It’s now win at all costs for Steelmen
FOR all the anxiety that comes with entering an international break still winless and rooted at the bottom of the table, the past fortnight has at least allowed Stephen Robinson to shine a light on the error of his side’s ways.
Delivering a synopsis of what must change ahead of today’s visit of St Johnstone will not have detained the Motherwell manager for quite so long.
The identity of the team as an eye-pleasing, passing oufit will remain unchanged. But a return of the ruthlessness in both boxes that characterised its various incarnations over the past three years is now non-negotiable.
‘We’ve tried to instil a little bit of mentality where you win at all costs as it doesn’t always have to be pretty,’ he explained.
‘We won’t be binning the way we like to play. I want to keep the ball on the ground and build the game.
‘But there also has to be a realism that what you do the six-yard box and 18-yard box at both ends wins you football matches.
‘What you do in those areas is key to everything. The rest is pretty patterns around it. It’s important we add that mentality.
‘We’ve had numerous corners that we’ve not made contact with to score goals. There have been times when people have lost individual battles in that 18-yard box.’
Robinson took the team to two cup finals in his first full season at Fir Park with a brand of football that unashamedly and purposefully got in the faces of their opponents.
Having finished third in the Premiership last season with a more refined approach, the manager deserved no little credit for overseeing an evolution with no adverse consequences for results.
The nagging concern after six league matches without a victory is that the pendulum has swung too far in one direction. A compromise has to be found.
‘We’ve found that teams sit in against us and try and play on the counter or for set-plays, which is a respect to us in terms of the ability of the team,’ said Robinson.
‘But also we need to win football matches. We have to add a little bit of both into that scenario of playing good football but having that steely determination to win matches.
‘We went from being a real physical side that got results to be being a good footballing side that got them.
‘There has to be a mix in between. It’s about having the know-how.
‘I look at the Celtic game and someone like Scott Brown knows when to bring somebody down.
‘It’s also knowing how to manage the game — when to slow it down and when to speed it up.
‘It’s been a little bit predictable and we have to make sure we mix it up at times as well.’
Even at home, St Johnstone would be no one’s idea of the kind of soft-landing Motherwell need right now. Callum Davidson’s side were devoid of all luck as they lost to Aberdeen and Hibs but completely dominated St Mirren last time out. The consensus is that the Perth men have now clicked.
‘It’s a difficult game,’ warned Robinson. ‘Callum (Davidson) has done well. They’ve played some good football, got some decent results and have players who can hurt you.
‘Like every game in the Premiership, it’s tough. We have no given right to beat teams.
‘There was maybe a misconception within the press and people outside the game that we should just turn up and win. That just doesn’t happen.
‘Every game is extremely tough at this level. We’ve no divine right. That’s probably what I’m talking about — we’ve played well in lots of games, we’ve had possession stats that have been excellent, the third most shots in the league. But there has to be an end product.
‘We need a little break. I’ll take an ugly 1-0 win that we don’t pass that ball and have one per cent of the possession. That would be great. It gets you on the road again and perception changes very quickly. Football can turn around very quickly.’
Liam Donnelly won’t be back until February after undergoing surgery while Scott Fox goes under the knife next week.
But Robinson has been boosted by the return to full fitness of Nathan McGinley, with the former Middlesbrough trainee set to restore some balance to the side.
‘We managed to get a reserve game into him over the break,’ he said. ‘Hopefully, that solves a problem on the left side.
‘I’ve played Stephen O’Donnell and Liam Grimshaw out there and both did well but there’s not a natural left foot out there. ‘Nathan is a very good player and the fans will start to see the best of him if he gets a run in the team and stays injury free. He’ll be a big bonus for us if he starts.’
Callum Lang (left) is available to partner Chris Long up front, with Robinson’s strikeforce beginning to resemble the Motherwell branch of the Everton Supporters Club. ‘Normally when I’ve played with a lot of Scousers before they’ve been Liverpool fans, so it’s a nice change,’ said Lang. ‘It’s nice to be playing with another Blue.
‘It’s exciting times at Everton. They’ve made a statement with the signings they’ve made. I look forward to watching their game (at Tottenham) on Sunday, but we need to get a result on Saturday first and that will make it an even better weekend.
‘The lads in the changing room support a few different teams. I know Longy likes a little bet with Charles Dunne because he supports Arsenal.
‘I’ve supported Everton since I was a kid, so it would be nice to see them push on to get back to where they used to be.’