Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell has vowed to make life difficult for Aberdeen after detecting high expectations from Barry Robson.
The Dons boss took responsibility for his side’s defeat at Kilmarnock on Sunday and looked ahead to the trip to Fir Park on Wednesday as a chance to end a four-game winless run.
Robson told Sky Sports: “Listen, we win on Wednesday and then we have a semi-final to look forward to as well. We need to just start picking up wins again.”
Motherwell have not won in five but a late comeback against Ross County on Saturday ended a losing streak and Kettlewell is determined to build on the point.
Kettlewell, who is yet to face the Dons as Motherwell manager, said: “I heard Barry’s interview after the game and he referenced coming here and winning on Wednesday.
“So quite clearly Aberdeen are a much bigger football club with far greater resources than we have, so they obviously expect they are going to come here on Wednesday and win the game. I think he said about winning here and taking them into a semi-final.
“So we just have to put ourselves in a position where we acknowledge that the expectation is that they will come here and they will win the game.
“But we have had a number of performances here at home especially where it would suggest it is going to be a difficult place for them to come and that we are very, very competitive.
“By getting that point and hopefully breaking a bit of a cycle for ourselves then surely we will be going in with a bit of confidence, and I think we will.
“We are always respectful to who we play against but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a belief in ourselves.
“It’s just about us being as well prepared and as braced for the challenge as we possibly can and it’s our intention to give them a real tough night when they come here on Wednesday.”
Mika Biereth was the catalyst for Motherwell’s comeback, winning and scoring a penalty in the 3-3 draw.
The on-loan Arsenal striker was brought on in the 75th minute after 10 weeks out with a knee injury while Calum Butcher remained on the bench as he awaits his first game of the season following a foot problem.
Biereth has now provided two goals and two assists in 50 minutes of cinch Premiership action but Kettlewell will not be tempted to accelerate his comeback.
“It’s not just getting people back from injury, it’s keeping them in the group and making sure you are not exposing them to silly situations where you end up losing them for a long period of time again,” he said.
“This sort of caveman mindset of ‘I don’t care, I am just going to start throwing people on’, and going off script, it’s not going to work, it’s not where the game’s at anymore. You have to be thoughtful and measured in your approach.
“We had plenty of conversations with Arsenal who have worked through just over two months with his rehab. Our guys here are excellent at what they do.
“We have had conversations with the player, he has an understanding of how many minutes he is capable of, not just on Saturday but how that will impact Wednesday and the following Saturday.”
