‘Away days’ have become the norm at the start of Motherwell’s Scottish Cup campaigns. This will be the 11th year in a row when we have been sent to opposition territory to begin the Cup trail. (The chance of receiving an away draw in 11 successive ballots is 1 in 2048!)
We’ll concentrate on the Dundee tie later in the week but here’s a reminder of some of the past glories and failures that came our way in years gone by.
Last season’s short campaign ended abruptly when the twice postponed tie finally got the go ahead on a freezing Monday night. Only 1,450 watched as we were soundly beaten. Craig and Archie then took us on a terrific league run but this game is best forgotten.
Another series of postponements resulted in a Monday night trip through the snow to a white pitch in Inverurie where the Locos were dispatch by a comfortable the goal margin. Hope of a decent run were ended when we lost to St Mirren in the next round after a replay.
This game will stay fresh in the memory for years as it was the first action following the loss of Phil O’Donnell. Emotions ran high in the build up to kick off at Tynecastle and it seemed that it would end in more tears when Hearts took a two goal lead. A brave recovery and two goals from Porter forced a replay that saw us into the next round thanks to McCormack’s penalty.
Our home tie against Dundee in round 5 was postponed due to a waterlogged Fir Park and we lost the rearranged tie 1-2 when a win would have delivered a quarter final match with Queen of the South. Dundee finished the game with only nine men too!
2007 Airdrie United 0 1 Motherwell
In season 2006/7 the SPL clubs joined the competition at the 3rd round and on this occasion extra spice was added as we were given a Lanarkshire Derby in Airdrie. Almost 6,000 were in the ground for a poor game but Foran’s first half goal was enough to see us through. We disposed of Morton next before collapsing at home to St Johnstone.
St Mirren had the easiest of times progressing when we failed to turn up at Love Street. To leave the competition with such a poor showing was hugely disappointing. It is yet another campaign that is better forgotten.
2005 Kilmarnock 2 0 Motherwell
As ever, a big Motherwell support set off in hope of glory, this time to Rugby Park. We were two down at the break and not even a Killie pie could cheer us up. Another bad day at the office.
2004 St Johnstone 0 3 Motherwell
This was a cracker. Clarkson had scored three in game preceding this and when he knocked in the opening pair he was facing back to back hat-tricks but Butcher choose to give a debut to Scott McDonald and he added the third of the day. Cries of Doogay, Doogay!
Two home ties followed. Queen of the South were beaten before we lost the quarter final to an early long range strike for ICT.
2003 Kilmarnock 0 1 Motherwell
A McFadden penalty was cheered to the rafters as we started a run that was to start at Rugby Park and finish at Hampden. Two more away ties at Broadwood and Stranraer delivered us to the semi-final where we met Rangers. Despite leading at the break we lost 3-4 but Butcher’s young team gave us a fine afternoon in the Hampden sunshine.
2002 Dunfermline 3 1 Motherwell
A shocking display at East End Park is said to have finished in fisticuffs as Eric Black and David Kelly squabbled over the defeat. We were three down in 47 minutes and never looked we had a chance.
2001 St Mirren 1 2 Motherwell
A win in Paisley with goals from McCulloch and Spencer gave us a home tie in the 4th round where our hopes were dashed by Dundee United 0-2.