Max Johnston hailed striker Mikael Mandron’s double in Motherwell’s 2-0 Scottish Cup win at Arbroath, and hopes they have two goal-hungry strikers at the club.
Mandron started in place of Kevin van Veen to give the Dutch striker a rest, after a good run of form that has seen him net 12 goals this season.
A debut double for former Gillingham hitman Mandron doesn’t hurt, though, and when van Veen was introduced as a second-half substitute, the pair linked well.
Defender Johnston, who was recalled from his loan at Championship side Cove Rangers and slotted straight into the team, said: “It’s good to get the win, to get a clean sheet and two goals for the big man – I’m sure he will be delighted with that.
“The whole team is buzzing, to be fair, so all good.
“Mikael has been really good since he came in, but Kevin has been really good all season as well, so hopefully the two of them can just keep scoring goals for us!”
Johnston says being in the draw for the last 16 was the key takeaway from the clash at Gayfield, but reckons ’Well put on a bit of a performance.
“It’s important to be in the next round. Today was just getting the job done.
“It’s a really hard place to go to, but we got the job done and we’re in the next round, so we’re delighted.
“We played really well as a team, so hopefully we can keep that going into next weekend.
“It’s a real confidence boost, everybody enjoys winning. It’s good for the confidence and good for the team, so hopefully we can keep that run going.
“It was a really good win, but we’re not getting ahead of ourselves.
“It was good to get a clean sheet, but it’s back to league business now, and we can hopefully get three points at the weekend.”
Johnston is thankful that boss Steven Hammell has kept his word about playing him after recalling him to Fir Park, but says he wants to be part of a team that climbs the Premiership table, as they prepare for a trip to St Mirren next weekend.
He said: “The gaffer brought me back from my loan at Cove, said he was going to play me, and has kept to his word, so that’s a confidence boost as well and I’m really enjoying it.
“I’m really grateful I’m getting the chance to play, and I’m just hoping to get more of that.
“It’s important to take the form from the cup win into the game at St Mirren.
“Three points is really important for us and it’s another massive game, so we’ve got to go out there, keep it going, and hopefully get the win.”
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