Derek McInnes

“The thing that frustrated me most was not getting the second goal when we looked likely to get it.

“We have passed up a few opportunities. We had real control and were managing the game well. We looked strong and the hungrier side. We looked the more likely to get the second goal and kept Motherwell’s threat at arms length – and we knew that would be a challenge because the Motherwell front three had been in good form prior to today’s game. We knew we would have to deal with their threat. But you have to be able to deal with it 90 minutes, not 73. I though both goals were very cheap. From that point of you I am disappointed. We cannot be losing that type of goal and expect to win a game.

“We still had a chance to get something from the game but that task was made more difficult when Barry gets sent off. I thought it was the right decision. He has tried to jostle for possession and tried to get his body in the way but he has raised his elbow. For me the referee is quite within his rights to send him off.

“I also thought (Kennedy) should have been sent off. It would have been harsh. It would have been really harsh that because we have suffered from that ourselves, the last man making a tackle and giving away a penalty. I think we would all agree that a penalty should suffice. But the letter of the law says if you deny a goal scoring opportunity, and Jonny Hayes is about to shoot five or six yards from goal, so it is a goal scoring opportunity. It is a red card. Although at the time you maybe think a penalty is enough, it is not the right decision.

“Today’s results leave us in second spot with 21 points still to play for. We have to try and win them all. We cannot get too disturbed with what happened today. We knew Motherwell away at any time was a tough game and for 70 odd minutes we looked the better team. But as I say we have to play for 90 minutes.

“We knew prior to today there was not a lot of room for error for our season.

“There were too many errors in that 15 minute period which has culminated in us losing the game today. We have got to go and win as many of the last seven games as possible. We will finish where we deserve to finish. We play all the same games and we will see where it takes us. I still think the nature of the league at the minute, points will be dropped. I still think there will be a few surprise results along the way. We just have to make sure we try and win our games.

“We are in between Celtic and Hearts. We are trying to catch Celtic and stay ahead of Hearts. So there is plenty for my team to keep interested in and reasons to keep going. We are obliged with the support we have to keep going, to try and get as many wins as possible.

“We just look to our next game and try and get back to winning ways. We responded well to our last defeat and went on a good run again. We just have to try and go on another run and as I say win as many of the game as possible.”

“We just look to our next game and try and get back to winning ways. We responded well to our last defeat and went on a good run again. We just have to try and go on another run and as I say win as many of the game as possible.”