Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell says players must match fans' cup excitement

Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell says players’ efforts must match fans’ excitement as they head into their Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Dundee United on Friday night.

Kettlewell has been impressed with the community’s buy-in into the Fir Park showdown, with a place in a Hampden semi-final at stake.

Leaflets have been handed out to homes and businesses, posters have been placed in the town, and the club hope for a bumper crowd as a result.

Kettlewell said: “I think there’s a bit of general excitement when you get to this stage of a cup competition.

“You’re playing at home, under the lights, I think it always has that wee extra-special feel.

“I don’t think it gives you a God-given right to think you’re going to get through, but for players, staff and supporters, I think it has that slightly different feel to it from the league action.

“When you’ve worked hard to get to this stage, you always look forward to the occasion.

“When you look at what the community is pouring into it at Motherwell, we’ve got volunteers going door-to-door, handing out flyers, leaflets, to try and drum up a bit of support and see if we can get as many people in here as we possibly can.

“We’re a proper community club, that’s what we are, and I think that has been really evident in the last few days and weeks, where everybody is buying into that excitement of the cup.

“My job is to make sure the players give the supporters and everyone who comes here to back us on Friday something to cheer about.”

Kettlewell added: “The football match will always take care of itself, and that’s the most important thing, but I was really eager for the game to be on the Friday night, because I just feel that there is something that wee bit more special,