WHEN Lee Erwin tumbled to the floor following the lightest of challenges from Bevis Mugabe in Paisley on Saturday, Eamonn Brophy’s eyes lit up. The striker had come off the bench shortly after the interval to make his debut for the Buddies and was on the hunt for his first goal for his new club when Bobby Madden pointed to the spot with 10 minutes to go, waving away the protests of the angry Motherwell players.
The 24-year-old could hardly ask for a better opportunity to open his account for Jim Goodwin’s men. But Brophy says he knew he would have to wait a little longer for his first strike in black-and-white, after a knowing glance from Jamie McGrath – who successfully converted from 12 yards – reminded him of the pecking order for spot-kicks.
“No, I was looking to take it but he just gave me that look,” Brophy replied when asked if he had nudged his team-mate off of penalty duties. “I can’t just say, ‘I’m taking the penalties’ – not yet!
“I was the penalty and free-kick taker at Kilmarnock but I’ve got to respect the boys here who want to take them. I was wanting it but at the end of the day he put it away and that’s all that matters.
READ MORE: St Mirren 1-1 Motherwell: Alexander settles for point on Premiership debut
“He’s the penalty taker until he misses one. Then he’ll not be getting another one – I’ll be jumping right on them!”
Brophy’s inclusion in Jim Goodwin’s squad for the draw with Motherwell raised a few eyebrows, given the fact that he had only completed his loan move on Friday. A pre-contract agreement had already been struck for the forward to join at the end of the season but St Mirren were keen to push the deal through this month to supplement their attack.
The man himself admits he is relieved to have got everything done and dusted last week, and is looking forward to playing regularly once again after falling out of favour at Rugby Park.
“I’m delighted to be here and delighted to get it done,” Brophy said. “I signed the pre-contract last Monday, so I’m just glad to get it done this window and get the head down, work hard and hopefully kick on here.
“I enjoyed my time at Kilmarnock. It was a club that gave me an opportunity when not a lot of others did, so I’ll be grateful for that. But I think my time was up there and I’m glad I can get my head down now. This is a new start and hopefully I can kick on, score goals and be an asset here.”
He continued: “[The change in tactical approach] is why I came here. I was lucky enough to have a few options, but I watched a lot of their games and decided this club was the best fit for me.
READ MORE: Jim Goodwin keen to push through deal for Kilmarnock's Eamonn Brophy
“I’m looking to come here and play as many games as I can and score as many goals as I can. It’s as simple as that. I’m a striker and that’s what I’ll be judged on.”
Brophy added that he is not giving up hope of regaining his place in the Scotland international set-up but accepts that he has some work to do first before he can be seriously considered for a call-up.
“I just want to play as many games as I can and I believe I can get back to that level, so hopefully I can do that sooner rather than later with the Euros coming up,” he said. “But I want to get back playing regular football first.”
Motherwell striker Devante Cole, meanwhile, cut a frustrated figure in the aftermath of Saturday’s draw, insisting that Madden got the penalty decision wrong – something he says cost his side their first win since Halloween.
Graham Alexander’s new-look side took the lead in the first half when Cole prodded the ball home from a Motherwell corner and the Steelmen looked like they would hold out for the victory until McGrath levelled the scores from the spot.
Cole said he was pleased to get on the scoresheet for the second time this season but was unable to hide his disappointment that once again, Motherwell had let a lead slip.
He said: “It’s always nice to get a goal: it gave us something to build on. It should have given us the three points as well.
READ MORE: St Mirren boss Jim Goodwin ‘absolutely delighted’ with capture of Eamonn Brophy
“The ref’s crumbled, if I’m honest. There’s no contact – it’s a dive. It’s unlucky for us but we’ve just got to move on and bounce back from it. It’s very frustrating to lose two points on a decision like that. If that penalty hadn’t been given then they weren’t creating anything, were they?
“We’d have come away with a 1-0 win and that’s how it should have been. Yes, there were positive signs but, after 11 games without a win, there’s only so long you can go on saying that.
“There were a number of games during that run where we should have taken all three points, not just this one. I’m just hoping that we’ve drawn a line after this and that we can now just move on.”
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