Preview: Motherwell vs. Greenock Morton - prediction, team news, lineups

Scottish Premiership side Motherwell will host Championship outfit Greenock Morton in the Scottish Cup on Friday night hoping to progress from the fourth round for the second time in three seasons.

The visitors, meanwhile, are hoping to avoid elimination at this stage for the third successive campaign.

Match preview

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Motherwell have all but confirmed their top-flight status for another season after sealing a narrow 1-0 victory at home to St Mirren last weekend.

Devante Cole's strike in the 62nd minute was enough to separate the two sides and has moved the Steelmen nine points clear of the bottom two with just four matches left to play.

Manager Graham Alexander has called for his players to finish their league campaign with a flourish and take positive momentum into next season.

Motherwell now turn their attention to the Scottish Cup, a competition that they have not won since the 1990-91 campaign when they beat Dundee United 4-3 at Hampden Park.

In the last seven years, the Steelmen have been eliminated at this stage of the Scottish Cup four times, two of which were against teams from lower divisions.

Securing a win on Friday would be their third in a row on home soil in all competitions and will book their place in the quarter-finals.

Greenock Morton's Scottish Cup campaign has been nothing short of eventful after both of their ties had to be settled beyond 90 minutes.

Their second round encounter with Dunfermline was won 6-5 on penalties after a goalless draw in 120 minutes, while a 91st-minute equaliser from Sean McGinty sent their third round clash with East Fife into extra time, with Robbie Muirhead scoring a 112th minute winner to set up the tie with Motherwell.

Since progressing from the third round, Gus MacPherson's side were convincingly beaten 4-1 at home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Championship, before drawing 1-1 at home to Dundee last weekend; these results have seen them slip into the relegation playoff position with Arbroath just above them on goal difference.

The Ton have only ever won the Scottish Cup once before, lifting the trophy almost 100 years ago, during the 1921-22 campaign.

Success on Friday night is unlikely and survival in the second tier will seemingly be their priority, but a surprise cup victory against Motherwell would see them progress to the quarter-finals for the first time since the 2017-18 season.

Team News

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Motherwell boss Alexander is unlikely to make many changes on Friday and could name the same XI that he started in the previous round.

Goalkeepers Scott Fox and Trevor Carson, as well as Sherwin Seedorf, Liam Donnelly and Charles Dunne, remain out with knee injuries, while Liam Grimshaw is hoping to recover from illness to feature this weekend.

Jordan Roberts scored twice in the third round against Formartine United and after starting in the last six matches, the forward should keep his place in attack alongside Cole and Tony Watt.

Greenock Morton are set to use a 3-5-2 formation, which could see defenders McGinty, Brian McLean and Michael Ledger line up in a back three.

Central midfielders Reece Lyons and Cameron Blues came off the bench against Dundee last weekend but could start on Friday at the expense of Stephen McGinn and Luca Colville.

Tottenham Hotspur loanee Kazaiah Sterling and Kalvin Orsi will both be pushing to start up front, although Muirhead and Aidan Nesbitt are set to partner one another in attack.

Motherwell possible starting lineup:
Kelly; O'Donnell, Magloire, Lamie, Carroll; Campbell, Crawford, O'Hara; Roberts, Cole, Watt

Greenock Morton possible starting lineup:
McAdams; Ledger, McLean, McGinty; Hynes, Lyons, Jacobs, Blues, Strapp; Nesbitt, Muirhead

We say: Motherwell 3-0 Greenock Morton

Last weekend's victory in the top flight has eased relegation concerns for Motherwell, which means they can now have a real crack at claiming their first piece of silverware since 1991.

The hosts will be the favourites heading into Friday's game and should have enough quality to secure a routine win against the Championship side.