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Motherwell and Celtic are set to go head to head for the first time this season on Wednesday night.

Brendan Rodgers’ side got the upper hand over Stephen Robinson’s Fir Parkers in both of last season’s cup finals.

But a first meeting with the Glaswegian outfit this term gives the Steelmen an opportunity to bounce back from Saturday’s defeat to Livingston.

Two

It is almost two years to the day since Celtic last notched a victory at Fir Park.

‘Well’s impressive home form last term saw them unfortunate not to take more than two points from the two meetings in Lanarkshire.

An 88th minute equaliser from Scott Sinclair rescued a point for the visitors, before ten-man Motherwell dug in for an impressive goalless draw back in March.

Four

The Steelmen are searching for a fourth win from six games as they prepare for Celtic on Wednesday.

It is also the total number of domestic games in which Celtic have conceded a goal this season.

Only Hibernian, Kilmarnock, Livingston and Partick Thistle have managed to score against the Parkhead outfit this term.

201

The total number of days since the last meeting between the two teams back in the Scottish Cup final in May.

Motherwell were on the losing end that day, and have a chance to exact some revenge in the first meeting of the 2018/19 campaign.

Motherwell face Celtic for the first meeting between the two sides since last season’s Scottish Cup final.

And after the disappointments of Saturday’s defeat at the hands of Livingston, the Steelmen will be keen to bounce back against a side who are in a strong vein of form.

Here are some key points you need to know about Wednesday’s nights visitors to Fir Park.

Scooping silverware

The Glaswegian outfit lifted their seventh trophy under the stewardship of Brendan Rodgers on Sunday.

It marks an incredible run of success for the club who will face the Steelmen for the first time the Scottish Cup final.

Fir Park proved a tricky place for the Hoops to travel to last term, with Stephen Robinson’s men remaining undefeated at home in the league against Rodgers’ side.

Table topping incentive

Celtic arrive at Fir Park in hot form, but find themselves second in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Rangers, who have played one game more than the Hoops, are a point in front of last season’s champions.

With the Gers playing Aberdeen, Celtic will have motivation to try and propel themselves back to the summit of the division.

Built from the back

Much of Celtic’s impressive form this season has been built from their solid defence, which are by far and away the best in the top flight.

In 14 games, the Parkhead side have shipped just six goals, contributing to a goal difference of +24.

The last time Rodger’s Hoops conceded a goal domestically was back in the middle of October, when they defeated Hibs 4-2. Since then, they’ve kept six consecutive clean sheets.

Motherwell host Celtic on Wednesday night as the two sides go head-to-head for the first time in the 2018/19 season.

Here’s everything you need to know going into the match.

Head to head

Celtic haven’t lost in 10 domestic matches, winning nine and drawing one. Their last domestic defeat came at Kilmarnock in September.

Motherwell have won three of their last five, defeating Aberdeen, Dundee and St Mirren, but losing to Livingston and Rangers.

Team news

Carl McHugh and Peter Hartley return from suspension for Motherwell. Charles Dunne is unlikely to be risked. Liam Donnelly and Aaron Taylor-Sinclair have returned to training. Chris Cadden, Craig Tanner and Trevor Carson remain out long term.

Celtic are likely to be without defender Dedryck Boyata following an injury in Sunday’s Betfred Cup final. Kristoffer Ajer and Nir Bitton remain on the sidelines.

A moment of remembrance

A young Motherwell fan, Lewis Coll, recently passed away at the age of 17. We ask all supporters to join us in a minute’s applause to celebrate his life in the 17th minute of the match.

Get your tickets in advance

You can buy your tickets online now. Alternatively, the ticket office is open from 9am until kick off on Wednesday.

You can even print your tickets at home, so you don’t need to wait in line to collect.

Adult tickets in the John Hunter stand cost £21. Concessions can get in for £17, while under 16s go for £3. A family ticket for one adult and two juveniles is available for £25.

Entry to the Phil O’Donnell stand and Davie Cooper stand is priced at £28 for adults, £19 for concessions and £3 for under 16s. A family ticket for one adult and two juveniles is available for £32.

Celtic fans should contact their club for away tickets.

Fans who require ambulant or wheelchair access should contact Andy Sim on 07428 225254 or email tickets@mfcdsa.com.

Supporters outside of the UK and Ireland can watch five Motherwell games live in December for just £12.

Through our online TV service, every home match and a selection of away fixtures can be streamed wherever you are, on your computer or mobile device.

To subscribe, just head to tv.motherwellfc.co.uk, scroll down and choose your subscription package.

The following games are coming up in December

Live audio commentary will be available for the trips to St Johnstone and Hamilton Academical on Saturday, 15 December and Saturday, 29 December respectively.

Celtic come to Fir Park on Wednesday for the first meeting of the two sides in the 2018/19 season.

Here’s an early look ahead to the game.

First meeting since the final

It has taken until December for the two sides to face up to each other in the 2018/19 campaign, after the first scheduled fixture was postponed, owing to Celtic’s involvement in the Betfred Cup semi-final.

The last encounter, of course, was in the 2017/18 William Hill Scottish Cup final, when Celtic ran out winners.

League meetings between the two at Fir Park last campaign were keenly contested affairs. The Steelmen were 1-0 up in stoppage time in the corresponding fixture this time last year, only for a late penalty to bring the game level.

A 0-0 draw then followed later in the season, with Motherwell performing brilliantly despite going down to 10 men in the first half.

Form

Celtic were said to be having a poor start to the 2018/19 season, but after a dip in form they’ve picked up at speed.

Winning nine and drawing one of their last 10 domestic matches, they made it seven consecutive trophy wins when they defeated Aberdeen in the Betfred Cup final on Sunday.

Motherwell have won three of their last five, including two wins in their last two home matches against Dundee and Aberdeen.

Get your tickets in advance

You can buy your tickets online now. Alternatively, the ticket office is open from 9am until 5pm on Tuesday, and from 9am until kick off on Wednesday. You can even print your tickets at home, so you don’t need to wait in line to collect.

Adult tickets in the John Hunter stand cost £21. Concessions can get in for £17, while under 16s go for £3. A family ticket for one adult and two juveniles is available for £25.

Entry to the Phil O’Donnell stand and Davie Cooper stand is priced at £28 for adults, £19 for concessions and £3 for under 16s. A family ticket for one adult and two juveniles is available for £32.

Celtic fans should contact their club for away tickets.

Fans who require ambulant or wheelchair access should contact Andy Sim on 07428 225254 or email tickets@mfcdsa.com.

James Scott netted a hat-trick as Stephen Craigan’s reserve side picked up a 6-1 win over St Johnstone on Monday.

George Newell, Akeel Rehman and Broque Watson were also on target, as the young Steelmen returned to league action in style.

Stephen Craigan was pleased to see his side storm to a 6-1 victory over St Johnstone in the Reserve League.

However, the Northern Irishman admitted his side let their standards slip in the second half, and was disappointed as a result.

He said: “I was pleased with the first half, but we weren’t ourselves in the second, so that’s disappointing.”

Motherwell’s reserve team racked up the goals early against St Johnstone, scoring all six in the first half in a 6-1 win in the SPFL Reserve League.

James Scott netted a hat-trick for Stephen Craigan’s side, with further goals coming from George Newell, Akeel Rehman and Broque Watson.

However, a blistering first 45 was followed up by a disappointing second, as the hosts pulled one back and the young Steelmen failed to add to their first half tally.

There were important minutes for first team players Charles Dunne, Liam Donnelly and Aaron Taylor-Sinclair, and impressive performances from a number of Stephen Craigan’s youngsters in front of the onlooking Stephen Robinson.

Liam Brown was instrumental in carving out the opener for Scott to slide past the Saints stopper after 12 minutes, and lifted a neat ball over the top for Newell to race on to and finish confidently in to the bottom corner five minutes later.

It took four more minutes for the third to arrive. Taylor-Sinclair’s throw was flicked on by Scott, with Akeal Rehman getting in on the act by side-footing in to the top corner.

Adam Livingstone created a couple of goals to cap an impressive 45 minutes for the youngster.

The first saw him slide a delightful ball across goal for a Watson tap-in, and then he cut back cleverly for Scott to slam a thunderous effort off the underside of the crossbar.

Scott rounded off his hat trick with a powerful header from a Liam Donnelly cross, but a poor second half was rounded off when the hosts made it 6-1 despite barely laying a glove in the opening half.

Motherwell are back in action on Wednesday night, as Celtic come to town in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Brendan Rodgers’ side arrive having lifted the Betfred Cup on Sunday, their seventh straight domestic honour.

The Steelmen always provide tough opposition at Fir Park, however, and picked up two draws against Celtic at home last season.

You can buy your tickets online now. You can either choose to print your tickets at home and take them straight to the gate, or collect from the ticket office.

The ticket office is open from 9am until kick off on Wednesday.

Adult tickets in the John Hunter stand cost £21. Concessions can get in for £17, while under 16s go for £3. A family ticket for one adult and two juveniles is available for £25.

Entry to the Phil O’Donnell stand and Davie Cooper stand is priced at £28 for adults, £19 for concessions and £3 for under 16s. A family ticket for one adult and two juveniles is available for £32.

Celtic fans should contact their club for away tickets.

Several boxes of football training equipment have been donated by our new friends at The Soccer Store this week.

New free kick mannequins, marker cones and Mitre footballs for our academy have been delivered.

The Soccer Store is the UK’s leading online supplier of specialist football equipment and goals.

They have been supplying to the football community for the last 15 years and have a reputation for quality equipment from trusted UK suppliers including Mitre, Diamond Football and Samba Sports.

“It is great to work with a club as prestigious as Motherwell,” Jack Hart from The Soccer Store said.

“We are sure that the football equipment provided will go down well in particular with the academy players at Motherwell, as they push to develop their football careers.”

Soccer Store stock a huge range of specialised training equipment for speed and agility training, set piece training and general fitness training.

Their equipment is not just used by football clubs, as many youngsters will use the goals and training equipment at home as they push to be like their heroes at Motherwell.

You can visit their website to check out their full range of football equipment and goals at thesoccerstore.co.uk.