Can Graham Alexander find respite in the Scottish Cup?

[jwok]

Motherwell have not won a league game since Graham Alexander had his managerial contract extended in January. LINK

[Handsome_Devil]

Hibs are not Aberdeen levels of awful and when we leak like a sieve and are utterly toothless up it's hard to see us beating anyone.

Their cup record over the last decade (!), never mind their current brilliant run of making Hampden, makes me think we're still second favourites.

[LawSteelman]

We certainly could win but whether we will or not is another matter. It depends on which Motherwell team is picked on the day and whether we take any of the limited chances that come our way. If we are to have any hope then I think we need to score first and avoid the game going to penalties because we would have no chance in that scenario.

Hibs as has been said have been ‘cup specialists’ over the past decade and have reached numerous Semi Finals, a good few finals and of course had that famous win in 2016. This will be a tough tie for us and while I’d say it was unlikely that we reach a Hampden semi, it’s not impossible.

Whatever happens, Sunday is make or break for our season and Alexander’s standing with the support.

[Handsome_Devil]

As bad as we've been recently I don't think we're a million miles from a competitive XI.

Full back is a problem which can't be fixed as if you go with Lamie and Mugabi you're not even pretending to have a threat there. Carroll and SOD, for all their flaws, still offer a hint of attacking presence but they're currently liabilities defensively so I'd go safety first. By default that leaves Ojala and SSJ in the middle.

Midfield is the biggest change, I suspect Donnelly will keep his spot as the only true six we have fit. Personally I'd chance Shaw there behind Slattery and MOH or Cornelius.

Up front tell Woolery to stand on the touchline and but whoever else is picked to play beside KVV as a traditional pair rather than out left. That leaves us very unbalanced (and the need for another body to move out wide as cover is a point in Donnelly's favour) but three spread across the while park is just a no no if we're hoping to actually get the goals to win the game. I'd go for Shields but tbh this is where the team-picking tombola machine is actually justified.

[texaco cup]

If KVV persists on playing out wide, then IMO we should take a gamble for 20-30 minutes . Play Woolery straight through the middle as with his pace he can certainly cause the centre of Hibs back line problems. We would have to make sure passes are played in behind the opposition back line preferably on the ground. Not just hoof and hope balls high in the air. I honestly think for us to have any chance of reaching the semi finals we MUST score first .

[Well below the Equator]

I just realised that with the game being on Sunday, I'll be on the golf course at the same time, so will have no idea what is going on. Mind you, the way that I played last time, I have no idea what I'm doing on the golf course, either!!

Can't find any reason for optimism except that Hibs have not scored for their last two games against the bottom two, and Nisbet is out. What odds on Jamie Murphy coming in and scoring!!

[Handsome_Devil]

Given he's out on loan pretty high I imagine!

James Scott on the other hand...

[Well below the Equator]

Are we likely to have a decent crowd? Could that somehow motivate the players?

[Handsome_Devil]

You would hope so, even allowing for form and it being on telly, we basically don't get bigger games at FP than Scottish Cup quarter-finals.

[jwok]

Hibs say they have less that 300 of their allocation of tickets left.