Motherwell boss Stuart McCall hopes cup run can persuade key players to stay

Motherwell manager Stuart McCall hopes a lengthy Scottish Cup run can persuade some of his key players to stay at Fir Park.

Motherwell have reduced prices to £12 and £6, with season ticket holders allowed in free, in a bid to get that backing. They hope to offset the losses with an extended cup run in order to plug the gap from the absence of Rangers from the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, but McCall is more focused on the experience and potential glory. "For most clubs the financial aspect is good," said McCall, who led Motherwell to the 2011 final, where they lost to Celtic. "But we have got players in that dressing room who have been to Hampden three times in the last couple of years. It's a great place to play football. "We have had a little bit of success a couple of seasons ago and naturally we want to do it again." Motherwell have only lost once in 13 games against Aberdeen, although that defeat came in last season's quarter-finals at Fir Park. McCall dismissed the history as irrelevant, although he believes Saturday's 3-2 victory over Ross County, their first home win in more than three months, was crucial. "I think we needed that win psychologically," said McCall, whose side have twice lost injury-time equalisers against Aberdeen this season. "Everyone has kept talking about our home form. "It has certainly done us good, the pressure is off a little bit in that regard. The players are maybe not as anxious or tense. "As much as you can talk all you want, sometimes little demons in the back of your head can tell you different things. "But I don't think what's gone on previously will have any bearing - I think it will be a very tight game."