SEMI DEFEATS WILL LIFT US - BUTCHER

Motherwell manager Terry Butcher and his players will be spurred on by previous semi-final defeats as they face Hearts in the last four of the CIS Insurance Cup at Easter Road.

The Fir Park side were beaten 4-3 by Rangers in the Tennent's Scottish Cup semi in 2003 after leading 2-1.

Former England international Butcher also tasted defeat as a player in the 1990 World Cup when Bobby Robson's team missed out on a place in the final to Germany in a penalty shoot-out.

The Lanarkshire club are now on the brink of their first League Cup final appearance since the 1954-55 season when they were beaten 4-2 by the Jambos.

But the ex-Rangers defender is determined to see his team succeed in reaching the final this time.

Butcher said: "We have a lot of young players and this will be their second semi-final in two years, so it is a great experience for them.

"We lost the last semi against Rangers, so we have to hope we can win this one because the feeling of losing a semi-final is a very hard one to take.

"It doesn't matter how old you are, if you go out in the last four, it still hurts.

"I lost a few as a player myself and the contrast in emotions from winning is incredible.

"You only need to speak to David Partridge - who has lost all four of his semi-finals - to know about the empty feeling of leaving the ground as a loser.

"That should be a spur for my players but the very fact that we have to play against Hearts in Edinburgh will motivate my players.

"It is a fantastic opportunity for both clubs to reach a final and it would mean so much to our supporters to have a big day out."

However, Butcher is aware that his young squad will have to call on all the experience of players such as Martyn Corrigan and Phil O'Donnell if they are to reach Hampden in March.

He added: "When I won my first domestic trophy - the League Cup in 1986 with Rangers - it was only a year after David Clarkson was born, so that puts things into perspective.

"We have a lot of young players here and now is the time to call on the support of the older members of the squad.

"Nerves are a big thing on an occasion like this and they usually set in just after you have had your pre-match meal and are waiting to get to the ground.

"The older players can help focus the young ones in that situation.

"Whatever happens, I have told the players that, while it would be nice to get to the final, it is not a make-or-break game.

"Our aim this season is to finish in the top six, anything else is a bonus."

Taken from sportinglife.com