INTERIM Motherwell manager Stephen Craigan has urged his players to consider their futures when they step on to the park.

The temporary first team boss suffered defeat in his second game in charge at the weekend with a 2-1 reverse at Dens Park.

It was a result which clearly disappointed the Northern Irishman, particularly because Well’s first-half momentum seemed to fall away in the second period.

Regardless of who is in charge of the Steelmen in just under two weeks’ time when Celtic come to Fir Park, Craigan has told the team to show ‘heart’ when they step over the white line.

He said: “It’s a mentality thing that when the second half kicks off, you have to continue doing what was making you successful in the first half.

“Again, it’s conceding poor goals. There’s been lots of games this season where the opposition are getting into our box too easily, scoring goals too easy. You set up a wall for a free-kick and it disintegrates.

“There’s no excuses, the players have to face up to it. The players have to understand where they are going in their career first and foremost at Motherwell, and then where they see themselves long term.

“Whether it’s me in charge or someone else, it doesn’t come easy to you. You don’t just come up to football games and get through them with a couple of touches of the ball. You have to go and show a bit of heart at times.”

Motherwell’s sixth defeat in 10 Ladbrokes Premiership matches keeps them anchored in ninth place in the standings while Dundee now move up to sixth.

It is a lofty perch Craigan believes the team from Lanarkshire should have their sights on.

“It’s very frustrating,” he told MFC TV. “I don’t think there is a lot between the two teams on the pitch but they are sitting five points above us in the league after the terrific start they’ve had to the season.

“It’s disappointing because we should be up there, and I think we should have had something out of the game.”