STEPHEN Craigan believes Stephen Robinson has brought out the best in Motherwell by instilling a fear factor in the dressing room.

The Fir Park outfit have been the surprise package this season after being widely tipped to be fighting against the drop.

From their current fourth position, Robinson’s side will look to topple Rangers this weekend in the League Cup semi-final and it is the Motherwell manager’s charisma and energy that Craigan attributes to the turn-around in fortunes.

“The manager’s got an ‘edge’,” said the Motherwell under-20 coach. “He’s fiery and he’s strong-willed. He knows what he wants. If people are in the way then he’ll either move you or go through you to get what he wants. If it’s not a fear factor as such, then it’s definitely something like it.

“No-one is undroppable. If he has to drop someone or take them off then he’ll do it.”

Part of that approach comes, Craigan believes, from sobering injury issues as a young player.

“Stephen could have gone to Liverpool, Manchester United or anyone he wanted. “He was a superstar but had a bad injury he had to come back from. He gained a lot of resilience from that.

“He realised nothing’s handed to you. He doesn’t like players to have it easy. He wants it to be a profession, to be the best that they can be. ”