Back to business says Well gaffer
Robbo’s transfer activity not over after Hampden win
Queen’s Park ............1 Motherwell ...............5 Michael Temlett at Hampden Park
Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson watched his side survive a minor first-half scare against Queen’s Park and insisted his transfer business is far from over.
It had been 60 years since Queen’s Park defeated Motherwell at Hampden and despite the hosts pegging Well back there was never a danger of a shock on a miserably wet day at the National Stadium.
Goals from Chris Cadden, Craig Tanner, Louis Moult and a Ryan Bowman double sealed the points in the opening Betfred League Cup match after Adam Cummins netted for the Spiders.
It was a potential banana skin which was avoided by the Steelmen and Robinson was thrilled to get through the match unscathed.
He said: “Those games are always difficult and it was never going to be easy.
“We corrected a few things at half-time and you could see a massive difference and it’s a pleasing start.
“We made an offer for Bira (Dembele) but we have got people who can fill in at the back like Carl McHugh and Charles Dunne when he gets fit.
“We have enough cover there but I Five goals and three points is a solid start to anyone’s season regardless of who they are playing. think maybe at the top end of the pitch, in the wide areas, will maybe be what we’re looking at but we’ll see.” It took only nine minutes to break the deadlock when Alex Fisher beautifully chested the ball into Cadden’s path and he slotted past William Muir. The Steelmen were pegged back on 23 minutes though as Cummins bundled the ball over the line for the Spiders’ first goal against Well in 38 years. A David Galt free- kick was sent towards Cummins who headed at Trevor Carson who parried the ball out only for Cummins to react quickest to the rebound and equalise. But the rest of the first half fizzled out without neither side creating any clearcut chances. There were some boos from the away end at half-time which seemed a bit poor considering the season was only 45 minutes old. But the travelling Well fans had reason to cheer eight minutes into the second period as Tanner restored their lead. The debutant won the ball on the edge of the box, played a neat one-two with Gael Bigirimana and calmly netted to make it 2-1. With over 15 minutes to go, it was After going a goal up so early on, Well looked sluggish up until half-time, but sharpness will come. all over as substitute Bowman beat the offside trap, connected with a Carl McHugh ball and rounded the keeper to make it 3-1.
Well fans were on their feet two minutes later to cheer on Moult as he replaced Richard Tait.
And the feelgood factor continued as Bowman added a second with an exquisite chip over home stopper Muir from the edge of the box.
Moult himself got in on the action despite being on the park for less than 10 minutes with a brilliant free-kick to cap off a five-star second-half showing.
Robinson, who agreed to let Craig Clay leave the club, said of Moult: “Louis is a Motherwell player at the moment and I’m optimistic he’ll remain that way until someone puts a bid in which is acceptable.” Ryan Bowman claims he is finally ready to make his mark at Motherwell and challenge fans’ favourite Louis Moult.
After only netting twice last season – in the 7-2 defeat against Aberdeen and a late strike in a 3-2 loss against Inverness – the Englishman registered two on Saturday.
He said:“It’s always nice to score as a striker, especially with only scoring two goals last season and they were two goals that meant nothing really. I’m really enjoying it this year.
“It’s a fresh start. The manager has brought in a couple of new strikers.
“There was competition last year and there’s even more this year, with Moulty coming back and he’s the fans’hero, but I’ve started well so hopefully it continues and gives the boss something to think about.”
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