Stuart Kettlewell hopes Motherwell can upset Aberdeen's 'expectation' of win

Stuart Kettlewell is optimistic that Motherwell can upset Aberdeen on Wednesday night after claiming that the Dons expect to take three points.

The Motherwell manager said he had paid attention to Aberdeen counterpart Barry Robson’s post-match interview after his side’s 2-0 defeat at Kilmarnock on Sunday.

When asked about turning things around after back-to-back defeats, Robson mentioned “a win on Wednesday and then we’ve got a semi-final to look forward to as well”. Kettlewell has taken that as an expectation from Robson that his side should take all three points at Fir Park in midweek.

The Motherwell boss, who said he felt pride and some optimism after seeing his team fight back with late goals to draw 3-3 with Ross County, said: “I’ve not faced Aberdeen since coming into this club.

“I think that’s the only team in the Premiership that I’ve not faced so that becomes a little bit different.

“I heard Barry’s interview after the game yesterday. I watched the game and listened to the stuff afterwards and I think he referenced coming here and winning on Wednesday.

“Quite clearly Aberdeen are a much bigger football club with far greater resources than what we’ve got so they obviously expect to come here on Wednesday and win the game.

“I think he said something about winning here and taking them into a semi-final.

“So we just have to put ourselves in a position where the expectation is that they will come here and win the game.

“I just think we’ve had a number of performances, at home especially, which suggests that it’s going to be a difficult place for them to come to.

“We’re very competitive and by getting that point and breaking a bit of a cycle for ourselves, then surely we will be going in there with a wee bit of confidence.”