Frustrated Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell has told his players they have to keep their focus until the end of stoppage time after being sucker-punched by Celtic at Fir Park for the second time this season, and that they must improve their conditioning.
Kettlewell’s side had been impressive as they led the champions at the interval, only to be pegged back in the second half and then ultimately going on to lose the match to Adam Idah’s 93rd minute strike and Luis Palma’s tap in at the death.
Kettlewell says that his team have to get themselves into a position where they can keep up the level of their first half performance across a full match or they will continue to be picked off late in games.
“In the first half we really executed what we wanted to do, we had by far the better opportunities and score a very good goal,” Kettlewell said.
“In the second-half, Celtic are trying to win a league title and you understand the magnitude of what’s expected ,of them so you know at times you’re going to be on the back foot.
“I’m just so frustrated at the second goal because that’s the killer in the game, we’re dealing with large parts of what their threat is.
“We’re trying to apply pressure around our 18-yard-box and purely a miscommunication or a lack of a handover to Celtic receiving the ball in our penalty area, with the opportunity to feed a striker who’s already scored in the game.
“It sounds like I’m trying to vindicate myself but we worked on it tirelessly this week. The proof is there - we executed it for the vast majority of the game.
"We could certainly have been a bit cleaner, a bit sharper moving forward in the second-half. But we weren’t playing for a draw as much as we started to collapse a little bit at times. Once or twice that comes down to energy levels.
“I’m just so frustrated at how the second goal comes about - if Celtic had done that to us and continued to do it, then you see there’s a problem but I wasn’t seeing that.
“Even moments in the second half I thought we were O.K. but in the evolution of the football club, for us to get better we have to go and complete 96 minutes mentally, but we have to complete 96 minutes physically as well. So that one comes back on me.
“I’m not saying they’re not fit but once we start to see one or two feeling hamstrings and thighs, it probably shows the opposition can grow momentum in the game.
“I felt as if we were forced into changes by necessity. We have to work towards conditioning ourselves to be able to play for 96 minutes. It’s not just your body, it’s being switched on to it.
“I have to identify what I saw towards the end of the game that cost us at least a point.”
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