Motherwell boss demands more from strikers
Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson insists honesty is the best policy after warning his misfiring strikers they need to sharpen up.
The Fir Park manager confirmed he is on the hunt for two new frontmen after watching his side go eight games without a win.
Their latest setback came against Rangers on Wednesday night as they slumped 2-0 at Ibrox.
With Preston-bound top-scorer Louis Moult out injured, Robinson gave Alex Fisher and Craig Tanner their chance up front but said afterwards: "We needed other players to step up and they haven't done that."
He added: "I'm now looking for two players in January and we have targets that we are speaking to."
Some managers prefer not to publicly criticise their players but Robinson now hopes his approach will spark a reaction when they host Lanarkshire rivals Hamilton on Saturday.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, he said: "As a player, I always wanted managers to be honest with me.
"Never have I gone out and blamed an individual. That's not how we work. We win as a team and lose as a team.
"But we have to have a dose of reality sometimes. If you take your chances and cut out individual errors then you'll win a lot more games than you lose.
"There has to be a reaction. If we put people in positions - and this sounds tough - they have to score goals.
"We've created lots and lots of chances so people have to start taking them.
"The reality is that what happens outside the two boxes is irrelevant. How you defend in one box and whether you take your chances in the other is what wins and loses you games.
"So yeah, the players need to step up to the plate. There's no point me putting it any other way.
"We are looking to do stuff in the January transfer window and it just depends how much.
"We do recognise that we don't have Louis any more and when people are given the chance in the number one striker spot they have to take it.
"I'm sure that they will do. We've got a bunch of honest boys who give me everything ever week but things which were bouncing for us earlier this season haven't gone our way recently. Sometimes you have spells like that."
Well have one last chance to get back to winning ways before the winter break when they host Accies and Robinson is eager to take it.
"We're looking forward to the game," he said. "It's a local derby but we need to turn our form around and this gives us an opportunity.
"Potentially we could find ourselves back in the top six if we win and that's a massive incentive.
"Psychologically it is important too. If we don't get the win, it's another four weeks thinking about the fact we haven't done so well.