Motherwell skipper Peter Hartley is determined to reward fans for their support with another derby win.
The Well players and 295 travelling supporters celebrated their stoppage-time win against Ross County in Dingwall closely together in a display of the connection between the two groups.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s visit of Hamilton, Hartley said: “When there’s no transport and you have that many fans, when there’s no trains or buses on… the fans made their own way there on Boxing Day in a more than three-hour journey.
“We showed our appreciation to the support they gave us. It was like a 12th man, I could only hear our fans singing and I’m just happy they all went home happy and the journey was worth it.”
The former Hartlepool and Plymouth centre-back has experienced highs and lows in this Lanarkshire derby – scoring the winner in his first one and getting sent off after the final whistle in a New Year’s Day defeat after barging Dougie Imrie.
“I actually was surprised (at the ferocity of the rivalry),” he said. “I played in a lot of derbies but when I came up one of my first games was away to Hamilton, and I actually scored.
“But I wasn’t expecting as many Motherwell fans there and they definitely came out in their numbers. We sent them home happy that day and hopefully we can again this time.
“We have a team full of confidence. We have worked really hard to get to where we are now but we just have to take it a game at a time.
“We go into the Hamilton game winning five of the last six so hopefully we can finish 2019 with another win.”
