Morton V Motherwell at Cappielow Park : Match Preview

Morton V Motherwell - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.Ian Baraclough wants Motherwell fans to take their frustration out on himMotherwell manager Ian Baraclough hopes disgruntled fans direct their frustrations towards him rather than his players.Motherwell have failed to build on the pre-season optimism which followed their play-off triumph over Rangers and their summer squad building.After influential midfielder Stephen Pearson suffered a knee injury in their opening win over Inverness, Baraclough's side have only taken four points from a possible 21 and derby defeat by Hamilton on Saturday left them in 10th spot in the Ladbrokes Premiership.Baraclough now faces what he admits are "two huge games" as Motherwell take on Championship side Morton at Cappielow in the League Cup third round before hosting bottom club Partick Thistle on Saturday.And Baraclough will take the criticism on the chin if it means fans are backing his players through a significant week. "I'd rather them turn on me and take their frustrations out on me than the team because the team are there to be backed," he said.Baraclough wants his players to remain positive and do what comes naturally in the final third and to relish the challenge of a midweek game in Greenock."It's a tough away day that we have got to handle," the former Scunthorpe boss said. "It's a fantastic ground to go and play under the lights."There will be a good atmosphere and we have to relish that as a team. I'd love to be playing in that situation. The ground is tight and it will be a real cup-tie atmosphere which hopefully brings the best out of the players."The mental resolve is not an issue. We believe we can win every game we are involved in. We have won a couple of away games and fully intend to do that on Wednesday night."Left-back Steven Hammell will not be involved as he faces potential surgery to avoid a repeat of the groin problem that kept him out for most of last season."Stevie has had a problem with his other groin and we don't want the scenario where it takes the whole season," Baraclough said. "He is being assessed by a specialist to see if there is a hernia on the other side, which would be a two-week procedure. We are getting to the bottom of it early."Morton manager Jim Duffy will finalise his side after a check on experienced striker Peter MacDonald. Knee injuries will keep Mark Russell and Frank McKeown absent with Joe McKee not yet ready to return after a hamstring problem.Duffy does have the option of using Conor Pepper after a one-game ban and said: "This is a cup tie that has to be settled on the night so it would be good to have Peter available to help us as we try and do that."Motherwell are from a higher league however we will go out and try and upset them."

Source: PAR