CRAIG SAMSON refused to settle for escaping a Parkhead pummelling as Motherwelll went down 2-0 to Celtic.

The famous ground in Glasgow’s east end has been far from a happy hunting for the Steelmen in recent months.

In their last two visits to Celtic Park ahead of Saturday’s Ladbrokes Premiership meeting Mark McGhee’s team had shipped 12 goals without finding the net at the other end.

With that in mind, you’d expect most in claret and amber to be content to leave Glasgow with their pride intact following a relatively modest reverse.

Not Samson, however.

“No, you are never happy to walk away with a 2-0,” said the Motherwell keeper, who back in August conceded five goals. “The last time we came here we lost 5-0 but I think Celtic were absolutely brilliant that night. It was a game that probably could have been a lot more than five.

“This time, we had a different game plan. We worked on something and it nearly paid off for us. It doesn’t matter who you are playing or where it is, you are never happy to lose a game of football.

“I think we have learned. Brendan Rodgers had only recently taken over when we came here the last time.

“Our manager realised that what we did then didn’t work and we had to come up with something different. He and Faddy did that and, while we didn’t win the game, we have put in a better performance. That’s a positive.”

Samson was right. The tiny pocket of Motherwell fans that travelled to Parkhead on Saturday probably feared the worst coming into this one.

Their mood probably wasn’t helped by the inclusion of teenage left-back Jack McMillan in the starting line-up for his debut, along with forward Ross MacLean making his debut.

However, both acquitted themselves admirably in the face of tough opposition with Motherwell well in the game until Moussa Dembele’s penalty conversion just a few minutes from full-time after he was brought down by the Well keeper.

Samson said: “We had a game plan we had worked on during the week. It thought it worked pretty well. We frustrated them and caused them problems.

“It was maybe unfortunate we didn’t take something from the game. Yes, Celtic dominated possession and had more chances than us but that is something that will happen here a lot of the time. We had a couple of wee chances where we might have got something but it wasn’t to be.

“I thought the boys were excellent. The young kids who came into the team were different class.

“It is a credit to them that they could come into a match like this and do so well. It’s great.

“They weren’t fazed by it. Sometimes this can be the best place to get thrown in, in a big stadium against the team at the top of the league.

“You go in with no fear because you are not under any pressure. I thought the boys were brilliant and they deserve all the credit they get.”

Well boss McGhee added: “I felt that we tried as hard as we could to find a way of playing that gave us a chance of winning the game and I think although we’ve ended up losing, we did give ourselves a chance.

“Tactically we gave them problems and we nullified what we know they’re good at, we were prepared to let the full backs have the ball and that’s what we did and I think it worked out pretty well for us.”

“I think Chris Cadden was the best player on the park, he was fantastic, and Ross MacLean, David Ferguson, Jack McMillan and Jake Hastie acquitted themselves brilliantly.”