Ross Tierney says Motherwell need to stay positive to turn they poor run of results around after 'putting it right to Celtic' on Wednesday night.
The Irishman bagged his first goal for the Steelmen this season late on in the clash but it proved to be a mere consolation after strikes from Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda ensured a 2-1 win for the Hoops.
However, he is confident if they can produce the same kind of performance at St Johnstone on Saturday that will get them three points to take into the break for the World Cup, amid a run of six defeats in seven games that has them ninth in the Premiership.
The 21-year-old said: “We have just got to stay positive. Celtic are top of the league for a reason and they were in Europe and we know we put it right to them.
"I think Celtic were a bit under pressure after our goal but we are disappointed not to get any points.
“Every game apart from the cup game [the 4-0 defeat to Celtic], we have been really well in it. It was disappointing that our second-half performance was decent and we didn’t get a result.
“But we know if we bring the workrate and the quality on Saturday, we can get a result.
"One of the lads said we are only six points off third, which means we can’t get down.
“If we win on Saturday, we go into the break on a high and can come back with a good run of results
“The past month or six weeks has been a tough run of games.
"We’ve seen the downfall of that with points, but we know the performances have been there and we just need to start picking up points.”
Tierney's volley in the 86th minute was his first goal in 15 appearances this season and he admitted he thought VAR was about to chalk it off.
He added: "I thought I was offside when it first came over my shoulder from Slats (Callum Slattery].
"I just thought to get a good connection as I was quite close to the goal and, thankfully, I did.
“Look, VAR has its positives and thankfully it went for us in some parts and in some parts it didn’t.
"Hopefully I can kick on and get a few more goals."
VAR also worked against Motherwell with the officials not pulling play back after an incident in the build-up to Celtic's second goal.
Matt Penney's throw hit Saed Haksabanovic, who was off the field of play, and fell into the path of David Turnbull to set up Maeda to score.
Tierney added: "I think we were all angry at it, to be fair.
"The player was off the pitch when he stops the ball. If he’s off the pitch, you’ve got to bring it back.
"Obviously VAR didn't see it that way but I haven't seen it back."
Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on Twitter via @LanLiveSport, like us on Facebook or find us on Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video.
