Motherwell manager Craig Brown hailed skipper Stephen Craigan and leading European marksman Jamie Murphy after the pair helped the Steelmen into the Europa League play-offs with a memorable 3-0 win over Aalesund.
Murphy lashed a fourth-minute strike into the top corner to give Motherwell the aggregate advantage before John Sutton turned home a second in the 13th minute.
Craigan and central defensive partner Mark Reynolds then helped shut out the Norwegians, who improved considerably after the break, with 6ft 8in striker Tor Hogne Aaroy unable to get into the game.
Darren Randolph was assured and commanding in goal and Murphy helped secure a 4-1 aggregate triumph when he squared for substitute Jonathan Page to slot home in the 89th minute.
Brown said: "I think the result flattered us but what you saw was organisation and determination.
"They had very good quality. I think we played better over there at home but we scored some fine goals.
"The fans are not always right but they were right tonight with that chant - there's only one Stephen Craigan.
"You've got to say that against the big fellow both Reynolds and Craigan were immense, particularly Stephen Craigan. he was faultless."
Brown also highlighted Murphy's decision to forego a great chance to net his eighth European goal by giving Page a simple opportunity.
"When Murphy went through at the end, he's the leading European goalscorer, he could have added to his tally," Brown said. "But such is the nature of the guy that he passed to the better-placed John Page.
"That tells you a lot about Jamie Murphy and the team spirit here - the play for each other.
"It was a wonderful goal he scored and he could have had another one but he was unselfish."
Well go into the next round unseeded and could draw one of Europe's biggest names in tomorrow's draw.
But Brown would not be upset to draw Real Mallorca, who have been expelled for financial mismanagement, thus securing direct entry to the group stages.
"We're delighted we might get a glamour tie," Brown said. "I think we want Real Mallorca. I'm joking but there's an argument there, that would give us a passport right into the lucrative group stages and they would bring big teams.
"There is also the argument for getting Liverpool or Juventus - it doesn't really matter."
Craigan and central defensive partner Mark Reynolds then helped shut out the Norwegians, who improved considerably after the break, with 6ft 8in striker Tor Hogne Aaroy unable to get into the game.
Darren Randolph was assured and commanding in goal and Murphy helped secure a 4-1 aggregate triumph when he squared for substitute Jonathan Page to slot home in the 89th minute.
Brown said: "I think the result flattered us but what you saw was organisation and determination.
"They had very good quality. I think we played better over there at home but we scored some fine goals.
"The fans are not always right but they were right tonight with that chant - there's only one Stephen Craigan.
"You've got to say that against the big fellow both Reynolds and Craigan were immense, particularly Stephen Craigan. he was faultless."
Brown also highlighted Murphy's decision to forego a great chance to net his eighth European goal by giving Page a simple opportunity.
"When Murphy went through at the end, he's the leading European goalscorer, he could have added to his tally," Brown said. "But such is the nature of the guy that he passed to the better-placed John Page.
"That tells you a lot about Jamie Murphy and the team spirit here - the play for each other.
"It was a wonderful goal he scored and he could have had another one but he was unselfish."
Well go into the next round unseeded and could draw one of Europe's biggest names in tomorrow's draw.
But Brown would not be upset to draw Real Mallorca, who have been expelled for financial mismanagement, thus securing direct entry to the group stages.
"We're delighted we might get a glamour tie," Brown said. "I think we want Real Mallorca. I'm joking but there's an argument there, that would give us a passport right into the lucrative group stages and they would bring big teams.
"There is also the argument for getting Liverpool or Juventus - it doesn't really matter."
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