Scottish Cup: Motherwell winger hoping Arbroath clash can spark cup run and bring some cheer for fans

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Stuart McKinstry hopes the Scottish Cup can give Motherwell fans something to cheer about this season after a miserable Scottish Premiership campaign that has left them in the depths of a relegation battle.The Steelmen are struggling at the bottom end of the table and sit just three points ahead of rock-bottom Ross County - with a game in hand - after a run of eight games without a win.But they will take a welcome break from league business this weekend when they travel to Championship strugglers Arbroath in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.It is a competition that always brings back fond memories for those of a claret and amber persuasion, given their 4-3 extra-time triumph over Dundee United in the 1991 final.That came 11 years before McKinstry was even born, but as a life-long fan and now player on loan from Leeds United, he knows what a run in the competition means for the Fir Park faithful.The 20-year-old winger said: "It gives us a break from the league and it gives the fans a bit of hope for a cup run."It gives us as players a bit of hope as well that if we can go and be successful in the cup, it would lift the morale and give us confidence going back into the league as well."The Scottish Cup is massive and me being a fan, I know how big it is for the club as well."We are looking forward to it and we want to try and progress as far as we can."Motherwell go into the game off the back of a 1-1 draw with Ross County, which was played in testing conditions with swirling winds and rain making it a hard day at the office.Arbroath's Gayfield Park ground on the edge of the North Sea is known for being a bit of wind tunnel and the last time the sides met in 2000, the initial attempt to play the game was abandoned at