Sadly, getting thumped is a possibility. It’s not a very likely possibility admittedly but I bet Dundee United fans didn’t see a six-goal gubbing coming when the semi final draw was made. A thrashing would be hard to take but we should still be proud of our team for reaching only our ninth ever final.
However, let’s not dwell on that! Rangers have looked distinctly shaky in their last couple of games and there is no reason we can’t turn them over. As ever it will need us to play very well whilst they under perform slightly but it could well happen. They have the League to worry about but for us this game is everything. It will be surprising if a single Motherwell player has any energy left when they leave the field at quarter to five on Sunday and it should not be forgotten we have a considerable amount of skill ourselves. Scott McDonald is playing very well and is just the sort of small player the Rangers defence could struggle with. Remarkably, he has not scored any of our fourteen League Cup goals this season and he’ll be looking to change that.
The key battle, as so often is the case in these games, will be in the midfield. Ferguson and Ricksen versus Leitch, O’Donnell and McBride will have a huge influence on the outcome of the match. If the Huns dominate the middle of the park, you have to imagine that eventually they will break us down. Alternatively if claret and amber reigns supreme there, we will have taken a big step down the path to victory.
The one surprise that Terry Butcher may have up his sleeve is Marc Fitzpatrick. It would be very harsh to drop Jim Paterson from the side but his lack of pace may show on the big pitch. Could another energetic body charging round be just what we need? And could a tiring Rangers defence be undone by a stepover from a freshly off the bench Stepover?