ST MIRREN manager Stephen Robinson has backed Hampden hero Mikael Mandron for a last-gasp Scotland call-up after putting Motherwell to the sword in the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals.
French-born Mandron was outstanding in a 4-1 All Saints’ Day win over the Steelmen with two goals and one assist and has spoken in the past about hoping to wear the dark blue at A-squad level thanks to qualifying through his late Scots grandmother Margaret.
Robinson admitted his players were hugely motivated by their direct style drawing unfavourable comparisons with Motherwell’s slick passing game and believes the killer instinct shown by 31-year-old Mandron in his 100th outing for the Buddies would be of use to Clarke as he prepares to name his squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifying double-header with Greece and Denmark on Monday.
‘When Mika plays well, we play well. He gives us a platform. He’s a leader,’ said the Northern Irishman.
Mikael Mandron celebrates as St Mirren put Motherwell to the sword at Hampden
Mandron hails Nlundulu after the latter scored St Mirren’s second goal at Hampden
‘Listen, Steve knows his players better than me. I’m a big fan of the national team as well. My wife’s taught me Flower of Scotland now, so I have to sing it every game.
‘But listen, Steve will know all about Mika. He’s a very, very talented boy, he’s scoring goals and he leads the line very well, so why not?
‘There’s lots of players that I’ve worked with that have got caps. I don’t think we had many that had been capped at St. Mirren before we came in, so that’s credit to the staff and the recruitment.
‘Mika, certainly, he wouldn’t look out of place at international level.’
Robinson admits his team laugh at being called a long-ball outfit and believes a performance to match yesterday’s heroics in the final will give them a great chance of dumping either half of the Old Firm at Hampden on December 14.
‘When we play like that, we’re very, very difficult to play against,’ he said. ‘If we play like that, we can beat anybody on our day. We’ve got no fear.
‘I think we play an exciting brand of football, create a lot of chances.
‘We make teams defend. We steal a lot of ideas off Bournemouth and Brentford to increase your xG. We put long throws into the box, free-kicks into the box. Outwith that, we play some really good football.
‘As players, in an occasion some that aren’t used to, I thought they carried out the game plan to the letter (against Motherwell). We could have scored more goals.
‘We came here with no emotions. A lot of people motivated us with things that were said – unfairly, unjustified, in my opinion – and we used that to show what a good side we are. We wanted to be ruthless and we were, which is something we haven’t been in the league.
‘I’ve said to the players: “Go and put yourselves down in history. You’ve got an opportunity now to be remembered at St Mirren for the rest of your lives”.’
On those comparisons with Motherwell’s style, Robinson said: ‘Listen, the rules of football haven’t changed. You’ve got to try and score more goals than the opposition.
Richard KIng (left) and Mandron celebrate after the former had scored St Mirren’s third
‘You’re allowed to play players that are over six feet. My six-foot players aren’t very physical, to be fair and I need more from them. What I want to do is show how good they are. That’s more the motivation rather than proving people wrong.’
Goalscorer Richard King, meanwhile, dedicated his strike – his side’s third of the game – to those killed in his native Jamaica by Hurricane Melissa.
‘I dedicate this goal to my country,’ King told BBC Radio Scotland. ‘As you guys know, we just had a hurricane a few days ago and a lot of people lost their lives, so I dedicate that back home.
‘These are the occasions we play for our families and friends.’
Saints centre-half Alex Gogic was named man of the match by sponsors and was delighted to reach a final with a big win on the occasion of his wife’s birthday.
‘This doesn’t happen every day,’ he stated. ‘It has been fantastic the last couple of years, but the only thing missing was a day like this. A lot of pundits suggested Motherwell would win this because they play nice football, but goals win games.’
