Hosted by Supporters Direct Scotland
Date: 18th February 2019
Sometimes holding one’s nerve can be as risky and as rewarding as twisting and bringing in someone new, when things aren’t at their best.
Out of all the sides currently residing in The Scottish Premiership’s bottom six spots, only Motherwell FC have stuck with the same manager that they started the season with.
Now the reasons for the other clubs to get rid of their gaffers varies from case to case but Lanarkshire side Motherwell have seen an upturn in form in 2019 and that proves that they were right not to consider Stephen Robinson’s position at Fir Park.
The Well recorded a 2-1 home win over Heart of Midlothian this past weekend, which has been the club’s sixth league win on the trot and so far Robinson’s team haven’t dropped a point in 2019!
Motherwell had a difficult start to the season and things weren’t helped when centre-back Cedric Kipre was sold to Wigan Athletic and when they lost influential goalkeeper Trevor Carson, who is out for the season with deep vain thrombosis.
It took The Well time to settle into the season and they were inconsistent for much of the opening period.
In their first twenty Premiership fixtures, Motherwell could only pick up five victories. Now after twenty-six matches they’ve now reached eleven triumphs. Those wins have propelled the Steelmen up to seventh in the league table and they are now just two points behind sixth placed St Johnstone, who haven’t won in their last five top flight outings.
A big plus in Well’s top form has been the emergence of some very exciting young Scottish talent.
Teenage winger Jake Hastie has scored four goals in his last five Premiership games.
The nineteen year returned to Fir Park in January after a loan spell at Alloa Athletic and he’s been a sensation. He enthusiastically attacks opposition defences, has a good turn of pace and has a keen eye for a goal, his thunderous left-footed drive against St Mirren recently was a joy to behold.
Youngster Hastie seems switched on and hopefully he’ll sign a new deal to stay with the Lanarkshire outfit. He should do if these quotes to BBC Scotland are anything to go by:
“I don’t want to go anywhere,”
“I want to stay here, keep my feet on the ground and keep progressing.”
“I’ve been lucky to come in straight away. Hopefully I can keep doing what I’m doing.”
Fellow nineteen year old David Turnbull seems to be getting better and better this term too.
The Carluke native has made eighteen appearances so far in the league this season and he’s repaid Robinson’s faith by producing some consistent and mature performances in Motherwell’s midfield. Turnbull scored the weekend’s winner, taking his tally up to six for the season.
Add-in Chris Cadden and Allan Campbell and Scotland as well as Motherwell could have a bright future in their engine room.
I’d also like to praise Alex Gorrin. The Spaniard at twenty-five is fast becoming an elder statesman in Well’s midfield but he gives the Steelmen a clam and composed presence in the middle. That allows the youngsters time and space to flourish.
Motherwell could have easily decided to chop and change their manager but they held their nerve and it’s turning out to be the right move. They’re bringing through some top Scottish talent, are exciting to watch and are now seriously in the hunt for a top six finish!
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