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Our Scottish Cup quarter-final at Hibernian has been selected for live TV coverage.

The match on Saturday 24 April at Easter Road will be shown on Premier Sports in the UK and Ireland.

It will now kick off at 5pm.

Fans based outside the UK/Ireland can watch via their usual subscriptions at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

How to watch

Sky customers signing up at premiersports.com can watch Motherwell this Saturday on Premier Sports 2 on channel 429.

New customers can subscribe from just £12.99 per month (one month minimum term) with no connection fee.

Premier Sports customers on Sky will also receive free access to the Premier Player by registering here.

Online (Web, iOS App, Android App): Premier Player from just £12.99 per month (one month minimum term) with no connection fee. If using app, please set up account first on web browser before downloading the app.

Virgin customers: Premier Sports channel 552. You can subscribe for £12.99 per month via the provider with no connection fee or minimum contract. Call 0845 840 7777 or set up viewing via box. (Press Home > Apps and Games > All Apps > TV Upgrades.)

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Motherwell will travel to face Hibernian in the quarter-finals of the 2020/21 Scottish Cup.

Hibernian’s win on Sunday at Stranraer set up next weekend’s tie, with ‘Well having progressed through victory over Greenock Morton.

The match is currently due to be played on Saturday 24 April with a 5pm kick-off. The game will be broadcast live on Premier Sports.

“It was a frustrating night for us. But we’re in the next round and that’s what matters.”

Motherwell, by the narrowest of margins, edged out a gutsy and hardworking Morton to progress to the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup.

Gus MacPherson’s men, who despite a gruelling programme of matches to conclude the Championship season, more than matched their Premiership opponents for 120 minutes.

Stephen O’Donnell looked to have won the tie with a stunning strike one minute from the end of extra-time. But Morton responded through Markus Fjortoft with the final touch of the game to force the tie to a penalty shoot-out.

That left Motherwell facing Scottish Cup penalties for the second consecutive season but this time all five were emphatically converted by O’Hara, Cole, Long, Hastie and fittingly O’Donnell. Added to Liam Kelly saving from Sean McGinty meant that the Fir Park men were relieved to move into the last eight.

Graham Alexander was forced into one change with Jordan Roberts failing to recover from Saturday’s injury. Barry Maguire came into the midfield with Steven Lawless pushed forward on the right.

With both sides engaged in a relegation battle from their respective leagues, this cup tie afforded the players an opportunity to be a bit more relaxed and focus on claiming a quarter-final place.

Morton have proved to be regular cup opponents for ‘Well and on their last visit to Fir Park in the Scottish Cup nine years ago, ‘Well cruised 6-0 win.

However, from the early moments of this match a repeat of that scoreline was never likely.

As the Championship side started the game on the front foot, Motherwell looked unsettled and failed to find any rhythm in their play. The absence of Roberts as an outball was clear as the ‘Ton defence easily handled any predictable forward movement from the home side.

Despite Morton’s desire to get forward, Liam Kelly was largely untested and limited to distributing the ball from the back.

After 24 minutes the ‘Well ‘keeper was called into action. Reece Lyon skipped past a couple of challenges on his way into the box but Kelly advanced to block the strikers shot.

That gave the home side a much-needed jolt and ten minutes later were presented with their first chance to test Aidan McAdams in the visitor’s goal. Christopher Long’s burst towards the penalty box was halted by Kyle Jacobs.

From the resultant free-kick, Allan Campbell rolled the ball back to Maguire, who teed himself up before blasting his half volley off the defensive ball.

For the final 10 minutes of the half Motherwell kept Morton in their own half and a couple of chances fell Devante Cole, who fired over and just wide as the Fir Park men finished the half looking more like themselves.

The manager’s half-time message was clear within two minutes of the restart when Long collected a pass from Cole at the edge of the box before firing a low shot which forced McAdams into his first save.

As the home side upped the tempo, Stephen O’Donnell thundered down the right before hooking a ball into the box. But after taking a touch Cole fired the ball wide of target.

With the game moving into the final 30 minutes the Morton players looked a bit weary as the movement of Long and Cole began to create chances. However, a couple of shots from distance did little to threaten McAdam’s goal.

To their credit the Cappielow men caught a second breath and with 15 minutes remaining they were still very much in the tie and with a chance of causing a cup upset.

With 11 minutes remaining that almost arrived when Michael Ledger directed Aidan Nisbet’s cross towards goal forcing Kelly to make a smart save.

Long immediately replied with a low drive from 20 yards which was comfortably held by McAdams.

A spark was needed to win the tie and ‘Well looked to Jake Hastie who replaced Maguire for the final 10 minutes of regulation time.

With neither team able to break the deadlock the game entered 30 minutes extra time.

With Motherwell pressing their tiring visitors deep into their own half the Steelmen passed up a couple of great chances in the first period of extra-time.

Firstly, Hastie was the provider with a quick burst of pace and pass to split the defence and set up Long but from an angle he drove his shot off the foot of the post.

Then Campbell chipped a delightful pass into Hastie’s path but having raced beyond the defence he blasted his shot past the post when he should have least hit the target.

With Morton players falling on tired legs they looked relieved to get into the second period of extra-time on level terms.

And as the tie drifted towards a penalty decider both teams had great chances to clinch the tie.

The first came Morton’s way with six minutes remaining when Craig McGuffie’s header drifted across an open goal as Kelly left his line to claim the ball.

A minute later the Cappielow side were extremely lucky to survive strong penalty appeals when Hastie was tripped as he raced across the box.

‘Ton ‘keeper McAdams then produced a fabulous save to claw a header from Steven Lawless off his line and round the post.

With a minute remaining, Motherwell appeared to have come up with a sensational winner. The ball was worked across the field to O’Donnell and from fully 30 yards he hammered a tremendous low drive past the diving McAdams.

However, in a dramatic end, Markus Fjortoft rose unchallenged to head the ball past Kelly for an equaliser that Morton probably deserved and force the game to a penalty finish.

Thankfully for Alexander’s men they showed their cool with five perfectly taken spot kicks.

Our Premiership trip to face Dundee United on Wednesday 12 May will now kick off at 6pm.

At the agreement of both clubs, the game has been brought forward from the original time of 7.45pm.

The match is available to watch live in the UK and Ireland at ppv.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk.

International-based viewers can watch via their normal subscriptions at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

It started as a picturesque night in Greenock that ended with thunder.

Motherwell have enjoyed a bountiful spell against tonight’s rivals  but there is one night that will stick in the mind of every Motherwell supporter who dares to already dream of Stranraer or Hibernian in the Scottish Cup quarter-final.

On 22 September 2015, Ian Baraclough’s side, who just about managed to see off East Fife in the previous round, faltered spectacularly at Cappielow as the home side claimed a 3-2 victory.

It was clear skies overhead at kick off, but as the game descended all you could hear was a storm brewing in the away dressing room, with Baraclough leaving the club the following day.

Ricki Lamie needs no reminding of that evening, but for quite different reasons. The big defender starred for Ton that night, and he is mindful to be on his guard for a potential repeat happening almost six years on.

“The old cliché is not to get too far ahead, that can be the downfall of already knowing who you might get in the next round if you win,” he said.

“It’s massive for us, though. It gives you that incentive, you know a tie is sitting waiting for us if we progress. But we need to be massively focused.

“Morton have had a few good results themselves and are in a competitive league. They’ll be up for it.

“When I was there, we knocked Motherwell out of the League Cup in extra-time. At every level, if you play someone a league below you then you are the scalp they’re trying to take. That sharpens our focus.

“The cups can throw you, and they’ll be looking for a chance to progress. I’ve got personal experience of that.

“It was a lovely night that night. We came out really quickly and we knew Motherwell were in a sticky patch. It was a massive result for us, but to be fair we had a good few cup runs under Jim Duffy.

“But we need to remember we are in a different place right now. We are on a decent run in what has been a disappointing season at times, we want to do well.”

Victory over St Mirren at the weekend offered some peace of mind for Motherwell fans.

While arithmetically a faint fear of relegation may linger in the background, the primary focus rests on gazing upwards and onwards. The Scottish Cup offers such an opportunity.

Much has been and will be made of the 30-year anniversary since the club’s last triumph in the tournament. Kirk, Maxwell, Cooper, O’Donnell immediately springs to mind. But for the class of Lamie, Gallagher, Cole and Watt, finishing a tumultuous season, which began with European football, on a high.

“It’s been a wee bit of uncertainty here and there but it’s good we can go ahead. The fixtures will come thick and fast,” said Lamie about the season run-in.

“It’s all about ending a season, which has had highs and lows, with a positive. And what better chance to do that than a good cup run?

“It would be massive for the club. They’ve had some great ones in recent years, so we want to replicate that.

“The season has been filled with stops and starts. Thinking back to the European games, it feels like a lifetime ago. But to me it only feels like Christmas was yesterday, it’s strange. So much has gone on this season it’s hard to think of it getting fitted into one campaign.

“In terms of pride and a bit of confidence for next season, we want to finish on that high.”

Lamie took a moment of contemplation earlier this week to reflect on a season like no other.

After joining from Livingston in the summer, the closest the defender has got to playing in front of Motherwell fans came with a handful standing on top of a storage container outside the ground in Formartine. It emerged last week that no fans would be in the Scottish Cup final this season, a sad note if Well were to reach that far.

But Lamie is already thinking of better times ahead at Fir Park with the old girl in the middle of a facelift.

“It’s been really strange given everything that’s gone on,” said the 27-year-old.

“I was thinking that the other day. I was walking down from the gym in the South Stand and you could see the stadium getting a revamp with the seats and a lick of paint.

“I was thinking to myself it’s so strange I’ve been here for a full season and not once have I played in front of any fans. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing that will never happen again.

“Luckily, I’m contracted for another year and the signs are positive that we’ll be able to get everyone through the door to get the crowds back in games.

“As a collective, this season has been filled with ups and downs. Progressing in Europe was amazing, but it would have been nicer to keep at the right end of the table and maybe finish a bit higher.

“But we’re on a positive run just now. The club is filled with great people, and I just want to end this season on a high and kick on after the summer.”

“We need to make sure, like in the last round, our mentality is spot on.”

Graham Alexander previews the Scottish Cup fourth round tie with Greenock Morton.

“We need to make sure we give everything we’ve got in order to get the win.”

Stephen O’Donnell speaks ahead of Friday night’s Scottish Cup fourth round clash.

Motherwell head to face Glasgow City in SWPL1 on Sunday.

Kick off at Broadwood Stadium is at 4.10pm.

The game is closed to supporters but is available to watch live and free on BBC Alba.

Highlights of the match will also be broadcast live on BBC Scotland at 8.30pm on Sunday.

Tale of the tape

City have won the four encounters between the two sides since Motherwell’s promotion to the top flight in 2019.

The hosts were victorious 3-0 earlier in the season, having netted 27 without reply in the three games previous.

Form guide

City have won their two league matches since the return to league action, defeating Celtic 3-0 and Forfar Farmington by seven without reply.

Sunday’s opponents sit level on points at the top with Rangers, with a poorer goal difference keeping them in second spot.

‘Well have lost their two matches by the odd goal in five, going down 3-2 to both Forfar Farmington and Hibernian.

Motherwell take on Greenock Morton in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup on Friday night.

Here are the key topics going into the fixture.

Cup encounters

The last 10 meetings between the two sides have been in cup competitions, stretching back to a League Cup encounter in August 1990.

Motherwell have been victorious on eight of those occasions, with one draw leading to a replay and one defeat in the League Cup in 2015.

The one draw, of course, came in the Scottish Cup in March 1991. After a 0-0 stalemate in the first attempt at settling the quarter-final, a 1-1 result in the replay led to a penalty shootout.

Motherwell progressed, before knocking out Celtic after a replay in the last four, and then going on to lift the trophy against Dundee United in May.

The last league encounter between the two clubs came in the Premier Division in April 1988, with ‘Well winning 1-0 at Fir Park in a season which saw the ‘Ton go down.

League fortunes

Morton currently sit second bottom in the Championship, eight points ahead of bottom club Alloa Athletic with three matches left to play.

Despite that position, they could still arithmetically reach the promotion play-offs, albeit they sit eight points behind fourth-placed Inverness CT with only nine points left to contest.

In the fight against finishing in the relegation play-off spot, Arbroath sit level on points with a marginally superior goal difference, and with Ayr United a point ahead in seventh.

Incentive to progress

In this unusual year, the path to Hampden has already been set out for both teams going into Friday’s meeting.

The winners of the match will take on either Hibernian or Stranraer in the quarter-finals next Saturday, with the prize of place in the last four at the national stadium on the weekend of 8/9 May lying in wait.