Bevis Mugabi: Motherwell gave Rangers too much respect

Mugabi said: “I feel that we do have the players to do damage and to challenge them.

“Obviously the scoreline flatters them quite a lot but they have the quality to punish us and that’s what they did.

“If we had scored first it would have been a totally different game. And if we had equalised it would have been a different game.

“But letting them have the penalty and scoring so early in the game gives them more confidence.

“And with the quality they’ve got it’s going to build up throughout the whole team and they’re just going to carry on with waves of attack all the time.”

Mugabi revealed it was tough for him not to play in ’Well’s 3-0 Europa League loss at Israeli side Hapoel Be’er Sheva last Thursday due to suspension.

“It was a real blow to miss the game,” Mugabi said.

“I was sat at home watching it on Motherwell TV and I was gutted to miss out.

“I thought the boys did well. I thought it was a tight game before we conceded and gave away the penalty but they showed a good display which I’m proud of the boys for doing. It was a shame we didn’t get through to the next round.”

’Well can bounce back in their next league fixture at Kilmarnock this Friday night, kick-off 7.45pm.

The build-up to the game has been marred by the revelation today (Wednesday) that three Kilmarnock players had tested positive for Covid-19.

It is a vital game for both sides, with fifth placed Killie just three points ahead of ninth placed ’Well after nine Premiership matches.

“It is tight in the table,” Mugabi said. “We’re going to go there with a strong mentality to take all three points, just come back into the training ground, work on our weaknesses and hopefully get a good result on Friday.”