I feel we can get back to Hampden and win next time

SAYS ALLAN CAMPBELL

WHEN the disappointment no longer leaves a lump in the throat and the frustration begins to fade, Allan Campbell will be left with the hope of making it third time lucky on his next visit to Hampden.

A second-half substitute during November’s League Cup defeat to Celtic, Campbell started Saturday’s Scottish Cup mission. There was no shame in it ending in failure. Not against an opponent that continues to stamp its mark on history with such ruthless regularity.

Unable to compete effectively in a first half that left them 2-0 down, Motherwell at least managed to summon some kind of response after the break.

But it wasn’t enough. Not enough to find a way past Craig Gordon. Nor to properly reward the claret-and-amber contingent that had offered such vigorous backing to their team. Come full-time, the weary trudge to collect runners-up medals created a very unwelcome sense of déjà vu.

Motherwell’s season may be over but Campbell hopes the weekend events might actually prove more of a beginning than an ending.

At 19, a promising future stretches out for the tenacious midfielder. And he still believes it can include the jubilation of lifting a trophy while employed at Fir Park.

‘The whole day was a great experience for me but I just wish I could have been walking up those steps to collect a winner’s medal,’ reflected Campbell.

‘The game flashed past just as quickly as everyone says it does — sadly — especially when you lose. However, I’ll take this into the rest of my career and I hope there will be another final with Motherwell.

‘We’ll come back and try to have as good a season as this next time out and, hopefully, win a trophy.

‘I believe every single man in our dressing room is capable of winning something but that opening 20 minutes killed us. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get in their faces in the remaining 70 minutes to get the goals we needed.

‘I know it’s devastating to have lost two finals in the same season but we should be proud of what we’ve done. The aim for us is to come back and lift some silverware. I’m gutted that we couldn’t do it for the supporters and the staff at the club, who have put so much into it as well.

‘The gaffer stressed afterwards that, as hard as it is, we have to try and take the positives from this experience — and we have done incredibly well. He told us that we’d done him proud and he just wished that we could have won for ourselves.’

Callum McGregor’s brilliant finish put Celtic in front before Olivier Ntcham quickly doubled their advantage. It seemed a question of how many the Parkhead club could score. Mercifully for Motherwell, the half-time words of Stephen Robinson seemed to have a galvanising effect.

‘We didn’t really start at all in that first 20 minutes and then, going in at half-time, we had to regroup as a team and show more fight and hunger,’ said Campbell. ‘To be fair, the boys did that.

‘However, I just wish we could have given those fans a bit more to cheer. Credit to them — they cheered us off to our hotel on Friday and they stayed behind after the game to applaud us.

‘I don’t know why we started so poorly. I’m just glad that we stuck together and battled for the fans in the second half.

‘Don’t get me wrong. Celtic are a good team and, when they start pinging the ball around the way they can, it’s hard. That’s why they’ve won the Treble.

‘But we’ve run them close the past few times we’ve played them and I’m disappointed we couldn’t take that next step.’

Like Chris Cadden, Curtis Main and others, Campbell could well attract transfer interest this summer. Selling players is a core part of Motherwell’s business, yet the teenager would like to see this season’s squad reunited for a new campaign.

‘A lot of the lads have already signed new contracts and if we can keep the togetherness we’ve shown this season, then we’ll be in with a shout,’ added Campbell.

‘We play together and fight for each other. Hopefully, the gaffer will add a few new faces but the core of the team will stay together.’

The Fir Park side came closest to a goal with ten minutes remaining. Cadden was tugged back by Dedryck Boyata — booked despite Motherwell shouts for a red card — and substitute Gael Bigirimana whipped in a fine free-kick that struck the bar.

‘I could see what Craig Gordon was trying to do and push his defensive wall to one side to see more of the ball, so I tried to aim for the target,’ said Bigirimana.

‘Once I hit it, I saw it heading for the top corner but in the blink of an eye it hit the bar. Those sort of things will be in your head but it’s gone, you can’t change the past, so you have to renew your mind.

‘It’s not for me to say if it should have been a red card but on days like Saturday, you need those sort of moments to go for you and make the game more intense for both teams and fans — and have a grandstand finish.

‘After the season we’ve had, we hoped to finish with a cup but it obviously wasn’t meant to be.

‘However, we’ve had a great campaign and we’ll benefit from it as a team and a club.

‘It might not feel like it after a defeat but sometimes you get better and stronger when you’ve been knocked down and you have to get up again.’