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Jack Vale has picked up a calf injury and will be missing for 10 to 12 weeks. 

The forward has now returned to his parent club Blackburn Rovers to begin his rehabilitation.

Speedy recovery, Jack.

We will face Rangers in the semi-final of the Premier Sports Cup on Sunday 3 November. 

Kick off will be 3pm at Hampden Park.

Ticket information will be communicated in due course.

We will face Rangers in the semi-final of the Premier Sports Cup.

The tie will take place at Hampden, on either Saturday 2 November or Sunday 3 November.

Aberdeen face Celtic in the other semi-final.

With a bumper crowd packed into Fir Park, hoping for a spirited Motherwell performance, the Steelmen started their quarter-final match against Dundee United with hope and energy. 

A spot at Hampden was at stake, and it took until the 45th minute for the game to see it’s first goal. Zach Robinson rifled a shot into the top corner, that set the Motherwell support wild.

As the second half progressed, nerves creeped into the game. With the target getting closer and closer, former Motherwell hero Louis Moult had a say. He smashed past Aston Oxborough with just over 10 minutes remaining in the match. It was anyone’s game at this stage.

But there was to be the fairytale ending for the Steelmen. Academy graduate and Motherwell fan Lennon Miller sent the keeper the wrong way in stoppage time from the spot after Moses Ebiye was fouled, which secured a return to Hampden in the cup for the first time in six years.

Motherwell sealed their place in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final with a narrow last-minute win over Dundee United in an exciting, tight contest.

Zach Robinson’s picked the perfect time to grab the first goal for the club in first half injury time set up the home side, and they might have added a killer second before former Fir Park hero Louis Moult grabbed a stunning equaliser seven minutes from time.

The game looked to be heading for extra-time until, in added time, Moses Ebiye earned a penalty, allowing Lennon Miller to cap an outstanding performance by cooly converting his spot kick to send the team and fans to Hampden in November.

The club’s novel attempts to engage with the community and boost the home support paid off in the stands and ultimately on the pitch as the fans responded to United’s late equaliser by urging the players on to find a winner.

Stuart Kettlewell stood by the same eleven which started at Pittodrie last week. With Tony Watt ineligible to play against his host club, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos was fit enough to take his place on the subs bench.

In front of a raucous crowd, ‘Well kicked off and immediately took the play towards Jack Walton’s goal, and the 2,500 United fans in the Tommy McLean stand behind him.

After that though, the play was evenly balanced, with both sides steady in their buildup play.

Aston Oxborough was the first ‘keeper called into action after 15 minutes when he got down low in front of his right-hand post to smother Kristijan Trapanovski’s angled snapshot.

As United began to gain the upper hand, the Steelmen persevered with the high ball to Robinson, who got little joy against former ‘Well defender Declan Gallagher.

On the half hour mark, the Taysider’s earned the first corner, but amid a packed six-yard box, Oxborough comfortably claimed the ball.

Five minutes later, Davor Zdravkovski’s low drive at goal was deflected behind by Ross Graham’s outstretched leg.

As the Fir Park men reapplied the pressure on the United goal, Lennon Miller swept in a tempting free kick from the right only to see Dan Casey power his header wide of goal.

Just when it looked like the first half would end goalless, Motherwell found the all-important opening goal.

Miller’s thumping drive from 12 yards produced a great save from Walton, but when United failed to clear their box, the ball found its way to Robinson on the right of the goal, and he lashed his shot high past the ‘keeper for his first goal in claret and amber.

Before ‘Well could build on that lead, Kettlewell was forced into a change five minutes into the second half when Stephen O’Donnell was replaced by Marvin Kaleta.

That change failed to upset the home side, and good build-up play around the United box finished with Ewan Wilson’s cross being nodded wide by Robinson.

In an effort to get back into the game, Jim Goodwin made a double substitution after 58 minutes, bringing on ‘Well goal-scoring hero Louis Moult, who eventually turned the game United’s way.

Before he got a touch, though, United were lucky not to fall two goals behind.

Kaleta’s low ball into the six-yard area was destined for Miller until Graham stepped in front to concede a corner. When Halliday lofted the flag kick into a packed box, Casey nodded the ball down for Miller, whose side-footed effort through a ruck of players was cleared off the line.

As the United defence started to wilt, a long ball deep into the visitor’s half sent Robinson towards goal, but his finishing drive was deflected behind for yet another corner.

A quick break from the Tannadice men in the 67th minute sent Moult through the middle until Paul McGinn halted his progress to concede a free kick and collect a yellow card.

The Fir Park side needed a second goal to kill off any chance of a Moult-inspired fightback.

And twice the former Steelman came close to silencing the home fans.

Moult’s header from 12 yards brought a routine save from Oxborough. But when the United striker sent Sam Dalby through the centre, it took an amazing save from the ‘Well ‘keeper, as his leg diverted the ball narrowly over his crossbar, to preserve the home lead.

That scare prompted a double substitution from Kettlewell, sending on Tom Sparrow and Moses Ebiye.

Moult was not to be denied, though, and seven minutes from time he fired a half volley high past Oxborough to silence his former fans and set up a nail-biting finish.

Tom Sparrow almost headed home the winner, but Walton got across his goal to push the ball to safety.

Then, as the game moved into the first minute of additional time, ‘Well had the home fans on their feet.

Firstly, Miller’s slide rule pass found Ebiye racing into the box. After jinking past one challenge, Luca Stephenson rashly slid into the striker, and even in the absence of VAR, referee John Beaton had no doubt that it was a penalty.

18-year-old Miller looked the coolest person inside the stadium as he calmly sent Walton the wrong way, tucking the ball into the left-hand corner, and sent Motherwell into the semi-finals.

Stuart Kettlewell gives his reaction as his side book a place at Hampden with a 2-1 win over Dundee United.

Midfielder Andy Halliday says he has heard the stories about volunteers handing out leaflets, and informs us that the players are also aware of the extra effort that is going on in the town. 

Halliday feels the supporters’ energy has really driven the team to success in the last outings at Fir Park, and hopes for something similar on Friday night.

Manager Stuart Kettlewell has seen first hand this week just how much the club means to the supporters. With volunteers handing out leaflets and going door-to-door to get extra people to the game on Friday, the manager says it’s now his job to ensure the team put in a performance. 

With the prospect of reaching Hampden for the first time in six years in the cup on the horizon, Kettlewell says everyone is excited for the match but knows Dundee United will be visiting Fir Park with a similar mindset.

It’s a big one on Friday 20 September, as Motherwell take on Dundee United for a spot in the semi-final of the Premier Sports Cup. 

Kick off 7:45pm.

How to follow the game

Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased online.

The match will be streamed live on the Premier Sports website.

If you are outside the UK, you can watch the game via Motherwell TV.

Should you be in the UK, it will be live commentary only.

What else is happening

Hospitality

Centenary Suite – sold out

Cooper Box – sold out

91 Lounge – limited availability. Details below:

• 2-course meal served to your table
• Pay bar available from 17.30, half-time and one-hour after the final whistle
• Half-time pie served with tea and coffee
• Match ticket
• Match programme and teamsheet
• Man of the match interview

Price: £45pp

Kids Price: £22 (12 and under)

Timings

Our ticket office will be open from 9am up until kick-off. The Cooper Bar will be serving food and drink from 5:30pm- it will also be open for one hour after the game.

The beer garden will be serving drinks to home fans only, from 5:30pm.

The Away Stand ticketing pod will be open from 6:45pm. Card and cash are both accepted.

Motherwell Season Ticket holders have until 5pm on Wednesday 18 September to secure their own seat.

Pedal to Pitch

Join Pedal to Pitch for a ride from Motherwell Centre to Fir Park, you can bring your own cycle or borrow a bike, for free. They are teaming up with Cairney Cycles for the trip who will have bikes available for hire. Please advise in advance if you would like to borrow a bike.

The ride will take about 15minutes and be almost entirely on quiet roads, allowing time for a rest.

You will be accompanied by trained ride leaders, who will ensure you have a safe and enjoyable journey to the match. Due to this being a night game, they will not be riding back after the game, we can direct you to the closest train station to allow you to get back to Motherwell and then proceed with your onward journey.

Register your interest here.

Kit Watch

We will be wearing our home kit for this match.

Injury Update

Callum Slattery, Harry Paton, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, Ross Callachan, Sam Nicholson, Shane Blaney and Johnny Koutroumbis remain out for this game.

There are no new injury concerns ahead of this match.

Tony Watt is ineligible.

Motherwell’s Fortunes

Motherwell’s road to the quarter-final stage has seen them overcome some hurdles.

An opening day win over Edinburgh City at Fir Park was followed by a penalty shootout win over Montrose, with the League One side levelling the game late on.

Ebiye, Miller and Stuparevic helped the Steelmen beat Clyde 3-1 before a 0-0 with Partick Thistle rounded off the group-stage action with Motherwell progressing top of the group.

Nigerian striker Ebiye was once again on hand to find the back of the net, this time in the last 16 against Kilmarnock.

A bright start to the league campaign sees Stuart Kettlewell’s side on seven points after five games, a point behind Dundee United.

Opposition Report

Dundee United have also made a bright start in their first season back in the top-flight. With two wins over St Johnstone and Hearts, and two draws against Dundee and Ross County, United are fifth in the table.

They opened their Premier Sports group-stage campaign with a shock defeat to Falkirk back in July, but bounced back against Buckie Thistle, Stenhousemuir and Ayr United to progress to the last 16.

In the previous round, they overcame St Mirren at Tannadice 1-0, thanks to a Ross Graham winner.

Kristijan Trapanovski has made a promising start to life in Tangerine, with North Macedonian netting four goals in his ten games so far.

Aberdeen had made a flawless start to their season. Nine wins on the bounce meant Pittodrie was packed for the arrival of Stuart Kettlewell’s Motherwell, who themselves were coming into this one with three wins out of three. 

Wearing their brand new third kit, the Steelmen made a slow start to proceedings and found themselves behind at the break. Half time changes and early second-half substitutes improved the performance but Aberdeen would find the back of the net again, to seemingly kill off the match.

That wasn’t to be the case however. Moses Ebiye once again found the back of the net in the latter stages of the match and had it not been for a brilliant Mitov save from Gordon’s effort in stoppage time, it could have been all square.

In the end, Aberdeen hung on and Motherwell came away with nothing, something they could feel slightly aggrieved about. But there is no time to ponder, with a quarter-final match against Dundee United on the horizon.