Well boss happy to do it all over again
ST MIRREN 1
Jakubiak (74)
MOTHERWELL 1
O’Hara (21)
Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson believes his team are lacking only one thing – a finishing touch.
The Steelmen created a host of chances against St Mirren, but had to settle for a cup replay after failing to kill off the tie.
Mark O’Hara put the Lanarkshire men ahead with his first goal for the club and should have got a second to seal a victory.
Although most managers prefer to progress at the first time of asking, Robinson was satisfied with the outcome.
The manner of the performance really pleased him.
One gamble that didn’t pay off for the visitors was electing to play with the wind from kick-off.
He said: “That turned out to be a good decision! We thought we’d take advantage of the wind and it might disappear.
“It definitely didn’t. It got stronger as the day went on and ruined the game as a spectacle in the second half.
“The conditions were so difficult for the players but they showed great character.
“I thought we were decent in the first half and better in the second, when the wind was against us.
“Mark O’Hara and Liam Donnelly had great chances to win it.
“We’re delighted to still be in the hat and taking the replay back to Fir Park. We have to be the happier of the sides.”
Motherwell took the lead with a move that had a slight air of good fortune about it in the build-up.
Saints’ defender Lee Hodson, who went off with a hamstring injury in the second half, managed to divert a forward pass into the path of Chris Long.
His shot was parried by Hladky and Mark O’Hara stepped forward to lash home the loose ball.
Watching it hit the net delighted Robinson.
He hasn’t been used to going too long without a victory this season, so losing against Livingston and Celtic last week had clearly been hard to take.
The Northern Irishman was an animated figure in front of the dugout and, but for the cautionary words of fourth official Kevin Clancy, he would have been chasing balls down the touchline.
The Steelmen are sitting third in the table but the glory of a cup run still gets the blood flowing.
An injection of cash that comes with it also does no harm.
Motherwell aren’t doing too badly for finance after selling James Scott to Hull City for £1.5 million last month.
The teenager watched his former team-mates from the stand yesterday.
He’s currently on crutches after suffering a freak ankle injury in training.
He was badly missed in recent matches, but the men in claret and amber looked a more potent attacking force in Paisley.
On-loan Newcastle winger Rolando Aarons looks like he’s getting to grips with the rough and tumble of Scottish football.
His running down the right helped create a number of chances for the Buddies and forced Hladky into several decent saves.
The Paisley men had started the tie in fine style and a Durmus shot came back off the post after just five minutes.
Their problem is hitting the net and you can see why they’re the lowest scorers in Scotland’s top flight with just 20 goals.
One of their strikers going on a scoring streak could really transform St Mirren’s season.
The growing storm didn’t make it easy for Jim Goodwin’s men to create openings after the break but they found an equaliser.
Alex Jakubiak’s shot took a slight deflection as it went from right to left across the penalty area and sneaked inside the post.
It was the on-loan Watford man’s first goal for Saints in his third appearance for the club.
His link-up play looked good and this showing will have pleased the home fans. They’ll be even happier if he gets a winner in the replay on February 18.