Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell says his side can take plenty of positives from their controversial defeat to Rangers, and they must ensure they don’t come out of it as “glorious losers.”
VAR ended up being the big talking point from last Saturday's 4-2 defeat as Kettlewell questioned some decisions, including a red card for Calum Slattery that means he misses the trip to Hibs on April 1, and defender Bevis Mugabi branded the lines used to decide Rangers' third goal was onside as 'a little bit suspect'.
Outside of the controversy, Kettlewell felt there was much for his team to take into the international break but he wants his players to kick on, rather than be down in the dumps.
He said: “We don’t come away from here feeling sorry for ourselves but what I did say to the players is, we don’t also come out of here as glorious losers.
“We don’t come out of here happy with our work.
“We got close, we made a game of it, we scored two goals against one of the top teams in the country.
“I think we have to be hurting in the aspects that we could be better at but, equally, as I said before hand this isn’t our fight and it shouldn’t derail what we do for the rest of the season.
“I’ve seen plenty from the players to like again.
“It’s a blow to lose one of the players for the next game that has been a big player for us, but that is one we will probably have to accept.
“But in terms of our work next week, guys going away on international duty, I don’t think we are going away feeling down in the dumps, doom and gloom, I think we are positive in what we do.”
A big positive for Kettlewell was the display from Scotland U21 international Max Johnston, who put the ball on a plate for van Veen’s opener and was one of the Steelmen’s standout performers on the day.
Kettlewell added: “I thought his work for the first goal for Kevin’s goal was superb and he was disciplined defensively as well.
“Sometimes when a player is so good offensively, they might lack something going back, but I thought as a defender he was right on point as well.
“It’s no surprise to us. We know exactly what he can do as a player, we know what he brings to this team.”
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