LONG ROAD TO REDEMPTION

CHRIS LONG will be lucky to earn a kind word from Stephen Robinson any time soon, never mind win his place back in the Motherwell team after serving a self-inflicted suspension.

Long’s 37th-minute dismissal landed Robinson and his weary, injuryravaged ranks in bother yesterday.

They emerged with a hard-fought draw, leapfrogged Aberdeen and now have the opportunity on Tuesday night to stretch their third-place advantage to four points at home to St Mirren in a rearranged fixture.

That positive outcome probably spared Long a public upbraiding from his manager, who flipped the story of his upset at the striker into pride in the 10 men he left behind.

When asked if Long was disappointed in himself, Robinson replied: ‘I’d like to think so’.

And invited to say if the forward had apologised to his colleagues, the Fir Park boss said: ‘I haven’t asked. I’m concentrating on those boys who were very good for me.’

A feisty and frantic Lanarkshire derby opening hinted that both teams finishing with the full complement of players was a long shot.

And with Long seemingly on the lookout for as much trouble as possible, the inevitable red card arrived before half-time.

Johnny Hunt was first to meet the disapproval of referee Colin Steven when chopping down Rolando Aarons before Mark O’Hara followed him into the book when upending David Templeton.

Templeton’s quick feet and movement had been causing the Motherwell defence anxious moments in behind the front pair of David Moyo and Marios Ogkmpoe.

But he was drifting deep into midfield to gather possession with his back to goal when Long lashed out with a poor foul from behind.

That was entirely worthy of a booking and, thanks to the folly of the striker picking up a needless yellow for dissent earlier when booting the ball away, Motherwell were forced to play the remaining 53 minutes without him.

Robinson said: ‘It’s a red card. I’m really disappointed about it. The other boys were excellent, they dug in and should’ve had three points.

‘They were ever so disciplined and gave everything. The players have pulled Chris Long out of the mire. We were organised and back to our defensive best after the St Mirren, lets say, excitement.

‘We’re really positive about this performance, and the second half and extra time from the last game, so we feel we’ve turned a corner.’

Long’s inclusion from the start helped freshen up a side that had lost on penalties to exit the Scottish Cup following that 4-4 thriller with St Mirren on Tuesday.

Accies boss Brian Rice didn’t need any more selection setbacks for his return to the dugout for the first time since his five-match SFA suspension but Scott McMann calling off ill was the latest blow to their bid to stave off relegation.

Rice watched Hamilton enjoy the bulk of the ball without drawing Mark Gillespie into enough action.

Moyo leapt at the back post to meet Hunt’s cross and was rewarded with a bruising clash with the woodwork as his header sailed over.

Long then left his team-mates in the lurch and at the mercy of the occasional sleet storms to blow in on the Fountain Of Youth Stadium.

Tony Watt couldn’t power in a header from Allan Campbell’s cross to trouble Luke Southwood.

Accies were reduced to shots from long distance in their pursuit of making the personnel advantage count, Templeton going close three times from over 20 yards out.

Lewis Smith and 17-year-old Andy Winter were charged with regaining possession as the home side adjusted to Motherwell’s second half set-up — and conjuring the killer ball through a crowded penalty box.

Smith’s persistence opened up space for Scott Martin to run into, only for the journey into unfamiliar territory to end in a sidefoot shot steered wide.

Despite all that probing and endeavour, Accies were grateful to their goalkeeper for salvaging the draw in injury time.

Liam Polworth was slipped in by Liam Donnelly and Southwood sprang from his line to save.

The draw moves Accies to within a point of St Mirren, who are in the sanctuary of 10th place but Rice’s men have played two games more.

‘I felt that was two points dropped,’ said Rice. ‘I felt as though we were the better team, even at 11 versus 11.

‘I think we did enough to win the game. We are decimated right now. See my team, my bench? That’s all I’ve got available at the club.

‘Scott McMann called off ill this morning, we’ve four attacking players out. We did everything we could with what we have available. I think they gave it everything and responded brilliantly because that’s all we had.’