There were plenty of glum faces on show as the Motherwell staff waited with the group of reporters at the mouth of the tunnel. The sporting implication of the loss is bad enough but yet again the financial cost of a early cup exit will hang over the club for a long time. Motherwell directors Jim McMahon and Derek Weir were at the game and they will well aware of the impact on the end of year figures.
Captain McManus
The manager was making his sixth set of post-match comments after a defeat this season and there was a distinct change in direction. He let it be known that there was anger and frustration let loose in the dressing room and that he hoped certain players are thinking "I haven't got many more chances." In truth none of them impressed.
He returned to his previous theme that fans should vent their ire at him rather than the players. "I can take it". And there's plenty of criticism of his management of the team coming his way. The feelings vented by the Motherwell fans at Cappielow was echoed by the many comments on social media.
In reply to a question about the dropping of Lasley, Moult and Ainsworth from the staring line-up he looked uncomfortable as he explained that he felt Lasley was looking a "wee bit leggy" at the end of Saturday's game and it was his choice to rest him.
We'll never know if the result would have been different had we started with that trio but the suspicion remains that we did not have out strongest eleven on the park at kick off. Could it be that the manager has too many players in the squad? Has he made commitments to other clubs to give game time to loaned players?
Whatever the reason, we were beaten by a side that was more committed and determined to win the game. At times they were more physical but we rarely responded. No doubt Alan Archibald and his Thistle team would be keen observers and they would see little to fear ahead of our meeting on Saturday.