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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Ben Ramage

St Mirren must be brave and pass their way to success against Celtic, says Stephen Robinson

Stephen Robinson wants St Mirren to pass their way past title hopefuls Celtic in Glasgow.

The new Buddies manager believes the best way for his club to pull off a shock result at Parkhead is to keep the ball away from Ange Postecoglou's Premiership leaders.

While he admits they'll need to be brave to take on the Hoops at their own game, Robinson feels keeping possession for large spells and being brave on the ball during tomorrow night's clash is their only possible recipe for success,

That's particularly the case with Celtic having won only once in their last four games, with Hibs holding them to a goalless draw on Sunday after pressing the Glasgow giants high at Easter Road and holding onto the ball at every opportunity.

Robinson told Renfrewshire Live Sport: "It's always a tough game when you go to Celtic Park. When they click they're a terrific side and it's a real challenge.

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"But we go there with a game plan and we've got boys that can win matches for us.

"We need to be brave. Every time you go Ibrox and Celtic Park you need to be brave on the ball.

"Everyone thinks you have to defend, and you do there's no doubt about it.

"But you have to pass the ball. We didn't pass the ball enough on Saturday against Hearts even close to the way I want us to play.

"So we have to be brave and make brave decisions under pressure to relieve the pressure on us, because Celtic will dominate the ball if we're not brave on it.

"Nothing is impossible. Hibs proved that on Sunday and they matched them for large periods of the game and were brave on the ball.

"I still need to implement my style of play on the squad and we're drip-feeding that in.

"Hopefully we can implement that on one of the hardest stages in the world."

Robinson hopes to have star striker Eamonn Brophy back in contention to start tomorrow night's clash as he continues his recovery from an ankle ligament injury.

He revealed Brophy has looked in fine form in training this week and hopes to unleash the Scotland international on the Hoops defence from the first whistle.

He said: "We've got a fully fit squad to choose from, apart from Matt Millar who has a slight injury.

"Eamonn is available for selection. Whether he's 100 per cent ready to start? Probably not at this stage but he'll certainly play some part in the game.

"Goals are everything and even watching him in training the last few days he's been banging them in for fun in the small-sided games.

"He was out for three or four weeks, but was out for a period before that as well. We need to get that fitness level back up, but he'll certainly be involved at some stage - if not from the start."

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