Young did not enjoy the experience of being in the dugout

Motherwell caretaker boss Gordon Young admitted he found his first taste of being in the dugout hard going during the 2-1 loss to Hearts.

"That's not enjoyable," he admitted to BBC Scotland, having already said he is not interested in the post long term.

"It's down to repetition. You do things at your day-to-day work and you become efficient and proficient at it.

"But until you get into that groove you have to muddle through and you've got to learn the ropes."

Asked if he thought the players were affected by Craig Brown's departure to Aberdeen last week, Young replied: "It's only human nature but you've got to look for people to be strong.

"You want to be a leader yourself, you don't want to be led and you're looking for characters to stand up and be counted."

Young, who is normally head of youth development at Fir Park, thought an enforced three-and-a-half week break due to the freezing weather was a bigger factor in his side's downfall.

"We suffered for not playing in the last three weeks," said Young.

"It was ideal getting back in the game just before half-time. The feeling in the dressing room was we could build on that, but I don't think we kicked on."

Keith Lasley levelled on the stroke of half-time, less than 60 seconds after a Mark Reynolds own goal had given Hearts the lead.

But the game was won by a Kevin Kyle penalty on the hour, given when 'Well skipper Stephen Craigan upended the lively David Templeton.

"It happens in real time and a decision has to be made," said Young of the spot-kick award. "The referee has called it the way he sees it."

Motherwell pressed in the closing stages but their cause was hampered by the late dismissal of Steve Jennings, who chased after referee Stevie O'Reilly to complain that his side had warranted a penalty kick.

"He apologised to me after the game," revealed Young. "He's a competitor and he wanted to win the match.

"He felt strongly and maybe on another day the referee would have been more lenient.

"But if he's spoken out of turn then the referee is quite entitled to put him off."

Motherwell face former boss Brown at Aberdeen on Saturday.

"It makes it interesting," was Young's only comment.

"Our players are full of belief. They couldn't be where they are just now, in the top six, challenging for the top three until the last couple of weeks, without that.

"It's just a case of dusting themselves down and getting back to where they were."

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