Motherwell are the first side to secure their place in the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals.
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Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSMoses Ebiye won the late penalty decider scored by Lennon Miller
Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell had named an unchanged side for their Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Dundee United despite Saturday's league defeat in Aberdeen.
That meant sticking with Zach Robinson up front despite taking his total to four for the season after back-to-back goalscoring cameos off the bench.
It looked like it was a strategy playing into United's hands as the visitors forced the hosts to play long, with Robinson all too often outmuscled by former Fir Park centre-back Declan Gallagher and Ross Graham.
However, it paid off on the stroke of half-time as the summer arrival from Wimbledon broke his season's duck in spectacular fashion.
It looked like that would be enough to secure victory until striker Louie Moult stunned his former side in a hectic finish lapped up by an impressive crowd of more than 8,000.
Ebiye, though, was to prove the super sub again to win the penalty that handed much-heralded 18-year-old midfielder Lennon Miller the chance to again show his immense promise and cool head from the spot.
Image source, SNSIt was a team performance rather than one of individual brilliance for Motherwell, but considering Lennon Miller is still only 18, his match-winning penalty is worthy of the man of the match award in their Premier Sports Cup quarter-final win over Dundee United.
Image source, SNSJim Goodwin replaced Kevin Holt with Ross Docherty on Sunday and does so again
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.
Image source, SNSMotherwell 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
Image source, SNSMotherwell 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
Image source, SNSDundee 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
Image source, SNSIf 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.
Image source, SNSMotherwell 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.
Highlights: Aberdeen 2-1 Motherwell
