Motherwell didn't hit recent heights during defeat to Dons, admits Kettlewell after costly result

Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell admits they fell well short of their recent levels as Aberdeen put a big dent in their top six hopes and pulled them back into the relegation play-off mix.

The Steelmen lost 1-0 in a controversial clash at Fir Park, where Lennon Miller had an equaliser ruled out by VAR for a Theo Bair handball in the build-up and a handball by Aberdeen's Andrew Shinnie didn't lead to a penalty for the hosts at the death.

But Kettlewell knows the performance was not up to scratch with the back-to-back wins they had claimed over Livingston and Rangers in recent weeks.

He said: "I'm not going to kid any one on, I felt we were short on where we've been.

"I think we did enough to deserve something from the game but that doesn't mask over what I was looking for in terms of a performance.

"I didn't think we started the game well at all.

"I thought we looked a wee bit short on energy, short on intensity and we didn't pass the ball well at all.

"That group of players have had a great deal of credit for their last two performances, and rightfully so, but if I measure it on that, I didn't think we got to that level.

"We had a feeling Aberdeen would try and get their noses in front, and try and hit us on the counter attack, but there are a lot of frustrations in terms of the performance."

The Steelmen are eighth in the table only five points clear of Ross County in the relegation play-off spot so must now regroup over the international break and prepare for the visit of high-flying St Mirren.

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