Motherwell: Title talk ‘irrelevant’ for Jens Berthel Askou

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’.”