TALKING MOTHERWELL Robbo urges Steelmen to do it for goal hero McHugh
STEPHEN ROBINSON has urged Motherwell to get to the Scottish Cup final for suspended skipper Carl McHugh after his wonder strike sent his team into the last four.
The Steelmen looked destined for a replay at Tynecastle with Hearts as the game ebbed away in the closing minutes with the score sitting at 1-1.
But with just three minutes to play the Irishman popped up 25 yards out and rifled an incredible 25 yard right-foot volley high into the top corner.
McHugh was soon buried under a pile of bodies in celebration, a scene that would be repeated just moments later as Fir Park welcomed the final whistle.
The Well skipper was booked earlier in the match for a foul on Harry Cochrane, meaning he’ll be sitting in the stand when Motherwell go to Hampden next month.
But his manager last night called on the rest of the dressing room to turn on the style and seal a second final of the season for their captain.
Robinson: “Did I see the goal coming? On Carl’s right foot? No!
“He was excellent again for us. He maybe doesn’t get all the plaudits but what he does in front of the back four is excellent.
“Unfortunately he is going to miss the semi-final after picking up a booking. That is a travesty for the boy.
“Now we have to make sure we get to the final to give him his just rewards.”
In the end, Motherwell did enough to deserve their semi-final spot. While the second half forced them to hang in, the intensity of their play and dyna-
Fmism up front was a constant struggle for Hearts to deal with. In 2018 the Lanarkshire side have only lost two of their 10 games, and that form drove them on yesterday.
While not a great advert for the beautiful game in its purist sense, this rip-roaring cup tie was a captivating spectacle filled with blood, snotters, controversy and a refereeing performance from Andrew Dallas that managed to infuriate both sets of fans. No mean feat.
It started on just three minutes as he disallowed a Mother- well goal when Chris Cadden poked the ball out of the single hand of Jon McLaughlin to send the ball trundling into the net. It appeared just about the right l.cal OUR minutes later and the breakthrough came in the most bizarre fashion. Young Ross Callachan will still be having nightmares visualising Craig Tanner’s in swinging corner to the near post that he, for whatever reason, decided to move out the way of. Hearts keeper Jon McLaughlin could only shin the ball on to the post and along the line, with Curtis Main pouncing to make it 1-0.
Callachan never emerged for the second half as Hearts emerged reenergised, and when Cedric Kipre brought down Steven Naismith in the box, the momentum switch to the visitors with Kyle Lafferty converting from the spot. He would hit the post a minute later and also be denied superbly by Trevor Carson soon after.
However, Motherwell would not be denied what is their fourth trip to the national stadium courtesy of Mr McHugh.
“I’m gutted to miss the semifinal but it’s not about me, it’s about the boys,” said McHugh. “We’re so happy to be going back to Hampden, and we’ve got plenty of boys who can come in and do a great job in the semi-final.
“I’m more than confident that they can get us through to a final again, and that the important thing. It’s all about the club and the team, it’s not about me.”