| 3 | Rangers | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 23 |
| 4 | Dundee United | 13 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 20 |
| 5 | Motherwell | 12 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 19 |
| 6 | St Mirren | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | -4 | 18 |
| 7 | Dundee | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 15 |
Gaël Bigirimana says he’s got a fresh perspective this season as he looks to nail down a starting position in the Motherwell team.
The midfielder has had to work for his chance and says he’s learning from a club mantra that “the finest steel has to go through the hottest fire” as he looks to improve.
The Steelmen travel to the Tony Macaroni Stadium on Saturday to face Livingston in the last-16 of the Betfred Cup.
Here are some key numbers and stats you need to know ahead of the fixture against Kenny Miller’s side.
The total number of defeats Stephen Robinson has suffered in the Betfred Cup since taking charge back in March 2017.
The manager has been in charge of 12 fixtures in the tournament and won an impressive ten matches, drawing once in an away trip to Stranraer.
The Northern Irishman’s only loss arrived in the final against Celtic last season, when the Glaswegian side emerged 2-0 victors at Hampden.
The number of years since the two sides last met competitively.
On that day in 2013, the Fir Parkers ran out 2-1 winners away from home in the league cup, with James McFadden and Bob McHugh finding the net.
Danny Denholm scored a late consolation goal for the hosts, who were reduced to ten men when Jason Talbot was sent off just after the hour mark.
The number of times the two sides have met since their first ever meeting back in 2001.
It wasn’t the most exciting first game, with the fixture ending goalless at Fir Park.
The highest scoring clash was a 6-2 win for ‘Well. On that day, James McFadden bagged a hat-trick and Keith Lasley scored a brace in a game that was surprisingly 1-1 at half time.
The number of years since either side lifted the league cup.
Saturday’s hosts lifted the trophy back in 2004, thanks to a 2-0 victory over Hibernian.
Unfortunately for ‘Well, it’s been a 68 year wait since the club last lifted the trophy, defeating the same opposition Hibs 3-0 back in October 1950.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Motherwell lost out in the opening Lanarkshire derby of the 2018/19 season, with Steven Boyd’s wonder goal the difference as Hamilton Academical were victorious.
The hosts showed plenty of effort and endeavour but failed to take the chances that came their way, making it two defeats from two so far in the Ladbrokes Premiership in 2018/19.
The first Lanarkshire derby of the 2018/19 campaign ended in defeat for Motherwell, as Hamilton took the points in a 1-0 victory.
The hosts put in plenty and were left feeling like they had lost a game they had dominated, which you can watch back in our story of the match.
Allan Campbell, Peter Hartley and Gaël Bigirimana spoke after the disappointing defeat against Hamilton.
The trio spoke of the need for more of a cutting edge in front of goal and the importance of bouncing back in the cup at Livingston next weekend.
Stephen Robinson says he’ll waste no time in trying to get his team to bounce back from Motherwell’s derby defeat.
The manager says there’s work to do in the final third and improvements to make, as the Steelmen lost out to Hamilton Academical.
Motherwell slipped to a disappointing derby defeat in the first home game of the season.
Steven Boyd’s second half screamer was the only thing to separate the sides in the opening Ladbrokes Premiership game at Fir Park.
Despite some sustained pressure on the Accies goal at the started each half, the Fir Park men failed to breach a stubborn visitor’s defence.
In the home defence, Tom Aldred, back on loan from Bury, was pitched straight into the the Lanarkshire derby alongside Peter Hartley and Carl McHugh. With Alan Campbell back from suspension, Gael Bigirimana joined him in midfield for his first start of the season.
The few highlights from the first half, came largely via Chris Cadden on the right. An early low cross had Gary Woods scrambling to gather with Curtis Main lurking for a slip.
After 16 minutes, Cadden’s cross led to the first attempt on the Accies goal, but Bigirimana’s downward header was palmed away by Woods. Another burst from Cadden and ball across the goal found Main closing in but from an offside position.
Ten minutes from the end of a rather uneventful first half the ‘Well front two finally clicked, when Hartley’s long ball was nodded on by Conor Sammon into Main’s path. But his shot was a yard wide of the post.
Motherwell began the second with a it more urgency and a couple of left foot efforts from Main posted their intent. Bigirimana, whose measured set pieces provided some threat then curled a free kick across his forwards forcing Woods into a smart reactive save.
Still to exert any sustained pressure on the Accies ‘keeper, ‘Well made a double substitution after 63 minutes, Danny Johnson and Elliot Frear hopefully bringing a fresh attacking option.
However, it was Hamilton’s subs who made the breakthrough four minutes later. Ross Cunningham’s first touch hammered a free kick off the defensive wall. And when the ball rebounded to Steven Boyd, his first touch was a stunning volley sending the ball into Trevor Carson’s top left hand corner.
With 13 minutes remaining, Stephen Robinson made his final change bringing on Alex Gorrin.
Despite Motherwell having the bulk of the possession, Accies held firm and even passed up the chance to double their lead in the closing minutes when Cunningham’s effort hit the base of the post.
Danny Johnson says the players have put in a shift this week as they aim to bounce back in the Lanarkshire derby.
After the disappointment of defeat at Hibernian on Sunday, the striker is looking to nab a second competitive goal against Hamilton Academical this weekend.
