The Steelmen have plummeted from unbeaten title contenders to a side desperately clinging to fourth place after winning just once in their last eight matches
Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou has revealed the psychological toll of his side's dramatic collapse, admitting his players "miss winning" after collecting just one point from their last four matches.
The admission comes as Motherwell cling to fourth place by just three points ahead of Hibernian, with only six games remaining to secure European qualification.
Motherwell's transformation from title contenders to a team in freefall represents one of Scottish football's most dramatic collapses this season.
The Steelmen went unbeaten in the league until March, positioning themselves as genuine challengers to the Glasgow giants and Hearts.
Their recent form tells a devastating story:
This collapse has seen them fall completely out of title contention, now focusing solely on preserving their top-four status.
We really, really try to push for the win because we miss winning. We want to win every game we compete in, and we know that every time we do, it's obviously a massive step towards achieving something big.
Askou's candid assessment reveals a squad struggling with the psychological impact of their winless run.
The Motherwell manager's refusal to set a points target for fourth place exposes the fragility within the camp.
When pressed on how many points would secure European football, Askou deflected:
When you start doing that then you get ahead of yourself and then you start suddenly thinking 'if we just do this and just do that, then we'll be fine'. So that's probably the worst thing you can do as a group of players.
This response suggests a manager walking a tightrope between maintaining confidence and acknowledging reality.
His admission that "I do expect us to need more points than we have now" confirms the precarious nature of their position.
The refusal to quantify targets indicates a team that cannot afford to look beyond their next match, a classic sign of a side under severe pressure.
Saturday's visit to league leaders Hearts could hardly come at a worse time for Motherwell's brittle confidence.
Hearts sit one point clear at the summit, while Motherwell arrive having forgotten how to win matches.
The season's earlier encounters produced contrasting results:
Askou hopes for a return to August's entertainment value, but his team's current form suggests they lack the confidence for such an open encounter.
With Hibernian breathing down their necks, Motherwell cannot afford another defeat.
Yet facing the league leaders away from home while mired in their worst run of form all season presents a daunting challenge.
Askou's prediction that "no team will win all their remaining games" sounds more like hope than analysis from a manager watching his season unravel.
Motherwell's European dreams now hang by the thinnest of threads. Saturday's match at Hearts will likely determine whether they can arrest this slide or continue their freefall down the table.
With only six games remaining and Hibernian showing late-season form, Askou's refusal to set targets may soon become academic. The harsh reality is that Motherwell need to rediscover their winning formula immediately, or watch their remarkable season end in crushing disappointment.
For bettors, a team that has forgotten how to win facing the league leaders away presents obvious value in backing Hearts. The psychological damage of Motherwell's collapse appears complete.
Motherwell currently sit just three points ahead of fifth-placed Hibernian in the race for European qualification. With only six games remaining, their position is increasingly precarious.
Askou admitted 'We really, really try to push for the win because we miss winning.' This reveals the psychological toll of their recent poor form on the squad.
Motherwell went unbeaten in the league until March, positioning themselves as genuine title contenders. Since then, they have won just once in eight matches.
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Askou refuses to set specific points targets, stating it would cause players to get 'ahead of yourself' and think 'if we just do this then we'll be fine.' He believes this approach could be counterproductive for team psychology.
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