Motherwell star Tom Sparrow has pinpointed the moment that his side blew the game against Celtic.

The Steelmen fell to a 3-0 home defeat at Fir Park, with Sparrow making his first Scottish Premiership start since penning a two-year contract in June.

The 21-year-old played 80 minutes of what was a routine victory for the reigning champions.

Motherwell did hit the woodwork twice in the first half before Luke McCowan found the opener, and it was the goal from Alistair Johnston shortly after the restart where Sparrow believes the Lanarkshire team could've done better, before Celtic substitute Adam Idah rounded off the scoring late on. 

"I think the second goal, if you ask me where it was lost, I think up to then, especially in the first 20 minutes, I thought we had some really good chances and we definitely should have been 1-0 up probably," he said.

"We said at half-time that obviously we were 1-0 down, but I mean, it was a ricochet for the goal and Aston's not really done anything else.

“I know they had a goal disallowed, but then come out for the second half and again, I thought we were OK in the game again, and then the second goal just sort of takes the wind out of us a little bit. But you're playing against a top-quality opposition, you'd switch off for one second and you're going to get punished."

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It was the first taste of facing opposition of Celtic's standard, and the Motherwell midfielder reckons he's already learned some harsh lessons from the loss. 

"Yes, definitely," he confessed. “I think obviously it was my first one against Celtic, but there were a few lads who, again, it was their first one.

"Obviously, there's a few that have done it a lot of times, but like you say, we'll only get better for it in the future. We'll definitely learn the lessons."

Sparrow, who previously had a loan spell at Hamilton Academical in 2023, has settled back into the area fairly quickly despite having to bide his time for regular game time. 

"Yes, I'm enjoying it," the Wales Under-21 internationalist stated. "Everyone's been brilliant. The gaffer, staff and all the lads are brilliant, and like I said, I think we've made a good start, which has helped, and now I'm enjoying it up to now.

"I think I felt fit, and the staff here are really good. Obviously, I've been coming on, but I've not been playing full games. But I'm still up to speed with training, and I think most of the lads would be the same, that they're ready to go if they're called upon."