In the 23 competitive meetings between the teams Motherwell have never lost (17 wins and 6 draws) and the prospect of anything but a win for the Premiership side cannot be contemplated around Fir Park.
The ramshackle state of Cliftonhill Stadium gave the home club no option but to secure a move and Hamilton provides the ideal solution. In contrast to our recent cup trips to Aberdeen , Dundee, Inverness or Inverurie this stroll over the Clyde will have the feeling of a home tie with the 'Well support creating the atmosphere and occupying the main stand.
Motherwell fans will occupy the Main Stand
The Rovers won their 3rd round tie against Deveronvale at the beginning of November and followed that up with a win over Annan Athletic but the end of the month came with defeats against Montrose and Berwick. The Coatbridge team is now 8th in the ten team League Two.
The players that will line up against us on Saturday are not well known to followers of the top division but we can assume that Stuart McCall will have his troops well prepared for the game. Complacency and the artificial pitch will be as much of a threat to our progress as the opposition.
It seems likely that we'll give Hammell, Ramsden and others who are less that fully fit more recovery time given Celtic's visit on Friday 6 December but as the win at Kilmarnock demonstrated, we have enough flexibility in the squad to cope with a few absences.
Odds better that 10/1 can be had on the shock result but there will be no payouts on that account. Motherwell will be in the pot for the next round with a comfortable win - 3-0 will do nicely.
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