WHEN Stuart McCall alighted upon the subject of penalty kicks ahead of this tie, it was a reflection of just how tight the game could be this evening.
Neither Motherwell nor Aberdeen will have wanted to meet each other at this stage, especially as the League Cup appears to have opened up, and it is entirely possible it will take 120 minutes plus to determine a winner.
Should it go to spot kicks, McCall's side are lacking experience. The Fir Park team have been awarded just one this season, Bob McHugh missing against Russians Kuban Krasnodar in the second leg of their Europa League qualifying tie. The manager and others at Motherwell believe they have been denied at least four or five good claims in the SPFL Premiership, the most recent of which was in the 2-0 defeat by St Johnstone on Sunday when Calum Murray took no action when Paul Lawson's shot appeared to strike the hand Gary McDonald.
"The game can go to 120 minutes and possibly to penalties," McCall said, pausing for the punchline. "But I am still waiting for a ruling from the SPFL because we don't get penalties and we might just go to a toss a coin. But because it is cup game, rules might change and so we practised penalties today.
"We have had one this season - in Russia. They play the rules that if it hits your hand it is a penalty but unfortunately Bob missed it. But we have been practising them and it might have made my mind up on who is on the bench because a few slotted them away nicely and a few blazed them over the bar. It is a bit tongue in cheek. Refereeing is a tough job, there is no doubt, but there has been times this season when we merited penalty kicks and didn't get them."
It is a different kind of set piece Aberdeen will be focusing on, with Derek McInnes considering starting Barry Robson for the first time since the opening game of the season with an eye to making use of his free-kick prowess. The experienced midfielder has made a couple of cameos after knee surgery but the 34-year-old may find it difficult to force himself into the XI given his team-mates have taken Aberdeen to second place in the top flight. "They have been playing really well and getting good results so it won't be easy for me, but I've done that at every team I've been at," said Robson. "The manager has got us well drilled and, while he doesn't expect you to play well every week, he expects you to give everything."
Aberdeen's last trophy win was in the League Cup 18 years ago; far too long ago for Robson's liking. "The cup tie is all about the expectation level and can you deal with that by going there and winning the game," he said. "That is what we need to prove, but we know more than anybody that Fir Park is a hard place to go. We have been preparing well for that and we will be organised and ready for it."
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