U20s assistant manager Keith Lasley admitted that the youngsters inability to take advantage of their chances cost them points against St Mirren this afternoon.
A Dylan Mackin goal gave the Steelmen an early lead but the Saints struck back through Andy Webster after half an hour, although neither side managed to find the winning goal in the hour that remained.
Speaking to MFC TV after the match, Lasley admitted the boys played well but could have done better in front of goal.
He said: “We had a lot of good play up until the final third but ultimately it’s what you do in that final third that matters. We had a lot of shots blocked, crosses that were over hit or under hit, so it was really the final product that was lacking.”
[pullquote]We had a lot of good play up until the final third but ultimately it’s what you do in that final third that matters.[/pullquote]
David Ferguson and Jack McMillan, who are continuing to break in to the first team, both missed out and Lasley admitted that their presence may be missed but that is the aim of all the youngsters waiting to break through.
He said: “They are missed, but ultimately that is the goal here at Motherwell, to get these boys through to the first team and Crags is doing a great job here on a day to day basis preparing them as he is. It’s great, that’s what we want and in our opinion there are more to come.
“Hopefully from now and throughout the season the boys can show that they’re capable of making that step, the manager was here to watch them again and they need to showcase their abilities so they can be that next one to make the step in to the first team.”
[pullquote]We felt as if we started the game really well, we probably could have been more than just the one ahead at some stages but then we lost a sloppy goal from the set piece.[/pullquote]
St Mirren went close to snatching a winner in the dying seconds of the match, something the assistant manager admits would have been a punishment for missed opportunities.
He said: “We felt as if we started the game really well, we probably could have been more than just the one ahead at some stages but then we lost a sloppy goal from the set piece which seemed like the only way they would get back in to the game.
“They could have snatched it at the end and that’s the message we gave the boys – you can play well and you can do many good things in a game but ultimately if you don’t put the ball in the back of the net it can come back to haunt you.”