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Our Betfred Cup campaign continues on Saturday as we make the trip to face Livingston in the second round.

It’s Motherwell’s first competitive outing against the Lions since 2013, when the Steelmen won 2-1 in the same competition.

The shock troops

Winners of League One in the 2016/17 season, nobody had Livingston among their pre-season favourites for promotion from the Championship. Livi had been absent from the top flight since 2006, beset by financial troubles ever since, but were slowly building a sustainable model and getting back on their feet.

The perfect storm ensued. Former manager David Hopkin put together a team of warriors, picking up results consistently against bigger teams and putting themselves in the play-off reckoning. Then, with history against the Championship’s play-off finalists, they relegated Partick Thistle to secure unlikely back-to-back promotions.

A new man at the helm… and in attack

With Hopkin leaving in the summer, the Livingston board looked to Kenny Miller to give him his first taste of management. Combining his coaching duties with leading the line, the striker has enjoyed a strong start at the helm.

Three wins and a bonus point in the group stage of the Betfred Cup put them through as seeds, before they kicked off the league campaign. They showed flashes in their 3-1 defeat at Celtic on the opening day, but a 0-0 draw with Kilmarnock at home in their second game suggests they are going to be tough opponents on home turf.

Talking about home turf…

Over the summer, Livingston moved away from a grass pitch to install a new artificial surface, meaning 25% of pitches in the top flight are now being played on 4G.

After delays in getting it installed, the pitch only got its first outing in the draw with Kilmarnock and it still remains to be seen how difficult it will prove to play on, or otherwise.

League Cup history

One of Livingston’s finest hours came in this competition, when they lifted the trophy against the odds by beating Hibernian in 2004.

With the club having gone into administration hours after their semi-final victory over Dundee, a dark cloud was hanging over a talented playing squad. Some took wage cuts, others were made redundant. But the team spirit remained, and their 2-0 win came against a talented Hibs team which included Scott Brown, Steven Whittaker, Derek Riordan and other talented youngsters.

We took Richard Tait for a coffee and a chat to talk about this weekend’s Betfred Cup clash with Livingston.

The defender also reflected on the frustrations of defeat in the Lanarkshire derby, and how the players respond as a team in the build up to an important fixture.

Our interview was filmed at the Windmills Cafe in Motherwell.

Windmills is a social enterprise cafe in the heart of Motherwell which is committed to ensuring young people with learning disabilities have equal access to meaningful work experience opportunities. For more information, visit Windmills Cafe’s website.

Stephen Craigan’s young Motherwell side progressed to the second round of the IRN-BRU Cup with a 3-0 win over East Stirlingshire on Tuesday night.

David Turnbull, Broque Watson and Jake Hastie scored the goals in the first half at the Falkirk Stadium, as the Steelmen progressed to Thursday’s draw.

Reserve team manager Stephen Craigan was pleased to see his side progress to the second round of the Irn-Bru cup.

The convincing Colts side beat East Stirlingshire 3-0 at the Falkirk Stadium, and the Northern Irishman admitted there is still more to come from his players.

“You can see we’re a little bit rusty,” Craigan said. “It’s our first game of the season for some of the players.”

He added: “It’s against men and it’s senior football, but the encouraging thing for me is that there’s more to come.”

Motherwell’s young Colts side booked their place in the second round of the IRN-BRU Cup with a 3-0 win at East Stirlingshire.

David Turnbull, Broque Watson and Jake Hastie scored first half goals as the youngsters saw off their Lowland League opponents.

Motherwell named a starting line up with first team experience, both in the top flight and lower leagues.

Adam Livingstone, Barry Maguire, James Scott, Liam Brown and the aforementioned pair of Turnbull and Hastie have all featured for the first team, while Rohan Ferguson has 80 games under his belt for Airdrieonians.

There was also a first outing in claret and amber for recent recruit Christian Mbulu, who slotted in at centre back.

The hosts had some early chances, shooting from range and testing Ferguson in goal, but the Steelmen had the lead within 17 minutes.

Collecting a cutback from Brown outside the area, Turnbull curled his shot into the top right corner to open the scoring.

Three minutes later, the advantage was doubled. Hastie burst down the left and squared the ball across the face of the goal, with Watson on hand at the back stick to steer home.

It took a further two minutes for another goal to come. This time Scott’s cross from the right was found by Hastie in the centre of the six yard box, and he bundled the ball past Jamie Barclay.

The second half took time to get going, with the Shire testing at times with runs down the flanks, and the Steelmen struggling to create.

It would be debutant Mbulu who would have the first gilt-edged chance of the half, his header from close range from a corner being well saved by Barclay.

As the game wore on, the hosts ended up down to nine men as two players were forced off injured, with all three changes already having been made.

But chances continued to be few and far between, and Motherwell progressed to Thursday’s draw, the they could be drawn against teams from England, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Motherwell will face fellow SWPL2 side St Johnstone in the quarter-final of the SSE Scottish Women’s Cup.

The women of steel have already eliminated Cumbernauld Colts and Aberdeen in the previous two rounds, netting 16 goals in the process.

They will now face an away fixture against Saints for a spot in the semi-final.

The tie is due to be played on Sunday, 16 September 2018.

FULL DRAW:

• Renfrew Ladies v Glasgow City/Stirling University
• Edinburgh University Hutchison Vale v Hibernian
• St Johnstone v Motherwell
• Spartans v Celtic

Motherwell supporters can now get their hands on tickets for our upcoming Ladbrokes Premiership clash with Rangers.

The game, being played at Fir Park on Sunday, 26 August at 12.15pm, is our next league fixture and is sure to be a keenly-contested affair.

You can buy your tickets via our online ticketing platform now. Rangers supporters are asked to contact their club for information on away ticket sales.

Tickets in our John Hunter stand are priced at £21 for adults, £17 for concessions and £3 for children aged 15 and under. A family ticket, for one adult and two juveniles, costs £25.

Our David Cooper stand is priced at £28 for adults, £19 for concessions and £3 for children aged 15 and under. A family ticket, for one adult and two juveniles, costs £32.

Concession prices apply to those aged 60 and over, 16-18 year olds and full-time students with a valid matriculation card. Juvenile prices are for children aged 15 and under.

To buy online, you must have been registered on our ticketing platform before Saturday, 11 August. If you weren’t, and would like to buy a ticket, please contact our ticket office on 01698 333333.

Supporters who are registered to buy online can choose to have their tickets delivered, collected in person at Fir Park or choose our new Print at Home facility.

Our Betfred Cup match with Livingston on Saturday will be pay at the gate at the ground.

Following lengthy discussions between both clubs, pricing of £18 for adults and £12 for concessions will apply. Children aged 12 and under will get in for free.

“We appealed to Livingston for cheaper pricing for the match,” chief executive Alan Burrows said.

“In previous seasons, comparative Motherwell fixtures at this round of the competition have been cheaper, albeit it was acknowledged from our end that those were midweek matches and this tie is on a Saturday afternoon at 3pm.

“We fully understand and respect Livingston’s right to put forward any structure they deem fair and reasonable, particularly as they are the home side.

“In the end, we were able to agree to bring the cost down for adults and young fans under 12 can see the cup tie for free.

“We hope as many fans ‘Well fans as possible can get behind the lads on Saturday as we aim for another Betfred Cup quarter final.”

Concession pricing applies to under 18s, those aged 65 and over, and students who show a valid matriculation card. It also applies to disabled supporters. Carers go for free.

Free tickets for children are limited to three per each paying adult.

Reserves manager Stephen Craigan is excited for his side to get back to action in Tuesday’s Irn-Bru Cup clash with East Stirlingshire. 

The Northern Irishman admits the squad have had to be patient during a long pre-season, but believes cup football is the ideal way to get started in 2018/19.

Speaking ahead of the first round of the competition, Craigan said: “It’s been quite a long pre-season. We’ve played a number of games in that time, but nothing beats competitive football.

“It will be a difficult game for us. East Stirlingshire have already played three league games and they’re unbeaten, but we’re looking forward to it.”

He added: “We have a young, vibrant squad with players who are trying to make their way in reserve team football, and others pushing for a place in the first team.”

Stephen Craigan will be able to field players aged up to 21 in this season’s competition, as they take on Lowland League opposition.

The match is being played at the Falkirk Stadium with a 7.45pm kick off. Admission is priced at £10 for adults and £5 for concessions.

Motherwell stormed into the last eight of the SSE Scottish Women’s Cup with an 8-1 victory over Aberdeen at Garthdee Sports Centre.

Sammy Hare grabbed a hat-trick and Suzanne Mulvey a brace, while there were also goals for Caitlin Russell, Megan Burns and an own goal from Dons midfielder Susan Murray.

It was the hosts who began the brighter of the two sides, with Motherwell struggling to deal with the extremely poor conditions. Claire Johnstone twice had to make excellent stops to keep the scores level.

Mulvey and Russell tried their luck from distance as ‘Well looked to take control of the game and the opening goal arrived after 25 minutes. A loose ball fell at the feet of Mulvey, who drilled a low shot into the net.

Five minutes later it was 2-0, Russell driving down the right and teeing up Hare who made no mistake from close range.

Motherwell were looking dangerous every time they attacked and they added two further goals before the interval. The first came after Kirsty Mclaughlin’s free kick was turned into her own net by Murray. Two minutes later, Russell’s brilliant run finished with a fizzing shot into the bottom corner.

It only took 40 seconds of the second half for the women of steel to pick up where they left off. Burns’ shot from distance evaded Anna Blanchard in the Aberdeen goal to make it 5-0.

The hosts pulled one back when Jo Fraser capitalised on an error by Johnstone, before rolling the ball into the empty net. But Motherwell responded within two minutes, Hare netting after a scramble in the Aberdeen box.

Kerry Montgomery was full of energy having come off the bench and after her bursting run into the box was ended by a careless foul, Mulvey stepped up to convert from the spot.

The final goal of the game came courtesy of Hare, who produced another excellent finish to round off a superb display.

The draw for the quarter final takes place on Tuesday morning, in which ‘Well could be paired with the likes of Celtic, Hibernian or Spartans.

Photography: Maureen Lyall / Aberdeen LFC