Motherwell came up short against Celtic for two minutes, says Kettlewell as he admits fitness must improve

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell reckons he has to work on improving his side's fitness after admitting "coming up short for two minutes" cost them in their heartbreaking defeat to Celtic.The Steelmen looked to be on course for a deserved point at Fir Park after 90 minutes had elapsed with the game level at 1-1.Blair Spittal's stunning strike in the first-half had been cancelled out by Adam Idah's header for the Hoops six minutes into the second half, and the hosts were holding firm heading into the final moments.However, Kettlewell's men suffered a late capitulation as tired legs led to no-one getting close enough to stop Idah poking home his second of the game in the 94th minute, while Luis Palma was left unmarked at the back post to knock in the third in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

It was a devastating end to a game in which Motherwell had more than matched their title-chasing opponents, especially in the first half, and Kettlewell says his players need to find the capacity within them mentally and physically to go to the very last whistle.He said: "I feel hard done by in terms of what we put in for 94 minutes."In the first half we really executed what we wanted to do and had, by far, the better opportunities in the game.

We scored a very good goal."Then, in the second half, where Celtic are sitting in a position where they are very close to Rangers and you understand the magnitude of the task and what they have to do, you know at times you are going to be on the backfoot."I am just so frustrated with the 94th minute goal, which is clearly the killer in the game."The second goal comes about by us trying to apply pressure around our 18-yard box and purely a miscommunication"We were not playing for a draw.