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Motherwell are in IRN-BRU Cup action on Saturday, as Championship high-flyers Ross County travel to take on our colts team.

Stephen Craigan’s youngsters have already made history in reaching the last eight of the competition but face a tough test against the team who were in the Ladbrokes Premiership last season.

Here is the game previewed in numbers.

One

Only one colts team has ever reached the quarter final of the IRN-BRU Cup, and it was Motherwell who set that record in this season’s competition.

Now in the third season with Premiership clubs’ under 20s players being involved in the competition, their progression signals the progression they’ve made, using the opportunity the competition provides to play against senior teams.

Seven

From the Colts’ three games in the IRN-BRU Cup this season, the youngsters have put seven goals past their opponents, conceding just once.

A 3-0 win over East Stirlingshire was followed up by a 2-1 win at Dens Park against Dundee’s colts side.

Then at Fir Park, Irish side Sligo Rovers were put to the sword in a 2-0 victory.

15

Ross County’s goal difference in the Championship is the best in the division, having scored 24 goals and conceded nine.

Only table-topping Ayr United have scored more goals with 25, while the Staggies have the best defensive record.

Motherwell Colts host Ross County on Saturday in the quarter-final of the IRN-BRU Cup at Fir Park. 

Stephen Craigan’s history-making youngsters are the only remaining Colts’ side in the competition, and now face Championship opposition for a chance to make it to the last four.

Here, we take a look at Steven Ferguson and Stuart Kettlewell’s side.

Title aspirations

The Dingwall outfit have started strongly in the Scottish Championship following their relegation last season, and currently sit four points off league leaders Ayr.

In what is a competitive division, the Staggies are joined by Dundee United and fellow Highlanders Inverness CT in the immediate pack challenging Ian McCall’s side.

Solid rearguard

No side has a better defence in the Championship than Ross County, who have shipped just nine goals this term.

Going forward, they have bagged 24 goals and are currently only being outscored by Ayr, who have found the net on 25 occasions.

Motherwell Colts can expect a difficult clash against a side who have been impressive all over the park in 2018/19.

Familiar territory

Although it’s a long trip in distance for Saturday’s opponents, it’s not been long since Ross County were last at Fir Park.

Back in January, the Staggies took on the Steelmen and lost 2-0, thanks to a Harry Souttar own goal and a Curtis Main strike to give Stephen Robinson’s men all three points.

Motherwell have already made history in being the first Colts team to reach the quarter-finals of the IRN-BRU Cup.

Now they face the challenge of taking on Ladbrokes Premiership promotion chasers Ross County in the last eight at Fir Park on Saturday, 17 November. Kick off is at 3pm.

Stephen Craigan’s side brilliantly beat Irish side Sligo Rovers in the last round in front of almost 1,000 fans on home turf, and another big crowd could help send them to the semi-finals.

You can buy your tickets online now, or pay at the gate on the day. Adult entry costs £8, concessions go for £4 and kids aged 15 and under can get in for just £2.

Alex Rodriguez Gorrín and Jake Hastie were on target as Motherwell’s reserve side won 2-0 at Morton on Monday.

The victory secured their passage to the last four of the SPFL Reserve Cup, having topped their group.

Stephen Craigan praised his young side as they progressed to the last four of the SPFL Reserve Cup with a 2-0 win at Morton on Monday.

Goals from Alex Rodriguez Gorrīn and Jake Hastie were the difference in a comfortable victory for the second string, as they prepare to face Championship side Ross County in the IRN-BRU Cup this weekend.

Motherwell have qualified for the semi-finals of the SPFL Reserve Cup, after defeating Morton 2-0 at Cappielow.

Alex Rodriguez Gorrín’s first half penalty and Jake Hastie’s late strike were the difference between the two sides.

Several first team players featured in Greenock, with Mark Gillespie, Elliott Frear and Gorrín all in the starting team.

With 14 minutes on the clock, Frear’s bursting run into the box from the right saw him pulled back, leaving the referee with no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Gorrín’s penalty was low and composed, finding the inside side netting.

Chances were at a premium throughout, although Stephen Craigan’s side controlled the match for the most part.

They then put the game to bed with five minutes to spare. Substitute Hastie found room on the left as he drove into the box, before he picked his spot with a low shot into the bottom right corner of the net.

Having now topped their group, the young Steelmen advance to next year’s semi-finals.

Ross MacLean and Jake Hastie’s teams went head to head in the Ladbrokes Championship on Saturday, as Morton hosted Alloa.

The pair ended up not sharing the pitch, with MacLean subbed off after 64 minutes and Hastie coming on 14 minutes later, as the Wasps ran out 2-0 winners at Cappielow.

Late penalties from Allan Trouten and Iain Flannigan gave Alloa a much-needed win to claw themselves away from the bottom end of the table, and dent the Ton’s play-off chase.

PJ Morrison and Neil McLaughlin were both in League Two action, turning out for Albion Rovers and Stirling Albion respectively.

Goalkeeper Morrison saw his side go down 2-1 at home to table-toppers Edinburgh City, with Blair Henderson netting twice.

McLaughlin played the 90 minutes for Stirling as they drew 1-1 at Clyde, a positive result against a side sitting 12 points ahead of them in the table.

Neil McLaughlin was named in the starting team and grabbed his first goal of the campaign as Stirling Albion ran out 3-0 winners at home against Berwick Rangers.

The youngster opened the scoring after 16 minutes, tucking home Danny Jardine’s pass at the back post.

Former ‘Well youth Dylan Mackin was also on target for the Binos, with the win creating some distance between them at the bottom two clubs.

Peter Morrison made his sixth appearance for Albion Rovers in their 2-1 defeat away to league leaders Peterhead.

The young ‘Well stopper had another busy afternoon at a cold, windy Balmoor and made a number of stops in difficult conditions. But he couldn’t step his side ending up on the losing side, despite Barry Eley’s second-half hit.

In the Championship, Jake Hastie was a 72nd minute sub as Alloa lost at home to Dunfermline. The winger was introduced with the Wasps trying to get back into the match following Jackson Longridge’s 69th minute goal, but the Pars held on for the three points.

Ross MacLean was an unused sub as Morton thrashed Partick Thistle 5-1, where Shea Gordon continues to miss out with an injury picked up against Celtic earlier in the campaign.

Stephen Craigan admitted his side were not at their best after defeating Morton 1-0 in the Reserve League.

Broque Watson’s second half goal secured yet another three points for the youngsters, who have now won four games on the bounce.

Despite the result, the reserves boss wants more from his side. He said: “It was a bit stuttered and we didn’t really get any flow in to the game, but we always felt in control.”

Motherwell’s reserve side picked up a deserved league win on Monday, taking all three points in a 1-0 victory at home to Greenock Morton.

Broque Watson’s goal early in the second half was decisive in a match the young Steelmen controlled for the most part.

Stephen Craigan made six changes to the side which defeated Dunfermline Athletic in their last outing.

Mark Gillespie, Christian Mbulu, George Newell, Conor Sammon, Danny Johnson and Akeal Rehman all dropped out. PJ Morrison, Jason Krones, Jamie Semple, Dean Cornelius, James Scott and Jake Hastie came into the side.

For all their possession, chances in the first half were at a premium. Watson troubled the ‘Ton keeper briefly with a low shot he had to turn around the post, while Semple had a shout for a penalty turned down.

The breakthrough would come just after the interval as the pair combined.

Semple’s angled run from the middle took him to the left flank. Hitting the byline, his low cross back across goal was perfect for Watson to tap in from close range.

A succession of set plays gave the youngsters a number of half chances, while substitute Alfredo Agyeman saw an effort agonizingly fall wide of the post from a deflection, after showing great pace and power to burst through.

The Steelmen have now won three and drawn one of their opening five Reserve League matches, with their sole defeat coming at Rangers.