Rangers defeat disappointing for Motherwell boss as he fumes 'they walked through us' after poor second half

Motherwell manager Graham Alexander says his team have to start playing on the front foot consistently - as they aren't good enough to step off matches.

'Well lost 3-1 to Rangers at Fir Park in their first post-split Premiership game after clinching a top six position.

A Liam Kelly own goal had them behind but they were in the ascendency by half-time when Ross Tierney levelled and the Light Blues had a man down through Leon Balogun's sending off.

It mattered not as a dismal second 45 minutes from the Steelmen saw Scott Wright score and a James Tavernier penalty inflict another loss upon them in North Lanarkshire.

Alexander's side have won just once in the league since December but are still in the hunt for a European spot. He reckons his side need to be more positive.

The 50-year-old said: "For 45 minutes it was really good. We were committed as a team and pressed them all over the park, causing them problems.

"We didn't give them time on the ball to get their rhythm and when they went down to 10 men, it was certainly there for us to take.

"We had to stay on the front foot and put pressure on them. We didn't do that right from the start. We allowed them to pop it around and put it over our heads.

"They walked through our team to score the second goal. It was there for us. It's a real disappointing one for us. Until we learn the lessons of how our team does its best work constantly, our form will be up and down.

"We have to try and remedy that."

Three defining matches in their pursuit of fourth or fifth await, heading on the road to Dundee United and Ross County before hosting Hearts in their final home match of the season.

Alexander added: "We need to either take a step forward or a step back. We have to be on the front