DODGING DROP IS NOTHING TO SHOUT ABOUT
MOTHERWELL v KILMARNOCK Robinson insists there will be no party if Well finish third bottom
9 14 13 34 51 41 9 13 14 43 55 40 37 10 7 19 38 56 9 8 19 41 65 35 6 14 16 31 53 32 5 13 18 39 69 28 Kilmarnock ..... 36 Ross County... 36 Dundee ............ 36 Motherwell ..... 36 Hamilton ......... 36 Inverness CT .. 36 different class. He’s been a great professional, brilliant for young boys to look up to.
“He’s going to have a little dip at times when he’s not feeling good as he’s not been playing.
“But for him to come back in and produce that was brilliant.
“It just shows you how hard he works off the pitch. I’m delighted for him. With the attitude he’s got, even with the game time he’s missed, he’s still a winner.”
McCulloch is relieved Killie have secured their top-flight safety and travel to his old club Motherwell tonight who are fighting for the lives at the bottom.
He said: “There will be no complacency shown.
“It’s always a good place to go with familiar faces but we’re going there to get a result. We’re not going to roll over.” MOTHERWELL boss Steve Robinson insists his team won’t celebrate if they avoid relegation – because it’s nothing to be proud of.
But he admitted if the Fir Park club stay out of the bottom two it will be job done this season.
The Northern Irishman took over from Mark McGhee in March when the club were in the relegation play-off berth.
Robinson revealed it wasn’t an easy decision as he feared being the man responsible for taking the Steelmen into the Championship.
The Lanarkshire side’s Premiership survival hopes received a massive shot in the arm on Saturday as they defeated local rivals Hamilton 1-0 at New Douglas Park courtesy of Louis Moult’s 18th goal of the season.
The victory moved Well three points clear of 11th-placed Accies with two games to go.
Robinson’s men face Kilmarnock tonight knowing that if his side win and Hamilton lose or draw to Ross County in Dingwall then the Steelmen will be safe.
But Robinson reckons being third bottom of the Premiership is no cause for celebration.
He said: “I definitely didn’t want to be the man who took them down. It was something that crossed my mind when the job was offered. That would’ve gone down on my CV no matter what, whether I was partly to blame for it or wholly to blame for it.
“We’d won once in 10 and conceded 27 goals so there were problems. The team was second bottom so they weren’t having a super season.
“I was confident I could turn this round, though, and we’re taking steps towards that. The Hamilton game was a relief.
“Psychologically, it was a massive lift. We emerged unscathed and with our heads held high. It’s more about the results at the MOTHERWELL will make last-minute decisions on three players tonight.
Steven Hammell is a doubt (burst blood vein), Elliot Frear is also struggling and David Ferguson picked up a knock against Hamilton.
Stephen Pearson, Stephen moment anyway. We’ve put in some good performances and dominated possession against decent sides in recent games but not taken a point.
“I’d rather have one per cent possession and win the match.
“There was never a problem with the morale or atmosphere around the place because the boys have been right behind what we were doing. You could see that with the running on Saturday.
“Craig Clay got six stitches in a head wound then came straight back on and that’s the kind of desire you need.
“At the end we didn’t celebrate because being third bottom means you haven’t had a great season but there was relief.”
Amazingly Motherwell have failed to register back-to-back Premiership wins McManus, Richard Tait (groin) and Jacob Blyth (ankle), Ross MacLean (shoulder) and Jack McMillan (wrist) miss out.
Killie’s Kris Boyd sits out the final two games after knee surgery. Scott Boyd (foot) and Rory McKenzie (knee) are out but Greg Taylor returns.
Motherwell squad: Kilmarnock squad: all season and Robinson reckons tonight would be the perfect time to address that situation against Killie.
He said: “There’s been no consistency or momentum and that’s why we are where we are – but this would be the perfect time to start.
“Kilmarnock will come with a more relaxed attitude, which will help their decision-making.
“They won’t be bothered about making mistakes and you could see on Saturday that our lads were – they were frightened at times but that’s human nature.
“We have to cope with that pressure but we’re just focused on starting brightly and taking the game to them.”
On-loan Everton keeper Russell Griffiths made his second start for the Steelmen in the derby crunch, earning his first clean sheet and playing a vital role in securing the win with a crucial save from Hamilton hitman Alex D’Acol.
Griffiths said: “I was happy to make that save from D’Acol. It gave me a lot of confidence.
“It was nervy coming in last week but making a save like that helps your confidence and it was great to go on and get three points.
“We need to finish strong and another clean sheet against Kilmarnock would be lovely.”
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