Motherwell ace Dean Cornelius: We let Steven Hammell down with criminal defeat to St Johnstone

Dean Cornelius feels Motherwell let Steven Hammell down in his latest audition to become the new permanent manager at Fir Park.

After recording a 1-0 win at St Mirren last week with 10-men on his dugout debut, caretaker boss Hammell saw his side fight back from 1-0 down to equalise in stoppage time at home to St Johnstone yesterday.

But there was another twist in the tale as Saints found a winner in the fourth minute of added on time through Stevie May to claim all three points.

It was a sickener for the Steelmen and Cornelius has arguably taken it harder than anyone.

The 21-year-old used to watch Hammell at the Steelmen in his pomp and the boyhood Motherwell fan is living the dream with one of his heroes growing up now his gaffer.

So the midfielder, introduced at half-time to help spark an albeit fruitless second-half revival, has taken the defeat to heart and feels the players needed to give more to help Hammell's cause.

He said: "I don't know about the other boys but, personally, I feel we've let Hammy down because they [Hammell and assistant Brian Kerr] have come in under tough circumstances and they've not had a lot of time to work with us.

"But they've lifted our spirits, they've tried to put across their ideas and I don't think we executed them the way he wanted us to.

"For me as a Motherwell fan, I know all about Hammy and I know what the club means to him.

"It's the same with Kerrso. They've been about the club for a while and, especially with the young boys here and I know what they are like with the younger players.

"You could see last week they gave a debut [to Kian Spiers] and this week they gave a debut [Robert Mahon].

"They are not afraid to throw you in whenever you are ready and I do think they've come