Robinson goes from critic to Mr Positive

MOTHERWELL manager Stephen Robinson has adopted a more positive approach since his critical analysis of their defeat by Hearts. Robinson warned after their Betfred Cup exit that some players would not play for him for long if they failed to learn the basics. But he has built his players back up ahead of today’s Lanarkshire derby at Hamilton and called for perspective. ‘Obviously, we have to point out where people have made mistakes and it was simple things we got punished for,’ said Robinson, who will assess his squad after a sickness bug hit Fir Park. ‘But up until the Hearts game, everyone had been singing our praises, how well we had done, even against Celtic. ‘So it’s one game and we need to put that into perspective. ‘It’s a very young squad of players who are going to learn. Players respond to encouragement and people being positive, not being negative. ‘Yes, we talked to them after that game. We showed them things they can be better at. ‘And from then it’s been constant encouragement and positivity — and that has shown in the training performances. ‘It doesn’t make them poor players after one poor performance. They have to be reminded of that because confidence is everything.’ Robinson called for more bravery after the Hearts defeat and knows they will need it against Accies. ‘I have never seen a good game on any artificial pitch, so I’m not expecting it to be a great spectacle of football,’ he said. ‘It will be physical, it always is, and we’ve got people who are up for that. But being brave also means getting the ball down and playing.’