Holding on to Robinson is crucial to club’s future for Campbell
WITH one swish of his right boot, Allan Campbell ensured Motherwell remain third in the Premiership table.
But the midfielder knows his late winner against Livingston will also serve to heighten the speculation swirling around his boss.
Stephen Robinson is emerging as a managerial superhero in Lanarkshire. He is Fir Park’s very own Man of Steel, forging a side who defy budget constraints and gravity to fly high in the league.
Campbell is naturally anxious that the Northern Irishman — linked with Hearts following Craig Levein’s sacking last week — remains in situ to continue the remarkable job he is overseeing with the Steelmen.
‘He’s not got the biggest budget in the league but he’s doing a great job,’ said the 21-year-old. ‘He’s got a great staff behind him and there’s a real togetherness in our team. That shows on the park and it’s why we’re getting the results we are and doing so well in the table.
‘It’s important we keep the manager here. He’s been brilliant with me. He gave me my chance and I’m into my third season. He’s doing brilliantly this year with a great bunch of boys. Hopefully, we can keep kicking on and stake a claim for the top six.’
In an evenly-matched first half, injury-hit Livingston proved tough to break down while looking dangerous on the counter.
But all the visitors’ good work was undone within 120 seconds of the second half starting thanks to a howler from Matija Sarkic.
The visiting keeper somehow allowed a low, admittedly powerful, 20-yard shot from Christopher Long to squeeze under him and into the net.
The home side’s lead only lasted 13 minutes afwter Devante Cole fouled Scott Tiffoney in the box.
Livingston boss Gary Holt made the bold move to immediately substitute Keaghan Jacobs, and he took the ball over to the touchline to pass to his replacement, Steven Lawless. Handed the responsibility and pressure of taking the penalty with his very first touch, he smashed a fine effort high past Mark Gillespie for the equaliser.
‘I’ve never been in that position before. I wasn’t even ready to go on,’ revealed Lawless afterwards. ‘I was warming up and the gaffer shouted I was going on. It was a bit more pressure because I was just on the park but I was delighted I put the penalty away.’
It looked like this match was destined to end in a draw, which would have been a fair outcome. But Campbell had other ideas. After squandering an earlier chance, he found himself with a fine opportunity when Liam Polworth’s shot was deflected into his path. The ball fell perfectly for the youngster at the edge of the six-yard box and he made no mistake, burying it beyond Sarkic to keep Motherwell one point in front of fourth-placed Aberdeen.
The late clincher had the added blow for Livingston of knocking them out of the top six. Courtesy of a 2-2 draw at Hamilton, Ross County replaced Holt’s men in sixth place by a single point.
For Campbell, the aim is now to contribute more goals across the rest of the season.
‘I had a chance before I scored that I felt I could have done better with,’ he said. ‘But I snatched at it. So I’m glad I got another chance to get a shot in and luckily it went into the back of the net.
‘I am buzzing to get the winner. It’s my second goal of the season and that’s one thing I would like to improve about my game.
‘Hopefully I can kick on after getting this one. I will just keep working on getting runs into the box and getting shots away.
‘I don’t get any stick from my team-mates about not scoring or anything because they recognise all the work I do for the team.
‘It’s just a personal ambition to score more goals for Motherwell.
‘All in all, it’s a great win for us because it’s always a hard game against Livingston.’
Lawless challenged his teammates to get out of their slump by completing an Old Firm double next Sunday.
They have won just once in their last nine matches — a shock 2-0 triumph at home to Celtic — with Steven Gerrard’s men up next at the Tony Macaroni Arena on Sunday.
‘We just need something to go our way,’ said Lawless.
‘We play Rangers next and we’ll be looking to try to get the (three) points. If we perform, we can beat anyone at home, so that will be the aim.
‘We will try to turn it into our type of game and disrupt them.’