Stephen puts his trust in squad
Well ready to go deep on all fronts
The Steelmen reached the quarter-final in a hard fought clash courtesy of a first-half strike from Danny Johnson in his first start for Well.
The former Gateshead frontman pounced on 24 minutes to connect with a low cross from strike partner Curtis Main and seal a crucial win a f ter two lea g ue defeat s against Hibs and Hamilton.
Had it not been for ex-Rangers keeper Liam Kelly, who pulled off a string of super first-half stops, Motherwell might even have won by more although Livi also pushed hard at the Tony Macaroni.
Robinso’s side reached both domestic finals last season and hopes the new depth in his squad can help them fight better on all fronts. He said: “There was never any panic from me.
“If you looked at our injury list from last year we couldn’t have coped with t h a t , we wouldn’t have won this game.
“We’ve strengthened and we were able to rest Allan Campbell who’d looked jaded after only a week’s rest in the summer.
“I genuinely believe that has stood us in good stead. Of course we can kick start our season from now. We’ve lost two league games but we’re in the next round.
“It was a super, battl ing performance from my players. The lads put a real shift in.
“We had chances to win the game more comfortably but I was pleased with Danny, who real ly is a goalscorer. No mat ter the combination I put him in, he looks like he’s going to find the net. “
The first quarter of the match provided more entertainment than the entire game at the Tony Macaroni the week previously when Livi and Kilmarnock fought out a drab goalless draw.
In the first two minutes alone, Steven Lawless forced a fine save at one end before Johnson brought out a super stop from Kelly.
Kelly emerged as Livi’s most influential player in the first half, although he could do little about a 25 yard shot from Johnston that cracked his right hand post. He made a stunning instinctive stop to deny Curtis Main’s header off an Elliot Frear corner and also twisted his body to deny the striker inside the six- yard box, again after fine work from Frear.
Livi were hardly sitting back in admiration and Kenny Miller set up namesake Lee on the right but he poked his shot inches wide. And Trevor Carson also did brilliantly to push a Craig Halkett header over.
Player- boss Miller also came close with a volley superbly touched over the top by Carson but a lack of a cut ting edge in at tack ultimately cost Livingston dear.
An opening goal was inevitable and it duly arrived in 24 minutes after Main took advantage of hesitancy in the Livi rearguard to cross for Johnson, who directed a sweet half-volley on the turn into the net from 12 yards.
The second hal f was less enthral ling , a lthough sub Campbell jinked past two Livi defenders before cracking a shot off the base of the post.
Livi enjoyed their fair share of possession but the Well held firm to keep alive hopes of reaching the final for the second year in a row. Motherwell fans love to hate the whistler as do followers of most clubs but he used his man management skills to good effect to keep a firm control of the game.
Got most of the major calls correct without ever reaching for a card which was a good reflection on his performance.
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