Malcolm: We can go through

Sep 28 2008 By Euan Mclean

Malcolm: French Lesson Taught Me To Err On Safe Side Motherwell V As Nancy Thursday, Kick-Off 7.45pm Live On Bbc 1

BOB MALCOLM has vowed to use the lessons from his darkest European night to help Motherwell earn one of their greatest ever results this week.

The ex-Rangers midfielder is one of few Well stars with Euro experience - from the highs of qualifying for the Champions League last 16 to the bitter low of a first-round UEFA Cup exit against minnows Viktoria Zizkov.

But it's the painful memory of Gers' costly 2-0 home defeat by Auxerre in December 2004 that Malcolm identifies as the perfect example of the dangers Motherwell face against another French side on Thursday night.

Chasing a 1-0 deficit from the first leg, Mark McGhee's men must go for it against Nancy at Fir Park - yet Malcolm has learned the hard way about the risks of a gung-ho approach after being outfoxed by Auxerre in the UEFA Cup group stage.

Bob, who scored Well's winner against St Mirren yesterday, said: "The Auxerre game at Ibrox was a big lesson. We were expecting to win and ended up losing 2-0. That was probably my lowest night in Europe although I have learned from it.

"We tried to go gung-ho for victory and got sucker punched on the break.

"I'm sure the gaffer will do something to try to combat that risk this week - if we do go for it then somebody will be sitting back in case Nancy attempt to hit us on the break.

"When fans are desperate for you to attack it's hard to resist but we must do it in the right manner at the correct times."

Despite Malcolm's words of caution he saw nothing in the first leg in France to suggest Well can't turn the tables on Pablo Correa's side.

He said: "Nancy aren't a patch on the Auxerre team that won at Ibrox.

"They had a few world-class star slike Bonaventure Kalou. Don't get me wrong, Nancy have some good players but the way Auxerre dominated at Ibrox was really impressive.

"If Nancy do the same at Fir Park you'd have to take your hat off to them - but I just can't see it happening.

"There's definitely a confidence that we can turn it round after the 1-0 defeat. I don't think there's a great deal to fear from Nancy.

"They are a good footballing team but over there we had a game plan to sit in and try to hit on the break, which worked for the first half, then in the second we tried to go for it a wee bit.

"We need to attack this time and I'm sure we will with the fans behind us - but we must be patient.

"We'll just play our own game and not get too carried away by the supporters because if it means we have to take it to the last 10minutes to get a result, we will."

While Nancy didn't greatly impress going forward in the first game, the Steelmen still have to credit in-form keeper Graeme Smith for keeping the score down.

Two terrific second-half stops, one from a penalty, turned the momentum Well's way and means they can look forward to Thursday night with confidence.

And if Smith keeps up that kind of form, Europe is not the only thing he can look forward to according to Malcolm.

The 27-year-old said: "The gaffer was talking during the week about how Buzz is now calming the game down and doing the right things at the proper times.

"That could be crucial if we go one up, that Buzz is there to cool things and ease the pace.

"He's definitely back to his best. He did a few stupid things last season when he made some mistakes but he's bounced back and is growing in stature every month.

"I reckon he will be chapping on the door for a Scotland call-up before long."

Calm heads like Smith's have been needed during a difficult start to the season when McGhee's side have failed to get the wins they believe their play has deserved.

A run of four losses in the last fortnight, including Wednesday night's Co-operative Insurance Cup exit to Hamilton, was halted by yesterday's morale-boosting victory and Malcolm is convinced they are on the right track to success.

He said: "We aren't too far away from our best - we just haven't been getting the breaks. Against Hamilton we hit the woodwork a few times and just need a lift to take us that wee bit further.

"I'm sure the boost of having European games can be the next step we need."