Rangers v Motherwell

May 4 2008 By Gordon Waddell

Rangers V Motherwell Wednesday, Kick-Off 7.45pm, Live On Setanta

STEPHEN HUGHES has revealed Motherwell are training on Fir Park every day - to get used to dumbing down their football.

The classy midfielder admits Mark McGhee's men have had to change their game as they hit the final furlong in the race for Europe.

Well's ploughed pitch has put an end to the free-flowing style that carried them into the top three and kept them there for long spells.

Now boss McGhee is re-educating his troops in ground warfare.

With relief from Fir Park beckoning at Ibrox on Wednesday night, Hughes said: "We like to get the ball down and pass but we've had to adjust and go longer because it's impossible to play perfect football at home. It's too bobbly.

"We've trained at Fir Park for the past two weeks just to get used to a bad surface. It's not as ifwe can make the pitch much worse.

"We need to adjust and the boss has the right idea. It has been frustrating though.

"For a while we'd turn up on a Friday to prepare then the game was off on Saturday so we had to train at the weekend for a Tuesday match instead. Then that was called off too. It was so hard to get going.

"I was fed up seeing my mates playing amateur football down the local public park on a Sunday while Motherwell, a top professional team, couldn't get a game."

At least Hughes knows he will get some action on Wednesday - and he's right in the mood to dump his old club.

Despite yesterday's 2-1 defeat to Celtic the Fir Park side remain in pole position for third spot thanks to their game in hand.

And even although the outstanding fixture is against Rangers, Hughes insists his side fancy their chances at Ibrox.

He said: "We have done alright against both Celtic and Rangers this season so shouldn't be worried now.

"We won't settle for fourth or fifth in the league - we want to finish the job we've started.

"Obviously it won't be easy against Rangers but the fixtures are shaping up well for us and not them.

"Our season has been so stop start that we have not had a decent run for ages so we're happy to get a few games on the bounce whereas I'm sure Gers would like a breather."

With four games left the UEFA Cup is still in Well's hands - and Hughes' head.

He grinned: "I don't know what the plans are for Fir Park this summer but my dream is to come back in August for European football - and play on a bowling green!"