Under-pressure Graham Alexander's post match interview was interrupted by a raging Motherwell in wake of their side's 3-0 Europa Conference League qualifying shocker to Sligo Rovers. And they didn't hide their anger with at least one punter launching expletive-ridden insults aimed at their manager.
The 50-year-old watched his Steelmen melt over 180 hopeless minutes as the Irish side dominated their Scottish Premiership rivals with ease thanks to Shane Blaney's stunner and Max Mata's late strike in the second leg. The abject displays over both legs comes amid unrest among Motherwell supporters due to their rotten run of form during 2022.
And the angst among a sizeable travelling support was there for all to hear as Well's flops were showered with a chorus of boos from half-time onwards within The Showgrounds. As Alexander was set to speak after the humiliating defeat, the former Scotland international was met with industrial language from at least one fan, which forced BBC Scotland presenter Al Lamont to issue an on-air apology after audible shouts of "f***** s***" being broadcast over the airwaves.
The crestfallen boss – hit with shouts of of 'you're getting sacked in the morning' throughout the game - told BBC Scotland: "We didn't compete at the level we needed to win the game. We gave a really poor goal away, it was good quality from the lad but I just thought we were a little bit naive in game-winning situations at both ends of the pitch.
"The goal is so early in the game it puts us on the back foot, it's a moment of quality from the lad to stick it in the top corner, it's a cheap free kick we give away but you can't take anything away from the boy. It was the perfect start for them and the worst start for us. Allied to the goal we gave away in the first leg, it makes it a difficult game for us. I just thought any momentum we got going at anytime was nullified by by Sligo in the important moments.
"The reality is they took their opportunity in the first game - which we gave them - and the early goal in this game made it a real difficult task for us. We have to take the criticism that is coming our way. We won't hide away from it, I won't hide away from it and I'm sure my players won't.
"It's maybe a reality check of where we are going into Sunday. We are two games into it [the season] and there's a lot of football to play this season."
The trouncing is compounded by the fact Viking dumped out Sparta Prague to tee up two legs with Rovers after the Fir Park side's shock exit. And their Scottish Premiership season kicks off with a clash with St Mirren and former boss Stephen Robinson on Sunday with the pressure mounting.
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