| 7 | Hearts | 37 | 14 | 7 | 16 | 4 | 49 |
| 8 | Motherwell | 37 | 14 | 6 | 17 | -17 | 48 |
| 9 | Kilmarnock | 37 | 12 | 8 | 17 | -18 | 44 |
| 10 | Dundee | 37 | 10 | 8 | 19 | -22 | 38 |
| 11 | Ross County | 37 | 9 | 9 | 19 | -28 | 36 |
| 12 | St Johnstone | 37 | 9 | 5 | 23 | -28 | 32 |
Stephen Robinson says it’s important that Motherwell get off to a strong start in their season opener against Edinburgh City.
After a 60-day gap without competitive football, the Steelmen return to action in the group stage of the Betfred Cup on Tuesday night.
It’s the opening game of the 2018/19 season on Tuesday, with Edinburgh City the visitors to Fir Park.
The Betfred Cup group stage tie is the first of four fixtures to be played before the league season kicks off, with Motherwell the top seeds in their group.
On the road to last season’s Betfred Cup final, Motherwell and Edinburgh City were paired together in the group stage. Stephen Robinson’s side travelled to Ainslie Park on the back of 5-1 and 4-0 wins over Queen’s Park and Morton respectively, but the trip to the capital was a trickier affair.
The visitors had plenty chances which they just couldn’t take, before they were shocked by Edinburgh taking the lead in the 69th minute. But ‘Well rallied, with Chris Cadden and Elliott Frear netting soon after to ensure the win – and qualification for the knockout stage.
Manager Robinson had assembled an almost entirely-new squad the last time the two sides met, whereas this time they go into the game having made minor adjustments in the transfer window.
Keen to add depth to his squad, rather than overhaul the team, five new players have arrived to bolster the options. The core of the group have all been retained, with recruitment done early and players given time to bed in across pre season.
Both Cédric Kipré and captain Peter Hartley have to sit out the match through suspension. Kipré is denied his 50th Motherwell appearance because of the red card he picked up in last season’s Betfred Cup final, while Hartley will have to wait to make his first competitive appearance since 30 December last year.
While Motherwell sat out the opening day of the Betfred Cup group stage, Edinburgh City were in action at Clyde. Leading 1-0 thanks to Conrad Balatoni’s strike just before half time, the Citizens were pegged back at the death by their hosts to draw 1-1.
As is the way with the group stage of the competition, the game then went to penalties to determine which side would gain a bonus point. It would be City who would prevail, winning 4-1 on spot kicks.
Visitors to Fir Park on Tuesday night will notice some changes around the place. The main ones are cosmetic. Most noticeably, the wall along the front of the Phil O’Donnell stand has been removed and the track relaid with a synthetic surface.
After years of waiting, the new scoreboard will be in operation for the first time. Situated in the same spot in the south stand, the old bulb based system is now home to a video screen. Keep your eyes peeled for some of the things we can do with it.
If you’ve pre-purchased a ticket for the match, our new access control system is being tested at this game. You may be directed at the turnstiles to one of our friendly team who will scan your ticket, so we can make sure everything is working properly ahead of the league opener on 11 August. Just approach the turnstiles as normal, ticket scanning is being done at random at the gate.
Motherwell start the 2018/19 season with the visit of Edinburgh City on Tuesday evening in the Betfred Cup group stages.
Here are some key numbers and statistics you need to know ahead of the opening game.
The summer break is getting shorter, or at least it feels that way. Sixty days will have passed between when Motherwell return to competitive action against Edinburgh City and the Scottish Cup final defeat to Celtic in May.
There are five players who could potentially make their Motherwell debuts in Tuesday’s game. Summer recruits Liam Donnelly, Mark Gillespie, Aaron Taylor-Sinclair, Alex Rodríguez Gorrín and Danny Johnson are all fit and in contention to feature.
Motherwell featured in last season’s group stage on their way to the Betfred Cup final and netted 12 goals in the process. Putting five past Queen’s Park and four past Greenock Morton, a further two goals came against Edinburgh City and one more at home to Berwick Rangers.
Manager Stephen Robinson talked in the off season about adding depth to his squad. In the three pre-season games this campaign, he used 25 players and has spoken about his belief that he now has more options, with a number of young players having also shown their capabilities in the games with Crusaders, Darlington and Dunfermline Athletic.
Visitors Edinburgh City are in second position in the group after defeating taking a bonus point at Clyde in the opening matches on Saturday. After a 1-1 draw, the capital club won 4-1 on penalties. In top spot are Queen of the South, who were 2-0 down to Stranraer within 10 minutes but came back to lead 3-2 at half time, before going on to win 5-3.
Three Motherwell youngsters were in Betfred Cup action this weekend for their respective loan clubs.
Northern Ireland youth international Shea Gordon made a blistering start to his stint at Partick Thistle with a brace on his debut, helping the Jags to a 2-0 win over Stenhousemuir at Ochilview.
The 20-year-old opened the scoring after just two minutes, smashing home after some unselfish play by Blair Spittal.
He doubled his and Thistle’s total just four minutes later with a goal of some quality. The former Sheffield United man latched on to a long ball by Sean McGinty to send a lovely lob over the goalkeeper and into the net to complete the scoring.
Ross MacLean also made his first competitive appearance for Morton who went down 3-1 away to fellow Championship side Ayr United.
The ‘Ton took an early first-half lead through Michael Tidser and were ahead at the break, but lost three second half goals to a Ayr side that contained former ‘Well youngsters Craig Moore and David Ferguson amongst the squad.
Recent recruit Neil McLaughlin was also named amongst the starters for Stirling Albion as they took on Premiership side Dundee at Forthbank.
The striker played the full 90 minutes, but the Binos were unable to stop Neil McCann’s side from running out comfortable 4-0 winners.
Jake Hastie’s Alloa Athletic kick off their Betfred Cup campaign on Tuesday night when Arbroath visit the Indodrill Stadium.
The 2018/19 campaign gets underway with a clash against Edinburgh City in the Betfred Cup on Tuesday.
In our Friday quiz, can you name the opening fixtures in each of the last 20 seasons?
Motherwell’s first competitive away game of the 2018/19 season comes at Stranraer on Saturday, 21 July.
The second match of the group stages of the Betfred Cup will see Stephen Robinson’s side come up against the League One side for the first time in two years.
Adult prices are set at £12, while concessions are £6. Motherwell supporters can pay at the gate. Kick off is at 3pm.
Motherwell ended their pre-season programme with a 0-0 draw away to Dunfermline Athletic.
The Steelmen used 21 players in their last non-competitive match at East End Park, creating numerous scoring opportunities.
Richard Tait, Andy Rose and Aaron Taylor-Sinclair were happy to get more minutes under their belts as pre-season ended with a draw at Dunfermline Athletic.
The trio all impressed in the last workout before competitive action starts at home to Edinburgh City in five days time.
Manager Stephen Robinson was happy with the runout his players got in their 0-0 draw at Dunfermline Athletic.
The Motherwell manager used 21 players in the final pre-season game at East End Park, with the first competitive game of the 2018/19 season five days away.
The Northern Irishman said: “For us, in this moment, it’s about getting minutes in the legs. But we showed a lot of positive play and put a lot of crosses into the box.”
Motherwell ended their pre-season programme with a stalemate away to Ladbrokes Championship side Dunfermline Athletic.
Stephen Robinson’s side gained another important 90 minutes, with 21 players getting playing time to further build their fitness levels ahead of the season opener against Edinburgh City in five days time.
Motherwell controlled the first half, testing Lee Robinson in the Dunfermline goal on occasion.
Andy Rose was first up to try his luck. In the first minute, his low drilled shot from 30 yards was well tipped away.
Curtis Main then followed suit soon after. Getting the break of the ball in the box, his effort was turned away by Robinson’s feet.
Plenty crossed were put into the box throughout the first half, but goal scoring opportunities were limited. Mark Gillespie in the away goal, for his part in the first 45 minutes, was untroubled.
The Steelmen kept up their pressure as the second half started. Carl McHugh had a chance from close range from an Elliott Frear corner, but his header dropped wide.
The Pars immediately responded with their first shot of the game. Alex Rodríguez was caught in possession in midfield and allowed the hosts to break, with Joe Thomson’s effort being deflected behind for a corner which came to nothing.
Motherwell continued to probe. Main was next up with a low drive which had Robinson scampering as it flew past the post, while the big forward turned creator when his near-post cross came within inches of finding the boot of Danny Johnson.
Johnson, who scored with an acrobatic volley away at Darlington on Sunday, would then try his luck again with a similar effort with 20 minutes remaining.
Aaron Taylor-Sinclair was again the provider, as he had been in England, but the striker couldn’t get the ball out of the air and his shot went over.
Having been largely quiet, Gillespie was needed shortly after. Dunfermline’s trialist forward found himself with room 15 yards out for a free shot, but the big goalkeeper spread himself brilliantly to block.
Motherwell: Gillespie; Tait (Grimshaw 75), Donnelly (Maguire 45), McHugh (Bigirimana 75), Dunne (Kipré 64), Frear (Taylor-Sinclair 64); Campbell (Hartley 64), Cadden (Rodríguez 45), Rose (Turnbull 64); Bowman (Johnson 45), Main (Scott 81).
Subs not used: Carson.
