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ST MIRREN SHOW STEELMEN WHAT THEY’RE MISSING

By Fraser Mackie AT SMiSA STADIUM

MIRREN appear to have everything Motherwell urgently need and desperately lack, including several of their ex-players.

There’s a heavy former Motherwell influence propelling the Paisley club to uncharted Premiership heights and they excelled as the visitors were sucked deeper into the relegation mire.

A goal from Curtis Main, who enjoyed 18 months and a Scottish Cup final run under Stephen Robinson in Lanarkshire, sealed the three points to keep St Mirren firmly in the European hunt.

Trevor Carson, Mark O’Hara, Charles Dunne and late substitute Declan Gallagher were all part of Motherwell squads to either achieve top-flight high rank, make Hampden appearances, or both. For the current crop, survival will be the name of the game for the remainder of this nosediving league season.

That’s one win in 13 Premiership matches since a 5-0 thrashing of Ross County in Dingwall.

Only goal difference is propping them up in ninth place in a packed relegation picture.

Stevie Hammell, who lost new striker signing Mikael Mandron to injury in the last minute of Friday’s training session, was left complaining that a denied penalty claim could have saved Motherwell.

John Beaton consulted VAR, but didn’t make a monitor check, after Ricki Lamie was grappled down by Dunne in the first half.

‘We should’ve had a penalty, that’s quite clear,’ said Hammell. ‘We were told that the communication between officials and managers would be good and clear but you don’t get much at all.

‘For them to not even ask the referee to have a look is really frustrating, especially when you’ve seen what’s already been given this season.’

The winning goal arrived on 16 minutes when Australian Ryan Strain whipped in a beauty of a cross after a fine exchange with Alex Greive.

The hungry Main arrived at the near post to beat Shane Blaney to the ball, the slightest of touches sufficient to divert past Liam Kelly.

Main had scored one league goal in Paisley in the previous 16 months. At the end of a week in which Eamonn Brophy exited for Ross County, his timing on all counts was impeccable.

Alex Gogic was a defensive rock for the hosts, consistently and uncannily cropping up in just the correct spot to block, barge or bother Motherwell into frustration.

The Cypriot international’s intervention on 12 minutes was crucial to prevent the best Motherwell move of the half resulting in a Stuart McKinstry opener.

Then in a desperate, dramatic start to six minutes of stoppage time, Gogic and his keeper got in the way of another goalbound McKinstry effort.

Robinson and his players are defying expectations and departures to continue their top-six surge.

Brophy could be followed out the door by Crystal Palace-bound Dylan Reid and Keanu Baccus.

The cash-strapped club can ill-afford, for their ambitions of a high finish, to have injury scares over Carson and substitute Jonah Ayunga deliver bad news.

‘We’re quietly hopeful on Trevor, who’ll have a scan on his hand,’ said Robinson.

‘Jonah hurt his knee and would be a big loss considering we’ve let two strikers out on loan to even up finances. I’m confident the board — if they possibly can, I understand the parameters — will help me and reinvest.’

Steelmen boss Hammell has plenty selection worries of his own as he goes looking for a momentum-shifting result at home to fellow strugglers St Johnstone on Wednesday.

Motherwell need a spark and international clearance for Japanese playmaker Riki Danzaki would be of huge assistance.

Football

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2023-01-29T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-01-29T08:00:00.0000000Z

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