Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson has singled out Coleraine striker Eoin Bradley for praise following Thursday night’s Europa League win at the Showgrounds.
Bradley - or Skinner to team mates - provided a muscular presence for the Bannsiders after replacing flying winger Stewart Nixon 51 minutes into the second qualifying round tie.
The former Derry GAA star won Coleraine’s second penalty after falling under pressure from Motherwell defender Bevis Mugabi who was red carded as a result.
And he was inches away from providing a knockout blow to the SPFL side when he rattled the cross bar with a close range effort in extra time.
While Robinson added a couple of years onto Bradley’s age - he won’t be 38 for another 15 months - the Fir Park boss was glad to see the back of the veteran forward.
“The big boy Bradley is a handful, an absolute handful,” he said. “I can't imagine what he was like when he was 28 never mind 38!
“That epitomises Coleraine and the Irish League, the (older) boys who give absolutely everything mixed in with the other younger boys with talent.”
Robinson had Northern Ireland goalkeeper Trevor Carson to thank for his team’s progress into the third qualifying round where they’ll meet Hapoel B’er Sheva of Israel.
Carson, capped five times by his country, helped Bradley’s header onto the underside of the crossbar before Motherwell scrambled clear.
He also produced three saves to deny Ian Parkhill, Lyndon Kane and Gareth McConaghie as the Steelmen won the penalty shootout 3-0.
“Trevor Carson showed why he’s an international goalkeeper,” said Robinson.
“He stepped up to the plate and it's probably fitting that a Northern Ireland goalkeeper gets us through to the next round against a very, very good Northern Ireland side.
"He showed again that he's a top class goalkeeper, and we're through to the next round because of his brilliance.”
