Hibs are strong favourites, but Motherwell can upset the odds, says boss

Stuart Kettlewell admits Hibs are huge favourites to beat Motherwell in Edinburgh on Saturday, but says there's no reason why they can't upset the odds.

Kettlewell admits there was frustration the last time the Steelmen visited Easter Road in October, with a Ryan Porteous goal enough to earn the hosts a 1-0 win, after Motherwell striker Connor Shields had been sent off.

But Motherwell have since changed their manager, with Kettlewell stepping in to replace Stevie Hammell, while Hibs have significantly changed their squad.

Kettlewell, who was lead development coach at the time of that defeat in the capital, says it's firmly in the past.

He said: "Our group is completely different, it’s a different manager. They have a number of players who are different from that game.

“There was a lot of frustration, I was here at the time. But if we look at how Hibs will set up, I think they are in a far better place than they were.

“They are playing better, they’re full of confidence, and the manager is a number of months further into his tenure, so there are a number of aspects that make it completely different.

“But it’s an exceptionally difficult place to go, it’s a big football club in this country, and Hibs will be favourites to beat us on Saturday – but that doesn’t mean we can’t go and upset the odds and make it really difficult for them.

“I think we’re playing completely different as a team, and how that now shapes up against what Hibs are doing will be interesting to see.

“We’re second-favourites, so how we approach that and embrace it, and enjoy that tag is another thing.

“We look forward to the game, and it’s an excellent stadium against a good team, and I think we will learn a little bit more about ourselves within that.

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