The irony would not have been lost on Ian Baraclough. While yesterday's visit of Ross County constituted a mere watching brief for the Scottish Premiership's newest managerial arrival, there was always going to be a late twist at Fir Park

When Baraclough is around they are almost mandatory. None of the significant milestones in his managerial career in Ireland was achieved without a dramatic denouement.

Baraclough was pitched into alien territory with Sligo Rovers days before the dawn of the 2012 season. When his team stole a draw in injury time in his first game, it set the template for a run that ended with the 'Bit O' Red' claiming their first league title in three and a half decades . . . but only after an 89th-minute penalty on the deciding day. The following year, the FAI Cup was won with a fifth goal in a 3-2 thriller that came four minutes into injury time.

So when Tony Dingwall scored an injury-time equaliser for Ross County yesterday, it was never likely to faze Baraclough. Little does. As Motherwell players get up close and personal with their new supremo this morning, it will not take long for them to discover that. He is so unflappable that the frenetic search for Stuart McCall's successor could easily be interpreted as the storm before the calm.

Motherwell have recent experience of bringing in a manager with a League of Ireland background, and Baraclough's appointment was probably met with even more pronouncements of "Ian who?" than the calls of "Jim who" that accompanied Jim Gannon's arrival. But that tumultuous tenure is likely to be very far removed from the one that has just dawned at Fir Park.

Gannon never won round the sceptics, either those in the stands or those in the media. Nor did two other recent imports from Ireland, Pat Fenlon and Stephen Kenny.

An observer as alert as Baraclough will be very aware of the dubious eye that many in Scotland cast towards Ireland's domestic game, not helped by the desperate struggles of the aforementioned imports (Fenlon's win percentage of 35 per cent at Hibs, not much to write home about, is the best of the three aforementioned imports).

Unlike his predecessors, the 44-year-old can fall back on a relatively impressive playing CV. He played 600 games in English football, a lot of them one tier below the Premier League. With Scunthorpe United, he has also managed in the Championship, albeit briefly. But that alone won't be enough to win him time, not with Motherwell struggling to live up to last season's second-place finish. He has to make an impression that gets people on his side, and do it quickly.

Luckily for Baraclough, he has personality in spades. The charm offensive began Saturday as he mixed with Motherwell supporters and made a donation to a festive food bank.

Scottish officials, who did not enjoy working with Gannon, might be interested to learn that League of Ireland referees took to Twitter to wish Baraclough well. All very nice, but good manners are not going to get Motherwell moving back in the right direction. Good football, however, will.

Baraclough impressed his interviewers with a pledge to play a game more pleasing on the eye and his title-winning Sligo side did play football that, on the good days, was wonderful to watch. But those expecting tiki taka in Lanarkshire might have to hold their breath.

A career defender, Baraclough has a safety-first mindset. He is a pragmatist who will realise that points rather than prettiness are the priority. With that in mind, John Sutton's return to scoring ways will be very welcome. The new manager likes a lone striker leading the line, all the better if he is a physical striker.

The Baraclough era dawns with a trip to St Mirren next weekend. One tip to Motherwell fans as they get to grips with the new regime - give it time and don't leave early.