CELTIC v M’WELL
Motherwell 3-0 to famously beat Hibs trophy back lift the League Cup 0 same side lost 1- in 1951 – but the Cup Final. to Celtic in the Scottish team has seen his Well Stephen Robinson games two goals in four score a measly through men this term – against the Parkhead a Mikael Lustig OG. Elliott Frear and have rattled in eight The Hoops, meanwhile, the same Fir Park men over goals against the Edouard and James period with Odsonne three. Moussa Dembele Forrest both netting shared the others. and Scott Sinclair the a hammering when Celtic dished out Glasgow on January sides first met in recorded 16, 1904. The Hoops season a 6-0 victory in a finish where they would third in the league.
Tom Boyd lifted the Cup with one of Motherwell’s greatest ever teams.
Well’s 4- 3 victory over Dundee United in 1991, with players such as Davie Cooper and Phil O’Donnell in their ranks, will also go down as one of the most exciting games in the competition’s history.
But the former Fir Park skipper says if Stephen Robinson’s current crop triumph at Hampden next week – and deny Celtic a double Treble – it will surpass what Tommy McLean’s side achieved.
Boyd will never forget the open-top bus tour around the town following their dramatic triumph 27 years ago.
They also beat Celtic en route but he claims their feat would be incomparable if Robinson’s team emerge with silverware on Saturday.
Boyd sa id : “I n terms of achievement, if Motherwell win the Cup next week it would be far greater than what we did in 1991.
“You have to look at the disparity between the teams.
“In our final Dundee United were slight favourites but there wasn’t much between the teams – not the way there is now between Celtic and Motherwell.
“We beat the Hoops in the semi-final that year but they were not nearly as strong as this team under Brendan Rodgers.
“That defeat in 1991 was at the start of Celtic’s financial problems. And Tom Boyd was speaking at a William Hill media event. William Hill are proud sponsors of the Scottish Cup of course, United had a thing at that time where they couldn’t win cup finals – they had lost their previous six finals.
“So maybe it was a good time to play them!
“Brendan has an unblemished record at Hampden with Celtic so that shows the enormity of the task facing Well on Saturday.
“Realistically, it would be a far bigger achievement for Motherwell than in ’91. It’s a bigger challenge.
“The United final is remembered as being one of the greatest ever games, certainly one of the most entertaining.
“It was a pleasure for me to lift a trophy for a club like Well.
“Waking up the next day, feeling a bit worse for wear and not at your best, getting ready for the open-top bus – that’s what you don’t get at Celtic or Rangers.
“And it was great to see so many fans turning out who had been at Hampden the previous day.
“I didn’t realise there were that many people in the town.”
You might think Boyd would have divided loyalties ahead of the final next weekend.
But his heart is with Celtic, having also lifted the trophy for them while the late Tommy Burns was in charge.
Their 1995 success in was a pivotal moment for the club after some dark days – and Boyd played a key role.
That’s why the former defender’s feet will firmly be in the green and white camp come Saturday.
He said: “I’m not caught in between here. I’m a Celtic supporter so I want them to go up and lift the