Semi final preview

By Paul Marshall
April 16 2003

Motherwell manager Terry Butcher is in confident mood heading into Saturdays crunch semi final tie with Rangers at Hampden despite losing five league matches in a row.

Motherwell's last victory came over lowly Stranraer in the quarter final and despite this Terry was happy with the second half display against Dundee on Saturday, he told teletext " In the second half against Dundee I thought we showed the spirit of Motherwell, the attitude and the fight and effort. " But I don't want us to be two goals down to Rangers. That is the key thing. "



Terry also wanted to remind people of the excellent win Motherwell had over Rangers on Boxing day last year " We have beaten them this season but that was at Fir Park and all that has happened before has gone now.





Motherwell 1 - 2 Dundee


Defender Tony Vaughan returns from suspension so it should mean Corrigan would go back to the right of a back four.



While Motherwell lost at home to Dundee at the weekend Rangers were picking up maximum points with a 4 - 1 win over Dundee United, a result which goes a long way to help in our battle against the drop. Doubles from De Boer and Arveladze kept Alex McLeish's dream of winning the treble alive. Rangers captain Barry Ferguson will make the match however the midfielder could play without getting painkillers to ease the pain of his pelvic injury, he told the Evening Times " We'll see how training goes on Friday before taking a decision on whether I need a jab again but, hopefully, I'll be all right. " Ferguson got one of the goals in the 2 - 0 win over Motherwell last month at Ibrox.





Rangers 2 - 0 Motherwell

Pride of Lanarkshire Prediction -

On paper we don't stand a chance, there's 63 points between the sides in the league but matches aren't played on paper and we've already beaten them this season. Much will be expected of Faddy on Saturday, the youngster has scored in every round of the cup this year and will hopefully keep that run going. To go through to the final we would need to cope with the pace Rangers have up front with Lovenkrands who scored the winner at Ibrox in the 2 - 0 win.



Motherwell 1 - 3 Rangers





1991 !!!!