After a dramatic second Premier Sports Cup semi-final showdown at Hampden Park, Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell voiced his concerns over a crucial refereeing decision that he believes played a significant role in the outcome of the match.
Kettlewell argued that referee Nick Walsh should have awarded a free-kick to Motherwell in the build-up to Rangers' winning goal from Nedim Bajrami, a decision that left the Motherwell camp feeling aggrieved.
Kettlewell, while expressing his frustration, opted for a measured approach regarding the officiating.
The match began with Motherwell taking the lead thanks to a well-executed finish from Andy Halliday.
However, the tide turned in the second half as Rangers responded with determination. Goals from Cyriel Dessers and Bajrami not only turned the game around but also secured Rangers' place in the Premier Sports Cup final.
Bajrami found space at the back post before firing the ball beyond goalkeeper Aston Oxborough.
But before the Rangers winger found the net, Kettlewell thinks Motherwell substitute Zach Robinson was clearly fouled by Neraysho Kaswanwirjo, which went unpunished.
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“It was a foul on Zach, I think, which the referees maybe acknowledged at the time," the Motherwell boss insisted.
“But he stays on his feet, tries to keep the ball alive.
“Listen, I thought Nick was really good in the game today. I thought he handled it well.
“He allowed a flow of the game as best he could. I just felt that at the time, the centre-back's manhandling our striker.
“Zach is trying to be honest, to stay on his feet and to try and retain the ball.
“It's the one that we all speak about sometimes, to let your team breathe. Do you have to fall down for it to be a foul?
“Well, I think what Nick's done is allowed the game to try and roll on and it goes to Dan Casey and Rangers turn it over.”
Kettlewell was content with Motherwell's overall performance against the tournament holders despite failing to maintain their half-time lead and reach the final.
Although, he knows the incentive must be to go one step forward in the cup next time.
“I never want to be a glorious loser," he confessed.
“So I don't want to sit here in front of anybody and start to make excuses or, you know, start to pat ourselves on the back because we get to this stage.
“It's been a good achievement to get here. But we just felt that in moments of the game we probably just lacked that wee bit of composure and a wee bit better decision-making.
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“I think the second goal was symptomatic of that.
“I'm not going to be sitting here criticising the players because when you see them slumped to their knees at the end, that wasn't disappointment, that was exhaustion.
“They've pulled so much in. So I can't ask any more from them on that front.
“But for us to try and look to create more chances and retain the ball, I think we just probably have to work that wee bit more on that and I'll try and drive that.
“I just think here in a big open space and the big pitch at Hampden, sometimes we need to try and utilise that a wee bit more and have a little bit more patience and composure to what we do.
“But that is absolutely not a criticism of our players.”
