Marvin Bartley on Stenhousemuir's Cup Tie vs. Motherwell
Marvin Bartley, Stenhousemuir boss, doesn't see the upcoming cup tie against Motherwell as a 'free hit' for his team.
The Warriors earned progression to the second round of the league cup after a superb group stage, and a tie against European hopefuls Motherwell at Ochilview was the reward for the Scottish Championship newcomers.
And although the impressive visitors will be strong favourites to reach the quarter finals, boss Bartley believes that his players need to approach the match with the mindset that it is a winnable tie.
On the back of last weekend's 2-0 league win against Greenock Morton, he told the Falkirk Herald: 'It's a game we are all looking forward to across the club. It is great tie first and foremost.
"You want opportunities to play against top-flight teams and if I was still a player I would be wanting to grasp the chance with both hands. It's a chance for the young squad we have here to go and play against top players and a top manager and show that they can reach a top, top level.
"It will be an extremely difficult challenge for us. Of course it will. But we will prepare for the game properly and work on a plan to defend against their many strengths but also make sure we can go the other way and cause them trouble.
"I hate the term 'free hit'. That isn't a thing for me. Each match brings with it an opportunity and this one is no different. We need to go out and perform. Upsets can happen in cup competitions.
“We saw that last season with Dunfermline showing what a Championship side can do, knocking out Hibs and Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup. They managed to reach a cup final.”
Bartley added: 'Myself and Neil (Hastings) will go along to Motherwell's game against HJK Helsinki and make sure that we that we as ready as we can be for them. It's tough tie for them but one they will be confident in doing well in after the first leg result (1-1 draw away from home).
League standing: 10th in Championship, 0 pts, 0W-0D-2L from 2 games, recent form LL.
Goals this season: 0 scored, 3 conceded (-3 goal difference).
Title race: 6 points behind leaders Partick.
Next fixture: vs Stenhousemuir (away, 2027-01-09) (3rd in the table).
What happened?
Stenhousemuir's boss Marvin Bartley doesn't see the upcoming cup tie against Motherwell as a 'free hit' for his team.
Why it matters for Morton
The Warriors earned progression to the second round of the league cup after a superb group stage, and a tie against European hopefuls Motherwell at Ochilview was the reward for the Scottish Championship newcomers.
What comes next?
And although the impressive visitors will be strong favourites to reach the quarter finals, boss Bartley believes that his players need to approach the match with the mindset that it is a winnable tie.
Stenhousemuir's Preparation
On the back of last weekend's 2-0 league win against Greenock Morton, he told the Falkirk Herald: 'It's a game we are all looking forward to across the club. It is great tie first and foremost.
"You want opportunities to play against top-flight teams and if I was still a player I would be wanting to grasp the chance with both hands. It's a chance for the young squad we have here to go and play against top players and a top manager and show that they can reach a top, top level.
"It will be an extremely difficult challenge for us. Of course it will. But we will prepare for the game properly and work on a plan to defend against their many strengths but also make sure we can go the other way and cause them trouble.
"I hate the term 'free hit'. That isn't a thing for me. Each match brings with it an opportunity and this one is no different. We need to go out and perform. Upsets can happen in cup competitions.
“We saw that last season with Dunfermline showing what a Championship side can do, knocking out Hibs and Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup. They managed to reach a cup final.”
Motherwell's Upcoming Match
Bartley added: 'Myself and Neil (Hastings) will go along to Motherwell's game against HJK Helsinki and make sure that we that we as ready as we can be for them. It's tough tie for them but one they will be confident in doing well in after the first leg result (1-1 draw away from home).
Conclusion
League standing: 10th in Championship, 0 pts, 0W-0D-2L from 2 games, recent form LL.
Goals this season: 0 scored, 3 conceded (-3 goal difference).
Title race: 6 points behind leaders Partick.
Next fixture: vs Stenhousemuir (away, 2027-01-09) (3rd in the table).
