It is important to remember that in the cup the main aim is to be in the hat for the next round. Inverness may take the credit from this game but that will be well and truly forgotten by the time we line up against our quarter-final opponents.
However, there is little denying that returning to earth after the United win, not so much with a bump as a graceful descent, is ideal. Fans were clearly getting way too far ahead of themselves talking about Europe and being top of the league (at Christmas!) and it may not be unfair to say the players believed all that was required last night was they turned up.
A sharp reminder that Motherwell is a side which has achieved nothing and is still in the early stages of development should serve everyone well, both those on the park and those watching from the stands.
Should we fail to beat Hibs and/or Falkirk in the next couple of games at Fir Park it will be far from a disaster. This season is all about survival and building for the future and the fact we are on a good run of five games undefeated does not mean targets should be wildly re-set. We have managed only two goals in regulation time in our last four games and conceding from two set pieces against Inverness is a timely warning that even the basics may not be as secure as we hoped.
But yesterday was still a night where good work was done. We showed character to come through when not playing well and with Aberdeen and Hibs exiting, two of the bigger sides are already out. Fingers crossed for a little luck on Thursday afternoon!