MCGINNWARY OF SAINTSTEST
Ex-Buddie knows Robbo will fire up his troops
Paul McGinn insists Stephen Robinson will make sure the Buddies have bouncebackability.
The Motherwell defender is preparing to welcome old club St Mirren to Fir Park tomorrow as Premiership action returns.
It will be Saints’ first game since their spectacular 5-2 defeat to Kilmarnock at Rugby Park when they conceded all five goals in the space of 18 crazy minutes.
The Buddies are fifth in the table – six points clear of Dundee who sit just outside the top six but have a game in hand.
Motherwell need to win all three of their remaining presplit fixtures to have any chance of a top-six spot and are reeling themselves following a 1-0 loss to Aberdeen a fortnight ago.
McGinn believes this Easter weekend’s showdown will be decided by who shows more resilience – and is wary of the threat posed by Robbo’s troops.
In an interview with our sister title, the Wishaw Press, the 33-year-old said: “St Mirren had a bit of a sore one so I’m hoping we are the ones that react better than they do.
“Stephen won’t let them not react to being in such a good position and letting it fall away.
“They will come flying out so we need to make sure we don’t start slowly again like we did against Aberdeen.
“If we don’t start like that again, I think we will be alright.”
Saints will be back in Ralston today for their final tune-up ahead of the journey to North Lanarkshire.
Six of the Buddies’ firstteam squad – defenders Elvis Bwomono and Alex Gogic, midfielders Keanu Baccus, Conor McMenamin and Caolan Boyd-Munce and striker Jonah Ayunga – have all been away on international duty.
After facing ‘Well, Robinson’s men take on Hearts at the SMiSA Stadium before a date with Celtic.
Finishing in the top half of the table is now very much a long shot for the Steelmen as they trail sixth-placed Hibernian by six points with only nine to play for.
McGinn says their results haven’t been good enough.
He added: “The top six was a bit of a long shot for us. But we’ve not been consistent enough to even warrant that this season.
“Ideally, we go and win the next three and look for a bit of luck but it looks like Hibs have turned a bit of a corner and even Dundee can be a threat.”