Rangers cup defeat hasn't floored Motherwell ahead of St Johnstone clash, says boss

A home match against St Johnstone is a good chance for Motherwell to bounce back from their Premier Sports Cup semi-final defeat against Rangers.

But boss Stuart Kettlewell insists his players haven’t been floored by their Hampden heartache.

Andy Halliday put the Steelmen ahead at the National Stadium on Sunday, but goals from Cyriel Dessers and Nedim Bajrami sent the Ibrox side through to a final showdown against Celtic on December 15.

Kettlewell says any game is a chance to react to the defeat, but is particularly looking forward to getting back in front of their own supporters at Fir Park this afternoon.

He said: “My focus is to make sure the players are picked up from the weekend and to make sure we can try and perform as well as we can.

“We’re absolutely fine. There was unbelievable disappointment on Sunday night, that probably carried a little bit into Monday morning, but our sole focus was to make sure everyone was back at it, come Tuesday.

“It’s not as if I’m going round picking boys up off the floor and off the canvas – they have a real desire to do well and to achieve for this club.

“That’s where the disappointment comes from, because we wanted to go that next step and get into the final, but we came up short, as a group. We accept that, and hold our hands up to it.

“The motivation is always to be moving forward, try and improve, and we spoke about it as a group after the game, for them not to have a hangover in that disappointment.

“I have seen a group of players who are desperate to get back into league action, and to try and replicate some of the performances and results that they’ve had already this season.

“I think any game is an opportunity to bounce back, not specifically St Johnstone.”

Kettlewell added: