Hampden star Tom Boyd says lack of a Cooper figure could be crucial

Published on Saturday 14 May 2011 13:54

PEOPLE remember Tom Boyd lifting the Scottish Cup in 1991, they can recall starlet Phil O'Donnell's diving header, supersub Stevie Kirk scoring the extra-time winner and goalkeeper Ally Maxwell producing a marvellous save in the dying minutes despite having broken ribs thanks to a collision with Dundee United defender John Clark earlier in the second-half.

But what isn't quite as tangible for those on the outside looking in was the real force Davie Cooper brought to that triumph even before a ball had been kicked, according to Boyd. "He had obviously been over the course before and that certainly helped Motherwell. In terms of having somebody who had been there before, he gave us all pointers on how to control the nerves and what to do. That was certainly something that benefitted us."

As Motherwell head back to Hampden on Saturday, hoping to replicate the feat of that 1991 side, Boyd says they are going to have to overcome their lack of a Cooper-type figure if they are to give Celtic a tight game. "There is nobody in the current squad who has been over the course before, especially not to that extent, so you just hope that for the sake of a good game they turn up and the cup final is a spectacle and not a one-sided affair.

"Stephen Craigan is an experienced player and in a cup final you need somebody like that. I don't think he has been to too many cup finals right enough but when he has missed games Motherwell have struggled more in defence because the young boys need an old head who can organise and push people about and help them. He will be a key factor if he is playing." But the younger members of the team can be just as vital. Just as the teenage O'Donnell played a starring role in 1991, scoring a brave header in the 4-3 victory, Boyd believes the real threat amongst the current crop is another kid.

"Jamie Murphy, for me, is certainly a fantastic football player and he is somebody who can change a game and be the one to unlock defences. He is the biggest danger."

The greatest potency Motherwell have is when the Scotland under-21 star is linking with John Sutton, says Boyd. "John Sutton is a big strong lad and very similar to his brother Chris, although not as prolific in terms of goalscoring. But he is somebody who can cause problems."

But much will depend on the formation manager Stuart McCall opts for, adds the former captain. The Fir Park gaffer has spent the past few weeks tinkering with the team in an attempt to rest some of his regulars but Boyd is unconvinced that served any great purpose. "They have had some great highs in terms of runs of form. Currently they are on a poor run of form but I think that has more to do with the manager tweaking the team and resting quite few players which, for me, I don't see the point in it.For Motherwell, I think it's far more important to go on a good run and get that consistency and previously, when we won the cup in '91, I think that was the case, we were on a good run of form. We had beaten Rangers 3-0 in the second last league game and that was something we had and it helped we could keep the same formation but now the modern game is all about resting footballers."

But with the right personnel reinstalled and the correct tactics employed, Boyd believes it could be a closely-contested final. "They have very good options going forward and they have proven that, beating Celtic at Fir Park in the last game with what was a great performance from them. It's a similar type of performance that they will need."

And if players like Sutton do perform then the cup could be his leaving gift. "If he continues that form then no disrespect, he won't be at Motherwell much longer. If he continues to score goals, because that was probably something that was missing on a regular basis when he was with all these other clubs, but now he is scoring and managers are crying out for strikers who can score goals. As a targetman, he is up there but ideally you also want somebody who can put the ball in the back of the net and he has done that more consistently this season. If he continues that I would be suprised if he is there much longer." Boyd himself quit Firk Park for Stamford Bridge the summer of that cup win. But the treasured memories he left ensure he is still invited back a hero.

"I was at a function during the week for that reason and the supporters say they want this current Motherwell team to become legends and if they win then they would be because it's not often that Motherwell have the chance to talk about winning the Scottish Cup. They have the opportunity to put themselves in club folklore."