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Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou insists the officials made 'a big mistake' in their Premier Sports Cup semi-final defeat to St Mirren. But admitted his side - who were unbeaten in their last six against Saints - were nowhere near good enough to earn a place in next month's final after a humbling 4-1 reverse. The Steelmen produced their worst performance of the season under Hampden's Saturday night lights and in front of a 22,000-strong crowd at the national stadium But Motherwell are fuming with the manner of the opening goal that helped end their silverware dreams. Midway through the first half, referee Don Robertson awarded a debatable free-kick against Liam Gordon inside the Saints half for a foul on Mandron. The free-kick was taken quickly by Alex Gogic and, despite the ball clearly moving when it was launched forward, the Buddies raced upfield and won a corner. From the set-piece, Declan John's low corner wasn't dealt with and Mandron was able to take a touch and blast the ball beyond Calum Ward for the opener Fuming Well players protested about the build-up to the goal, but it stood and their day only got worse when Dan Nlundulu's stunning effort just before half-time doubled their lead. Late strikes from Richard King and a second for Mandron, either side of a Callum Hendry effort in 83 minutes which had appeared to give Well hope at 2-1, ensured Saints will face either Rangers or Celtic at Hampden in the final on December 14. On the moment of controversy, Askou said: "I think the ball was rolling, I think everyone could see that. "There are enough officials around the pitch to see that and stop it, especially as it is a situation where they take advantage of the ball rolling. "But, as the system is, the VAR can do nothing about it because it goes for a corner. "That is how it is and we have to accept that. We have to set up better and defend the corner better. "Obviously, it looks like a big mistake that leads to something decisive, but we need to accept that and move on. "We've had plenty of these moments in our games lately and we have tried to learn from that. "I am more irritated about the second goal, where we don't organise our team fast enough when we accelerate the game going forward. "That is something we have pushed and pushed to the players throughout the season and we knew it would be extremely important today because St Mirren are good at leaving two or three guys up front when they track back, so it is dangerous if we don't organise our defence. "There were some really disappointing moments in the first half that led to us being in a very difficult situation against a team that is so strong when they are ahead. "St Mirren fully deserve to be in the final and we need to shake off that disappointment. It is huge right now." Motherwell must pick themselves up for a tricky trip to Pittodrie a week on Sunday to face Aberdeen.
