Motherwell star labelled 'too honest' as Kettlewell bemoans 'foul' in lead up to Rangers second goal during cup loss

Stuart Kettlewell has labelled Motherwell frontman Zach Robinson “too honest” after referee Nick Walsh allowed play to continue in the lead up to Rangers 81st minute winner during the Premier Sports Cup semi-final defeat at Hampden.

The Steelmen exited the Premier Sports Cup at the semi-final stage following a 2-1 defeat, but Kettlewell has questioned whether Nedim Bajrami’s late match-winner should have been allowed to stand after claiming substitute Robinson had been fouled in the build-up.

Andy Halliday had has threatened to heap more pressure on Gers boss Philippe Clement after opening the scoring against his former club after 25 minutes, but second half goals from Cyriel Dessers and Bajrami ensured the Fir Park side went down fighting.

“I'm bitterly disappointed,” Kettlewell admitted post-match. “I think everyone can see how much we poured into the game. We got ourselves into a really good position at half-time and you always know there is going to be some sort of reaction from a Rangers point of view. I just said to the players there that I never want to be a glorious loser so I'm not going to sit here and start to make excuses or start to pat ourselves on the back.

“It has been a good achievement to get here, but we just felt that in moments of the game we lacked a bit of composure and the second goal is symptomatic of that. The second goal Rangers get is a foul on Zach Robinson, which I think the referee has maybe acknowledged at the time, but Zach stays on his feet trying to keep the ball alive.

“It was at a time in the game where if we manage it better and make a better decision - that's no criticism of Zach, he's too honest sometimes - but that was a moment that led to a square pass and Rangers break on the counter attack at that stage. From our own point of view, we have to look to improve slightly on the ball.

“I'm not going after Nick (Walsh). I thought he handled the game well and he allowed the game to flow as best he could. I just felt at the time, the centre-back is manhandling our striker while he is trying to be honest and retain the ball. Do you have to fall down for it to be a foul? I think Nick has let the game to try and roll on.

“But that also leads back to Dan playing a square pass and Rangers turn it over. There's an honesty in what we do and that honesty leads back to trying to make those improvements to make sure we make better decisions so that ends up in an attack to Motherwell rather than a goal for Rangers. Here in the big open space at Hampden sometimes we need to utilise that a bit more and have a bit more patience and composure to what we do. I always believe in trying to get better.”