Short debut for new boy Long
Long lasts ten seconds but ‘Well strike three late
QUEENS 0 - 3 MOTHERWELL Stephen Robinson insists Chris Long will bounce back from his painful introduction to Scottish football after his Motherwell debut lasted just 10 seconds.
Second- half goals from Liam Donnelly and summer recruits Sherwin Seedorf and Jermaine Hylton earned the Steelmen the win at Palmerston.
But it was a day to forget for exBlackpool hitman Long who was hit in the head by a Darren Brownlie clearance as he tried to close down on the edge of Queens’ box.
Well boss Robinson reckons he will now miss Friday night’s visit of Morton.
He said: “Chris took a sore one. He won’t be involved on Friday now because of it.
“I’m not sure if he was knocked out cold.
“He seems fine but we won’t take any chances with him.
“He won’t forget that debut but I’m sure he will have a proper one next time.”
Well started four new summer signings with Declan Gallagher, Jake Carroll and Devante Cole joining Long who was soon replaced by teenager James Scott.
The youngster had Motherwell’s best chance of the first half, being sprung in behind the Queen’s defence.
But goalkeeper Robby Mccrorie was alert and quick to get out and block the shot at source.
The hosts also carved out chances. A goalbound strike from Connor Murray was blocked at close quarters by Liam Donnelly.
Shouts went up for handball, but referee Don Robertson was unmoved.
Stephen Dobbie also had a shot from close range as the half wore on, finding Mark Gillespie alert to save.
It took 10 minutes in the second half for Motherwell’s best chance to that point.
Semple’s corner from the left was flat and guided, and met by Charles Dunne.
His header crashed off the crossbar and, with it still shaking, Donnelly’s headed rebound was nodded off the line.
Jermaine Hylton and Sherwin Seedorf were introduced early and the former had a big penalty shout with 22 minutes remaining.
The referee ruled he had been hacked down outside the box, however, and the subsequent free kick went to waste.
The deadlock was then broken. Hylton was felled in the box, and Liam Donnelly stepped up to fire home the first goal of the season.
The dam then burst, with the new boys at the heart of it with five minutes to go.
Seedorf burst in from the left, before smashing the ball into the net for his first professional goal.
Then, in stoppage time, Hylton made room and fired an unstoppable effort into the top corner from 25 yards.
Motherwell now take on Greenock Morton in their first competitive game of the season at Fir Park this Friday evening.
And Robinson is champing at the bit to get the club’s home form off to a flier this campaign.
He added: “It was a pleasing result as it’s a very difficult place to come to.
“A hot day and an astroturf pitch isn’t great so it was a real difficult surface to play on.
“They made it very difficult for us in the first half and probably had the better of the chances.
“We weren’t patient enough but the second half I thought we were excellent at times.
“Our pace and energy was good and then the options of the two boys we bring on off the bench. We’ve got real invention and pace to bring on.
“Both of the new boys ( Jermaine Hylton and Sherwin Seedorf ) need a wee bit more fitness-wise.
“Devante (Cole) got another 60 minutes, Christian (Ilic) is just in the door but he got 60 minutes.
“They didn’t light the place up but to learn to be patient. We don’t need to go straight at their defence.” Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson has told Davidturnbull to turn his summer horror on its head and imagine just how good he’ll be after he overcomes the injury that scuppered a move to Celtic.
The former Coltness High midfielder’s £3milllion switch to Parkhead collapsed when a scan discovered a slight tear behind his knee that could have gone unnoticed throughoutturnbull’s career – or developed into a far more serious problem.
The 20-year-old has undergone preventative surgery to fix the issue, which had never caused him any pain nor presented itself, and it is hoped he will be back playing before the end of the year.
Turnbull hit 15 league goals after breaking into the Motherwell team in October last year so Robinson is excited about the prospect of the midfielder returning with a new lease of life.
He said:“david’s on the road to recovery.
“It was a big surprise to everybody.we thought we had lost a top footballer.
“We had to get the operation done, his health is more important than anything.
“Hopefully we will get the true value out of him on the pitch and the true value of what we believe he is worth in a few months’time.
“The operation has been a massive success and David will be back.you don’t lose your ability.
“I said to him: Imagine how good you’re going to be now!”
In other news Croatian winger Christian Ilić became Robinson’s ninth recruit of the summer.
The versatile 22-year-old is comfortable on either flank and signed a one year contract with the club.
Robinson added:“christian brings us another pacy option to play anywhere across the forward three. He’s already got top flight experience in a strong league and has impressed us with his ability on the ball.”