Robinson hails 'maverick' Idowu and goalscorer Phillips

BBC News

6 days ago

Stephen Robinson hailed "maverick" Roland Idowu and two-goal Killian Phillips as their St Mirren side secured top place in Premier Sports Cup Group D and a place in the last 16.Idowu, the Irishman who joined the Buddies permanently this summer after last season's loan from Shrewsbury Town, set up both goals for his fellow 23-year-old midfielder in their 2-1 win over Ayr United."Roland, we played him just off [striker] Mikael [Mandron] and told him to float into those wider areas where the goal came from because it's very congested in the middle of the pitch," manager Robinson told BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound."He was excellent. He was involved in both goals. He's a maverick, he's someone who can change the game for us and he's someone we're trying to bring into the game."Him and Conor McMenamin, Jalmaro [Calvin] when he gets up to speed, are boys that can do things we haven't had previously."As for Phillips, who has signed permanently after his loan from Crystal Palace, Robinson said: "We have worked constantly on cutting balls back and making runs and Killian is getting his just rewards and he's adding goals to the other good attributes he's got."The visiting Championship side pulled a goal back in the second half, but Robinson added: "The way we played in the first half, I thought we were outstanding. We got a little bit casual in the second half and didn't do the simple things well."We lose a goal from a set-play and the momentum swings and puts us on the back foot, but we showed the character and quality and we should have gone and finished the game off with three or four more goals."