Motherwell manager Graham Alexander was impressed by full debutants Liam Shaw and Ross Tierney, despite a 2-0 defeat to Hearts on Saturday.
Andy Halliday put the home side in front in the Premiership clash at Tynecastle before Ellis Simms doubled the Jambos advantage after half-time.
The Steelmen remain fourth after Hibs' loss to Livingston on the other side of Edinburgh but there were still impressive displays, according to Alexander, from Celtic loanee Shaw and Irishman Tierney.
Both were making their first starts for the club after swapping Celtic and League of Ireland side Bohemian respectively for Fir Park.
Alexander said: "Ross is a good player. I thought him and Liam Shaw, both making their full debuts, were both excellent for us. Callum Slattery came in as well and was excellent.
"We know what we have in Ross. He isn't the finished article but he's got good movement and a brilliant football brain. He gets into pockets of space and makes intelligent runs.
"He runs and runs for the team and you can't ask for more than that. I am really pleased with him, and Liam. I thought they were both good but the result is still lingering."
Club captain Stephen O'Donnell meanwhile says Alexander's men still performed well in Gorgie, despite the loss: "Over the piece we didn't score and didn't do enough to win the game.
"We could have defended the goals better but on the whole I thought it was a level game. But there were big moments and that happens in football.
"You don't want to be pleased when you get beat but I thought we did well first half. We give away a cheap first goal but we kept working hard."
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