Motherwell face Aberdeen in the Betfred Cup quarter-final as Stephen Robinson’s men look to extend their unbeaten run.
And it is the Steelmen’s first League Cup quarter-final since the 2010/11 campaign, when the club beat Dundee United 1-0 at Fir Park.
Stephen Robinson’s side head in to the cup clash on the back of a good run of form, having gone four games undefeated.
And with just one stop potentially separating Motherwell from a trip to Hampden in the semi-finals, there is plenty of motivation and hunger around Fir Park.
And the manager believes a cup run can keep dreams alive around the club as the season goes on.
He said: “We’re looking forward to every game at the minute. The confidence is high among the players and it’s a big game for the football club.
“For a club like us [the cup] gives us an opportunity to give the fans something to cheer about and keeps our season on-going, otherwise the past few seasons have been mostly about battling relegation.”
With Aberdeen up next in the league on Sunday, the next few days will be a test of Motherwell’s mettle.
[pullquote]For a club like us [the cup] gives us an opportunity to give the fans something to cheer about and keeps our season on-going, otherwise the past few seasons have been mostly about battling relegation.[/pullquote]
Robinson added: “We’re just focussed on the first game, we’ll try and get a result in the first game and then worry about the second game after that.”
The ‘Well boss has a fully fit squad, with Elliott Frear making good progress following his concussion.
However, Charles Dunne, who picked up a red card in the last-16 clash with Ross County, will be missing through suspension
And one man who will be hugely important for the Steelmen is the in-form Chris Cadden.
The 21-year-old isn’t just focussed on his own game though – as he admitted he hopes to give the people of Motherwell something to cheer about.
“People in Motherwell deserve a run in the cup cause it’s been a while since we’ve done well in any cup,” he said. “But hopefully for us and the fans we can get a day at Hampden.
“We’re just taking every game as it comes, and obviously the league is important, but it would be brilliant for us to have a run in the cup so we have to try and achieve our objective on Thursday.”
[pullquote]People in Motherwell deserve a run in the cup cause it’s been a while since we’ve done well in any cup. But hopefully for us and the fans we can get a day at Hampden.[/pullquote]
He added: “The gaffer has made sure that one of the things we need to do is make sure people hate coming to Fir Park and they’re in for a tough game – and that’s what we’ve done so far.”
Aberdeen, currently unbeaten domestically, will be tough opponents for the Steelmen though and will be hungry to repair last season’s cup heartbreak.
Despite making it to two cup finals, the Dons ended the season with no silverware – losing out to Celtic in the Scottish Cup and the Betfred Cup and they’ll undoubtedly be hungry to go one step further this term.
A number of new faces will be on show for the Reds, following a busy summer for McInnes’ side – making for an intriguing cup encounter.
Motherwell V Aberdeen | |
Thursday 21st September 2017 | |
7.45pm | |
Fir Park, Motherwell | |
Tickets available from the Fir Park Ticket Office and available on the gate |
Admission prices are as follows:
ADULTS | £10 |
CONCESSIONS | £5 |
- Concessions are listed as over-60, 16-18s and full time students with a valid matriculation card
- Fans who require ambulant or wheelchair access should contact Brian Davidson on 07725 917161
If you can’t make it tomorrow, don’t miss the action by tuning in to mixlr.com/motherwellfc for live commentary or follow the match on Twitter @MotherwellFC
You can see the match highlights on MFC TV’s YouTube channel, as well as full reaction and a match report right here on the official website.