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Louis Moult knows first-hand how semi-final Hampden heroics can go a long way to cementing hero status at Motherwell . The Fir Park side take on St Mirren on Saturday evening for a place in the Premier Sports Cup final. The popular striker hit a deadly double against Rangers back in 2017 to fire the Steelmen, who were then managed by current St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson, to their last League Cup final. Moult recalled: “I was in the dressing room before the game and I was looking back at history. “Can I become one of those players who the fans regard as a legend? “That was my motivation. “I wanted the Motherwell fans to remember me and hopefully that is how they remember me. “The current Motherwell players should be thinking along similar lines going into this semi-final. “What an opportunity it is for them.” The current Crewe star reckons that afternoon at the national stadium was the biggest of his career and one that will live with him forever. “That is the one that sticks out,” the 33-year-old claimed. “People remember the goals and that is always what gets mentioned first. “My memories of that was it was a must-win. “There was no other outcome for us. “We knew we could cause an upset, but we probably didn’t think it would go as well as it did. “It was a dream outcome. “The atmosphere sticks out. People in England ask me what was the best atmosphere I have played in and I always revert back to Scotland and that Hampden game. It was a massive crowd and it looked amazing when we came out the tunnel. “It was really surreal. The ball in the air, how quiet it went and the roar that went up when I scored. “When that second goal went in, it is hard to describe. I will think about that moment for the rest of my life. “It is an unbelievable feeling.” There had been a lot of talk about Moult’s future going into that semi-final and he didn’t even go out on the pitch before the game because he didn’t want to cause any distractions. He explained: “There was a lot of speculation about me moving on. “I didn’t want to lose focus. “I was stretching in the dressing room when all the others were on the pitch. “Alan Burrows came in and asked why I wasn’t out but I was just in the zone. “I just wanted the game to start because I was so motivated to do well.” Motherwell got past Rangers but then lost the final to Celtic . That is Moult’s one Fir Park regret, that he never took a trophy back to Lanarkshire. “Losing the final still plays on my mind now,” the Englishman admitted. “Craig Gordon made a great save from me with 10 minutes to go. “I still remember it now. “I have the shirt and medal frame since I went back to England. “It was disappointing that we didn’t win the cup.” It was a bit of a golden time for Motherwell. That season they also got to the Scottish Cup final under Robinson’s guidance, although Moult had already moved on to Preston by that point. “The respect I have for Robbo,” Moult stated. “I played against his teams last season and they are always well-drilled and organised. “They are hard to play against. “I also played in that sort of team back at Motherwell under him. “He had us really well drilled but we played some equally good stuff on top of that. “We were hugely successful because of that.” Robinson has built up something similar at St Mirren, who have become top six regulars. Moult knows that it will be a case of two contrasting styles as Jens Berthel Askou ’s Motherwell go up against St Mirren. He said: “I still speak with a few of the fans, who I have kept in touch with. “The brand of football is what everyone keeps mentioning to me. “It will be a very intriguing game to watch, in terms of style of play. “Motherwell are playing the free-flowing, passing game and Robbo will be well-organised and isn’t afraid to go longer when he needs to. “That is why I speak about Robbo so highly. “The way he sets his teams up, in and out of possession, is good to play for. “They make it really difficult for teams.” Moult knows the Hampden clash will be a hard one to call but he is swaying towards his claret and amber allegiances. “It is a difficult one,” the former Dundee United player acknowledged. “I haven’t seen enough of both teams to put myself out and call it. “Obviously, being a Motherwell man I would love us to go and win it. “The fans deserve all the success they can get. “One of my biggest regrets was not winning a cup with Motherwell. “I would have loved to have done that. “We came close but the people at Motherwell deserve it.” “They are due one. “It has been a long time.”
