ST MIRREN manager Stephen Robinson has refused to blame Charles Dunne for his moment of madness that proved so costly against Celtic, even as the Saints manager admitted his red card had cost his team their ‘perfect scenario’.
The hosts were a goal to the good and looking fairly comfortable against the Premiership champions when centre-back Dunne underhit a pass to goalkeeper Trevor Carson, and then hauled Kyogo down as the Celtic striker looked to latch onto the loose ball.
Celtic ultimately overwhelmed the 10-man Saints after the interval, and Robinson thought that the dismissal was the moment that altered the course of the game.
“Of course it did,” Robinson said.
“Celtic are a very difficult proposition to play against with 11 men. We make the perfect start, it’s our perfect scenario as a team. They have to come out and commit men forward, we play with two centre forwards where we can hit them on the break.
“You think you’re in total control of it, but we’ve made a poor decision when we were in total control of the ball.
“Ultimately they wear you down, wear you down, they move the ball and you make tired decisions. That’s what we did for the goals.”
Robinson has urged his men though to shake off their disappointment quickly and not allow this heavy defeat to affect their bid for a top-six finish.
“I have to be very clear now that we don’t let that define our season,” he said.
“We’re still very much in control of our destiny. We will reset the boys and there is no blame game here. Ultimately, I pick the players so I take the blame.
“Charles is a human being, he makes mistakes like everyone, but ultimately I pick the players so it’s my fault.
“Nobody gets hung out to dry at this football club. I take the blame, I pick the players. We all make poor decisions and mistakes, otherwise we probably wouldn't be here.
“Charles has been excellent and there is nobody more disappointed than Charles with his decision. These things happen in football, and other decisions cost us today as well.
“The overriding factor is that if you play with 11 men against Celtic it’s a tough task, if you play with 10 it becomes very, very hard.”
