11.40am

Speaking in today's local press, Terry Butcher looks ahead to Saturday's game at East End Park:
"To be honest I’m glad to be playing Dunfermline because at least we’ll be underdogs for the game and that’s the way we like it.  Obviously Dunfermline are a strong team and in Stevie Crawford and Craig Brewster they have two of the in-form players in Scotland just now.  However, they are also strong at the back with the likes of Scott Wilson, Andrius Skerla and Scott Thomson, so it won’t be easy for our attackers to get through.  Dunfermline play a very powerful and positive game and we will have to match that on Saturday.  I’ve given the players a couple of days off to lick their wounds and get the spirits up again after the Hearts game, although I’m sure they’ll be desperate to make up for it at Dunfermline.  Certainly one of the positives we can take with us is the fact we’ve scored eight goals away from home this season and McFadden and Lehmann are playing well, so I’m hopeful we can give them problems."

Looking back to the Hearts match, he said:
"It was really a game of two halves for us.  We just fell away in the second-half, but people have to remember it’s been a big week for the players with many experiencing victory over Celtic for the first time.  The Hearts game was always going to be difficult coming off the win over Celtic, but it’s still very disappointing to lose a game when you’ve been two goals in front.  Certainly, the goal before half-time gave Hearts the boost they needed and they drew strength from that.  We now have to look at our performance in the second-half and learn from our mistakes.

"Obviously, you’re going to miss players like Scott Leitch and Stephen Pearson, but we managed without them in the first-half so why not the second?  The players weren’t tired after the Celtic game, although like I said before, they have been through an amazing week.  However, it’s all part of the learning process and you can’t accuse the youngsters of not giving it a go.  After the game I was disappointed and criticised the players, but I regretted it soon afterwards because when they step out onto that park they give it their all and everyone has to remember it is a young side who are still learning.

"We didn’t have that many fans at the game, but the ones who did go were absolutely tremendous and I’d like to thank them for their support.  Some Motherwell teams in the past have taken a real hiding at Tynecastle and the supporters have left early, however, they all stayed loyal right until the end which was appreciated by myself and the players."

On the injury front, Scott Leitch could be set for a couple of weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, while Stephen Pearson has a thigh strain and is doubtful for the trip to Dunfermline.  However, striker Khaled Kemas is expected to return to training next week.

The local press also reports that Terry Butcher has had his contract improved by administrator Bryan Jackson.  Butcher had still been on his assistant manager’s contract, but has now been upgraded.  He said:
"I’m absolutely loving it here at Motherwell and I was delighted with the new contract.  The people at the club have been brilliant and I’m enjoying every minute of every day, although perhaps not when we lose!"

Tickets for the League Cup tie at East Fife go on sale at Fir Park tomorrow, priced at £15 and £10.

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