EXIT STRATEGY
Campbell targets goals to take game to next level
AFTER three talented midfielders graduated from the Motherwell youth academy into the first team, a song to the tune of Pilot’s Magic regularly rang out across Fir Park.
Oh, ho, ho, it’s magic, you know, Hastie, Turnbull and Campbell.
Jake Hastie and David Turnbull were snapped up by Rangers and Celtic respectively, albeit Hastie is currently back at the Lanarkshire club on loan from Ibrox.
It looks increasingly likely Allan Campbell will be joining them at the end of a week in which he added explosive finishing to his impressive all-round game.
Four days on from his half-volley in Vilnius securing victory for Scotland Under-21s against Lithuania, the 22-year-old settled Saturday’s visit of St Johnstone with a goal from range.
After his side’s first league win of the season, the modest midfielder admitted he wants to be hitting the net on a more regular basis than the six he managed last term.
‘Definitely,’ he nodded. ‘I’m not shy in saying I want to improve myself and score more goals.
‘At the start of every season, I look to where I can get better. I want to add goals to my game and I’ve got two this week for Scotland and Motherwell.
‘It’s great but I will just keep my head down and keep working hard and hopefully I will get more. It has been a good week for me.’ So what was the better goal? ‘They both hit the net and that’s all that matters. I was happy with both,’ replied Campbell. ‘While I was away, the boys back here were working hard to prepare for this game. Thankfully, we put in a good performance and I was lucky enough to pop up with the goal.’
As for his goals target for the season, Campbell said: ‘I’ll keep that to myself. As long as we’re trying to do the right things and get results like today, then fine.’
There has never been a 0-0 draw between Motherwell and St Johnstone at Fir Park and it took just four minutes for that record to be kept intact.
Campbell picked up the ball in midfield, then turned brilliantly past the attentions of David Wotherspoon and Ali McCann. Driving forward, he unleashed an unstoppable low shot beyond Elliot Parish from 25 yards.
Saints nearly levelled after Ricki Lamie was short with a back pass but Michael O’Halloran’s shot from an angle was deflected behind for a corner kick.
Callum Davidson’s side were left ruing a huge miss when Callum Hendry headed wide with the goal at his mercy following an exquisite cross from Danny McNamara.
In a worryingly wasteful display from the visitors, another mistake by Lamie allowed sub Stevie May to bear down on goal. Again, the angle was tight and his shot across goal narrowly off target.
After eight minutes of stoppagetime, a poor game of football was declared over. Motherwell couldn’t care less about the aesthetics. Although Stephen Robinson’s side remain bottom of the Premiership, this first domestic victory of the season will inject confidence.
‘I definitely enjoyed that today,’ smiled Campbell. ‘It was a bit of a different performance. We didn’t play as nice as we would probably have liked but we dug deep.
‘We showed great character throughout the team. We dug in, we won second balls. It was a great team performance and we were happy with the three points.
‘We were solid and compact. We could have played more football but it’s the result that matters.
‘Any time you win a game, the atmosphere is good. The boys were buzzing in the changing room afterwards.’
The Steelmen will also be aware that two leagues are starting to form within the top flight. Outwith the top four of Rangers, Hibs, Celtic and Aberdeen, just three points separate Ross County in fifth and the Fir Park side in 12th.
‘The league is so tight,’ added Campbell. ‘We just need to make sure we keep winning games and, if we show the same attitude and desire, the results will keep coming.’
The victory was also the perfect send-off ahead of Thursday’s Europa League qualifier against Coleraine in Northern Ireland.
Managed by former St Mirren boss Oran Kearney, they pulled off a huge shock in the last round by beating NK Maribor on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Slovenia.
For Campbell, it is another step on his journey of self-discovery and he can’t wait to sample European football for the first time.
He said: ‘Any time you play in Europe it is a big deal and it’s going to be a new experience for me.
‘It will be a buzz, for sure. We just have to show the same desire, effort and work rate in Europe against Coleraine as we did today against St Johnstone.’
MOTHERWELL (3-5-2): Carson 6; Gallagher 6, Mugabi 6, Lamie 6; O’Donnell 6, Polworth 6, O’Hara 6, Campbell 7, McGinley 6 (Grimshaw 71); Lang 6, Watt 6 (White 68, Long 90).
Subs not used: Morrison, Hastie, Maguire, Seedorf, Maciver, Johnston.
Booked: O’Hara, Watt, Carson, Campbell.
ST JOHNSTONE (5-3-2): Parish 6; McNamara 6, Kerr 6, Gordon 6 (Craig 64), McCart 6, Tanser 6; McCann 6, Wotherspoon 6 (Davidson 84), Conway 6; O’Halloran 5 (May 54), Hendry 5 (Kane 54). Subs not used: Clark, Duffy, Olaofe, Rooney, Robertson.
Booked: None.
Man of the match: Allan Campbell.
Referee: Euan Anderson.