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Motherwell take on Rangers in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup tomorrow afternoon, as competitive football gets back underway in the first match of the year.

For Mark McGhee’s men, the match presents a chance to extend their unbeaten run to three matches in all competitions following the 2-1 win over Inverness and the dramatic 1-1 draw with Hamilton in the final match of 2016.

Rangers, on the other hand, stumbled a little towards the end of the year, drawing with St Johnstone before losing to Celtic in their final two matches.

But Mark Warburton and his players will be keen to start their Scottish Cup run with a positive result tomorrow, after suffering an agonising defeat in last years final.

David Gray’s last minute header ended Hibs 114-year wait to lift the cup but broke Rangers fans hearts in the process.

However, that was last season, and ‘Well boss Mark McGhee believes Rangers are developing as a team with every passing match, let alone between seasons.

Speaking to the press this morning, the manager 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]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.[/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.”

Motherwell will me missing Lee Lucas through suspension. Jacob Blyth and Kieran Kennedy will be absent through injury.

Rangers will be without James Tavernier who is suspended while Niko Kranjcar, Joe Garner and Joe Dodoo will be absent through injury.

Keith Lasley believes Motherwell head in to the Scottish Cup fourth round meeting with Rangers tomorrow in a good frame of mind.

And with a number of successful years under his belt with the Steelmen, the skipper admitted that lifting the Scottish Cup is the one thing he feels is missing from recent seasons.

Speaking to the press this morning, the midfielder conceded it gets more and more pressing every season.

He said: “I’m afraid it does but it’s up to us to do something about it. We’ve discussed it many times, sitting in this chair, about how good it would be for the club and for the fans.

“We know the history of a great final in ’91 and we’ve not done so well since then – a few finals here and there that have ended in disappointment – but no, it would be good but we know we have a tough tie tomorrow.”

Lifting the Scottish Cup is the one thing that is probably missing in recent seasons and everybody around this club would love to do that for the fans and for the community as a whole especially with everything we’re trying to build at this club in terms of the community being involved in it.

As much as the captain wants to lift the cup, he knows just how much it would mean to the fans.

He said: “The level of consistency we’ve shown in the league, it wasn’t just one season or even two, it was probably about half a dozen years of consistent and relative success in the league and European qualification.

“There were a couple of runs in there in the cup where we probably just didn’t finish the job off which is disappointing.”

He added: “Lifting the Scottish Cup is the one thing that is probably missing in recent seasons and everybody around this club would love to do that for the fans and for the community as a whole especially with everything we’re trying to build at this club in terms of the community being involved in it.

“To bring a cup to Motherwell would be fantastic and something that would probably just drive that community spirit even more.”

[pullquote]Our last couple of performances against both sides of the Old Firm have been really positive and anybody who was at our last meeting with Rangers at Ibrox would concede that we were unfortunate to not taking anything from the game.[/pullquote]

The Fir Parkers are ready for tomorrow’s challenge, one which is perhaps one of the toughest Motherwell could face.

Lasley said: “Of course it’s going to be tough tomorrow, it’s probably one of the toughest draws you can get at this stage of the cup.

“Take away Celtic and it’s probably the toughest assignment at the moment, but, we feel that we’re capable of competing against anybody and I include Celtic in that.”

He added: “Our last couple of performances against both sides of the Old Firm have been really positive and anybody who was at our last meeting with Rangers at Ibrox would concede that we were unfortunate to not taking anything from the game.

“At one stage of the game I think we actually can look back and think we were disappointed not to win the game, let alone take nothing.

“That gives us confidence going in to the match and the fact that we’re on the back of a couple of decent results, albeit before the break, so we go there in a good frame of mind and we’re certainly confident we can give a good account of ourselves because we’ll need to.”

Rangers have slotted back in to the top flight of Scottish football seamlessly this season.

Despite sitting 19 points behind league leaders and arch-rivals Celtic, the Glaswegian side find themselves second in the Premiership table, midway through their first season back.

And while many won’t be surprised to see the club back around the summit of the table, it is still an impressive return to the top flight for the club after being away for four seasons.

Under manager Mark Warburton, the Gers have not only been busy in the transfer market but they have also found themselves playing an attacking brand of football.

New arrivals Joe Garner, Clint Hill, Joe Dodoo and Josh Windass have enjoyed good starts to their Rangers careers – and the recent arrivals of Jon Toral and Emerson Hyndman boost the Ibrox outfit further ahead of the second half of the campaign.

And it will be a welcome boost too, with Warburton’s side somewhat stuttering towards the end of 2016, ending the year with a single point from their final two fixtures.

A draw away to St Johnstone was followed up by a 2-1 loss at Ibrox to Celtic, leaving Rangers on 39 points after 21 matches.

Kenny Miller gave his side the lead in the Hogmanay clash, tapping in from close range to send the Ibrox crowd in to an early frenzy.

But a thunderous effort from Moussa Dembele after half an hour drew the visitors level before Scott Sinclair’s tap in with 20 minutes remaining secured the win for Brendan

Rodgers side and left Rangers with a long wait before returning to competitive action tomorrow afternoon.

Both Motherwell and Rangers will have been working hard over the winter break to get back to match fitness, and with two matches against one another coming up in quick succession, the two sides will be well prepared after a few weeks off.

Rangers are recently back from a trip to Germany, where they lost 4-0 against RB Leipzig while the Steelmen have been preparing hard in training for tomorrow’s fourth round fixture.

Mark Warburton’s men will feel a sense of unfinished business with the Scottish Cup this season, following their 3-2 loss against Hibs in the final back in May.

Trailing 2-1 with just over ten minutes remaining, the Edinburgh side managed to grab an equaliser through Anthony Stokes and eventually won the match in dramatic fashion when David Gray headed home to snatch a 3-2 lead in the 92nd minute.

The manner in which Rangers lost the final will undoubtedly have left a bitter taste in the loyal supporters mouths, but it does not take away from the impressive 2015/16 season they had.

Storming to the Championship title, lifting the Challenge Cup and finishing runners up in the Scottish Cup was a terrific first season for the newly appointed Warburton and his assistant David Weir.

This season, while the league is starting to slide ever more in to Celtic’s grasp, Rangers will be keen to keep the gap between their rivals down, but in Motherwell they know they will face tough opposition tomorrow.

The winter break is over, the Scottish Cup is ready to get going again and Ibrox awaits for the Steelmen.

Keith Lasley believes Motherwell head in to the Scottish Cup fourth round meeting with Rangers tomorrow in a good frame of mind.

And with a number of successful years under his belt with the Steelmen, the skipper admitted that lifting the Scottish Cup is the one thing he feels is missing from recent seasons.

Speaking to the press this morning, the midfielder conceded it gets more and more pressing every season.

He said: “I’m afraid it does but it’s up to us to do something about it. We’ve discussed it many times, sitting in this chair, about how good it would be for the club and for the fans.

“We know the history of a great final in ’91 and we’ve not done so well since then – a few finals here and there that have ended in disappointment – but no, it would be good but we know we have a tough tie tomorrow.”

[pullquote]Lifting the Scottish Cup is the one thing that is probably missing in recent seasons and everybody around this club would love to do that for the fans and for the community as a whole especially with everything we’re trying to build at this club in terms of the community being involved in it.[/pullquote]

As much as the captain wants to lift the cup, he knows just how much it would mean to the fans.

He said: “The level of consistency we’ve shown in the league, it wasn’t just one season or even two, it was probably about half a dozen years of consistent and relative success in the league and European qualification.

“There were a couple of runs in there in the cup where we probably just didn’t finish the job off which is disappointing.”

He added: “Lifting the Scottish Cup is the one thing that is probably missing in recent seasons and everybody around this club would love to do that for the fans and for the community as a whole especially with everything we’re trying to build at this club in terms of the community being involved in it.

“To bring a cup to Motherwell would be fantastic and something that would probably just drive that community spirit even more.”

[pullquote]Our last couple of performances against both sides of the Old Firm have been really positive and anybody who was at our last meeting with Rangers at Ibrox would concede that we were unfortunate to not taking anything from the game.[/pullquote]

The Fir Parkers are ready for tomorrow’s challenge, one which is perhaps one of the toughest Motherwell could face.

Lasley said: “Of course it’s going to be tough tomorrow, it’s probably one of the toughest draws you can get at this stage of the cup.

“Take away Celtic and it’s probably the toughest assignment at the moment, but, we feel that we’re capable of competing against anybody and I include Celtic in that.”

He added: “Our last couple of performances against both sides of the Old Firm have been really positive and anybody who was at our last meeting with Rangers at Ibrox would concede that we were unfortunate to not taking anything from the game.

“At one stage of the game I think we actually can look back and think we were disappointed not to win the game, let alone take nothing.

“That gives us confidence going in to the match and the fact that we’re on the back of a couple of decent results, albeit before the break, so we go there in a good frame of mind and we’re certainly confident we can give a good account of ourselves because we’ll need to.”

‘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.