Title talk 'irrelevant' for Motherwell's Askou

Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou says talk of his side being in the race to win the Scottish Premiership is "irrelevant".

The Fir Park side are the form team in the league over the last 12 games, winning eight and losing just one while conceding only three goals.

Saturday's 5-0 demolition of St Mirren maintained their 10-point deficit to Hearts, having played one game fewer than the league leaders and second-place Rangers.

Motherwell trail Celtic by four points with 11 games left for them to play.

"It's a question that will attract a lot of questions if I start answering," Askou said before Saturday's meeting with Dundee United.

"For me it's an irrelevant question. I know there's a lot of talk about us being in the title race now.

"In terms of being in a race, racing with other clubs there needs to be some conditions [budgets] that are more or less the same.

"But if you ask us whether we can win the next game? We are really positive we can. If you ask us if we can beat any team in this league on the day, we will say the same."

'Motherwell play best football in UK'

Askou's side appear to be peaking at the right time, with only Rangers collecting more points in the last 20 league matches.

They have lost just three times all season and have the best defensive record, conceding just 18 times in 27 games - five fewer than any other side.

Forward Tawanda Maswanhise has 14 Premiership goals, the joint-most, while at the other end goalkeeper Calum Ward has the best save percentage, while a clutch of other players like Elijah Just have shown superb form.

More than anything, though, Motherwell's collective effort and style of play has made them one of the most formidable teams to face.

"Motherwell have been the best football team I've seen this season north or south of the border," former Celtic striker Chris Sutton said on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"They play an incredible brand of football. Maybe they will have too much to do.

"As a club, their budget, the way they are coached. It's all about using the extra man and picking the right pass. They are so good and so aware. The confidence they have - they have torn Celtic apart this season.

"It's a brilliant story and a real testament to their manager that he's got them playing this style. Some of the football against St Mirren was scintillating."

Is a title tilt realistic?

Since the Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, no team has come from 10 points behind to win the title so late in the season.

The biggest comeback in the last 28 years was when Celtic overhauled a seven-point gap to Rangers with seven games left in 2007-08.

Overturning a 10-point deficit, then, would be unprecedented in the modern era. Particularly as Motherwell are chasing down three teams.

So while Hearts, Rangers, and Celtic will take points off each other, Motherwell will have to be close to flawless over the final 11 games to win the league.

They have only taken 12 points from 33 available against the current top six and though they have cut out the errors which cost them - arguably deserved - wins against Hearts, Celtic, and Falkirk earlier in the season, they would have to vastly improve that record.

So far there have been too many draws.

After games against Dundee United and Dundee they play top-half sides until the split - Celtic, Hibernian, Falkirk, and Hearts - and then do it all again thereafter.

It is a tough run in. Askou, the calm and assured Dane, has never shown even a flicker of getting carried away regardless.

While fans can just revel in the journey with no pressure.

"We try not to be really too fussed about how people talk about us," Askou said.

"Because the risk is if that is too important to you, in a business that is very open and public, then you risk these emotions drifting back and forward.

"It's not going to help you perform. There is a lot of positivity and optimism around us, and we share that positive and optimism in terms of where we are and what we can achieve.

"Not so much specifically what's been said about us, but more we are confident going into every game.

"What's important is we're developing and growing as a club. We are aware of where we need to grow as a club - there are so many things we need to improve and lift for us to answer that question [about a title challenge] with a 'yes'."

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