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‘Well boss Mark McGhee believes that tomorrow’s Scottish Cup clash with Rangers is a “fantastic” match to start 2017.

The manager spoke to the press ahead of the fourth round fixture at Ibrox this weekend and insists his side have been re-energised by the winter break.

McGhee said: “We’ll see tomorrow how beneficial it’s been but certainly I think it’s allowed people, even someone like McHugh who came back for those last two games, a little bit of time to decompress and get ready again for the rest of the season.

“The likes of Lasley, McDonald and McManus, who had been carrying injuries, had the time to fully recover too, so this time round I think it’s been a good thing for us.”

He added: “It’s a fantastic game to come back for. You can bleat all you like about the luck of the draw and all that but at the end of the day you’re in the cup and you’re in the cup to play and try to get to a final, and somewhere along the line you’re going to have to play the best teams it happens to be that we’re playing them right at the start.

[pullquote]It’s a fantastic game to come back for. You can bleat all you like about the luck of the draw and all that but at the end of the day you’re in the cup and you’re in the cup to play and try to get to a final, and somewhere along the line you’re going to have to play the best teams.[/pullquote]

“I just think we have to embrace it – Ibrox is a great, great place to go and play, it’s a difficult place to go and I’ve always found that it’s a challenging place to go and play but it is equally a great place so there’s all the making of a great cup tie.

“Both games were close when we’ve played them and our form going in to the break was decent.

“I feel like we’re in as good shape as we have been at any stage this season so there’s no reason why we shouldn’t play well.”

When asked about Mark Warburton’s side, McGhee admitted that he feels they are becoming more and more recognisable as a true Rangers team.

He said: “Rangers to me seem to have taken a bit of time, players that is, to come to terms with the fact that they are Rangers and they’re in the top division again and how people want to play against them.

[pullquote]Both games were close when we’ve played them and our form going in to the break was decent. I feel like we’re in as good shape as we have been at any stage this season so there’s no reason why we shouldn’t play well.[/pullquote]

“As a former Old Firm player, you know that every week is the biggest game of the season for the opposition and you’ve got to be able to handle that.

“The big clubs have that, whether it’s in Scotland or down south at Manchester United or wherever, everybody and their granny turns up for those games, all the people that you don’t see here come out the woodwork when you’re playing Rangers and Celtic.”

He added: “That’s a challenge for the Rangers and Celtic players and it seems to me that the Rangers players are starting to come to terms with that and starting to mature in to what is more recognisable as a Rangers team in terms of their attitude.

McGhee isn’t surprised to see the Glaswegian side second in the table, and added that he feels they are doing as well as should have been expected.

He said: “They are Rangers, they have done as well as I think they’ve been expected to do because I don’t think they should be expected to be challenging Celtic at this stage but I think they were expected to be in the mix and they are and I think, therefore, that they are on track.”

Tickets for the William Hill Scottish Cup 4th Round clash with Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday 21st January are on general sale now.

And you can get yours from the Fir Park ticket office, which is open late tonight until 7pm (Thursday 19th), usual hours of 9:15am – 3:30pm on Friday, and you still have time on Saturday morning too, when the ticket office will be open from 9am – 11am before kick-off at 12:30pm.

The Steelmen have been allocated just short of 2,000 tickets for the game and are priced as follows:

* Concessions are listed as Over 65s and 16 and 17 year olds.

Motherwell FC can confirm that all hospitality for the upcoming Ladbrokes Premiership match against Rangers at Fir Park is now sold out.

The Ibrox outfit visit Lanarkshire for the first league match of 2017, and Mark McGhee’s side will be keen to keep up their impressive form prior to the winter break.

Match tickets are still available to purchase from the Fir Park ticket office, which will be late tonight (Thursday) until 7pm.

And for those who missed out on hospitality for next Saturday’s match, don’t miss out for the ‘Well’s next home match against Hearts on Saturday 4^th February.

To book hospitality, or for more details on our hospitality packages, please contact: hospitality@motherwellfc.co.uk

‘Well midfielder Chris Cadden revealed his excitement ahead of this Saturday’s Scottish Cup clash with Rangers.

The youngster was at Hampden Park this afternoon at the launch of the new EA Sports FIFA 17 Game Zone, which saw Cadden go head-to-head with Rangers forward Barrie McKay in a simulated version of this weekend’s big match.

And it has got Cadden excited to make the trip to Ibrox on Saturday.

[pullquote]The last two times we’ve faced Rangers I think we’ve played well, especially away, so that will give us a lot of confidence. We’ll go in to the game and try our very best to get a result.[/pullquote]

Speaking to MFC TV, the midfielder said: “Any break from the season, if it’s the winter break or summer break, seems like a good idea but then you get to the Tuesday and you’re bored of it and it’s hard sitting around the house – but no I’m really looking forward to Saturday.”

He added: “The last two times we’ve faced Rangers I think we’ve played well, especially away, so that will give us a lot of confidence.

“We’ll go in to the game and try our very best to get a result.”

The 20-year-old admitted that the atmosphere at Ibrox will play a big part at the weekend.

[pullquote]It’s always going to be a tough place to go with about 50,000 people there but I think you can try and use that to your advantage if you get off to a good start and the crowd get on their back.[/pullquote]

He said: “It’s always going to be a tough place to go with about 50,000 people there but I think you can try and use that to your advantage if you get off to a good start and the crowd get on their back.”

Facing off against Barrie McKay on FIFA 17, the ‘Well star drew 0-0 and won 4-3 on penalties.

The midfielder joked: “We won on penalties and I think we were the better team so we probably deserved it.”

Motherwell produced arguably their best performance under Ian Baraclough when it mattered most – the 2015 Premiership play-off final.

Goals from Lee Erwin, Stephen McManus and Lionel Ainsworth were enough to take a two goal advantage back to Fir Park for the second leg and secured the Steelmen’s first win at Ibrox since 1997.

When Lionel Ainsworth made it 3-0 at the start of the second half it sent the small band of ‘Well fans into ecstasy and only a late goal from Darren McGregor dampened their spirits and raised Rangers’ hopes that they could stage a dramatic recovery in the second leg and relegate ‘Well.

The Steelmen support won’t need any reminding of what happened in the return leg, but ahead of Saturday’s Scottish Cup clash at Ibrox, what better time to look back on one of the club’s most important victories in recent seasons?

Ian Baraclough deployed Lionel Ainsworth and Marvin Johnson in wide positions to check the overlapping runs of Rangers’ full backs but also use their pace and hopefully catch the Ibrox side on the break. And with Scott McDonald dropping back to join Keith Lasley and Stephen Pearson in the middle of the park ‘Well’s intentions to stifle ‘Gers early in the game were clear.

The 950 ‘Well fans in the far corner were relieved to see Kenny Miller break away from Lasley only to curl his shot beyond George Long’s post.

In the 23rd minute Long produced the first save of the game getting down well to block Nicky Law’s drilled shot from 10 yards.

Motherwell’s reply was a cross from his brother Josh which found Lee Erwin but his tame header was comfortably held by Cammy Bell.

The next effort on goal though, caused Bell a bit more concern as ‘Well took the lead.

Josh Law was again the provider finding Erwin wide on the right and after dragging the ball into the box the striker tried his luck with an angled left foot shot with Darren McGregor’s outstreched leg sending the ball past his ‘keeper and gave Well the upper hand.

It could have been 2-0 minutes later when a Louis Laing header from Ainsworth’s corner seemed netbound until it was deflected past the post

However, it took another great save from Long to block Nicky Clark’s snapshot and deny Ranger’s an equaliser.

That would have brought the Ibrox side right back into the game. Instead a stunning second goal five minutes from half time set ‘Well on their road to an historic victory.

Five minutes from the break Wallace pulled back McDonald to concede a free kick on the right touch line. Johnston curled the ball into a packed box where McManus rose unchallenged to power a header past Bell and silence the 42,000 Rangers’ fans.

Having left the field to a barrage of boos, the Ibrox crowd loudly welcomed their side back onto the pitch in anticipation of a second half fightback.

However, any hopes of a ‘Gers recovery were killed within 90 seconds when’Well added a terrific third goal. Pearson nicked the ball in the centre circle before racing upfield. He fed the ball to Erwin who played in Ainsworth who rounded off the move in style smashing the ball past the helpless Bell.

Rangers’ reply was a thumping drive from Haris Vuckic which was turned round the post by Long with another impressive save.

In a final attempt to grab a goal and life-line, Stuart McCall then sent on Kris Boyd to partner Miller up front.

Motherwell, though, were confident and calm in possession and looked the Premier side. As Rangers chased the game ‘Well carved through the home defence a had a few more chances which should have produced another goal. McDonald and Johnston curled efforts over the bar before Johnston’s run and cut back set up Ainsworth but from 10 yards only he hammered his shot over the bar when he should have really made it 4-0.

That miss almost proved costly when at the other end Long had to produce a wonderful reflex save to prevent Boyd snatching a goal with a trademark back post header.

With eight minutes remaining, Simon Ramsden replaced the limping Pearson and just before Rangers pulled back a goal that gave them some hope. A floated corner into the six yard area was met by McGregor who headed the ball past Long to raise the decibel levels from the Ibrox stands and set up a furious finish.

But as Rangers continued to hoist the ball into the penalty box Laing and McManus in particular stood tall and strong to preserve Motherwell’s two goal lead and hoist them halfway to Premiership safety, before securing that future with an emphatic 3-0 home win in the second leg.

Referee for Saturday’s Scottish Cup fourth round clash against Rangers at Ibrox is Craig Thomson.

The 44-year old takes charge of his third Motherwell fixture of the season, after the league opener against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park and the Steelmen’s 1-1 draw away to Partick Thistle in September.

One of the top Scottish referee’s in the game, Thomson has been in charge of a number of Ladbrokes Premiership clashes this season as well as officiating in the UEFA Champions League group stages.

Of the three matches he refereed in Europe’s premier club competition, one match saw him oversee last year’s finalists Atlético Madrid who took on Rostov.

Last season, the official took charge of three Motherwell fixtures.

The first two fixtures were away clashes against St Johnstone and Hamilton, with 2-1 and 1-0 losses respectively.

The last time Thomson took charge during last season was the Steelmen’s trip to Inverness, where the hosts won 3-1.

The official oversaw a twice taken penalty just before the interval and it shifted the balance of what was a very even match.

His record in charge of the Steelmen is a bit of a mix bag with 16 wins from 47 matches. There have been 21 defeats and ten draws too.

Not included in that list was the 2007/08 Scottish Cup fourth round replay win against Hearts at Fir Park, when he replaced the injured Stuart Dougal midway through the second-half.

In those games, Motherwell have scored 66 and conceded 68.

165 players have gone into the book, 83 were wearing claret and amber, while seven players, including former and current captains Stephen Craigan and Keith Lasley, have been dismissed. The most recent was Stephen McManus in the away defeat to Inverness.

Craig will be ably assisted by Alan Mulvanny and Andrew McWilliam; with Stephen Finnie on fourth official duties.

Young centre-back David Ferguson may be a first team player, but at 20 years of age the future looks bright for the young defender.

David has become a familiar face amongst ‘Well fans of late, tying down a spot in Mark McGhee’s first team and performing superbly when called upon.

Having played in six matches this season, the youngster has shown not just a level of ability capable of becoming a first team star, but also a mature head on young shoulders.

The 20-year-old has played in a back three alongside the experienced Stephen McManus and the solid Ben Heneghan, or on the left of a back four too.

Perhaps the biggest testament to his performances is that he has looked extremely comfortable in the team.

The fact he has performed so well in the first team is even more impressive considering the young Scot has not been playing in his natural position at times – something Mark McGhee made sure to point out and praise the youngster for.

He said: “We were playing with young Ferguson as our left centre-back and he’s naturally a right-sided player so it’s testament to the young lad that he has that versatility.”

He added: “We’ve seen the breakout of a number of youngsters this season, and it is a huge part of what we do here at Motherwell.

“It is extremely pleasing seeing players make the step up and the task for David and the others is to cement their place in the starting eleven of the weeks, months and years ahead.”

Versatility, ability and a good frame of mind. David ticks the key boxes to make himself a star of the future Motherwell defence.

It is something he admits he will need to work hard for.

He said: “I am delighted to be playing at the moment but for me it’s not about my age, even later in my career I will make sure to play to the best of my ability to keep my name on the team sheet.

“It’s great being around boys who I played with in the 20s like Cadds and Jacko [McMillan] and the future looks bright at the club.”

The player himself would surely concede there were better players who turned out alongside him in his twelve years in the claret and amber, but few if any were as loyal and committed to the cause as John Philliben.

Signed from Doncaster Rovers during season 1986’87, Philliben had previously played more than a hundred league games for Stirling Albion and had been part of a successful Scottish U19 side that won the European Championship four years previous.

Primarily a central-defender he also came to be utilised at left-back and occasionally as a defensive midfielder making more than 300 league appearances for Motherwell.

It is fair to say ‘Softy’ endured highs and lows at Fir Park, missing out on the 1991 Scottish Cup Final; and suffering the heartbreak of his penalty crashing off the woodwork as Motherwell lost on penalties in the League Cup Semi Final against Celtic early in his ‘Well career.

But it is testament to John’s character that he was able to overcome each of those obstacles and go on to spend more than a decade with the Steelmen.

Never the most glamorous of players, John was tough and uncompromising and could be relied upon to give his all every time he set foot on the pitch. Yet he did however gain some unexpected notoriety for his performances in the popular indoor Tennents Sixes tournament of the late eighties and early nineties where his blistering shooting made him one of the tournaments most influential players.

Defensive colleagues came and went over the years but John remained a constant at the club until 1998 when he returned to Stirling Albion, his first and home-town club, as player-manager.

John had actually taken up the role at Forthbank by the time he turned out one last time for Motherwell in a well deserved testimonial match against West Ham Utd.

During his time with the Binos he returned to Fir Park to take on ‘Well in the Scottish Cup with a number of former Steelmen in his ranks.

‘Softy’ would make a further return to Fir Park to join the coaching staff under Billy Davies and took temporary joint-charge of the first-team on a handful of occasions before the appointment of Eric Black.

A true Steelman, John Philliben remains fondly remembered by Motherwell fans.

Tickets for the William Hill Scottish Cup 4th Round clash with Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday 21st January are on general sale now.

The Steelmen have been allocated just short of 2,000 tickets for the game and are priced as follows:

* Concessions are listed as Over 65s and 16 and 17 year olds.

‘Well midfielder Carl McHugh is excited for the second half of the season after tasting first team action in the final two games of the year.

MFC TV caught up with the midfielder after he returned from the brief break and as he prepares for the Rangers cup clash coming up.

Carl, who was out for four months with post concussion syndrome, admitted his aim for the next six months is to secure a regular start and help the team to aim for the top six.

He said: “It’s great to be back and I’m just delighted to have got into the team for the last two games and I’m looking forward to the good run of games we have coming up after the break.

“I thought I did alright after coming back. I tired a bit towards the end of the Hamilton game after we went down to ten men for so long, but that’s probably a bit understandable.”

He added: “We got two good results in two important games and it gives us that bit of emphasis to kick on now for the second half of the season.

“I think results have lifted the whole dressing room, especially when you beat teams around you.

“The table doesn’t look too bad now, we’re just a few points off sixth and if you maybe lose those two games or don’t get the results that we got then the break can feel that bit longer.

“We can perhaps enjoy it in a sense because we’ve got those results and we can look forward to two or three great games when we come back.”

[pullquote] It’s great to be back and I’m just delighted to have got into the team for the last two games and I’m looking forward to the good run of games we have coming up after the break.[/pullquote]

With Rangers up next for the Steelmen, Carl is hungry to get back to action.

He said: “I can’t wait, it’ll be brilliant playing there in front of a big crowd.

“It’ll be a difficult because obviously they’re doing well in the league at the moment, but hopefully we can go there, give a good account of ourselves and get through to the next round.”

The Irishman outlined his aims for the coming months, and said: “The boys have done well recently I think in some games we’ve just been a bit unlucky with results and I don’t know if our league position is a true reflection because we’ve played really well in a lot of the games.”

He added: “Hopefully we can change that in to results in the second half of the season.

“The league is crazy at the moment, I’ve never seen anything like it. It keeps it interesting at the moment I guess.

“It’s a cliché but every game is important because you’re playing teams that are around you a lot of the time so that’ll make it exciting coming to the split.”