HIS manager insisted they were saves he was expected to make. Mark Gillespie was simply delighted to make them.

Motherwell earned their eighth clean sheet in the league this season in Saturday's 1-0 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park and Gillespie more than played his part.

Vital stops at key moments were the difference after Jake Carroll's free-kick had given the visitors a lead to cling to.

At full-time manager Stephen Robinson complimented his goalkeeper, only adding the caveat that Gillespie was doing nothing special, merely doing his job. But the 27-year-old accepted his boss's comments and vowed to continue doing his best for the team.

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“I’m happy. It's my job at the end of the day but it was nice to contribute with some decent stops," Gillespie said. "I think from back to front we all did our jobs and we produced that bit of quality when we needed it to get a massive win in terms of the league table.

"It gives us a chance to kick on with two games to go before the break. We’ve kept 12 clean sheets now and are we happy with that. I’m pleased personally with how I am playing.

"The manager sets standards. That’s what he does. He said after the Rangers game recently that we set our standards looking at the top three now and not below us. That spreads throughout the group.

"To a man we have a good competitive squad and the manager demands everyone be at the top of his game - and that’s what we’ve got at the moment."

Gillespie has made 24 appearances so far this term which has left Trevor Carson sitting on the bench.

No mean feat, then, for the current number one, knowing he's playing ahead of a former player of the year. But selfishness doesn't come into it for Gillespie who knows one slip could cost him his place in the starting eleven. If anything the former Walsall man enjoys the competition.

"It does help to have an experienced keeper breathing down your neck," he added. "Trevor had an unbelievable season the year before I came here. There’s no denying his quality.

"He got player of the year that year the team reached two cup finals.

“Circumstances meant I got my chance but him being there keeps me on my toes. We’ve got a really good relationship and training is a high level.

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"It’s up to me to do my best every week and so far I’m happy with how I am doing. I’ve got to take credit for keeping him out of the side because it’s not easy."

The festive period brings with it a barrage of fixtures but Gillespie is all-in.

The Steelmen are on the training pitch on December 24 and Christmas Day and they'll be travelling to Dingwall to stay on Christmas night.

Anything to make sure they're as prepared as possible for their next game against Ross County on Boxing Day.

Gillespie added: "We will train Christmas Eve and Christmas Day afternoon. We will stay up there on Christmas night. It’s part and parcel of being a footballer.

"We’ve no qualms about it because we have the break coming up after that anyway. We are going to Tenerife. We came back last season and won six in a row and I think that convinced the club to do it again.

"We're not going up to Dingwall to put in a poor performance. We will be ready and professional and we will look to get three points because we want to finish in the top three now that we are here."