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Hearts are the league’s table topping side but it’s a break from Premiership action on Tuesday night, as Motherwell travel to Tynecastle in the quarter final of the Betfred Cup.

Here’s the game previewed in numbers.

11

The number of days between consecutive fixtures between the two sides.

Hearts, of course, were at Fir Park on league duty a short while ago and in a tight game, the Gorgie club took all three points with a controversial Steven Naismith goal.

15

Having played six games on the road this campaign, 15 goals have been scored in Motherwell matches away from home.

The Steelmen have a scoring rate of 1.33 per game on their travels and a conceding rate of 1.17.

28

The number of years since Motherwell lost a cup match at the hands of the Jam Tarts.

You have to go back February 1990 in the Scottish Cup for Hearts’ last cup win against the Steelmen, as they ran out 4-0 winners.

Since then, Motherwell have won four cup matches and drawn one.

135

The number of days, come matchday, Hearts have gone without losing a competitive match.

Their last defeat came to Kilmarnock on May 13, losing 1-0 at Rugby Park. Craig Levein’s side are unbeaten in 11 games in the 2018/19 season, winning nine and drawing two, and keeping seven clean sheets along the way.

Motherwell face a trip to take on Hearts in the quarter final of the Betfred Cup on Wednesday.

Here’s what you need to know about the Steelmen’s opponents in the last eight.

Yet to suffer defeat

The Edinburgh outfit have enjoyed a near-perfect start to the campaign, and are the only unbeaten side in the last eight.

In eleven fixtures so far this term, the Jam Tarts have won nine and drawn twice, one of which was a stalemate with Raith Rovers in the group stages.

The other draw was against Livingston on Saturday, and Craig Levein’s men will be eager to return to winning ways.

Resolute defence

No top flight side has conceded fewer goals than Hearts in 2018/19.

Whilst bagging an impressive 25 goals in eleven games, the Jambos have conceded just four goals in all competitions.

Their total of seven clean sheets is also the best domestically of the Premiership sides remaining in the Betfred Cup.

Set for the Steelmen?

Wednesday’s clash in Edinburgh falls just eleven days after Hearts took all three points against the Steelmen at Fir Park.

On the day, it was a tightly contested affair, decided by a goal which could have been ruled out for a foul on Trevor Carson.

With the ‘Well ready to take to Tynecastle, Levein’s side could take some encouragement from their previous encounter.

A second clash with Hearts in the space of eleven days awaits Stephen Robinson’s men on Wednesday night.

Here, we set the scene for the quarter final clash between the two in the Betfred Cup.

Fiercely contested

Craig Levein’s side scraped a narrow 1-0 win at Fir Park earlier this month.

The goal, finished off by Steven Naismith, was a controversial moment in the match and one which ultimately decided the encounter.

There was very little between the two teams, and will contribute to an interesting clash in the capital on Wednesday.

Quarter final history

Last season, Motherwell and Hearts were drawn to play one another in the quarter final of the Scottish Cup, and it was certainly a memorable occasion for the Fir Park side.

Tied at 1-1 and with just minutes remaining, Carl McHugh produced a moment of magic to win the game and send the Steelmen to Hampden.

Controlling the ball on his chest, McHugh thundered a stunning volley in to the top corner during an incredible match in Lanarkshire.

Heading for Hampden

Whoever comes out on top in Wednesday’s encounter will be heading for the national stadium.

The Steelmen are no strangers of course, having played there five times last term, four of which were in the latter stages of both cup competitions.

For Hearts, they’d be heading to Hampden for the first time since 2014.

For both sides, its huge incentive to get that all-important win in the quarter final clash at Tynecastle.

Motherwell had their chances but couldn’t break down a resolute Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Saturday.

This is the Story of the Match from the first trip of the Ladbrokes Premiership season to the north east.

Motherwell fought in vain as they went down 1-0 for the second week in succession, losing out this time away at Aberdeen.

James Wilson’s early goal was the difference between the two sides, with the visitors having three penalty calls waved away.

Tom Aldred, Trevor Carson and Elliott Frear reflected on a frustrating afternoon at Pittodrie. 

An early James Wilson goal was enough for the hosts to secure all three points, during a scrappy encounter against Derek McInnes’ side.

Stephen Robinson expressed his disappointment following his side’s 1-0 defeat against Aberdeen. 

Despite hitting the woodwork and being denied a couple of penalty claims, the Fir Park outfit slumped to a disappointing loss at Pittodrie.

“There’s not a whole lot in the game but we’ve only got ourselves to blame,” he said.

“We started the game poorly and we were punished for it, made to chase the game from the off which turned a difficult task in to a very difficult one.”

An early goal from James Wilson inflicted a 1-0 defeat at Pittodrie for the Steelmen.

Following a narrow defeat against Hearts, Stephen Robinson’s men arrived in Aberdeen searching for a response ahead of Wednesday’s trip to Tynecastle in the Betfred Cup.

However, despite being denied two significant penalty claims and going close through Carl McHugh and Chris Cadden, it was the Dons who picked up all three points.

Stephen Robinson named three changes to his starting eleven, bringing Elliott Frear, Liam Donnelly and Conor Sammon in to his side.

It took just six minutes for the hosts to open the scoring, and it was a well-worked goal. Niall McGinn, collecting the ball on the left hand side, threaded a neat pass through for Wilson, who finished neatly beyond Trevor Carson.

During what was a scrappy encounter, McHugh showed a moment of class when he thundered a right footed effort on goal, only to see it rattle the crossbar.

In the dying minutes, Joe Lewis produced a wonderful save to deny Chris Cadden’s low strike, before Tom Aldred was denied a stonewall penalty when his goalbound header was blocked by the upwards, outstretched hand of Andrew Considine.

If you’re based outside of the UK and Ireland, you can watch live coverage of Saturday’s trip to face Aberdeen.

Thanks to our live streaming service, we’ll have video direct from Pittodrie from 2.45pm.

Just head to tv.motherwelfc.co.uk, scroll down and choose one of the international packages. You can choose to watch for a monthly subscription, priced at £12, or annually for £120.

Please note that as this is an away game, commentary will be provided by Aberdeen. Former Motherwell player Mark Reynolds will one of those on the microphone.

Keith Lasley is hoping to see another solid ‘Well display against Aberdeen on Saturday. 

Stephen Robinson’s assistant believes the Fir Park outfit can call on their recent success against the Dons to inspire a similar showing at Pittodrie.

However, the 39-year-old is still expecting a tough encounter.

“Aberdeen are always going to be strong, particularly at home,” he said. “We need to play well to win, but we know we’re capable of that.”