St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson singled out Joe Aribo for praise after his ‘great’ goal in Sunday’s 4-0 defeat to Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s Rangers, speaking to the Saints website.
After successive defeats to Celtic and Braga – compounded by the season-ending injury suffered by Alfredo Morelos – a pounding in Paisley was exactly what the doctor ordered.
Even if, on the back of the Hoops’ 7-0 thrashing of St Johnstone, it felt like handing a strepsil to someone on their deathbed as far as Rangers’ Premiership title ambitions are concerned.
A pair of fabulous Kemar Roofe headers certainly put a smile on the faces of the travelling support.
The former Leeds United frontman maintained an impressive Morelos tribute act with his third of the afternoon, set up by some fine work by Fashion Sakala, before Aribo took centre stage, whipping a wonderful shot into the top corner while somehow managing to make it look as straightforward as a simple sideways pass.
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“It’s really frustrating. We conceded a goal in the first minute of the game,” says Robinson.
“It’s a theme of our recent games. We’re not marking men and we’ve got punished for it. So, all of a sudden, your team talk changes from, you know; ‘It was very good for large parts, stay in the game and you’ll get chances’.
“We came out and chased the game and they picked us off.”
Former Motherwell manager Robinson had few complaints about Aribo’s 76th minute peach however.
Even if he admits the St Mirren defence could have done more to close down the Nigeria international beforehand.
“Aribo’s goal, although I thought we were passive in terms of our pressing, was a great goal,” Robinson adds. “If you get beat by that, you hold your hands up and say ‘okay’.”
That was Aribo’s eighth strike of the season but only his second in 2022.
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