Ten months ago Stephen Robinson could have walked into a Paisley pub and expected a standing ovation and to drink for free all night. In December the Northern Irishman masterminded St Mirren's second ever League Cup triumph, when his relentless and perfectly drilled side dismantled Celtic. The pictures in the Hampden dressing room afterwards showed Robinson jumping and singing with his team after reaching the crowning moment of his tenure at the club.
It was an altogether different Robinson which appeared in front of the cameras on Wednesday night, after his Aberdeen side lost at home to Falkirk, the fourth time in six home league games they have failed to score. Questioned about his future, his answers were short and deflated but he acknowledged patience with his team is wearing thin. There would be no free drink forthcoming in the Pittodrie Bar for the Aberdeen boss after three wins in 11 to start the Premiership season.
Nonetheless, the arrival of Saturday's Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Rangers represents an opportunity to change the gloomy narrative. Premier Sports Cup semi-final: Rangers v Aberdeen Live commentary on BBC Radio Scotland, and follow the action on BBC Sport app and website. Robinson was more bullish in his media conference on Friday, pointing to his Hampden record and ability to motivate players for big occassions, and he has a point.
As a manager, he is unbeaten in semi-finals at Scotland's national stadium. He must now channel that to try to upset Rangers and overcome Derek McInnes, a familiar rival who he has bested in cup competitions before. Last season Robinson's St Mirren knocked out McInnes' title-chasing Hearts, on penalties, in this very competition on their way to lifting the trophy.
When in charge of Motherwell in 2017-18, his team reached both national cup finals, hammering McInnes' Aberdeen 3-0 in the quarter-finals of the League Cup and the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup. Pedro Caixinha's Rangers were beaten 2-0 in the semi-final of the former that same season. In the League Cup semi-finals 12 months ago he constructed a gameplan to completely overrun Motherwell.
One of the standout sides of last term under the innovative Jens Berthel Askou, the Steelmen were demolished 4-1 at Hampden. Then came the crowning achievment, the 3-1 final win over Celtic which was as comprehensive a final defeat the serial trophy winners have had at Hampden in over a decade. Robinson's ability to prevail in a one-off test should not be underestimated, and McInnes said as much this week.
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