Carl McHugh content with defensive role for Motherwell

Motherwell conceded 17 goals in four games before Robinson took charge and since then they have shipped only four in three ahead of Saturday's Ladbrokes Premiership game against Rangers at Ibrox.

McHugh has been brought back into a new-look three-man central defence after Stephen McManus was ruled out with a groin injury and the former Plymouth player has taken to his new position with apparent ease.

The 24-year-old Irishman said: "It's been grand, I don't mind it. I have played there before when I was younger. Midfield is probably my preferred position but I don't mind playing either, I am comfortable. I played a few games there last season if we had injuries or if we changed the shape to a three at the back, I dropped back in there.

"As long as I am playing, I don't mind where I am playing. We have big Mick (McManus) injured and he is a big loss.

"We have looked defensively good. We were seconds away from getting a clean sheet at Aberdeen and that would have been a good performance from us.

"We conceded two goals at home to St Johnstone but in the main in the last three games we have looked quite solid, and we've got big Ben (Heneghan) coming back on Saturday as well and he will be a big plus for us."

Motherwell have taken the lead in both of their previous trips to Ibrox this season but lost after conceding late goals each time. They also had chances to open the scoring at home to Rangers but have twice fallen to 2-0 defeats.

McHugh said: We definitely feel we can go there and get a result. We have had four games against them this season and we definitely feel we should have got something out of two or three of them."

The William Hill Scottish Cup loss at Ibrox was a particular disappointment.

"It was a tough day that, we should have at least got a replay," McHugh said. "We can use that as an advantage going back there and use that as a bit of fire in the belly to get something out of this."

• carl mchugh