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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Paul Thomson

Motherwell manager Graham Alexander's interview interrupted by foul-mouthed fan after Sligo Rovers loss

Motherwell manager Graham Alexander was heckled by an angry fan in a post-match interview after his side crashed out of the Europa Conference League to Sligo Rovers.

Pressue is mounting on the Steelmen boss after just five wins in his last 23 competitive outings, a rotten run that dates back to the start of the year.

Motherwell trailed 1-0 going into Thursday's second leg, but there was to be no turnaround for Alexander's men as a wonder strike from Shane Bailey after four minutes and a 90th minute effort by Max Mata earned the Bit O'Red a 3-0 aggregate victory, reports Lanarkshire Live.

READ MORE: Sligo Rovers 2-0 Motherwell: Shane Blaney's early wonder goal puts Bit O'Red on the way to momentous result

Fans have been furious with Motherwell's run of results since January and one supporter took his chance to let Alexander know how he feels while the 50-year-old conducted his post-match media duties.

While being interviewed by Al Lamont on BBC Radio Scotland, listeners could clearly hear the fan aiming verbal abuse at the Fir Park gaffer with cries of: "F****** s**** Alexander, the usual s****."

Lamont was forced to apologise to listeners, saying: "Apologies if any of the bad language in the background is being picked and, Graham, hopefully you are okay to continue."

The former Scotland international resumed the interview and expressed his frustration at his side failing to have a killer instinct over the two ties, having created numerous chances.

He said: "The goal comes so early in the game and it put us on the backfoot.

Motherwell fans react to Sligo’s Max Mata celebrating scoring the second goal of the game (©INPHO/Ryan Byrne)

"It's a moment of quality from the lad to stick it in the top corner from there. It's a cheap free-kick that we give away, but you can't take anything away from the boy.

"It was the perfect start for them and the worst start for us, allied to the poor goal we gave away in the first leg.

"I just thought any momentum we got going at any time was nullified by Sligo in the important moments.

"We didn't have that killer instinct or will to beat our opponent in the box.

"The reality is they took their opportunity in the first game - which we gave them - and the early goal in this game made it a real difficult task for us.

"We have to take the criticism that is coming our way. We won't hide away from it, I won't hide away from it and I'm sure my players won't.

"It's maybe a reality check of where we are going into Sunday.

"We are two games into it [the season] and there's a lot of football to play this season."

But Alexander didn't throw his players under the bus for the performances and admitted it is right that criticism should come his way.

He added: "I wouldn't say that [the players let him down]. I back my players all the time and my responsibility as the manger is to lead.

"If stuff comes my way, that's okay, I understand it.

"Some criticism is right - after the two ties, not after the first leg.

"I always take responsibility. I've been doing it for decades and I'm not going to change my personality now."

Motherwell must pick themselves up quickly with a trip to St Mirren on Sunday in their Scottish Premiership opener.

But Alexander isn't panicking.

"It's always important to win games of football, at the start, middle or the end," he said.

"We didn't win our first league game last season yet we finished fifth and got into Europe, so season-defining games don't happen on the first day of the season.

"But it's an important game because it's the next one.

"We've worked exceptionally hard over the last 10 months to get to this stage and it's over too quickly for us.

"For that we are going to have to carry a bit of pain for a while but we've got a season of football to compete for and that's what we have to focus on.

"We are obviosuly very disappointed but we won't shrival up and die."

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