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Motherwell host Queen of the South in a must-win clash if the 2017/18 Betfred Cup finalists want to claim top spot in the group.

Here’s all the important information you need if you’re coming to the match.

You can pay at the gate

If you haven’t bought your ticket online in advance, don’t worry. You can pay at the gate for £12 for adults and £6 for concessions.

Come and have a bite to eat and a drink beforehand

The Cooper Bar and the Centenary Suite will be open for pre-match food and drink from 5.30pm.

Our usual pre-match hospitality will not be in operation. Food can be purchased before the game and access to the bars will be available before and after the match, as well as at half time.

Opposition fans are also welcome.

You can get your season card

If you plan to collect your season card in the hours before the match with Queen of the South, you can get it from the Centenary Suite from 5.30pm right up until kick off.

The ticket office will be open only for match ticket sales or for season ticket purchases.

Team news

Charles Dunne is to have scans on a groin injury but is likely to face four to six weeks on the sidelines. Craig Tanner remains on the sidelines long term.

Further reading

• In Numbers: Queen of the South come calling
• Cadden urges ‘Well to bounce back
• Need to know: A look at Queens
• Robinson expects better against Queens
• Scene setter: ‘Well host Doonhamers

Stephen Robinson is well aware of what is at stake when Queen of the South arrive at Fir Park on Tuesday. 

Nothing less than three points will do for the Steelmen in their bid to top Group G in the Betfred Cup, with the Doonhamers enjoying a perfect start in their opening three games.

And the ‘Well boss said: “It’s a game we want to win and need to win after Saturday’s result. Our decision making was poor and we didn’t look like ourselves.”

Motherwell host Queen of the South in a must-win clash for top spot in Group G of the Betfred Cup on Tuesday.

It is the first competitive meeting between the two sides since the Scottish Cup clash in 2004, where ‘Well won 3-2.

And in Gary Naysmith’s Doonhamers, the Steelmen face a tough task against the free-scoring side from the borders.

Table toppers

The Dumfries outfit currently sit at the summit of Group G after the Steelmen slipped to a 1-1 draw and shootout defeat against Stranraer.

Victories over Clyde, Stranraer and Edinburgh City mean Tuesday’s opponents would require at least a draw to finish top of the table and progress as the victors of the group.

Their midweek trip to Fir Park is their fourth and final fixture of the group stage, and the Doonhamers have a very good chance of progressing to the knockout stages regardless of Tuesday’s result.

Deadly Dobbie

With seven goals to his name in three games, frontman Stephen Dobbie has started the 2018/19 campaign in scintillating form, and is the top scorer in this year’s Betfred Cup so far.

Simon Murray finished the 2017/18 tournament as top scorer with eight goals, meaning Dobbie is just one short of equalling that tally in the group stage alone.

The former Swansea and Crystal Palace man has continued his fine form from last term, when he scored 27 goals in all competitions.

Statement of intent

With an incredible return of 12 goals in their opening three fixtures, Queen of the South are far and away the leading scorers in the league cup so far.

Add to that an impressive two clean sheets, and the Championship outfit have given themselves huge momentum for their final fixture in Group G.

It is in stark contrast to their cup campaign last season, where Queens failed to make it out of their group.

Motherwell host Queen of the South on Tuesday in what is a must-win fixture for Stephen Robinson’s men in their bid to top Group G. 

And with a return to Fir Park, the Steelmen will be looking to return to the sort of form that led to a convincing 5-0 victory over Edinburgh City in the group opener.

Fresh legs

The manager made six changes for the trip to Stair Park, with Elliott Frear, Ryan Bowman, Liam Donnelly and Andy Rose dropping to the bench, and Allan Campbell being rested completely.

Despite Rose being called in to action within minutes, the manager will have some fresh options to call on for what is a difficult clash with Championship opposition.

One player who will be a loss, however, is Charles Dunne, who suffered an injury in the opening few minutes against Stranraer and is set to be out for around four weeks.

Hunger to impress

Following a below par performance, and with competition rife in the ranks at Fir Park, there will be added incentive for those selected to impress manager Stephen Robinson.

Danny Johnson is yet to make a competitive start after an impressive pre-season, and Aaron Taylor-Sinclair recorded his first 90 minutes since December, giving the manager something to ponder ahead of the visit of Queens.

Must win

Nothing less than a win will be good enough for Motherwell in their attempts to top the group.

Should the visitors pick up a point, they would have enough to finish first and could be one of the seeded sides for the draw in the knockout round.

The Steelmen, on the other hand, have two games remaining and need all three points in both fixtures to stand a chance of finishing top.

Chris Cadden hopes to see Motherwell bounce back as they prepare for a must-win clash against Queen of the South in Group G of the Betfred Cup.

The newly-capped Scotland international believes the squad have what it takes to return to winning ways following the disappointments of Saturday’s draw with Stranraer.

“We’ll bounce back full of confidence,” he said. “We’ve got a good group of lads in the dressing room and we know what we need to do.”

Queen of the South lie in wait next for Motherwell, with the Steelmen needing a win to keep pace with the Doonhamers at the top of their Betfred Cup group.

Here are some key numbers and statistics you need to know ahead of Tuesday’s fixture.

Five

The gap in points between leaders Queen of the South and second-placed Motherwell at the top of Group G.

A Motherwell victory would put them within two points and, with Queens not in action on Saturday, it would mean Stephen Robinson’s side would also need to win at Clyde to be group winners.

A win or a draw for Tuesday’s visitors would guarantee they qualify as group winners, regardless of which side claims the bonus point in the penalty shootout in the event of a draw.

Seven

Stephen Dobbie has always been a reliable goal scorer, but his start to the 2018/19 campaign is remarkable even by his standards.

The Queen of the South forward has netted seven in his side’s opening three games of the season. A double against Stranraer in their 5-3 win was followed up by a hat-trick against Clyde, and then two against Edinburgh City in his last match.

14

It’s been a long time since the two sides clashed on competitive business, with 14 years passing since the last encounter.

In the 2003/04 Scottish Cup, Motherwell played host in the fourth round of the competition, and were ahead early doors through Derek Adams’ penalty.

Alex Burns then completed a double before the interval to put ‘Well 3-0 up, with Queens grabbing two back in a snowy afternoon but ultimately failing to complete the comeback.

450

Having reached last year’s Betfred Cup final, the competition is a relatively happy hunting ground for Motherwell. With that in mind, it’s been five games – or 450 minutes – since a goal was conceded at Fir Park in the competition. In that same time span, 16 goals have been scored by the Steelmen.

Motherwell drew in their second Betfred Cup group match of the 2018/19 season, with League One side Stranraer pegging Stephen Robinson’s side back in a 1-1 draw.

The Stair Park side then also claimed the bonus point in the penalty shootout.

Richard Tait, Trevor Carson and Peter Hartley spoke frankly after the draw with Stranraer in the Betfred Cup.

The experienced trio gave their thoughts on the result against the League One team and the need to bounce back against Queen of the South.

Stephen Robinson has left the team in no doubt of what needs to change after the draw at Stranraer.

Motherwell toiled as they took a point from their League One opponents, before they lost the chance to take a bonus point in a penalty shootout.

Motherwell took a point from their second Betfred Cup group match after a 1-1 draw with League One side Stranraer.

The hosts took the bonus point after winning a penalty shootout by three goals to two.

Peter Hartley had given the visitors the lead in the first half but they were pegged back in the second, with the troublesome Issac Layne netting an equaliser.

Motherwell suffered an early blow as Charles Dunne went off injured with a groin strain after an awkward fall. Andy Rose replaced him, with Carl McHugh slotting into defence.

It took 30 minutes for the first real test of a defence, and it was Cédric Kipré who had to come to the rescue.

Smith’s cross into the box was set up perfectly for Anderson but the big defender managed to get a leg in to hook the ball behind for a corner.

Former ‘Well man Cummins then won the header from the resulting set play, but he headed past the left hand post.

The Steelmen immediately went up the other end. A corner from the left was met by the run of McHugh, but he saw the ball late and headed wide.

The game sparked to life. Main had time in the box 10 yards out but couldn’t find space to get away his shot, and Stranraer immediately countered, with Layne putting the defence under pressure before his shot was blocked by Carson.

It was a warning that jolted Motherwell into life. Winning a free kick on the right touchline, Cadden’s delivery into the box to an array of physical targets found Hartley, who powered a header into the net in his first game since December 30 last year.

Robinson’s men went on the hunt for a second. With the tempo increased, Cadden was next up to try his luck, with a fierce drive from 30 yards whistling past the left hand post.

Motherwell started the second half in the ascendency and the first chance fell to Sammon.

Making his first start, the Irishman got on the end of Rose’s knockdown but a delicate touch resulted only in the ball clipping the crossbar from close range and going over.

Stranraer though still showed dangerous flashes. Two chances in quick succession required the desperate, late interventions from Tait and Carson respectively as the game approached the hour mark.

The third attempt wouldn’t end well for the visitors. Muscling Hartley off it in the aerial challenge, Layne burst through on goal. Composing himself on the angle on the right hand side, his low drive beat Carson and found the bottom left corner of the net.

Manager Robinson rang the changes soon after. Midweek hat-trick scorer Elliott Frear and Ryan Bowman entered the fray, as the visitors looked to up their urgency.

Cadden had another chance almost immediately. Driving in from the right, his cross from the edge of the box sailed across with no takers, and just narrowly avoided sneaking in at the far post itself.

Stranraer had the golden chance to take the lead with 12 minutes left on the clock. With Layne again having got the better of Hartley, he played a perfectly-timed through ball for substitute Mark Lamont.

Bearing down on goal one versus one against Carson, he had the time to pick his spot. When he pulled the trigger he beat the goalkeeper, but his effort rattled the crossbar and was eventually cleared.

Motherwell tried to flood forward to get a winner but struggled to carve out further opportunities to test goalkeeper Currie, and the match went to penalties for the prize of a bonus point.

Motherwell: Carson; Tait, Kipré, Hartley, Dunne (Rose 3), Taylor-Sinclair; McHugh (Frear 63), Cadden, Grimshaw; Main, Sammon (Bowman 68).

Subs not used: Gillespie, Rodríguez Gorrín, Donnelly, Johnson.