I don’t mind admitting that I hope Motherwell are the team lifting the Betfred Cup late on Sunday afternoon. I expect Celtic to win though and set the stage for another treble tilt in Scottish football this season.

It’s not Celtic’s fault that they are so far ahead of the rest. But our football is at it‘s best when there is genuine competition for honours and not just with a return to two big Glasgow clubs jousting it out.

I particularly enjoyed the period when Kilmarnock, St Mirren, Aberdeen and Ross County all held the Scottish League Cup aloft. There was a genuine feeling of spreading the wealth.

Motherwell‘s progress under Stephen Robinson has been remarkable. The Steelmen let opponents know they are in a game. They leave a mark and there will be no holding back at Hampden.

The big challenge for Motherwell will be making sure their effectiveness is not reduced thanks to unnecessary yellow or red cards. The latter, if suffered early on, could be a fatal blow.

Robinson‘s men are there on merit having taken care of both Aberdeen and Rangers. You’ve got to back to the early days of the competition, 1950-51, for Motherwell‘s last League Cup success.

In Louis Moult, they have one of the most able finishers in the country and Celtic will make battle plans designed on keeping a man with 14 goals from 19 quiet.

Above all, let’s hope for a competitive final that shows the Scottish game at its most attractive.