Motherwell's Fir Park has been chosen as the venue for the Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-final between Hearts and St Mirren on Tuesday 2 February.

Hampden Park will host the other semi-final between Rangers and St Johnstone the following evening.

That game will be broadcast live on BBC Scotland with a 1935GMT kick-off.

St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson had urged the Scottish Football League not to choose Easter Road for their semi as it would favour fans from Edinburgh.

MacPherson had suggested that most players would prefer that the match would be held at the national stadium.

However, the SFL has chosen Motherwell's ground instead of Hampden for the match against Hearts.

I would expect the tickets for the game to sell out, so we will undoubtedly have a great atmosphere on the night St Mirren general manager Brian Caldwell

And Buddies general manager Brian Caldwell told the Paisley club's website: "I'm really glad for our fans that the game will be played at Fir Park rather than Easter Road as first suggested.

"Our record at Fir Park hasn't been too bad in recent years and I'm sure both sets of fans will turn out in big numbers for the game.

"I would expect the tickets for the game to sell out, so we will undoubtedly have a great atmosphere on the night."

Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo also welcomed the choice of venue.

"It is a nice stadium and is not that far for the supporters to travel," he told the Edinburgh club's website.

"There is a place in the final at stake and that should see a good crowd turn up to Fir Park on the night."

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