MJC

The way always goes and it’s absolutely infuriating. What is also galling is that we haven’t even managed to reach the Quarter Finals in the Scottish Cup for FOUR years now. And not once in that time have we been paired with one of the Old Firm or been beaten by an inform high flying side. We’ve lost to Championship Raith Rovers and Morton in the 5th Round, a bottom of the table and utterly hopeless St.Johnstone side in the 4th round and a rank rotten Aberdeen side who are nowhere near us in the league. That is absolutely unacceptable.

Nailed on draw this one. 1-1

He is not a legend, let’s be clear about that. Certainly not on the level of Tommy McLean who managed to win us the Scottish Cup. He has been excellent for us this season overall and surpassed all expectations with the football we have played and the results we have got. But he has fallen badly short in two massive Cup games and his selection tonight was just ridiculous and it’s cost us. If he can pick the team up, pick the correct players and finish 3rd or maybe even 4th and possibly secure European qualification then that is a big tick for him. But he is absolutely not a Motherwell FC legend yet.

Probably is yes. But as I’ve already said I really like JBA. He’s been brilliant for us this season and I hope we can hold on to him for a while yet. But he got it badly wrong tonight. There is no other way of putting it I’m afraid.

Don’t, just don’t. We were never in contention for the league title but the Cup was a genuine opportunity if we had only taken it seriously. That is Tam Cowan levels of “Ach well, we can concentrate oan the league title challenge now he-he-he aren’t we a great wee diddy team we’ve goat everybody billing and coo-ing about oor fitbaaaw” patter.

Just Bloody Awful We’ve been badly let down by the manager tonight.

Possibly, but we saw strange team selections in Cup games by McCall, McGhee and Kettlewell when they were with us so maybe it’s a deeper rooted issue at the club that we don’t fully emphasise the importance of doing well in cup competitions to various players and managers.

Utter nonsense. Clutching at straws for dear life trying to blame the officials when we didn’t start our strongest 11 in the first place. The officials did not cost us this game, both red cards were correct decisions going by the rules of the game.

This is a major black mark against the manager tonight. For all the plaudits he has had for the football we have played this season and the results he has fallen badly short in two massive Cup games against very winnable opponents both times. And his team selection tonight absolutely humped us from the get-go. This is Stuart McCall levels of Cup tie fuck ups.

Those in power at the club, and that includes the Well Society, need to be absolutely hammering it home to the manager, whoever that is at the time, that Cup ties are a top priority and the strongest team needs to start every single time and no excuses.

Just a bad night all round and typically for us it’s in a Cup tie. Our two worst games of the season coming in Cup games.

Was never going to be our night.

Maybe a glimmer of hope now. We need to change things up and start creating chances mind you!

Yip. I really like Jens and have absolutely loved what I’ve seen from him and the team this season. But this one is on him I’m afraid.

Far too many needless changes made yet AGAIN in a Cup tie. Previous Motherwell managers have made that mistake and been punished for it and JBA deserves criticism for it too. You play your strongest team in the Cup. To do otherwise is just plain stupidity or even arrogance. The Cups are the only competitions we can win, we are not winning the league, so why we continually fail to go hell for leather in cup games under numerous managers is beyond me.

Game over.

Just how it often goes with football. Double headers like this throw up different winners* and especially when one of them is a cup tie. Plus I never, ever trust Motherwell when it comes to cup games. * I am aware that we beat Aberdeen in the League Cup and then in the league back to back earlier in the season, but I don’t see us doing the ‘double-double’ over them.

We’re not winning this I’m afraid. Just can’t see it. Either a narrow loss in 90 or ET or a penalty shootout loss. Whatever happens we won’t be travelling to the Kingdom of Fife on 7th March.

Obviously pleased we didn’t get beat, but overall I don’t take too much from last night other than frustration. Yet again we have drawn with Rangers at Fir Park and we should have won. That’s now three games in a row against them here where we’ve only managed to get one point when it should have been all three. The 2-2 in December ‘24 when we threw away a 2-0 lead and the two this season where we were clearly the better side but needed to rely on late equalisers to get the absolute least that we deserved from the games. In a way both games at Fir Park against them this season have encapsulated our season within a single game. Really good ball work, dominant in possession, some lovely play, largely nullifying the opposition but just falling that little bit short of what we really could have achieved because we lack the cutting edge up front. Take nothing away from the magnificent job Jens has done and hopefully will continue doing until the end of the season but as I said the frustration is there.

Win this one then lose the Cup tie Thats how I see it going anyway. 2-1 home win

We were never winning this one. We just don’t have the firepower for it. We might still get a draw but even that’s looking unlikely.

So if that’s the case why have him and one other player been booked already, thus increasing the likelihood of a second yellow and a red?? (Beep-Beep-Beep….”because they were yellow cards” isn’t an answer here. Surely if “cause he plays for The Rangers” then they wouldn’t be yellow carded early in the match because the referee and VAR would be going easy on them and giving them preferential treatment? Or so you would think anyway…) Sometimes the world isn’t out to get you.

Was that given offside? If it was then I can see why it wasn’t given. But at the time it looked like a penalty.

The one positive so far is Watt’s footwork and ball skills have been exquisite.

Been the better team overall but our shortfallings up front have been our downfall and that is why we won’t finish top three or win the Cup. Rangers have done next to nothing but should have had a penalty imo, we’d be screaming for that in the other box.