"Our season has been encapsulated with that performance. We've had an incredible amount of chances, not taken them and not been able to keep the clean sheet," he told BBC Sport.
Celtic started brightly before Motherwell's Simon Lappin scored with their first effort on goal.
"We have to keep plugging away. You play each game to build up pride or regain pride and that's what we have got to do," said Strachan.
"There's nothing I can do about the criticism, but whatever you get it doesn't compare to getting beat by Motherwell."
"There's a fear among our fans that our rivals will win the league. It may be too late for this year," he admitted.
