Robinson: No point dwelling on penalty call
Stephen Robinson refused to join in the conspiracy theories swirling around Scottish football despite a penalty call going against his side at Pittodrie yesterday. Motherwell winger Elliott Frear hit the deck under a challenge from Aberdeen defender Andrew Considine midway through the first half with referee Nick Walsh waving away claims for a spot kick.
The official’s assertion was that Considine won the ball but pictures seemed to back up the Fir Park player’s claims that he should have been given a penalty.
Frear didn’t exactly cover himself in glory, booked for diving in an attempt to win a spot kick late on.
But while Motherwell chief executive Alan Burrows was among those calling for VAR to be introduced last week, his manager was much more emollient regarding yesterday’s incident.
“There is no point in me talking about it, there is no chance it will get turned around,” said Robinson.
“I haven’t seen anything back on television yet and someone also said there could have been a handball at the end by Scott Mckenna.
“I would like to see that one again but there is no point dwelling on it. I can only focus on the things I can control.
“Being more creative and having a goal threat is something we can control.”
The single-goal defeat leaves Motherwell firmly in the bottom half of the table and they have certainly struggled for goals at times this season.
The absence of Curtis Main, at the birth of his daughter Milana, didn’t help but he will be back for the Betfred Cup quarter-final away to Hearts on Wednesday. Robinson is hoping the striker is not the only one who will be back to top form at Tynecastle after a disappointing performance at Pittodrie.
“I thought we started the game poorly but there wasn’t much in the game. It is hard to chase the game here against a good side.
“We lacked the creativity in the final third and lacked a bit of belief up there, I felt.
“Curtis Main’s wife had a baby yesterday so he was touch-and-go, so we made the decision for him because he was at the hospital.
“We decided he should stay with his family. It was a late call and I think we missed him for his pace and physicality. “We need to get back to doing what we have done before, being physical.
“You can’t feel sorry for yourself, we have a big game in midweek.”