The visitors have rightly been praised for the exciting forward looking style that has them only a point behind the league leaders. Their pace in attack is a reflection of the youthful enthusiasm that seems to appear time after time from Tannadice. That was in evidence the last time the sides met in Dundee especially in the second half and that game was rounded off with a fine strike from Bilate.
The second meeting between the teams was played out three weeks ago in Motherwell. On that occasion a gritty and determined display from a squad still reeling from the loss of manager McCall won the day. That was one of the very few highlights of the season to date. Nevertheless, it demonstrated that with the correct mindset the current Motherwell team can match up to the best in Scotland. Sadly, that mindset had been lost on the way to Inverness last week.
Ciftci and Morris are suspended and Bilate is injured and there are suggestions that Rankin may make a return. That still leaves McNamara with no shortage of talent. Armstrong, Mackay-Steven, Erskine, Connolly, Spittal and Dow can all threaten.
Kenny Black will be in charge for the third time but the game is likely to come too soon for Hammell. There seems little option but to play the same back four that failed to impress last week and the same can be said at the other end of the team. We’ve scored only 5 goals in the last 9 outings, hardly a record that will cause fear in the opposition camp.
Adult entry set at £15 and decent crowd is expected. A 4th round cup tie traditionally provides a welcome distraction from the humdrum of the league but our woeful form in recent knock out competitions and the general air of despondency at Fir Park caused by our league slump, loss of manager and ongoing financial/ownership troubles indicates the seriousness of Saturday’s game.
The players have shown that they are capable of winning and if they can come close to the never-say-die attitude seen in their last home game we may still be in the draw for the net round even if it’s as a result of a replay following a 1-1 draw.
Remember the last time United played a cup tie at Fir Park?