Jens Berthel Askou: There are always surprises in football

Jens Berthel Askou was disappointed with his first result as Motherwell boss – but noted they were not the only top-flight team to struggle.

In his first game in the Well technical area, the Dane watched his side draw 2-2 with Clyde in the Premier Sports Cup.

Bully Wee striker James Hilton put the League Two side ahead after just 16 minutes and although a double from Tawanda Maswanhise had the Steelmen in front, Liam Scullion levelled in the 53rd minute with a header – with Motherwell taking the bonus point with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win.

Elsewhere, fellow William Hill Premiership side Dundee lost 1-0 at home to Airdrieonians in Steven Pressley’s first game as boss of the Tayside club while St Mirren were held to a goalless draw at Arbroath and lost the penalty shoot-out.

Ahead of the second group game at home to Peterhead on Tuesday, Askou told Well’s official X account: “It just shows how tricky football is in general.

“There’ll always be surprises in football, especially in the cup tournaments, there will be things that don’t go as expected.

“We didn’t get the result we wanted, obviously. A few other clubs, as far as I’ve heard, didn’t do that either.

“And that’s just football in general. You have to be there on the day.

“I think in terms of effort and structure, we were good, in terms of intensity, I think we pressed them with the intensity.

“Every time we tried to press, they put the ball in behind. I think we should have dealt better with some of their direct play.

“That’s something to improve on, definitely. And then it’s about getting the tempo up, but I’m sure that Fir Park will give us the possibility to play at a much higher tempo.”