JOE CHALMERS may have been at Motherwell for almost 15 months, but at last the full-back is settling in to life at Fir Park.

It was never going to be easy for the Celtic academy graduate, and he knew it. Joining from the Parkhead club at the age of just 21, Chalmers was expected to fight it out for the left-back berth belonging to Stevie Hammell.

Nineteen appearances came and went for the former Scotland Under-21 internationalist as he struggled to get a consistent run in the Well first-team.

Despite only making six appearances since the turn of the the year last season, it is a figure that was surpassed on Saturday as Chalmers made his seventh outing in claret and amber this term.

Most importantly, it was a standout showing for a man who is keen to take his chance while stepping out of Hammell's shadow at Fir Park, and prove that he has what it takes to make his mark at Motherwell.

"The performance against Rangers will be up there with the best games I've played for the club," Chalmers told SportTimes. "It's been a bit up and down since I came in but I've always given my best. I'll continue to do that.

"Hopefully I can build on that performance and kick on again. I just try and give 100%.

"Sometimes things haven't just worked right but against Rangers I was happy with my performance, everyone else should be the same.

"The more games you play and the sharper you get. Hammy is a great player and when he plays he always does well, so it's going to be hard to get that run of games.

"When I get the chance I need to take it. The two of us get on well and I learn a lot from him. It's good for the two of us to keep each other on our toes."

Even four days on Motherwell will still be wondering how they left Ibrox on Saturday with no points to their name.

Scott McDonald's goal may have been a shock on 19 minutes, but it triggered a promising and comfortable spell that almost delivered results until Kenny Miller struck in injury time to snatch the hosts a 2-1 win.

The Steelmen now have just one home game against Dundee left before the international break and Chalmers has taken great encouragement from a strong 90 minutes against the Ladbrokes Premiership newcomers.

"Everybody was gutted after putting so much in, we gave everything," he said. "To lose in the last minute was devastating.

"We worked hard on keeping the ball and trying to pass it and that seemed to be working. Even in the second half we lost the two goals which was unfortunate, but there was so much in our performances to be encouraged by.

"it's not been easy after losing at Celtic then at home to St Johnstone but we now feel that we are back on track again."