McGhee: Cove will want to match Highland neighbours

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee has warned that the progress of Inverness and Ross County shows his side cannot underestimate Highland League opponents Cove Rangers.

Cove sit second in the Highland League, well-placed for a promotion challenge to Ladbrokes League Two, ahead of their William Hill Scottish Cup fourth-round contest at Fir Park.

Inverness won the trophy last season, 21 years after two of the city's Highland League clubs merged and joined the league along with County, who reached the 2010 final before establishing themselves in the top flight.

McGhee said: "When I was playing at Celtic, Inverness and Ross County were still teams you played in pre-season. They weren't league teams.

"The progress they have made, and the way they have justified coming into the league, is just outstanding.

"I'm sure Cove and teams like that will look at that example and aspire to do the same.

"They are right to think like that and I'm sure the experience of coming here on Saturday will be good for them, because it will be a measure of the progress they still have to make.''

McGhee was speaking after collecting the Premiership manager of the month award after Motherwell won all three games in December, including a trip to Celtic Park.

"It's been a huge boost for us to get these results and to beat Celtic at Parkhead is always a big thing for any Scottish club,'' he said.

"They are the ones to beat at the moment.

"We now have to focus on January though. I want to be sitting here at the beginning of February picking up the January award, and then we will really have achieved something. We have to use this as an incentive.''