Robinson revels in five-star show
MOTHERWELL ARE UP AND RUNNING AT LAST
MOTHERWELL... 5 GLENTORAN.. 1
WHAT a welcome panacea this eventually proved to be for the many ills that have hampered Motherwell’s season to date.
Five goals, all of them coming in the second half, five different scorers, and a new system successfully piloted into the bargain, this comfortable progression to the second qualifying round of the Europa League might just prove to be the start of something.
For long enough, however, it threatened to be yet another extremely sticky episode.
Just as Stephen Robinson had predicted, Glentoran, the men from Belfast, were not without their qualities.
Indeed, had they not been forced to play the final 38 minutes a man light after Seanan Clucas’ senseless dismissal, they might well have tested Motherwell’s nerve.
Within six minutes of the midfielder taking the long walk, his side’s resistance was broken. From the moment Callum Lang broke their hearts with a smart conversion from close range, it was only a question of how many.
Stephen O’Donnell, Liam Polworth, Tony Watt and Chris Long punished Glentoran in a manner that will have pleased their manager no end.
A first win of the season and just a second in 16 matches eventually arrived in some style and, from Robinson’s perspective, not a moment too soon.
Life without David Turnbull began with a little experimentation — Robinson adopting a three-at-the-back formation in the hope of dominating the Irish Cup holders.
It was quickly evident this one-off tie would be no formality. Although limited in some areas, the visitors had a spark up front in Robbie McDaid, the one-time Leeds player, and defensive insurance in Gael Bigirimana, the ex-Motherwell midfielder.
Anxious to net his first goal of the campaign, Long fired an early shot from the right side of the box just beyond the far post.
Liam Grimshaw’s corner was thumped towards goal by the boot of Long. If only Bevis Mugabi hadn’t taken the sting out of it, keeper Dayle Coleing wouldn’t have been able to shovel it round the post.
Glentoran had their early moments. When Mugabi only half cleared Bigirimana’s deep free-kick, Marcus Kane fired the ball straight into Trevor Carson’s arms.
More encouragement for Mick McDermott’s men came via a Paul O’Neill strike from the edge of the box which deceived Carson after deflecting up off Declan Gallagher. Ruaidhri Donnelly’s attempt to convert O’Neill’s cross with a header then saw the home keeper smother the ball on his line.
Although O’Donnell, playing here at left wing-back, worked Coleing with a smart shot on the turn and Allan Campbell saw a close-range strike deflected over, there was little between the sides as half-time neared.
A needless early booking for Clucas aside — Ricki Lamie was fortunate not to pick up a serious injury — the first period could scarcely have gone better for the visitors. Motherwell’s poor domestic form was threatening to bleed into their first European campaign in six years.
The malaise proved hard to shift. When Polworth was barged off the ball by Chris Gallagher, Mark O’Hara spotted the ball expectantly. His effort didn’t even make it over the wall.
Seven minutes into the second half, though, the Scots were handed a numerical advantage as Clucas picked up a second booking and his marching orders for scything into O’Donnell.
Yet twice in a minute the ten men almost had the net bulging — first when O’Neill fired Chris Gallagher’s cross over the bar, then when McDaid slightly misjudged Bigirimana’s corner.
Truthfully, Motherwell’s opener just before the hour mark came out of the blue. O’Donnell hadn’t seen too much of the ball all night but he played a delightful pass round the corner to open up the Glentoran defence. Lang finished beyond Coleing with a cute flick.
With Glentoran rapidly tiring, Motherwell commendably put this one to bed in short order.
Having been the provider at the first goal, O’Donnell had no intentions of repeating the trick when a half-cleared corner landed at his feet 25 yards out.
What a strike he produced with his right foot, the ball arrowing beyond Coleing and flying in just under the bar.
After missing the target from just four yards out moments before, Long saw another shot parried by the visiting keeper. This one fell straight into the path of Polworth, who stooped to head home the third.
Glentoran were now all over the place. Watt climbed off the bench and got his name on the scoresheet with a tap-in three minutes later after Campbell had a shot saved.
Lamie struck the bar but we weren’t done yet.
Long finally got his goal by glancing Watt’s cross home.
McDaid got a consolation for the visitors by converting a 90thminute penalty but this was a good night’s work for Robinson’s side.
Monday’s draw will doubtless bring a more taxing assignment but they at least now have some wind in their sails.