Brown's side recovered from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 with Rangers at Ibrox

Motherwell manager Craig Brown hopes Dundee United will help his side secure a European slot by winning the Scottish Cup after drawing 3-3 with Rangers.

Motherwell needed to match Hibs' result to qualify for the Europa League. But, with John Hughes' side beating United, Well missed out by two points.

"We're going to wait and hope Dundee United win the cup next week for us to get into Europe," said Brown.

"I congratulate Hibs, but we're desperately disappointed."

Two stoppage-time goals gave Brown's side a draw that spoiled Rangers' title party at Ibrox after the Lanarkshire outfit had been 3-1 down.

The comeback echoed the midweek performance against Hibernian, which produced a record-breaking 6-6 draw at Fir Park, but Brown felt his players performed poorly in the first half against Rangers and will need to play better in future.

The fight back was terrific, but it's not good enough to be fighting back all the time Craig Brown

"We didn't play at all in the first half and we deserved to be behind, but we didn't play at all in the first half," said Brown.

"We had more chances than Rangers in the second half and we should have scored a few more goals.

"The fight-back was terrific, but it's not good enough to be fighting back all the time.

"Regrettably, it wasn't good enough."

Brown said that he still did not know what his future was at Fir Park, despite reports suggesting that he and assistant Archie Knox had already agreed a long-term contract.

"Motherwell have indicated a desire for us to stay," he said. "We are in the same position as Walter Smith at Rangers and working without a contract."

However, Brown is planning for next season.

And, with winger Jim O'Brien set to depart Motherwell in the summer for Burnley and Everton's Lukas Jutkiewicz due to end his loan spell along with fellow Toffee John Ruddy, the manager is keen to bolster his squad in the summer.

"I need to get players for Motherwell," said Brown.

"There's a desperate need for new players, because we're losing at least three and one or two others haven't committed themselves.

"So there's a lot of work to be done in the summer."

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