Well boss Robinson stays tight-lipped on apparent Gallagher move

Stephen Robinson has refused to confirm rumours that Declan Gallagher has signed a pre-contract agreement with Motherwell.

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright revealed on Friday that the Livingston central defender’s agent informed him his player has agreed to a move to Fir Park but the Motherwell boss dismissed his fellow Northern Irishman’s comments.

“I don’t discuss transfers so it’s not a one-off for me and I never have,” Robinson said.

“I don’t speak about other team’s players or my transfer plans in public so I’m surprised that other managers have. We will just keep our business to ourselves.”

Gallagher’s expected arrival could be as a direct replacement for Peter Hartley, who has been heavily linked with a summer move to Hibs, but it was another defender’s performance at Rugby Park that drew praise from Robinson.

Tom Aldred is playing with a heavily bandaged head due to a gruesome injury sustained following a clash with Celtic’s Odsonne Edouard last weekend.

That didn’t prevent him from producing a towering defensive performance as Motherwell kept out Kilmarnock in a goalless draw to maintain their good run with only one defeat in their last eight league games.

Robinson added: “ Tom was excellent. He is playing with 12 stitches in his head, which shows his commitment and he was terrific.

“But I thought Alex Gorrin was the best player on the pitch. He controlled the game, and he had the patience and quality amidst difficult conditions.

“I thought we were the team who tried to get the ball down and pass it but compliment to our wide players who doubled up well.

“They changed their formation, which is a compliment to us because Kilmarnock are a good side who are hard to break down.”

Aldred missed Motherwell’s best opportunity when the wind prevented him from getting on the end of David Turnbull’s cross. with Daniel Bachmann stranded on 58 minutes.

The hosts dropped Jordan Jones and Eamonn Brophy from Wednesday night’s abandoned fixture and it wasn’t until the latter was introduced that Kilmarnock looked truly menacing.

Rory McKenzie flicked Aaron Tshibola’s cross off the bar before Brophy drew an excellent save from Mark Gillespie after turning Stuart Findlay.

With the draw leaving the Ayrshire side without a win since beating Rangers on January 23, assistant manager Alex Dyer believes the timing is perfect for the upcoming warm-weather training camp in Tenerife.

“The boys are looking forward to getting away, training, hopefully getting a bit of sun on our backs and coming back refreshed for St Mirren (on March 11),” said Dyer.

“We are just going back to basics a little bit, working hard and doing all the things that we have done before. It was going great and it will again. I’m sure it will get better soon.”