Stephen Robinson reckons a poor refereeing decision cost Motherwell in the 2-1 defeat to Rangers as he heaped praise on his players.
The Northern Irishman felt that Liam Donnelly was fouled in the build-up to Jermain Defoe 's equaliser after the pair collided as they chased Allan McGregor's long ball.
Motherwell had gone in front through Devante Cole but Defoe's leveller set the scene for Filip Helander to nod the winner in the second half.
Robinson was frustrated at losing a goal to a set piece but admitted it was a stunning delivery from James Tavernier to create the chance.
However it was Andrew Dallas ' decision not to award a free kick in the lead up to Defoe's strike that left the Fir Park boss most frustrated.
Robinson said: "We caused Rangers a lot of problems, I have to give credit to the players. We showed a lot of quality. We have no right to come here with that kind of quality and we did - it shows the strides we’ve made.
"The frustration for me is we’ve got beat by a set play. Brilliant delivery and you have to give credit. Tavernier’s deliveries are excellent but we get beat by a set play and a very very dubious decision for the first goal.
"They come together and if they come together and he falls over and it’s accidental it doesn’t matter it’s a foul. It leads to the first goal and if we had got in at half time then perhaps it’s a little bit different. Sometimes these things go against you.
"It was a 93 minute performance, I thought Rangers were hanging on at the end. They hit us on the counter but listen, they are a quality side. You don’t go to Porto and draw with Porto. Steven has done an amazing job here.
"They’re an excellent side. For us to be creating chances and them to be on the back foot and getting frustrated shows how far we’ve come.
"I’m really proud of the players but I’m really disappointed we’ve lost to a set play and a decision that probably needs looked at again."
