FAILING to hold on for a win or a draw when in promising positions has cost us several times this season and last Saturday at Fir Park was the latest hard blow for us to take.

We have thrown away a number of points in games that we should have won and we need to start seeing these matches out if we want to give ourselves the best chance of staying in the Premiership next season.

The boys have got to realise the situation we are in. We were in good shape with 10 minutes to go against Motherwell and we couldn't see it out. It has been the story of our season.

They have to realise what they need to do to win games because it was more points dropped and it can't go on.

We said at half-time that if we upped the pace and got at Motherwell then there was a chance we could win the game and we put ourselves in a position to do that.

But they scored twice in the final few minutes and our decision-making cost us dearly, like it has all season.

Once they are on the pitch, it is up to the players. We can't go out there and play for them. We are now in February and the same things are still costing us.

You never stop learning, whether you are 18 or 38. The players have played enough games and have enough experience now to know what is needed and what is required.

Obviously it does help having experienced players in the team and they do let their voice be heard on the pitch, but we need everyone pulling together.

I don't think we can use that as an excuse, the boys have played enough games now to know what is needed.

Games are running out fast and it is very disappointing because when you look at the points we have let go this season, we could be sitting quite comfortably in the table.

I have never seen anything like this in my career. You can go through spells where the performances aren't there and you are getting beaten, but you usually play your way out of them.

Our performances, overall, have been there. But mistakes and lapses in concentration are costing us.

It has been a really frustrating season because the boys have played well and adapted to this league, but we are getting punished and that is the difference between the Championship and the Premiership.

They are an upbeat bunch and I think a lot of that is down to the fact that they know they can play well and they can hurt teams because we have done it this season.

We need their confidence to be high and myself and Alan look to keep the spirit up. There is not that much wrong, it is just wee things we need to fix.

We have to keep going. We have got 12 massive games left and we can still stay in this league.

The boys go into games in a positive frame of mind. We work hard every day in training and work on different things but, come kick-off, it is about rolling your sleeves up and doing your job.

Do they want to be in the Premiership next season or do they want to be in the Championship? It is as simple as that now.

They are a good bunch of lads and a lot of results have been hard on them.

They have always come back and produced the next week, without always getting the result they deserve.

The boys have never gone into hiding, they are working hard and are up for the fight.