rovers today in one of Scottish football's most elusive derbies - the sides have not played competitively in 26 years. But Lawson dismissed the idea that the artificial pitch at New Douglas Park - the match was moved to Hamilton to accommodate more supporters - would have any significant impact on the final result.

"It's a true surface," he said. "Everyone complains about it but there's one thing you can't argue and that's that the ball should be sitting nicely and you can pass the ball about."

Stuart McCall, his manager, is taking nothing for granted against Rovers, who have been denied permission by Ayr United to field on-loan striker Mark Shankland. "We should be technically better and be able to be better in possession," said McCall. "But they'll certainly match us for energy and aggression. It's all in your preparation. We've got to start the game brightly and make it more comfortable."