| 7 | Hibernian | 34 | 10 | 12 | 12 | -5 | 42 |
| 8 | Aberdeen | 34 | 9 | 11 | 14 | -13 | 38 |
| 9 | Motherwell | 34 | 8 | 13 | 13 | -6 | 37 |
| 10 | St Johnstone | 34 | 7 | 10 | 17 | -24 | 31 |
| 11 | Ross County | 34 | 7 | 9 | 18 | -26 | 30 |
| 12 | Livingston | 34 | 4 | 9 | 21 | -35 | 21 |
Our Premiership trip to face Dundee United on Wednesday 12 May will now kick off at 6pm.
At the agreement of both clubs, the game has been brought forward from the original time of 7.45pm.
The match is available to watch live in the UK and Ireland at ppv.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk.
International-based viewers can watch via their normal subscriptions at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.
It started as a picturesque night in Greenock that ended with thunder.
Motherwell have enjoyed a bountiful spell against tonight’s rivals but there is one night that will stick in the mind of every Motherwell supporter who dares to already dream of Stranraer or Hibernian in the Scottish Cup quarter-final.
On 22 September 2015, Ian Baraclough’s side, who just about managed to see off East Fife in the previous round, faltered spectacularly at Cappielow as the home side claimed a 3-2 victory.
It was clear skies overhead at kick off, but as the game descended all you could hear was a storm brewing in the away dressing room, with Baraclough leaving the club the following day.
Ricki Lamie needs no reminding of that evening, but for quite different reasons. The big defender starred for Ton that night, and he is mindful to be on his guard for a potential repeat happening almost six years on.
“The old cliché is not to get too far ahead, that can be the downfall of already knowing who you might get in the next round if you win,” he said.
“It’s massive for us, though. It gives you that incentive, you know a tie is sitting waiting for us if we progress. But we need to be massively focused.
“Morton have had a few good results themselves and are in a competitive league. They’ll be up for it.
“When I was there, we knocked Motherwell out of the League Cup in extra-time. At every level, if you play someone a league below you then you are the scalp they’re trying to take. That sharpens our focus.
“The cups can throw you, and they’ll be looking for a chance to progress. I’ve got personal experience of that.
“It was a lovely night that night. We came out really quickly and we knew Motherwell were in a sticky patch. It was a massive result for us, but to be fair we had a good few cup runs under Jim Duffy.
“But we need to remember we are in a different place right now. We are on a decent run in what has been a disappointing season at times, we want to do well.”
Victory over St Mirren at the weekend offered some peace of mind for Motherwell fans.
While arithmetically a faint fear of relegation may linger in the background, the primary focus rests on gazing upwards and onwards. The Scottish Cup offers such an opportunity.
Much has been and will be made of the 30-year anniversary since the club’s last triumph in the tournament. Kirk, Maxwell, Cooper, O’Donnell immediately springs to mind. But for the class of Lamie, Gallagher, Cole and Watt, finishing a tumultuous season, which began with European football, on a high.
“It’s been a wee bit of uncertainty here and there but it’s good we can go ahead. The fixtures will come thick and fast,” said Lamie about the season run-in.
“It’s all about ending a season, which has had highs and lows, with a positive. And what better chance to do that than a good cup run?
“It would be massive for the club. They’ve had some great ones in recent years, so we want to replicate that.
“The season has been filled with stops and starts. Thinking back to the European games, it feels like a lifetime ago. But to me it only feels like Christmas was yesterday, it’s strange. So much has gone on this season it’s hard to think of it getting fitted into one campaign.
“In terms of pride and a bit of confidence for next season, we want to finish on that high.”
Lamie took a moment of contemplation earlier this week to reflect on a season like no other.
After joining from Livingston in the summer, the closest the defender has got to playing in front of Motherwell fans came with a handful standing on top of a storage container outside the ground in Formartine. It emerged last week that no fans would be in the Scottish Cup final this season, a sad note if Well were to reach that far.
But Lamie is already thinking of better times ahead at Fir Park with the old girl in the middle of a facelift.
“It’s been really strange given everything that’s gone on,” said the 27-year-old.
“I was thinking that the other day. I was walking down from the gym in the South Stand and you could see the stadium getting a revamp with the seats and a lick of paint.
“I was thinking to myself it’s so strange I’ve been here for a full season and not once have I played in front of any fans. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing that will never happen again.
“Luckily, I’m contracted for another year and the signs are positive that we’ll be able to get everyone through the door to get the crowds back in games.
“As a collective, this season has been filled with ups and downs. Progressing in Europe was amazing, but it would have been nicer to keep at the right end of the table and maybe finish a bit higher.
“But we’re on a positive run just now. The club is filled with great people, and I just want to end this season on a high and kick on after the summer.”
“We need to make sure, like in the last round, our mentality is spot on.”
Graham Alexander previews the Scottish Cup fourth round tie with Greenock Morton.
“We need to make sure we give everything we’ve got in order to get the win.”
Stephen O’Donnell speaks ahead of Friday night’s Scottish Cup fourth round clash.
Motherwell take on Greenock Morton in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup on Friday night.
Here are the key topics going into the fixture.
The last 10 meetings between the two sides have been in cup competitions, stretching back to a League Cup encounter in August 1990.
Motherwell have been victorious on eight of those occasions, with one draw leading to a replay and one defeat in the League Cup in 2015.
The one draw, of course, came in the Scottish Cup in March 1991. After a 0-0 stalemate in the first attempt at settling the quarter-final, a 1-1 result in the replay led to a penalty shootout.
Motherwell progressed, before knocking out Celtic after a replay in the last four, and then going on to lift the trophy against Dundee United in May.
The last league encounter between the two clubs came in the Premier Division in April 1988, with ‘Well winning 1-0 at Fir Park in a season which saw the ‘Ton go down.
Morton currently sit second bottom in the Championship, eight points ahead of bottom club Alloa Athletic with three matches left to play.
Despite that position, they could still arithmetically reach the promotion play-offs, albeit they sit eight points behind fourth-placed Inverness CT with only nine points left to contest.
In the fight against finishing in the relegation play-off spot, Arbroath sit level on points with a marginally superior goal difference, and with Ayr United a point ahead in seventh.
In this unusual year, the path to Hampden has already been set out for both teams going into Friday’s meeting.
The winners of the match will take on either Hibernian or Stranraer in the quarter-finals next Saturday, with the prize of place in the last four at the national stadium on the weekend of 8/9 May lying in wait.
Stephen O’Donnell has signed a two-year extension to his deal with Motherwell.
The Scotland international right back joined the club at the start of the 2020/21 season, going on to make 35 appearances to date and captaining the side in the absence of Declan Gallagher and Trevor Carson.
His contract with the club now runs until the summer of 2023.
“We’re very happy that Stephen has signed a new contract and decided to continue his career with us,” manager Graham Alexander said of the deal.
“He’s been brilliant since we came into the club both on and off the pitch.
“He’s a current and valued member of the national squad and feels he can be successful with us at Motherwell.
“We believe his best years are ahead of him and he’s a great example to others on how to be a top professional.”
O’Donnell played at youth level with Aberdeen and Celtic, going on to make his professional debut with Partick Thistle before spells with Luton Town and Kilmarnock.
Capped 18 times by his country, the 28-year-old was part of the Scotland squad which qualified for this summer’s postponed EURO 2020 tournament, playing a crucial starting role for Steve Clarke’s side.
Motherwell are in Scottish Cup fourth round action on Friday, as Greenock Morton come to Fir Park.
Kick-off is at 7pm.
If you’re in the UK or Republic of Ireland, a live stream of the game is available to buy on a pay-per-view basis for £12.
International-based supporters can watch via their usual subscription at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.
Cup meetings have been relatively frequent in recent years between the two teams, with Friday’s game marking the fourth in seven years.
Indeed, Motherwell and Morton have met in the odd-numbered years since 2015, with all three encounters coming in the League Cup.
Motherwell won the last two 4-0, with the most recent coming in the group stages of the competition in 2019 at Fir Park.
Graham Alexander’s men have won four of their last five matches in all competitions.
Victory over St Mirren at the weekend followed on from wins over Hibernian, Livingston and Formartine United.
Morton have won two of their last five, with both victories coming in Scottish Cup matches against Dunfermline Athletic and East Fife.
In the league, a 1-1 draw at Dundee on Saturday ended a run of two consecutive defeats.
Our Scottish Cup fourth round match with Greenock Morton will now take place on Friday 16 April.
Kick-off will be at 7pm.
Supporters can watch a live stream of the match for £12 from ppv.motherwellfc.co.uk.
The original scheduling of Saturday 17 April at 3pm has been changed by the Scottish FA to avoid a clash with the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
If you purchased a ticket for our games against Formartine United, Hapoel Beer-Sheva or St Johnstone in the Betfred Cup, just login to our PPV site with the details you used.
If you have not purchased previously for either of those games, you will need to create an account on the PPV website – even if you are a season ticket holder.
For support, please email motherwelltv@streamdigital.tv.
“It’s a massive win.
“But we have to keep going hell for leather for more points.
“That’s the least we can do for our supporters.”
Graham Alexander says the team have to keep fighting after a big home win over St Mirren.
A determined Motherwell earned a narrow win over St Mirren and a valuable three points to take them clearer of relegation trouble.
Sitting nine points ahead of 11th placed Kilmarnock, the Fir Park men know that another performance like this will end any relegation worries this season.
In the fourth meeting of the season, ‘Well were aiming to record their first win over the Paisley outfit. However, after two draws already this year, not surprisingly another tight game was envisaged.
And so it turned out. The main talking points will be Liam Kelly’s tremendous first-half penalty save and Devante Cole’s instinctive second-half winner, which turned the game ‘Well’s way.
The Steelmen, though, passed up a couple of great chances to tie up the points before stout defending in the last 15 minutes was enough to secure all three points.
Graham Alexander made one change from the starting side which convincingly saw off Formartine United in the Scottish Cup last week, Ricki Lamie replacing Tyler Magloire at the heart of the home defence alongside Declan Gallagher.
‘Well looked to make the better start when after two minutes Nathan McGinley’s cross found Devante Cole 6 yards in front of goal but the striker glanced his header wide of target.
Saints replied almost immediately when top scorer Jamie McGrath cut inside Lamie but his deft dink from the edge of the box wasn’t enough to beat Kelly who blocked the ball with his left hand.
The visitors, with a five-man midfield, dictated most of the early play as the pressure mounted around the home goal. Ilkay Durmas came close with a free kick from 25 yards as the Fir Park side struggled to get on the ball and find their front three.
After 20 minutes, in a rare threat on Jak Alnwick’s goal, Jordan Roberts broke into the box only to come out second best in a 50/50 with the Saints’ keeper.
With 24 minutes played Stephen O’Donnell’s pass found Devante Cole, who in turn a played a superb ball between Marcus Fraser and Conor McCarthy.
As Christopher Long latched onto the pass he looked certain to open the scoring but his strike was too close to Alnwick who did well to block the shot.
Five minutes later O’Donnell and Cole combined again, this time the striker’s cute backheel sending Roberts free. But after progressing to the edge of the box the Hearts’ loanee blasted his shot high into the south stand.
Having passed up two good chances the Steelmen finished the first half on the back foot as Saints pressed for the opening goal.
It should have arrived after 33 minutes when O’Donnell’s challenge just inside the corner of the box brought down Dylan Connolly. When McGrath stepped up to take the resultant penalty he was odds on to add to his impressive haul of converted spot kicks – until his low effort was brilliantly palmed away by Kelly at full stretch.
Before half-time the ‘Well ‘keeper produced a couple of routine saves to deny former Fir Park striker Lee Erwin as Saints failed to turn their upperhand into goals.
In an attempt to get a hold of the midfield in the second half Barry Maguire replaced Stevie Lawless at the interval.
Things immediately looked brighter within four minutes of the restart. Long burst to the byeline before driving the ball hard across goal but as Cole wited for a tap-in, Alnwick smothered the ball at his front post.
Minutes later ‘Well were forced into another change. Roberts who had been on the receiving end of a few hefty challenges, was stretchered off after lengthy treatment on his knee – allowing Mark O’Hara to return to action after his long absence due to illness.
The next action was in the home box where O’Donnell’s poor touch gave the ball to Jake Doyle-Hayes. The Scotland full back was a relieved man as the Saints’ midfielder blasted the ball over the bar.
Having survived that scare, the Fir Park side opened the scoring after 62 minutes with a rather bizarre goal.
O’Donnell’s long throw sent Long racing down the right touchline. When the former Blackpool striker cut towards the corner of the box he had only one thought as he hammered a left-foot drive on goal.
Alnwick found it too hot to handle and with Cole bearing down on him, the ‘keeper palmed the ball off the ‘Well striker’s outstretched leg and then watch as the ball rebounded behind him and trickle over his goal line.
As Alnwick desperately appealed for an infringement Cole happily accepted his 10th goal of the season.
Eight minutes later Alexander’s men almost doubled their lead. Once again Long created the opening as he sprinted to the dead ball line. His cut-back was perfect for Allan Campbell and from 10 yards his low drive was just forced round the post by Alnwick.
As Saints pushed for the equaliser the home side had another chance to tie up the points. This time it was O’Donnell who burst forward but once he got into the visitor’s box Cole took the ball off him, only to curl his shot beyond the ‘keeper and his left hand post.
With ten minutes remaining Bevis Mugabi replaced Long as the ‘Well boss set up his side to consolidate their lead.
The Fir Park side was then content to give Saints possession and deny the Paisley men anything in around the box, resolutely protecting Kelly’s goal deep into seven minutes added on time for a hard-fought victory
