Motherwell boss frustrated by foul not given in build-up to Rangers winner in Premier Sports Cup semi-final defeat

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Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell insists there was a foul in the build-up to Rangers' winning goal at Hampden and says he is bitterly disappointed for his players to crash out of the League Cup in the semi-finals.

The Steelmen gave the defending champions a run for their money with Andy Halliday's first half strike giving them a lead to hold onto.

Rangers responded after the break to book their place in next month's final against Celtic with goals to from Cyriel Dessers and Nedim Bajrami to send the Steelmen spinning out.

But Kettlewell insisted Zach Robinson was fouled before he played a pass to Dan Casey and the Irishman then lost possession, allowing Rangers to break upfield and score.

He said: "I'm bitterly disappointed. I think everyone can see how much we poured into the game. We got ourselves into a really good position at half-time and you always know there is going to be some sort of reaction from a Rangers point of view.

"I just said to the players there that I never want to be a glorious loser so I'm not going to sit here and start to make excuses or start to pat ourselves on the back.

"It has been a good achievement to get here, but we just felt that in moments of the game we lacked a bit of composure and the second goal is symptomatic of that.

"The second goal Rangers get is a foul on Zach Robinson, which I think the referee [Nick Walsh] has maybe acknowledged at the time, but Zach stays on his feet trying to keep the ball alive.

"It was at a time in the game where if we manage it better and make a better decision - that's no criticism of Zach, he's too honest sometimes - but that was a moment that led to a square pass and Rangers break on the counter attack at that stage.

"From our own point of view, we have to look to improve slightly on the ball.

"I'm not going after Nick. I thought he handled the game well and he allowed the game to flow as best he could.

"I just felt at the time, the centre-back is manhandling our striker while he is trying to be honest and retain the ball.

"Do you have to fall down for it to be a foul? I think Nick has let the game to try and roll on.

"But that also leads back to Dan playing a square pass and Rangers turn it over. There's an honesty in what we do and that honesty leads back to trying to make those improvements to make sure we make better decisions so that ends up in an attack to Motherwell rather than a goal for Rangers.

"But we've had a very good start to the season so I am not going to sit here and criticise the players.

"When you see them slump to their knees at the end, that wasn't disappointment, that was exhaustion because they poured so much in."

Despite the result it was a memorable day for 18-year-old Lennon Miller as he captained the team at Hampden.

And Kettlewell admitted he was jealous of the midfielder and fellow youngsters Marvin Kaleta and Ewan Wilson for getting such an experience so young.

He added: "We've got so many good stories on the go. Marvin Kaleta has had three senior starts in football and they've been in the last seven days. Celtic, Dundee United and Rangers in a semi-final. You can't buy those experiences, you can't buy how that feels as a young player. Ewan Wilson as well.

"But obviously the massive story is we have the youngest captain in the club's history in Lennon Miller at 18. He has merited it and I thought he took that responsibility on his shoulders.

"He will critique himself and realise there's times where he can be better but I have been asked how that sets them up for their career?

"And I'm jealous of them to get those experiences so young and early in their career.

"I think it is just a brilliant thing and that's what we want to continue as a football club and try to bring through our own.

"Ewan Wilson has come back from Beith Juniors to play in a semi-final at Hampden, out of position, in the middle of the park, and I'm sure he'll improve off the back of it."

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