WHEN Motherwell hit Rangers with a classic counter-attack for Lionel Ainsworth to thump them into a 3-0 lead at Ibrox in the Premiership play-off three years ago, hardly anyone in the ground - in either end - could believe what they were seeing. For the visiting players though, it was all part of the plan.
Stephen Robinson, as Fir Park No 2 at the time to manager Ian Baraclough, had played his part in selling that story to the Motherwell squad, and making them believe they could triumph when nobody else was giving them a prayer. Now, as boss, he is looking to repeat the trick this afternoon.
The occasion may not have as much riding on it as it did then, and the calibre of opposition they are facing today will undoubtedly be better than it was in 2015, but he is hoping that the example of that day can help inspire this current crop of Motherwell players to overcome the odds.
“It was a fantastic occasion,” Robinson said. “The pressure on us to win and with the size of Rangers as a football club, it was a massive game for us and we had a game plan that worked brilliantly.
“I think the thing you have to remember is that we were in the Premier League and Rangers weren’t. The level that they were playing at maybe wasn’t quite as good as had been perceived.
“It was a case of continuing to get them to buy into it. I remember a manager telling me, you tell them a story during the week and by the Friday you have to have them believing it. That was the case of it.
“I think there is a lot of that in football. If you can convince people that this can win you the game, then you have done your job. Mentally I think it is massive.
“When you go to places like Ibrox and that is what we do. I know the boys will believe in what we are doing and will try and carry it out to the letter. Sometimes we do it better than others, but you have to get players to believe that they can do it.
"You have to remember it's 11 players. You have to forget the badge, the 40,000 people, and that's easier said than done at times with the atmosphere. You are playing against 11 players on the day and they can have good and bad games, they are human.
“I firmly believe that if we play as we have in the last two games and go with the belief that we can do it, then we can give any team in the league a good game.”
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