IAIN Vigurs today insisted Motherwell's self-belief has not been dented by their 3-0 defeat to champions Celtic.

And he is confident the Steelmen can get back to winning ways in their massive SPFL Premiership showdown with Aberdeen this weekend.

The midfielder reckons the outcome of the match could have been different if his side had taken one of the chances they carved out.

And he stressed that Well, who remained in third place in the Premiership table just a point behind the Dons, are not downhearted after the result.

Vigurs said: "I thought we gave Celtic a good game on Saturday - in the second half especially - and I can't believe we didn't score a goal.

"Yes, the three goals which we conceded were all avoidable on our part. We made a few mistakes and Celtic were very clinical in front of goal.

"The quality of finishing was the only difference between us. We had our chances, could have scored and didn't. They had their chances and scored them."

He added: "But the gaffer said he was pleased with our second-half performance. After going a goal behind early on you really do fear for the worst. But we gave them a few scares.

"The boys were a bit quiet in the changing room after the game after being beaten 3-0 and failing to take any of the chances that we had created.

"But I think we will take a lot from how we played in general against Celtic away from home going into the game with Aberdeen at Fir Park this weekend.

"I am sure there will be a reaction from Aberdeen after their defeat to Inverness. But there will be a reaction from ourselves as well. Both teams will be up for it.

"We are looking to win every game that we go into no matter where it is."

Vigurs, who joined Motherwell in the summer after four years at Ross County, felt he had netted a long-range effort in the second half against Celtic.

And he is still struggling to understand how goalkeeper Fraser Forster managed to deny him and stretch his side's clean sheet run to nine matches.

He said: "I thought I had scored my first one. The ball dipped a bit and I don't know what the keeper did. He must have thrown an arm at it. It was a pretty unorthodox save. I should really have hit the target with the other one."

Meanwhile, the 25-year-old has stressed that nobody at Well is holding Stephen McManus responsible.

The ex-Celts stopper turned a James Forrest cross into his own net to kill off any hopes the visitors had of getting a result.

Vigurs said: "Stephen held his hands up after the game and apologised, but there was no need for him to. It was just one of those things.

"Forrest whipped in a great ball, Stephen didn't have much time to react, he threw a leg at it and it has come off his shin and gone in. It is just unfortunate."