McCall hails Motherwell feat

Motherwell boss Stuart McCall praised his players after they secured third spot to qualifiy for their first-ever Champions League campaign.

He hailed the efforts of his players after Well's place in next season's competition was confirmed by Rangers' 3-0 defeat of Dundee United on Wednesday night.

The Ibrox club are banned from Europe's blue riband event for the 2012-13 campaign because of the financial woes that saw them enter administration.

McCall told talkSPORT Radio: "It's a real achievement, finishing third - the best of the rest. We're never going to get near Rangers and Celtic - nobody is at this moment of time.

"We've played the Old Firm seven times this season and lost every game, but in the other 29 we've only lost four, so the consistency of the lads in the other games has been outstanding.

"It's been a great achievement by a small amount of players - they've been terrific. They're only a small bunch but they're together and, along with the backroom staff and everyone else that works here, it's been a collective effort rather than individuals."