LATE TO THE PARTY
SCOTTISH CUP Martin: I joined Well and St Mirren just after they’d won cup but the buzz lasted for years and current crop of Steelmen can dump Dons to set up new glory day
BY EUAN McLEAN BRIAN MARTIN never got to lift the Scottish Cup but he saw first hand what it means by joining two teams just after they’d won it.
Motherwell legend Martin’s Fir Park love affair began just six months after the Steelmen last won the Cup in a thrilling 4-3 triumph over Dundee United in 1991.
The buzz he saw in those supporters still basking in the joy of that landmark day was nothing new to him, having signed for St Mirren the year after their famous Scottish Cup triumph of 1987.
But rather than curse his luck as a victim of bad timing, Martin reckons he was privileged to see up close how one big day out at Hampden can last much longer than just 24 hours.
So he’d love nothing more than to see his former club book a place in their second cup final of the season, then go one better than their League Cup loss to Celtic in November.
Martin said: “When a club has won a big tournament like the Scottish Cup the team tends to have a gel about it.
“But what happened in Motherwell’s case was that team started to break up with guys moving on.
“That makes it harder to take on the momentum from the season before – but you can still feel the excitement in the fans.
“I remember the defence of the Scottish Cup a year later began at Somerset Park against Ayr. It was a real banana skin but I scored the equaliser to get us a replay that we won comfortably at Fir Park.
“But the atmosphere of the supporters when that equaliser went in was huge because it was important not to just give up our cup in the first round.
“In some ways my timing was unfortunate joining both St Mirren and Motherwell when I did.
“But the benefit of winning something as big as that lasts for a long time. “It’s hard to believe it was 27 years ago but I know what it meant to the club then – and what another Scottish Cup win would mean to them after all this time.
“It’s very rare for a team like Motherwell to reach one cup final let alone two, so it would be a terrific achievement if they can get through this game.
“Aberdeen are a strong team. Both sides can handle themselves physically so we’re going to see a good battle right to the end on Saturday.
“They are quite evenly matched just now. Although Aberdeen are much higher up the table, the loss of Graeme Shinnie is a big blow for them, as is not having Kenny McLean and Shay Logan. “That might work in favour for Motherwell this time by motivating them even more to put things right, plus the experience of having been over the course already.
“This will be their third appearance at Hampden this season so they know what to expect.
“All those factors combined makes me think Motherwell can win this game.”
The closest Martin came to lifting the Cup was a run to the quarter-finals in 1998 when a last-minute goal by Gordon Durie earned Rangers a 2-2 draw and replay at Ibrox, which the home side won.
But the former captain’s legacy was built on league success as part of a Well side that finished second in the Premier League in 1995 under Alex McLeish – one of the best Motherwell teams in recent history.
Looking at the current crop Martin can see similarities in some of the iconic players he served beside – and that makes him optimistic that Stephen Robinson’s team can make themselves heroes.
He added: “I can see similarities in a few players compared to guys I played alongside.
“Allan Campbell in midfield reminds me a lot of Jamie Dolan in the way he plays. He’s a wee terrier who gets in about people.
“Big Kipre kind of reminds me of myself in that he’s quite strong, fast and has a physical presence in the air.
“The captain Carl McHugh is a cross between Paul Lambert and Billy Davies.
“Hopefully on the day they can all gel and get a result. Midfield will be the big battleground and whoever dominates that area will win the game.”
BRIAN MARTIN