The Scotsman

Robinson frustrated but stresses: ‘We won’t be pressing panic buttons’

- By STEPHEN HALLIDAY

Mother well manager Stephen Robinson insists his team’s early-season form is not a cause for major concern and is confident they will soon turn their fortunes around.

Sunday’s 3-0 defeat against Celtic at Parkhead left the Fir Park club at the bottom of the Premiershi­p table, having picked up just two points from their first six matches.

But Robinson is determined to remain calm as he reshapes the squad which finished best of there st behind the Old Firm last season.

“It’s not an unusual situation losing games with Motherwell,” he said. “I have been here plenty of times before.

“People keep judging us on last season but it’s a different squad with different people.

“Yes, of course the frustratio­n is we haven’t got points on the board, I can’ t hide away from that.

“But there’s been things I think have been fairly good which gives me the confidence that we will turn it around. I look at other teams last season that didn’t start particular­ly well and finished top six and there’s no reason why we can’ t turn it around. We certainly won’t be pressing any panic buttons.”

Robinson lost key midfielder David Turnbull when he completed his £3.25 million move to Celtic in midweek, the 21-year- old an unused substitute for the champions against Motherwell.

“I am not dismissing it as a start to the season I’m happy with,” added Robinson.

“Performanc­es, on the whole, I have been happier with than people might think. But I am judged on getting results and winning matches and at this moment in time we are not doing that.

“I don’t think we will get judged on today’s game but after the internatio­nal break we have games where I think we can win and start getting a little run together.”

Robinson was encouraged by aspects of his team’s display against Celtic.

“We set up really well in the first half and denied them a lot of space which frustrated them,” he said. “Probably for the first time this season, we played on the counter attack which suits us. We had actually had good possession of the ball just before Celtic’s first goal but gave it away.

“When you’ve got the quality they have, they break and punish us and that changes your own team talk at halftime.

“We would have sat in and waited for the last ten minutes and then try and come out and get something. Celtic changed to 3-5-2 at the start of the second half and they were in total control of the game. Ultimately the second goal kills us. Two out of three goals, we have good possession of the ball and that’ s probably the most frustratin­g thing.”

 ??  ?? 0 David Turnbull, right, who switched from Motherwell to Celtic last week, warms up with Jeremie Frimpong. Turnbull was an unused sub yesterday and will need to wait to make his debut.
0 David Turnbull, right, who switched from Motherwell to Celtic last week, warms up with Jeremie Frimpong. Turnbull was an unused sub yesterday and will need to wait to make his debut.
 ??  ?? STEPHEN ROBINSON “I am judged on getting results and we are not doing that”
STEPHEN ROBINSON “I am judged on getting results and we are not doing that”

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