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Chris Cadden believes that a cup run is “long over-due” for Motherwell football club as they prepare for tomorrow night’s Betfred Cup encounter.

The Fir Parkers take on Edinburgh City and have the chance to secure top spot in Group F following two convincing victories in the competition.

And for young midfield star Cadden, who “loves” the format of the tournament, a potential run could do wonders for the squad of players at Fir Park.

[pullquote]Motherwell haven’t had a cup run in a while so I think it’s long overdue and the boys have been told that too so it’s important to all of us.[/pullquote]

He said: “I love it – I know pre-season games are always good for fitness and stuff but with this it’s competitive football straight away and the games mean something so it prepares you well for the first game of the season.

“You maybe shouldn’t but you do approach the games differently because you know it’s for three points and there’s a potential cup run at stake.”

He added: “Motherwell haven’t had a cup run in a while so I think it’s long overdue and the boys have been told that too so it’s important to all of us.”

‘Well boss Stephen Robinson has his sights set on clinching top spot in Group F tomorrow night as the Steelmen travel to take on Edinburgh City.

And with the same squad to choose from following his side’s 4-0 victory over Morton on Saturday, Robinson admits he could take the opportunity to give some players some important minutes.

Speaking to the press this morning, the manager previewed tomorrow nights Betfred encounter.

[pullquote]We want to have small squad with real competition where everybody feels like they’re not far from a starting position.[/pullquote]

He said: “First and foremost we want to get top spot in the group and it will make things easier if we do that, but we’ve also got boys who need games.

“They’re waiting on the side and I can assure you they’re seasoned professionals that have played at the top level for a very long time so that’s what we’ve tried to create here – competition.”

He added: “We want to have small squad with real competition where everybody feels like they’re not far from a starting position so three or four of them will get to prove that to me on Tuesday night.”

Extended highlights from Fir Park as goals from Dunne, Cadden, Tait and Moult secure a 4-0 win over Morton.

‘Well boss Stephen Robinson was “delighted” to see his side see off a strong Morton outfit this afternoon – winning 4-0 at Fir Park.

The visiting Greenock side, who came in to the game as leaders of the group, couldn’t live with a dominant Motherwell side in Lanarkshire.

And Robinson hailed his sides desire and work rate as they moved back to the summit of the group.

[pullquote]I think it was more with the manner that we approached the game – going one nil up, two nil up, and being aggressive, pressing with high energy and not giving them a minutes peace.[/pullquote]

Speaking to MFC TV, he said: “We’re delighted with our performance because from the two games we’ve played we’ve scored nine goals.

“But I think it was more with the manner that we approached the game – going one nil up, two nil up, and being aggressive, pressing with high energy and not giving them a minutes peace.”

He added: “But believe me, they’re a good team Morton and we made them look average today just by our attitude, desire and work rate so that’s probably the most pleasing aspect for me.”

Images from this afternoon’s 4-0 win over Greenock Morton in the Betfred Cup.

Snaps courtesy of SNSPix

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A very impressive display from Motherwell easily dealt with the potential challenge of Morton, taking them to the top of Group F and favourites to move into the next round of the Betfred Cup.

Although the Greenock side had an impressive campaign last season there was little chance of the Cappielow side repeating their cup win over Motherwell two years ago – especially after the Fir Park men opened the scoring in the opening minutes.

There were two changes from the side which kicked off the Betfred Cup campaign at Hampden. Ryan Bowman was rewarded for last week’s double with a start in the home attack and Charles Dunne made his debut at the expense of Stevie Hammell.

And the former Oldham defender took less than three minutes to mark his first appearance in a ‘Well jersey to claim his first goal.

The opportunity to grab an early opener looked to have been lost when Trevor Carson’s long ball over the Morton defence released Craig Tanner but one-on-one with the ‘keeper, his effort was blocked by Derek Gaston.

From the resultant corner Tanner picked out Carl McHugh whose floated header towards goal was nodded over the line by Dunne for the perfect start.

Ten minutes later, Tanner’s corner was again met by McHugh but this time he powered his diving header just over the bar.

Carson, whose distribution with either foot seems a real bonus, claimed another assist when the Steelmen doubled their lead after 25 minutes.

The ‘keeper’s free kick from well beyond his box, was glanced on by Bowman and when Tanner slipped the ball through to Cadden, the young midfielder confidently angled his drive across the ‘keeper for his second goal of the campaign.

Ryan Bowman almost made it three when he hooked Richard Tait’s cross narrowly wide of goal.

Morton’s hopes of a fightback were hampered seven minutes from half-time when the experienced Gary Harkins was shown a red card for a high and dangerous tackle on Tanner.

In the minutes before the interval, Bowman had a couple of chances to extend the home lead. Firstly, Michael Doyle’s short pass back sent the ‘Well striker towards goal but Gaston raced out of his box to make a great blocking tackle.

Then Dunne’s incisive pass allowed Bowman to turn at the edge of the box and his low shot was sneaking inside the post until the ‘keeper leapt low to palm it away.

Comfortably in command at the interval, Motherwell used their extra man in the second half to move the ball around the final third and keep Morton penned deep in their own half.

Following a couple of chances, including a crisply struck 22-yard effort from the hugely influential Gael Bigirimana, the Fir Parkers finally made it three nil after 66 minutes.

Carl McHugh’s intelligent chipped effort from 25 yards rebounded from the face of the crossbar and Richard Tait reacted quickly to squeeze the ball between the keeper and his right-hand post.

That also signalled a double substitution with strikers Louis Moult and Alex Fisher intent of giving the overworked Morton defence a difficult final 20 minutes.

Still to regain full fitness Moult took only six minutes to mark his appearance from the bench with another superb free kick curling the ball from the corner of the box beyond Gaston’s despairing dive.

Andy Rose replaced Tait and he came close to making it five, but slid Dunne’s pass on the wrong side of the post.

The best chance to go nap for the second consecutive week fell to Moult but having pounced on Bobby Thomson’s slack pass back the ‘Well striker rattled the ball off the advancing ‘keeper, with Bigirimana doing exactly the same with the rebound.

Motherwell now travel to the capital on Tuesday evening knowing that a win over Edinburgh City will guarantee them top spot in the section.

tab:As it happened]

 Alastair Reilly at Fir Park

The Steelmen ease past 10-man Morton and now top Group F.

FT: Motherwell 4 – 0 Greenock Morton

88′ | 4-0
Morton sub, Armour on for Russell

83′ | 4-0
Should have been 5! Back pass is too short which lets Moult in but Gaston makes a fine double save from Moult then Bigirimana

81′ | 4-0
Dunne clips in a great ball to the back post which Rose knocks just wide of the post.

Changes for Morton as well, Quitongo and Thomson off for McHugh and Strapp

76′ | 4-0
Motherwell sub, Tait off for Rose.

73′ | 4-0
It’s that man Moult again! Curls a beauty over the wall and past Gaston!!

GOOOAALLL!!!!

72′ | 3-0
‘Well have a free-kick right on the edge of the box…..

68′ | 3-0
Motherwell subs, Frear and Bowman off for Fisher and Moult

67′ | 3-0
Could feel it coming and there it is! McHugh curls one off the bar and Tait is on hand with a nice finish!

GGOOAALLL!!

65′ | 2-0
Bigirimana with a rocket from distance but Gaston makes it look comfortable with some safe hands.

63′ | 2-0
Lovely quick bit of passing sets Frear clear down the left. His low cross is met by Bowman but he can’t steer it on target.

53′ | 2-0
Kipré powers a shot from distance but see’s it fly just over the bar

51′ | 2-0
That would have been beautiful. Bigirimana with a Cruyff-flick to Tanner who does the same to Cadden but Gaston saves!

Quitongo gets the second half underway.

HT: Motherwell 2 – 0 Greenock Morton

45+1′ | 2-0
Bowman’s turn and shot from the edge of the box is tipped past for a corner.

43′ | 2-0
Nearly three as Bowman broke clear but again Gaston stands up well and makes the save!

38′ | 2-0
RED CARD! Harkins sent off for a high and late challenge on Tanner.

37′ | 2-0
Cadden gets the break of the ball and bursts forward. Opts for the shot but slices it past the post.

32′ | 2-0
Bigirimana booked for a firm challenge.

27′ | 2-0
Cross into the box finds Bowman who tries the spectacular flying volley. Skews it wide of the post, though.

25′ | 2-0
Bowman’s flick-on is knocked into the path of Tanner who knocks it on to Cadden who cooly slots home past Gaston!

GOAALL!!!

23′ | 1-0
Nice bit of play there between Bigirimana and Tanner but as the ball is fed through to Bowman, he is ruled offside.

12′ | 1-0
Chance! Great corner in from Tanner finds McHugh who attempts a diving header but it goes just over the bar!

10′ | 1-0
Bigirimana with a very speculative free-kick from 35 yards. Well over the bar.

3′ | 1-0
Dunne opens the scoring! McHugh flicks on a corner and the debutant heads home from close!!

GOOAALL!!

2′ | 0-0
Great chance! Carson’s ball over the top leaves Tanner 1v1 but Gaston stands up and makes a good stop!

Tanner gets the action underway. COYW!!!!!

Out come the sides, kick-off fast approaching. COYW!!

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Motherwell caretaker manager Stephen Robinson:

Greenock Morton manager Jim Duffy

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Motherwell host Greenock Morton in arguably the toughest fixture of the Fir Parkers Betfred Cup group.

Following the 5-1 victory over Queen’s Park, Stephen Robinson’s men prepare for Jim Duffy’s Morton – who come in to the clash on the back of a penalty victory over the Spiders midweek.

And with things starting to gel in the Fir Park camp, Robinson is feeling optimistic, but knows the Ton will be a difficult challenge.

“It’s been good this week,” Robinson said,  “because it goes a lot easier and a lot quicker when you’ve won a game and we won the game comfortably – it was a good performance.

“It’s still very much pre-season and I know the competitive games have started but people are still finding their feet and still finding an understanding for each other.”

He added: “I went to watch Morton the other night – it was a good game and Queen’s Park did well against them.

“But I’m expecting a tough challenge from Jim Duffy’s side who are always up for it, will be aggressive and put balls in behind and they’ll be well organised too.”

With the likes of Michael Tidser, Gary Harkins and ex-Well man Ross Forbes, the middle of the park will be a key area of the park tomorrow afternoon.

And one man who could play a crucial role is summer signing Andy Rose, who is relishing the challenge awaiting him this season.

The 27-year-old ex-Seattle Sounder’s star said: “It’s been a really enjoyable month full of hard work, as you’d expect. Everybody at the club has been very supportive so it’s been a really easy transition.

“Hampden was a fantastic experience last week. It’s obviously an amazing stadium to play in with a beautiful pitch so to kick the season off there was a great experience.”

When asked about the competition for a spot in the starting eleven, the Australian added: “It’s hugely important for any club and I expected that coming in. I’m excited about that and I think that pushes you as a player.

“I’m at a point in my career now where I really want to take a step forward and I think the only way you do that is by developing and getting better every single day.

“Being pushed to your limit in training every day, that’s something the manager certainly does here – the training is very intense – and as long as you have guys pushing you for a spot you’re going to get better so it’s a great squad to be a part of.”

	Motherwell V Greenock Morton
	Saturday 22nd July 2017
	3.00pm
	Fir Park, Motherwell
	Available at the Fir Park ticket office and on the gate

Admission prices are as follows: 

• Concessions are listed as Under 18s, over 60 and students
• Fans who require ambulant or wheelchair access should contact Darren  on 07722 912666 or email darren@mfcdsa.com.

If you can’t make it to tomorrow, don’t miss the action by tuning in to mixlr.com/motherwellfc for live commentary or follow the match on Twitter @MotherwellFC

You can see the match highlights on MFC TV’s YouTube channel, as well as full reaction and a match report right here on the official website.

Stephen Robinson is fully prepared for a “tough challenge” tomorrow afternoon with the visit of Greenock Morton to Fir Park.

And the ‘Well boss, who admits Morton will be the hardest fixture of the group stage on paper, also believes his side are still gelling despite a solid start to the tournament.

Speaking to the broadcast media this morning, the Northern Irishman looked ahead to tomorrow’s Group F clash.

He said: “It’s been good [this week] because it goes a lot easier and a lot quicker when you’ve won a game and we won the game comfortably – it was a good performance.

[pullquote]I’m expecting a tough challenge from Jim Duffy’s side who are always up for it, will be aggressive and put balls in behind and they’ll be well organised too.[/pullquote]

“It’s still very much pre-season and I know the competitive games have started but people are still finding their feet and still finding an understanding for each other.”

He added: “I went to watch Morton the other night – it was a good game and Queen’s Park did well against them.

“But I’m expecting a tough challenge from Jim Duffy’s side who are always up for it, will be aggressive and put balls in behind and they’ll be well organised too.”