Match Report

Stenhousemuir return to Premier Sports Cup action on Sunday afternoon as Marvin Bartley’s side welcome Motherwell to Ochilview Park for a place in the quarter-finals. Kick-off is at 2pm.

The Warriors secured their place in the last 16 after an unbeaten group-stage campaign saw them finish top of Group E with ten points.

Victories over Forfar Athletic and Brechin City were followed by draws against Partick Thistle and Livingston, with Stenhousemuir holding their nerve to claim the bonus point in both penalty shootouts.

That impressive form has continued into the William Hill Championship. The Warriors earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Raith Rovers at Stark’s Park on the opening day before recording a memorable 2-0 victory over Greenock Morton at Ochilview last weekend.

Mikey Anderson opened the scoring with a thunderous strike before Gus Stevenson sealed all three points late in the second half, giving Stenhousemuir their third clean sheet in six competitive matches.

Marvin Bartley’s side therefore enter Sunday’s tie unbeaten in competitive football this season, having recorded three victories and three draws across their opening six matches.

Motherwell have also made an unbeaten start to the campaign and enter the competition at the last-16 stage.

Alfred Johansson’s side have collected four points from their opening two William Hill Premiership fixtures and currently sit third in the table. Their most recent league outing ended in a goalless draw against Falkirk at Fir Park.

The Steelmen will make the short journey to Ochilview just three days after an impressive European performance against HJK Helsinki.

Ibrahim Said scored twice as Motherwell secured a 2-0 second-leg victory at Fir Park on Thursday night, completing a 3-1 aggregate success and booking their place in the UEFA Conference League play-off round.

Sunday’s visitors have now gone six matches unbeaten in all competitions under Johansson, setting up a tasty meeting between two sides yet to face defeat this season.

The clubs last met at Ochilview during the group stage of last season’s Premier Sports Cup. Stenhousemuir pushed their Premiership opponents throughout a closely contested encounter, but a solitary goal from Stephen O’Donnell proved enough to secure a 1-0 victory for Motherwell.

With both teams protecting unbeaten records and a place in the quarter-finals at stake, the stage is set for another memorable cup occasion at Ochilview.