Motherwell v Dundee United: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Motherwell and Dundee United have limped their way into the quarter-finals of the Scottish League Cup but both clubs now eye a trip to Hampden Park in the last four.

Motherwell needed extra time before pipping Kilmarnock 1-0 in the second round while United only got through the group stage as a best-placed runner-up.

Motherwell v Dundee United betting tips and predictions

Draw - 5/2

Motherwell and Dundee United are enjoying an early-season League Cup run which, for one of them, will result in a money-spinning semi-final at Hampden Park.

It means the stakes are sky-high for two clubs who have found success hard to come by in recent seasons, and this should ensure the contest at Fir Park will be a tight one.

Both teams have made solid enough starts to the 2024/25 Scottish Premiership season but both take to the pitch off the back of narrow defeats last weekend.

Motherwell are fifth in the table, one point and one place behind the promoted Terrors as they prepare to square off at Fir Park for the first time since May 2023.

The 'Well's home form, on the face of it, looks solid enough. In front of their own fans this term the Steelmen have played five matches and lost none of them.

However, in three of those - in the League Cup against Partick and Kilmarnock and league against Ross County - they failed to find the net in 90 minutes.

They have scored just 15 goals in their 10 games this term and looked short of potency in last week's 2-1 loss at Aberdeen.

As for United, after losing their League Cup group-stage opener at Falkirk 2-0 (and there looks no great disgrace in that given Falkirk's season so far), Jim Goodwin's men found the net in eight successive matches.

This run ended on Sunday when they lost their first league match of the season 1-0 at the hands of Rangers at Tannadice.

Their two trips to Premiership opponents thus far have yielded a 1-1 draw at Ross County and a 1-0 win at Hearts, an impressive victory even allowing for the Edinburgh side's current struggles.

These are two competent teams with legitimate top-six aspirations who will generally be hard to beat but struggle to score many goals. Against that backdrop, the draw at 5/2 in what may well be a cautious, edgy affair, might just be the right option.

Ross Graham to be booked - 15/4

It was centre-back Ross Graham whose goal against St Mirren booked Dundee United's trip to Fir Park, and goals are becoming a nice habit for the 23-year-old.

Graham also scored the only goal of the win at Hearts in the Premiership at the start of the month.

Graham poses a threat at set-plays though his day job is keeping strikers out and so far he is doing a decent job with three clean sheets before the weekend's 1-0 loss to Rangers.

The Scot was booked against Philippe Clement's men, a third booking in his last six appearances, and he looks a fair bet at 15/4 to get himself cautioned at Fir Park.

Motherwell will ask questions, tackles will have to be put in and only St Johnstone and Hearts have incurred more yellows than Dundee United this season for fouls committed in Scotland's top flight so far this season.

Jack Vale any time scorer - 3/1

Jack Vale is back on loan at Motherwell from Blackburn and after two appearances from the bench he can expect a first start against Dundee United.

With none of Stuart Kettlewell's injured players coming back any time soon, the 'Well boss needs to juggle playing time and Vale deserves a start.

The 23-year-old Wales Under-21 international has already found the net this season for Blackburn, scoring in their 6-1 romp at Stockport in the EFL Cup.

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Motherwell v Dundee United odds

Motherwell - 5/4
Draw - 5/2
Dundee United - 17/10

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.