Motherwell ace Jake Carroll says 3-0 derby drubbing at Hamilton Accies was “devastating”

Dublin-born Carroll (29) – making his first start for ’Well in 10 months after recovering from an achilles injury – was gutted that the Steelmen couldn’t deliver for caretaker manager Keith Lasley who took charge after Thursday’s shock resignation by gaffer Stephen Robinson.

“It’s devastating really because it was a big game for us,” Carroll said of the disastrous Scottish Premiership defeat.

“We knew this game’s changed our season before and we know how much it means to the fans.

“Obviously Las was taking care of us today and we really wanted to win for him.

“It’s just really, really disappointing.”

When asked if he and his team-mates were shocked by Robinson’s resignation, Carroll replied: “Possibly. I’m not sure. Obviously the boys wouldn’t have been expecting it.

“He was very good to a lot of boys.

“He brought everyone here and we owe him a lot.

“So that’s disappointing. We’ve lost a good man but we’ve also got a good man still with Las but we need to do more for him.

“We were attacking (against Accies) but we conceded three sloppy, sloppy goals. If you don’t score you can’t concede goals like that.

“We’re creating chances and half chances and we’ve been good in possession and stuff.

“But we aren’t switched on enough at the back I don’t think.

“In recent weeks we’ve let in sloppy goals.

“I think we can score goals no problem. I think the strikers have done well at times but we need to be stronger at the back.

“For me, as a defender, we have to cancel those goals out so you don’t lose the game.”

Saturday’s defeat leaves Motherwell second bottom of the league in the relegation play-off spot after 20 games, only above bottom side Ross County on goal difference.

Hardly the ideal circumstances for Carroll to be re-establishing himself in the starting XI after nearly a year out.

He added: “It’s been frustrating because we haven’t been doing great of late.

“I’ve been desperate to get in and try and help the boys.

“I just want to kick on now, try and get some games under my belt and some wins for the team.

“It’s been a long time but I just want to play and help the lads.

“I’m happy Las is the gaffer today and we all want to win for him at the moment.”

Motherwell, 10 games without a win, now face a crucial away game at St Mirren this Saturday in their battle for survival.

“We know that we have to start winning games,” Carroll said. “You are not going to lose games all the time, there’s going to be a time when you win again.

“We’ve got to make sure the next game is that win.”

What makes the St Mirren game look all the more crucial for ’Well is the fact that the Steelmen’s next game after that is at home to runaway league leaders Rangers – whom they haven’t beaten in the league since Boxing Day, 2002 – on Sunday, January 17.

“We played Rangers a couple of weeks ago and I thought we did really well for 70, 80 minutes against them,” Carroll said.

“We’re not fearful of anyone or anything like that.

“We need to be stronger at the back and we need to score at the other end.”

Giving his reaction to the Accies debacle, caretaker boss Lasley said: “It was not good enough. I’ve been at this club a long time and it’s a difficult afternoon.

“But in saying that it’s up to me to drive this club forward as best I can, certainly in the interim and I plan on doing that.

“I’ve had a couple of days to work with the players, it’s been a difficult week but we need better than that.

“There needs to be some changes (in playing personnel). January will obviously give us the opportunity to do that.”