McGINN PINPOINTS MANAGER ROBINSON AS MOTHERWELL’S REAL DANGER MAN
WHILE physical power is often highlighted as Motherwell’s prime attribute, Niall McGinn reckons the meticulous mind of Stephen Robinson might be the biggest threat to Aberdeen reaching a second successive Scottish Cup final.
McGinn gained an insight into Robinson’s tactical talents when the Fir Park manager was part of Michael O’Neill’s backroom team with Northern Ireland.
That admiration has been further strengthened by watching the 43-year-old’s impressive impact on the Lanarkshire club over the past 13 months.
Robinson already has a League Cup final appearance on his record, having overcome both Aberdeen and Rangers to get there. Another domestic showpiece now beckons if he can get the better of the Pittodrie side at Hampden on Saturday.
For all his high regard of Robinson, McGinn is obviously determined to make sure that doesn’t happen.
‘I know Robbo very well — he was part of the Northern Ireland set-up under Michael O’Neill,’ said the Aberdeen winger.
‘I remember speaking to him about the play-off Motherwell won against Rangers a couple of years ago (when Robinson was assistant to Ian Baraclough) and the week building up he did nothing but shape.
‘He’s very good at getting his team playing the way he wants them to. He’s a manager who takes into consideration how he wants to play as a team but also how his team can work against the opposition.
‘In the 2-0 game at Pittodrie (in November), they came up and played a diamond and did very well. They had the 3-0 game in the League Cup, as well.
‘They’ve won two and we’ve won two this season. Whoever is better organised and takes their chances will come out on top.
‘Robbo’s a nice, calm guy and easy to get on with. Training was always very enjoyable — he leaves no stone unturned and tries to keep his players happy. Working under Michael, they’re two great guys and it showed how well we did in our performances.
‘He wasn’t a guy who kept himself to himself — he had a laugh at the right times but made sure training was at a right intensity.
‘Motherwell are a team that work very hard and have a lot of physical players. They’re tough opposition to come up against and they showed it in games against Celtic and Rangers.
‘We’re up against a very solid side who have experience of getting to a cup final this season. It figures to be a good game.’
McGinn had thought last season’s Scottish Cup final was going to be his last appearance in an Aberdeen jersey. That agonising 2-1 defeat to Celtic — determined by Tom Rogic’s stoppage-time goal — preceded the end of his contract in the northeast and a move to the Far East to South Korean club Gwangju.
That unsuccessful switch came to a premature end in November. The 30-year-old then re-joined Aberdeen a month later on a contract until 2021. ‘I’m back again and have an opportunity to get in another final, so I’m over the moon,’ added McGinn.
‘Korea didn’t work out footballwise but as an experience, I enjoyed being in another part of the world. I love being back and things have been going well.
‘After the disappointment of last season, to have the opportunity to get in another final is great. The whole build-up last year was great. With myself and others moving on, it was set up to be a special day.
‘We came up against a very good Celtic side and if we were going to have any chance on the day, we needed to get our noses in front. We did that but then probably conceded too quickly.
‘But the whole occasion was superb and as a club, we want to be amongst that as often as we can. We have a great opportunity to get there on Saturday and put right the wrongs.’
They will have to do so without the input of Graeme Shinnie, Kenny McLean and Shay Logan. All three are suspended after picking up bookings.
Manager Derek McInnes has already made it clear their absences will not be used as any kind of excuse.
While lamenting the loss of a key trio, McGinn is also confident Aberdeen can cope against opponents who have captain Carl McHugh banned.
‘We’re missing key players and so are they,’ he said. ‘It’s about showing up on the day, performing right and getting through.
‘Semi-finals in my time here haven’t been the best of games but we’ve managed to get through a couple of them. It’s about using that experience from over the last few seasons and hopefully that stands us in good stead.
‘Players like Graeme Shinnie, who have been there at Hampden and lifted the trophy (with Inverness), will be a massive loss, as will Kenny and Shay.
‘Any season the manager has been here, players have come and gone but he’s recruited very well. It probably will be a factor having that calibre of player missing but we have players who can come in.
‘This is one competition I’ve looked forward to since coming back. The boys have done well against good Championship opposition in St Mirren and Dundee United, then getting through the Kilmarnock tie we knew was going to be tough.
‘It’s a good opportunity to reach a final and we know, on our day, if we show up and perform we’re capable of getting there.’