Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Preview: St Mirren vs. Motherwell - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 17 August 2023, 18:19
A place in the quarter-finals of the Scottish League Cup will be at stake when St Mirren welcome Motherwell to The SMISA Stadium on Saturday.

Motherwell breezed through the group stage without losing a game, while St Mirren progressed from Group H on goal difference.

Match preview

St Mirren began their Scottish League Cup campaign with a disappointing 1-0 defeat to third-tier outfit Montrose, but they managed to bounce back in their second match with a commanding 4-0 victory over Arbroath.

Cowendbeath were then edged out by a 1-0 scoreline, setting up a must-win game against fourth-tier Forfar Athletic.

As it proved, St Mirren made light work of their lower league opponents, cruising to a 4-0 to move to the top of the group on goal difference and seal their place in the knockout stages.

After going on to win their opening two games of the Scottish Premiership season against Hibernian and Dundee, Stephen Robinson's side head into Saturday's encounter off the back of five consecutive victories in all competitions.

They are now aiming to reach the quarter-finals for just the second time since winning their only and only Scottish League Cup trophy in 2013.

Motherwell have made an unbeaten start to the 2023-24 season, which began with a 2-0 victory over Elgin City in the first game of the Scottish League Cup.

They went on to pick up a bonus point in their second match against Queen of the South after playing out a goalless draw, before going on to wrap up the group stage with wins over Queens Park and East Fife.

After securing their passage to the knockout rounds with minimal fuss, The Well turned their attention to the Scottish Premiership, and they immediately got on the board with an opening day draw against Dundee.

Stuart Kettlewell's side continued their impressive form on Saturday when they edged out Hibernian via a 2-1 scoreline thanks to goals from Conor Wilkinson and Mike Biereth.

They will be aiming to record another victory this weekend, as they look to reach the quarter-finals of the Scottish League Cup for the second season in a row.

St Mirren Scottish League Cup form:

L

W

W

W

St Mirren form (all competitions):

L

W

W

W

W

W

Motherwell Scottish League Cup form:

W

D

W

W

Motherwell form (all competitions):

W

D

W

W

D

W

Advert - content below:

Team News

St Mirren have confirmed that Mark O'Hara is set for a short spell on the sidelines after scans revealed he sustained a thigh injury in training last week.

After claiming a 2-1 victory over Dundee last weekend, former Motherwell boss Robinson could be tempted to name an unchanged lineup for Saturday's cup tie.

Mikael Mandron joined on a free transfer from Motherwell this summer, and he will be looking to score against his former club this weekend.

As for the visitors, they are still unable to call upon the services of Calum Butcher, who remains sidelined with a foot injury.

Jonathan Obika returned from injury to feature as a late substitute against Hibernian, but he has suffered a setback and could be out for a longer term with a hamstring problem.

After coming off the bench to mark his debut with a goal last weekend, Mika Biereth could be rewarded with a starting opportunity.

St Mirren possible starting lineup:

Hemming; Fraser, Gogic, Taylor; Strain, Baccus, Boyd-Munce, Tanser; McMenamin, Kiltie; Mandron

Motherwell possible starting lineup:

Kelly; McGinn, Mugabi, Casey; O'Donnell, Slattery, Miller, Spittal, Souare; Wilkinson, Biereth

We say: St Mirren 2-1 Motherwell

Both teams have enjoyed a promising start to the 2023-24 season, and with the two sides brimming with confidence, we think Saturday's encounter will be a close-fought contest.

Previews by email

Top News

16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk French giants Lille have reportedly rejected an offer from an unnamed Premier League club for the services of 18-year-old defender Leny Yoro. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Napoli star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will headline the Georgia side in the country's first-ever match in the finals of a major tournament on Tuesday evening. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Turkey head coach Vincenzo Montella is expected to name Juventus' 19-year-old attacker Kenan Yildiz in his starting XI for Tuesday's Euro 2024 opener against Georgia. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Group F at Euro 2024 will get underway on Tuesday evening in Dortmund, with Turkey and Georgia locking horns for what is likely to be a very important match in the section. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England captain Harry Kane believes that the Three Lions' squad for Euro 2024 may be the "best" that his nation have ever had. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Juventus have reportedly moved into pole position to sign Manchester United attacker Jadon Sancho, with the Old Lady cooling their interest in his teammate Mason Greenwood. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United will reportedly have to come up with an offer of €50m (£42m) if they wish to sign Bayern Munich centre-back Matthijs de Ligt during this summer's transfer window. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk France have received another timely injury boost before the start of their Euro 2024 campaign, as one of their fundamental cogs has returned to full training following injury. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly held talks with the representatives of Austrian youngster Oghenetejiri Adejenughure to discuss a move to Old Trafford this summer. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich marksman Harry Kane is poised to break a handful of England records when the Three Lions tackle Serbia in Sunday's Euro 2024 Group C opener at the Veltins-Arena. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Even before its first weekend of action is complete, the 17th European Championship has delivered a dizzying array of new bests and curious firsts. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Croatia and Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric has drawn level with Cristiano Ronaldo on a record-breaking number of Euros appearances, but he may only stand alongside his Portuguese foe for a matter of days. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The transfer window is open! Clubs around the UK and Europe are getting business done as they look to give themselves the best possible chance at success in the new season. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Mere weeks after a gruelling domestic season concluded for the continent's most celebrated talents, 24 teams and over 600 players are now going again with Euro 2024 supremacy at stake. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Vitoria vs. Internacional (Sunday, 8.00pm) Looking to secure their maiden win of the 2024 Brasileiro campaign at the ninth attempt, bottom side Vitoria will welcome Internacional to Estadio Manoel Barradas on Sunday afternoon. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ecuador vs. Honduras (Sunday, 8.30pm) Playing their final warm-up fixture ahead of the Copa America, Ecuador meet Honduras in Connecticut on Sunday evening. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Poland vs. Netherlands (Sunday, 2.00pm) Getting Group D under way at Euro 2024, Poland and the Netherlands meet at Hamburg's Volksparkstadion on Sunday. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool manager Arne Slot has reportedly given the thumbs-up to the Reds making a move for a highly-rated Eredivisie attacker in the summer transfer window. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly laid out their financial demands to let struggling attacker Emile Smith Rowe leave the club this summer. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk One of Arsenal's home-grown talents has reportedly informed the Gunners that he wants to assess his options for a transfer elsewhere in the summer window. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk European Championship holders Italy bounced back from an early setback to record a 2-1 victory over Albania in their Euro 2024 opener on Saturday night. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nedim Bajrami has broken a European Championship record after scoring in Albania's 2-1 defeat to Italy in their opening Euro 2024 Group B clash at Westfalenstadion on Saturday night. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Croatia captain Luka Modric has said that his side must move on quickly from their disappointing 3-0 defeat to Spain in their opening match at Euro 2024. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Spain captain Alvaro Morata is confident that he will be available for his country's second match at Euro 2024 after suffering an injury scare against Croatia on Saturday evening. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Lamine Yamal said that he was "thrilled" to play a key role in Spain's 3-0 success over Croatia, with La Roja making an impressive start to their Euro 2024 campaign. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has said that his side must remain focused after opening their European Championship campaign with an impressive win over Croatia. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing two players from Serie A during this summer's transfer window. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have reportedly identified a replacement for Erling Haaland should the prolific attacker leave the club in the near future. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Carvajal scored the goals as Spain opened their Euro 2024 campaign with a 3-0 victory over Croatia in Berlin on Saturday evening. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City's Mateo Kovacic has reportedly attracted interest from Turkish side Galatasaray ahead of this summer's transfer window.