Kettlewell hails work ethic of Motherwell match-winner

Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell knows most cinch Premiership clubs would be happy to have Kevin van Veen’s goalscoring quality in their team but he highlighted the Dutchman’s work ethic after his match-winning double in Dingwall.

Van Veen struck twice from close range to capitalise on Motherwell’s man advantage after Ross County captain Jack Baldwin was sent off in the 70th minute for bringing the striker down.

The former Scunthorpe and Northampton forward has now scored 17 goals this season – five of them in Dingwall.

Kettlewell said: “I think most of the clubs would look at Kevin and think he is a top player, which he absolutely is.

“He offers a threat, his intelligence, and his work ethic is excellent – and has proven so in the last four games.

“It is coupled with his quality, but you can see him in the latter stages of games still trying to get into the channels to cause problems. Even when Blair Spittal pulled up with a knock, he starts to work back the pitch with Jon Obika.

“Those are the characteristics that help get results.”

Motherwell have now scored seven goals and taken 10 points from four matches under Kettlewell and they will host Rangers next with increasing confidence of moving further away from the foot of the table.

“Character can take you a long way in the game, as long as every one of the 13 or 14 you use bring that,” the manager said.

“But you look at the bit of quality we have as well. Big Kev again will be singled out, but even his play in Baldwin’s red card was the catalyst for what comes – and then he capitalises on it. We as a group capitalised.

“Words like personality and character were used from day one when I came in to take charge and, to be fair, the players haven’t let up since.”

County were the more dangerous team until the red card and manager Malky Mackay remained optimistic after their first defeat in four home matches left them level on points with second-bottom Kilmarnock.

Mackay said: “We are causing teams problems and creating chances. We are not leaking goals. We were a man down and had to go for it.

“We have those around us to play again and there’s 10 games to go. To play like that off the back of the way we played against Kilmarnock and Dundee United gives me comfort.”