Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson admits his side ‘weren’t at the races’ against Rangers

Fir Park boss reflects on a ‘jaded’ performance by his players

Stephen Robinson refused to blame the penalty decisions for his side's defeat. Picture: SNS.

Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson lamented a weary display by his team against Rangers and admitted they “weren’t at the races” as they slumped to a 5-1 defeat at Fir Park.

Robinson was frustrated by the award of two penalties to Rangers for handball offences, meaning Motherwell have now conceded eight goals from spot-kicks this season.

But he insisted that wasn’t the critical factor in a loss which leaves his side only one point clear of the bottom of the Premiership table.

“To put it simply, we probably got what we deserved,” said Robinson. “Rangers were the better side. They didn’t have to work very hard for it, to be honest. When we went 1-0 down, we were beat already.

“We looked completely jaded, we looked extremely tired - both mentally and physically. We half-pressed them at times and if you half-press a team as good as Rangers, they pick you off.

“The penalty early on kills us. That’s eight penalties we have conceded now, so it’s a statistic which doesn’t read very well. We have to deal with it, we got what we deserved today. I can’t dwell on it.

“The penalties are a concern. We have conceded them in Europe, which you can half understand with the lack of experience when you just touch someone they go down.

“But handball penalties - I think that’s three or four now. The rule itself is very difficult for the referees so I’m not going to criticise them.

“People are making changes to our game who have probably never kicked a ball in their lives.

“It makes life difficult but let me reiterate, we didn’t lose the game because of the penalties. We lost the game because we weren’t at the races. We were jaded, we were tired and we didn’t perform.”

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