Motherwell

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Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell names an unchanged starting XI for the visit of Dundee United in Friday's Premier Sports Cup quarter-final at Fir Park.

But Blackburn Rovers loanee Jack Vale drops out the matchday squad after Saturday's 2-1 Scottish Premiership defeat in Aberdeen.

He is replaced on the bench with Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, while fellow forward Tony Watt is ineligible against his parent club.

Zach Robinson retains his starting place ahead of Moses Ebiye despite the latter's back-to-back goalscoring cameos off the bench.

Visiting manager Jim Goodwin opts to make one switch following Sunday's 1-0 home defeat by Rangers.

Club captain Ross Docherty comes into midfield, replacing Kevin Holt, as he did before half-time against the Glasgow side, with the latter dropping to the bench.

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

The first of two all-Premiership ties in the League Cup quarter-finals - and probably the least predictable - takes United to Motherwell on Friday evening in a meeting of two clubs looking to end a decades-long League Cup drought.

United have not lifted the League Cup since beating city rivals Dundee in the 1980 final, while Motherwell's wait is even longer, having last won the trophy back in 1950, when they defeated Hibernian.

Indeed, neither side have gone beyond the quarter-finals since they last progressed to the final.

Motherwell defeated Aberdeen 3-0 seven years ago, before knocking out Rangers in the semi-finals and falling short in their bid for an Old Firm double against Celtic.

Two years earlier, United beat Hibernian on penalties after a 3-3 draw, overcame Aberdeen in the last four but also lost to Celtic in the final.

Celtic were also Well's nemesis when the Lanarkshire side and United last reached the quarter-finals two years ago, the Glasgow visitors easing to a 4-0 win while the Tangerines were losing 2-1 in Kilmarnock.

The current sides go into Friday's quarter-final looking to recover from top-flight defeats that ended three-game winning runs.

Stuart Kettlewell's hosts fell 2-1 away to Aberdeen, while Jim Goodwin's United had their impressive eight-game unbeaten sequence brought to an end by Rangers' single-goal win at Tannadice.

Recent meetings are also no guide to Friday's outcome considering United have spent a season winning the Championship since losing 3-2 at Fir Park in their last meeting - with United having won there a month previously.

Their knockout meetings tend to be tight affairs too, with United winning 2-1 at Fir Park in the Scottish Cup fourth round in November 2014, while Alan Gow's goal was enough to take hosts Motherwell through to the League Cup semi-finals in October 2010.

Another close game is in prospect under the Fir Park lights.

Read all the League Cup picks

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Motherwell will be without on-loan Dundee United forward Tony Watt, who is ineligible to play against his parent club in the League Cup quarter-final tie.

The injured Shane Blaney, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, Callum Slattery, Sam Nicholson, Harry Paton, Ross Callachan and Johnny Koutroumbis will also be out.

United boss Jim Goodwin has a full squad to choose from for the trip to Fir Park, with the exception of long-term absentee Ryan Strain.

Only two of this weekend's Scottish League Cup quarter-finals will have VAR in operation, with Motherwell v Dundee United on Friday and Aberdeen v Spartans on Saturday not using the technology and saving a combined £16,000 in the process. (Mail), external

Dundee, Hibernian, Kilmarnock, Motherwell, Ross County, St Johnstone and St Mirren will each take in £1.6m in solidarity payments due to Celtic's Champions League qualification, with Aberdeen and Dundee United receiving £1m and £650,000 going to Hearts and Livingston. (Mail), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

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Motherwell have a "massive opportunity" to reach the League Cup semi-finals, says midfielder Andy Halliday.

The Fir Park side welcome Dundee United on Friday night in their last-eight tie and a win will secure a first semi-final in six years.

Motherwell are without any silverware since winning the Scottish Cup in 1991, which was against United.

Having left Rangers before they won the Premiership title under Steven Gerrard, a major honour has alluded former Hearts man Halliday.

But the Livingston youth graduate is desperate to rectify that and end Motherwell's trophy drought.

Stuart Kettlewell's side have won their last two home games and only conceded one goal in five matches at Fir Park this season.

And Halliday is hoping that will be a factor again in front of a bumper crowd.

"It's not easy to win cups," the 32-year-old said. "It's difficult, especially for Motherwell, it was 1991 the last time they won the Scottish Cup.

"We have a massive opportunity ahead of us, but the most important thing for us as players is to prepare properly going into this weekend and give your best.

"I feel if we give our best and we get what fans gave us over the past few weeks, then I'm confident.

"It's a massive occasion for us and I feel we have built on a decent bit of home form at the start of the season.

"If we want to get back to Hampden for the first time in six, seven years, then we are going to need them.”

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee United defender Declan Gallagher is braced for another hostile reception at Fir Park on Friday night but feels Motherwell fans' treatment of him is unfair.

Gallagher spent two years with the Steelmen before joining Aberdeen in summer 2021.

As he prepares to face Stuart Kettlewell's side in the League Cup quarter-finals, Gallagher said: "I am actually quite surprised that I get such a hostile view from them because when I was there we finished third, the Covid season, then I was captain the next year.

"A lot of things came out about my contract situation and stuff like that. But something that maybe fans don't know is that before I left Motherwell I signed an extension for one month so that Motherwell received the bonus money for me reaching the Euro squad with Scotland.

"I don't think was ever highlighted out there, so I think if a few Motherwell fans knew that was the case and I actually earned the club money rather than just taking money and leaving then they would maybe think differently.

"But that is football, people will have their opinion no matter what you do. I loved my time at Motherwell, I played in Europe for them, I captained them and I love the club as a whole, but I will be looking to try and put them out this week."

Gallagher has been in impressive form for United this season and he hopes if that continues he could force himself back into the Scotland fold and add to his nine caps.

The 33-year-old, who has not been called up since September 2022, said: "I think about Scotland all the time, I am choking for my 10th cap so if Steve Clarke wants to give me a phone I will happily answer that.

"I have never said I would retire from international football. If I play well for Dundee United like I did at Motherwell and St Mirren, I am sure I will maybe catch his eye again."

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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If Moses Ebiye has already been chapping at Stuart Kettlewell's door to question why he isn't starting, he could be booting it down soon enough.

Saturday's goal off the bench in the 2-1 defeat at Aberdeen was the striker's sixth for the club since joining midway through last season.

Five of those six goals have come as a substitute, which means the Nigerian posts a quite incredible strike rate of a goal every 76 minutes.

Albeit a small sample size, Ebiye is surely in a position now where he can feel hard done by if he isn't handed a start in Friday's League Cup quarter-final with Dundee United.

The counter argument, however, will suggest the 27-year-old is a better option off the bench due to his knack of scoring a late goal.

Each of his four Premiership strikes have come after the 88th minute, plus his winner in the last-16 victory over Kilmarnock came in extra time.

With both Apostolos Stamatelopoulos and Filip Stuparevic working their way back to fitness, coupled with Tony Watt being ineligible to play against his parent club, it appears to be between Zach Robinson and Ebiye for the starting spot.

Summer signing Robinson is yet to score in 10 games, so perhaps Friday is the time for Ebiye to get his chance to provide a decisive moment from the off.

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Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell is driving his team to create cup memories he feels there is "no substitute for".

The Fir Park side welcome Dundee United on Friday night for a place in the last four of the League Cup.

Volunteers have distributed thousands of leaflets in the hope of attracting a bumper crowd for the quarter-final tie.

And Kettlewell is desperate for his side to reward the support of the fan-owned club with a memorable evening and a trip to Hampden.

"We are a fan-owned community football club, I for one would love to celebrate that," the Well boss said.

"My job is to make sure the players give the supporters and everyone that comes here to back us on Friday something to cheer about."

Motherwell have not been in a semi-final since finishing runners-up in both domestic cups in the 2017-18 season.

The Fir Park club are also without a major honour since winning the Scottish Cup in 1991.

Kettlewell, who was part of the County squad that reached the 2010 Scottish Cup final, added: "I think sometimes we just look at the monetary aspect of football. People want security, win bonuses and all these different things.

"But I was probably brought up in a simpler time and a simpler mindset that careers are defined by success, and that's how I look at it.

"I've always been someone massive into the fact that I certainly wasn't the greatest player in the world, but I'm proud as punch of the medals that I was able to win.

"Getting players into that mindset tends to breed success because you have a real hunger for it. Whether you're able to achieve it, whether there's disappointment in there, can always be a fact of life, not just football.

"There's no substitute for those memories, those bits of success and what that starts to build in your CV."

Jenna Thomson
Fan writer

The newest league title challengers may have humbled us, but I am beyond confident that Motherwell will be victorious in Friday night's League Cup quarter-final.

Dundee United did not look as though they had anything to offer against Rangers on Sunday in their 1-0 defeat. Their new signings from North Macedonia have been impressive, but nothing our defenders can't handle.

The return of Louis Moult will be bittersweet if he comes on, especially since Tony Watt isn't eligible to play against his parent club.

We really need to see Moses Ebiye make an appearance earlier than usual. As much as his last-minute goals off the bench are delightful, we need to get ahead fast and the supersub striker deserves a start.

The magnificent work the Well Society have done to encourage more people to attend is applaudable. Volunteers are the backbone of our club and if it pays off with a higher than average attendance, it is all worth it.

We have the opportunity to reach our first semi-final in six years and are more than capable of winning this fixture, we just need to hope the players share that belief.

We asked for your views on Motherwell's 2-1 defeat against Aberdeen.

Here's what some of you said:

Ronnie: Motherwell played well in the second half when the manager put on some strikers as Zach Robinson cannot play on his own. It took a wonder save to stop the draw. We must start with at least two strikers and we will be fine.

Edward: Moses Ebiye scores again! Any chance he could get a start? We continue to try to nick a goal and hang on instead of having the tactics to score early! I don't need to hear how well we played because we still lost, tedious!

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• Sivert Heltne Nilsen attempted 77 passes in this game - more than any other Dons player this season.

• Pape Guèye's brace moves him to the top of the Premiership goalscoring chart this season.

• Motherwell have scored in their last four games in the Premiership, their longest run of players finding the net in games since the competition since February.

Were you at Pittodrie on Saturday or following the match elsewhere?

Either way, we want your views on the game - have your say here, external.

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Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell: "We're a wee bit disappointed, especially with the second half, we took a step forward.

"You could see the belief that was in our side. You could see we were trying to get out here with at least a point.

"We don't get too low, that's not an acceptance with defeat. We didn't shame ourselves.

"I spoke to the players about having a greater belief at the start of the game. We've been fine this season. There's been a lot to like."

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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The pre-match pyrotechnics show at a bouncing Pittodrie highlighted the feelgood factor at Aberdeen, who seem to be finding new ways to win games.

And the positive energy will not be fizzling out any time soon as the records continue to tumble for Jimmy Thelin, who can take his team to a League Cup semi-final next weekend with a home win over fourth-tier Spartans.

The Swede is also now the first Premiership manager to win all five of his first league games since Giovanni van Bronckhorst with Rangers in December 2021.

For a while it felt like it should have been a comfortable afternoon, but it ended on a nervy note for Thelin and his players.

That is something the manager will undoubtedly analyse and address, but, in the main, the centre-back duo of Slobodan Rubezic and Gavin Molloy impressed again.

Second-half attacking changes sprung Motherwell into life, but they could not make Aberdeen pay with their openings.

On another day Stuart Kettlewell's men could have come away with a point, which would have perhaps been deserved on the balance of the chances.

When the likes of Tony Watt, Jair Tavares and Jack Vale are in the right shape to start games, the Lanarkshire side should look more vibrant at the top end of the pitch.

They have been much improved at the other end this season, but Kettlewell will be disappointed with the goals his team conceded, particularly the first as Pape Habib Gueye was able to race clear from his own half.

Aberdeen: Mitov, Devlin, Molloy, Rubezic, MacKenzie, Heltne Nilsen, Palaversa, Keskinen, Gueye, McGrath, Nisbet.

Substitutes: Doohan, Clarkson, McGarry, Besuijen, Sokler, Morris, Milne, MacDonald, Ambrose.

Motherwell: Oxborough, O'Donnell, McGinn, Gordon, Casey, Wilson, Zdravkovski, Halliday, Miller, Maswanhise, Robinson.

Substitutes: Hegyi, Seddon, Balmer, Sparrow, Kaleta, Ebiye, Watt, Vale, Tavares.

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Aberdeen hope to have Leighton Clarkson back while Duk has returned to the club following his unauthorised absence but is unlikely to feature. Dante Polvara (hamstring) remains out.

Shane Blaney is the closest Motherwell player to a return with Apostolos Stamatelopoulos (thigh), Callum Slattery, Sam Nicholson (both knee), Harry Paton (ankle), Ross Callachan (hamstring) and Johnny Koutroumbis (calf) still missing.

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Motherwell midfielder Davor Zdravkovski is not surprised to see more of his countrymen join him in Scotland after big-money summer exits highlighted the "massive" platform the Premiership provides.

Zdravkovski and his team-mates travel to Aberdeen on Saturday to face a Dons team who have adjusted well to life without his fellow Macedonian Bojan Miovski following his club-record sale to Girona.

Celtic have also made a record sale of Matt O'Riley while Theo Bair departed Fir Park to join Auxerre.

Despite the exit of Miovski, the quota of North Macedonia internationals has risen following the arrival of Kristijan Trapanovski and David Babunski at Dundee United.

Zdravkovski, 26, said: "It's a massive [platform] because you can see there's a lot of big transfers going out from this league.

"I'm not surprised this league is well appreciated around the world. In my mind it's a little bit underrated as well because not many people know how tough and good this league is.

"Miovski had a good move and some of the new lads that came to Dundee United are doing well at the beginning.

"It's always nice to have other people here from your own country. I played with them in the youths and with Babunski for the national team. They are good guys and I wish them to have a successful season except for the games against Motherwell.

"It's a good league and a good club I am at and hopefully a good step for the future. You never know what the future will bring so hopefully we can see ourselves going in a bigger and better league.

"I always expected a physical, tough league but people need to give more respect to the league.

"People come here and realise it's not as easy as they think, then they get a surprise. The national team is good quality as well."

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Motherwell are more than capable of ending Aberdeen's perfect start to the season on Saturday, according to former captain Stephen Craigan.

The Dons have won nine from nine in all competitions under manager Jimmy Thelin, but Motherwell have also made a decent start to the season and sit fifth in the Premiership after four games.

Stuart Kettlewell's side have won their last three games, and Craigan says that can only breed confidence for their trip to Pittodrie.

"Motherwell have to go into that game full of belief," Craigan told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"If you've won three games in a row, you have to look around your dressing room and think 'We can cause an upset. We can be the ones everyone is talking about Saturday night', because everyone has been talking about Aberdeen.

"Aberdeen will be favourites, but Motherwell will be going there with a gameplan. Under Kettlewell, they have been up and down at times, but it looks as if the players are more settled on how they want to play. It should be a good game."

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Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller has been ranked as one of the top 30 teenage footballers in the world by a leading sports research body.

The Switzerland-based International Centre for Sports Studies listed the 18-year-old as 29th in its top 100 teenagers , externallist.

The Football Observatory ranking, which is calculated based on the level of experience accrued by the players - based on how much they've played, and weighted by the competition level.

And the ranking, which is topped by Barcelona pair Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi, puts Miller ahead of the likes of Manchester City's Rico Lewis and Brighton and Northern Ireland forward Evan Ferguson.

Miller is not the only Scot on the list, with Kilmarnock midfielder David Watson ranked at 87th.

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Ewan Wilson's rapid rise from Scottish football's sixth tier to international recognition is a "brilliant story" that highlights the "different pathways" players can take in successful careers, says manager Stuart Kettlewell.

The 19-year-old left-back was rewarded for his first-team breakthrough at club level with a late call-up to the Scotland Under-21s last week.

Wilson went on to make his debut off the bench against Spain before starting against Malta and creating the opening goal in a 5-0 qualifying win.

Last season, the defender's loan to lower-league Stirling Albion was terminated in March after only six starts and he finished the season with Beith Juniors in the sixth tier.

"It's just a brilliant story," said Kettlewell, whose Motherwell side travel to face Aberdeen on Saturday.

"Getting sent back from a loan with Stirling, going to Beith Juniors... then ultimately winding up starting a game for Scotland Under-21s and performing the way he did.

"There are different pathways. We had to build his confidence back up. That's exactly what we managed to do with Ewan and credit to the guys at Beith, they handled him really, really well.

"All of that's culminated in where he finds himself at this minute. A lot of that is confidence and just a better education, how you prepare as a pro to play in a game of football or even to train day to day."