Robinson expects more from Johnson after bagging Motherwell winner

Posted Sunday, August 19, 2018 by PA

Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson has promised there are more goals to come from Danny Johnson after the striker netted a Betfred Cup winner at Livingston on his first start for the club.

Johnson swept home Curtis Main’s cutback in the 23rd minute to earn Motherwell a 1-0 triumph at the Tony Macaroni Arena and a place in Sunday’s quarter-final draw.

The former Gateshead forward had netted against Clyde in the group stage and looked lively off the bench in Motherwell’s opening two Ladbrokes Premiership defeats, and he made the most of his full debut, hitting the frame of the goal before his crucial strike.

Robinson said: “Danny is a goalscorer. Whichever combination I put him with he looks like he’s going to score. He hit the bar and had a super finish on that surface.

“He’ll get better and better. Fitness-wise we are getting 65-70 minutes out of him, same with Alex Gorrin. So these are boys that will get fitter and stronger as the season goes on.”

The victory was Motherwell’s 15th in cup competitions in 13 months and Robinson’s side showed why they reached both finals last season by limiting Livingston’s chances after Johnson’s opener.

There had been plenty of opportunities for both sides in an entertaining opening quarter with former Motherwell winger Steven Lawless hitting the bar and both goalkeepers pulling off several good saves.

“It was a super battling performance,” Robinson said. “Obviously it’s a cup competition and they threw everything at us but I thought the lads put a real performance in and that’s what we are about.

“Maybe we could have been better with our passing and decision-making in the second half but that will come, the most important thing in cup competitions is the result.”

Livingston manager Kenny Miller drew an excellent early stop from Trevor Carson with a dipping long-range strike and he felt his side were unfortunate.

“We have been more than competitive,” he said. “It didn’t feel like there was a lot in the game.

“Their keeper has made a couple of fantastic saves. I thought my one was flying in and I think Steven’s shot had him beaten.

“Goals change games. Were they better than us? I didn’t think they were but fair play to them, they have taken one of their chances and that’s something we haven’t done. We were very unfortunate not to take the lead ourselves.”