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If points were handed out for style, Motherwell would already be out on their own at the top of the Premiership.
Yet, as the Steelmen are learning on a weekly basis, panache earns you more or less hee-haw in this results-driven business. Plaudits — and there have been plenty of them — don’t amount to much either.
They’ve been the most entertaining side to watch in the top flight this season. It’s been box-office stuff under Jens Berthel Askou, who has taken no time at all to get the players and supporters on side.
No doubt they’re loving what they’re seeing at the moment, in an attacking sense at least. Few of them will be able to recall a time when the football was this enjoyable to watch.
Even opposition fans are waxing lyrical about Askou-ball, and with good reason too.
In Elliot Watt, Lukas Fadinger and Elijah Just, Motherwell have a midfield trio capable of going toe-to-toe with the best in the country. Just, in particular, has been a standout.
Manager Jens Berthel Askou hasn't taken very long to win over the Fir Park faithful
Scott Arfield netted a late winner for Falkirk last weekend as Motherwell led another lead slip
Elijah Just has been one of many several star performers in Askou's free-flowing side
And while it’s true that profligacy has cost them on occasion, Tawanda Maswanhise and Apostolos Stamatelopolous have made decent starts to the campaign, grabbing seven goals between them so far.
Plenty to be optimistic about, then.
Which is why it’s something of a head-scratcher that the Fir Park side could find themselves propping up the table if results go against them this weekend.
Don’t expect the manager to rip things up and start again at Livingston in a bid to avoid that particular fate, but perhaps he needs to shift some of the focus towards addressing the defensive frailties which have plagued them until now.
Last weekend’s home defeat to Falkirk was their second loss on the trot, having entered October undefeated in all competitions.
The points should have been wrapped up by half-time. Yes, the frankly ridiculous decision to rule out Ibrahim Said’s goal didn’t help, but they nevertheless went in to the break in front.
Not for the first time this season, Askou’s men then simply relinquished control.
It happened against Hearts at Tynecastle back in August. For the best part of an hour, they were unplayable. In the end, they were fortunate to escape with a point after shipping a three-goal lead.
Motherwell's 2-0 victory over Aberdeen in September is their only league win to date
They were deservedly ahead against Kilmarnock and Dundee too, but ultimately failed to get over the line. A first win at Celtic Park in more than a decade also looked to be on the cards earlier this month before individual errors put paid to that.
In total, 12 points have been dropped from winning positions — more than any other team in the top flight.
A tendency to concede late goals is also a problem which needs solving, with Askou evidently still searching for a complete performance over 90 minutes.
Today’s clash at Livingston is a perfect opportunity to do just that. David Martindale’s side are shipping goals left, right and centre at the moment.
They, much like this afternoon’s opponents, are masters of their own downfall when it comes to keeping things tight at the back, as demonstrated in brutal fashion throughout their 4-0 thumping at the hands of Hibernian last weekend.
Games involving the Lions this season have delivered 28 goals, so you’d wager that the chances of either team recording a clean sheet in West Lothian today are slim at best.
It’s shaping up to be a big week for Motherwell, with a Premier Sports Cup semi-final at Hampden against St Mirren to look forward to next Saturday following the midweek visit of Dundee United.
Askou would gladly shake your hand right now if it came with cast-iron guarantee of racking up a hat-trick of gritty 1-0 wins over the next seven days, even if that means compromising on style — ever so slightly — to make it happen.
