MOTHERWELL midfielder Carl McHugh has urged his team-mates to show they have the character to make amends for last weekend’s ‘shambles’ when they host Livingston on Saturday.

Stephen Robinson’s were condemned to a fourth straight defeat in all competition after surrendering a winning position in a 3-1 defeat at Kilmarnock.

That loss has left the Steelmen just one point clear of basement side Dundee having only won one of their opening seven matches.

And former club skipper McHugh insists it is up to the players to demonstrate that they have the resolve to halt their barren run of form.

He said: “We’ve had a lot of praise in the past when we’ve been doing well so you have to be honest, last weekend was not acceptable and for all of us and anyone who played on the pitch it was not good enough.

“We have to put it right at the weekend. It’s a test of character for all of us now and we have a huge game at home.

“We’ve got to go and win it and that’s the reality now. We’re in a tough period and we have to come out of it.”

Curtis Main’s penalty miss, which would have put Motherwell two goals ahead, was the turning point at Rugby Park and McHugh insists the players let themselves down.

Speaking to motherwellfc.co.uk, he added: “That’s probably the most disappointing result of the season after finding ourselves in the position we were in.

“I thought the second half was so far below he standards we have set ourselves in the last 18 moths, and I thought it was a shambles - to be honest.”