Matt Penney says Saturday’s Premiership clash against Aberdeen will be a test of character and mentality, as they bid to bounce back from a 4-0 roasting against Celtic.
The Glasgow giants ran out comfortable winners in their Premier Sports Cup quarter-final tie at Fir Park last night, with a Liel Abada double added to by strikes from Reo Hatate and Kyogo.
Aberdeen arrive in ML1 on Saturday, fresh from their own 4-1 win over Partick Thistle to cruise into the cup semi-finals and Penney says it will be a major test if Motherwell are to take points.
Defender Penney, 24, who is on loan from Ipswich Town, said: “I think it’s now about dusting ourselves down, analysing it, and moving on to Saturday, which is a massive game for us.
“We’re gutted to drop out of the cup, obviously, but now our focus turns to the weekend – Aberdeen here, so it’s a massive game for us.
“We need to go out there and win the game, no questions asked.
“It will test our character, it will test our mentality, but there’s no doubt the boys down there and the manager still believe in the way we play, in each other, and as a team.
“It’s about showing belief and then moving on to Saturday to get the three points.”
Penney acknowledged that Celtic are a side who are on top form just now, but was disappointed in the manner of the defeat.
He said: “It’s a very frustrating result. They’re a great team, but the goals we conceded were very poor.
“I think we need to really look at them and liven up, as individuals and as a squad.
“Don’t get me wrong, they’re a very good team, but we need to be a lot better, defensively, to get anything from these kind of games.”
Penney forced a good save from Benji Siegrist in the Celtic goal a minute from time, punching his netbound drive away from the bottom right corner, and the Englishman knew he had gone close.
But he says it’s exactly in moments like those that Motherwell must seek to capitalise.
He said: “It’s agonising. It’s a great save from the keeper in the end but it’s these little details I think.
“Offensively, we need to tidy up and be more clinical and at the back we just need to keep the door shut for longer.
“Some of the goals were so, so preventable and so poor, so we need to liven up quickly and move forward to Saturday.”
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