DERBY DAY SPECIAL McHugh bangs the derby drum
Motherwell skipper can’t wait for‘huge’Accies game
Motherwell are ready for war this Saturday.
Whenever derby day rolls around, you can guarantee a battle between two fierce rivals and Motherwell captain Carl McHugh believes this time will be no different.
The Steelmen skipper has fond memories of hopping across the M74 to take on Hamilton, having made his comeback following a concussion in a battling 1-1 draw as well as playing a key role in a 1-0 win at the tail end of last season.
That victory all but sealed Well’s place in the Premiership but this time around they go there in the top six and one week away from a semi-final.
While the Betfred Cup clash with Rangers is at the back of his mind, McHugh admits he can’t wait to take on Accies this Saturday.
He said: “The derby now is a massive, massive game for us. It’s a huge match going there for us.
“I saw some of the goals Accies scored against Hibs, they looked brilliant that day.
“They’ve had a very good start. Maybe they’ve had a few bad results recently but you know when you go there it’s going to be a very tough game.
“You saw what the games were like there last year.
“The game towards the back end of the season was a real war of attrition but at the time it was a huge, huge win for us.
“We always bring a good following and there’s always a good atmosphere.
“It’s a game I look forward to to be honest. I’ve had quite good memories of going there last season in both games.
“One of the first games I played after coming back from my injury was there on New Year’s Eve.
“Moulty seems to score there a lot so hopefully he’ll do the same next week.
“We’ll give everything to win that game and we’ll focus on the Rangers game after that.”
McHugh has tasted a League Cup final before – playing with Bradford in the English showpiece back in 2013.
This time round, he would
love to go all the way with ‘Well.
He said: “Taking it one game at a time has stood us well this season and that’s what we’ll do.
“Massively, I want to win the Betfred Cup.
“Getting to the final with Bradford was brilliant.
“We shouldn’t really have got there when you look at some of the teams we beat.
“But when you get to finals you have to win. I’ve been to play-off finals and won, playoff finals and lost.
“So we’re not just happy to get to a semi-final. We want to get to the final and win it.”
He’s Wishaw born and bred.
But Motherwell will always hold a special place in his heart.
Adam Livingstone has been with the Fir Park club since he was eight and like any youngster, had hopes of playing at the highest level.
Fast- forward 11 years and the Branchalwood resident is on the cusp of first-team football.
The 19-year-old full-back admits it hasn’t been an easy ride, however, and he was on the cusp of quitting football altogether in the summer of 2016.
With a new manager at under-20 level and out of favour, Livingstone tried to leave his boyhood club and jump ship to Kilmarnock.
But after that move broke down, the only option for the Wishaw man was to chuck it altogether or knuckle down and work his way back.
Last season, Livingstone made his professional debut and after a rip-roaring start to the under-20s season, the first team may soon be coming his way.
After a rollercoaster last couple of seasons, he admits he is just glad to be in the picture.
Livingstone said: “I’ve been at Motherwell since I was eight and I love the club.
“When I reached under-20 level, Scott Leitch was the Academy Director and gave me a full-time contract and I was over the moon.
“Jonatan Johansson was the manager and he liked me but he left and was replaced by Craggs (Stephen Craigan).
“Slowly but surely I found myself falling out of the team and then eventually I was offered a pay-off for the rest of my deal.
“Basically I was told to find myself a new club so I had a trial with Kilmarnock and they said they didn’t have the funds