Men's Scottish Cup Fifth Round Preview

The Scottish Cup is back this weekend, with 16 teams remaining in both the men's and women's competitions. 

Among those in the men's edition are West of Scotland League Premier Division leaders Darvel who caused one of the biggest upsets in Scottish Cup history when they defeated Aberdeen in the Fourth Round. Their reward for that famous 1-0 victory is a home tie against Falkirk, which will take place in front of the BBC Scotland cameras on Monday at 7:45pm. 

Hamilton also caused a shock in Round Four when they beat Ross County on penalties and they kick off this weekend's action when they host Heart of Midlothian on Friday night, also on BBC Scotland. Hamilton manager John Rankin, who had a spell as a youth coach at Tynecastle prior to joining the Accies, will be looking to get one over his former employers and steer Hamilton into the quarter-finals for the first time since 2017.

Celtic play St Mirren on Saturday at 5:30pm at Celtic Park, live on Viaplay, in the first meeting between the sides in this competition for six years. Jack Ross' St Mirren threatened a shock that day as they led until the hour mark, before goals from Mikael Lustig, Scott Sinclair, Moussa Dembele and Leigh Griffiths eventually gave Celtic the quarter-final victory.

Scottish Cup holders Rangers host Partick Thistle on Sunday at 4pm, also on Viaplay, with the Jags aiming to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2019, when they eventually lost to Hearts in a replay. 

Meanwhile, Dundee United take on Kilmarnock in an all-Premiership affair on Saturday. Scotland captain Andy Robertson grabbed a double when these two sides last met in the Scottish Cup at Tannadice Park ten years ago. 

Motherwell avoided an upset when they beat Arbroath 2-0 in Round Four and they face a similarly tough test this weekend as they travel to Stark's Park to face Raith Rovers.

The other two Saturday matches see Livingston host Inverness Caledonian Thistle, while Championship high-fliers Ayr United play Elgin City.

Video Assistant Referee (VAR)

VAR is in operation at Celtic's match against St Mirren on Saturday and Rangers' fixture against Partick Thistle on Sunday. 

As in the Fourth Round, VAR is used where the necessary equipment for the operation is already installed at the venue and the match is broadcast live on television.

In keeping with the competition regulations, for matches where the necessary equipment for the operation of VAR is already installed at the venue but the game is not televised, the use of the technology is at the discretion of the competing clubs. 

Scottish Cup Sixth Round Draw

The draws for the Sixth Round of the Men's and Women's Scottish Cup competitions will take place in a double draw on Monday at 5:30pm, live from Hampden Park.

The draws will be broadcast across the Scottish Cup social channels, with the Men's following directly after the Women's draw.

Televised Scottish Cup Fifth Round Matches

Friday, 10 February, Kick-off 7.45pm; Hamilton Academical v Heart of Midlothian (Live on BBC Scotland)

Saturday, 11 February, Kick-off 5.30pm; Celtic v St Mirren (Live on Viaplay)

Sunday, 12 February, Kick-off 4.00pm; Rangers v Partick Thistle (Live on Viaplay)

Monday, 13 February, Kick-off 7.45pm; Darvel v Falkirk (Live on BBC Scotland)

Scottish Cup Fifth Round