Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup: Fifth Round Preview

Friday 9 February 2024

The greatest cup competition in the world returns this weekend with eight ties taking place across the country in an action-packed Fifth Round.

Round Five of the Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup kicks off at Cappielow on Friday evening as Greenock Morton host Motherwell in an intriguing match-up live on BBC Scotland.

The Scottish Cup is celebrating its 150th anniversary season, having been first lifted by Queen's Park back in 1874.

Dougie Imrie's Morton are on a 12-match unbeaten run and come into their tie with Motherwell on the back of a stunning 5-0 win over Dunfermline Athletic at the weekend. Well, meanwhile, are undefeated in six - after coming out of a sticky spell - and the Steelmen enjoyed a 5-0 victory of their own on Tuesday over Ross County.

This will actually be the third meeting between these two sides in the Scottish Cup in the last four seasons. Motherwell came out on top of both the previous meetings, although this is the first meeting at Cappielow since 2015 and it was The Ton who triumphed on that occasion in the League Cup - winning 3-2 after extra-time.

The stars of the the Fourth Round were undoubtedly Bonnyrigg Rose, who defeated Falkirk 2-1, and the 'Rosey Posey' face Aberdeen at Pittodrie in one of four Saturday afternoon matches.

Bradley Barrett scored the late winner to stun the League One leaders and send Bonnyrigg into the Fifth Round for the first time. This also will be the first time Robbie Horn's side have ever faced Premiership opposition in the Scottish Cup and the first time they have faced Aberdeen in any competition.

Aberdeen found their way past another League Two side in Clyde, in the previous round and they will be hoping for a similar result as new manager Neil Warnock takes charge of his first ever Scottish Cup fixture.

Cove Rangers are the sole League One representatives remaining and they travel to Rugby Park to face Kilmarnock on Saturday afternoon. Manager Paul Hartley lifted the cup twice as a player in back to back seasons, with Hearts in 2006 and Celtic in 2007.

But his side will face a tough challenge in Kilmarnock, who have only lost 3 times in 17 home matches this season and have not lost to third-tier opposition since 1989/90 when they were beaten by Stranraer.

Cove have never reached the quarter-finals, while Killie reached the last eight in 2023 before losing to Inverness.

Also in action on Saturday afternoon are 2015 winners Inverness who host 2016 winners Hibernian. Hibs defeated Inverness at the Caledonian Stadium in the quarter-finals on their way to that 2016 win and they have come out on top in the other two occasions they have faced Caley Thistle in the cup.

However, Inverness knocked out Premiership opposition twice last season on their run to the Final and the Fifth Round saw them produce their best performance as they secured a stunning 3-0 win over Livingston.

Livi contest the final Saturday 3pm match as they travel to Firhill to take on Partick Thistle. This will be the first meeting of the two sides since the 2018 Premiership Play-Off Final which saw the Lions gain promotion to the top flight.

David Martindale's side have not reached the last eight of the Scottish Cup since 2005 while the Jags got to that stage five years ago, losing narrowly to Hearts.

The Viaplay cameras will be at Ibrox on Saturday evening as last season's semi-finalists Rangers entertain Ayr United. Rangers defeated Championship opposition at this stage last season in the form of Partick Thistle. This is the first meeting between the sides since 2018, when Rangers won 6-1 at a snowy Somerset Park.

Six-time Scottish Cup winner Scott Brown will lead Ayr United at Ibrox in his first match in this competition since becoming Ayr manager.

Two matches on Sunday round off the last sixteen. Holders Celtic take on St Mirren at the SMiSA Stadium - live on Viaplay - hoping for a similar result to the victory they secured over the same opposition at this stage last season.

Celtic were also victors in Paisley earlier this year, although the Buddies are enjoying a strong season, sitting 5th in the Premiership and they come into this contest of the back of 3-0 and 2-0 victories this week over Hibs and Dundee respectively.

The action concludes on BBC One Scotland at the Excelsior Stadium as Airdrieonians take on Hearts.

Rhys McCabe's side have won a number of plaudits this season for their style of football and they sit in 5th place in the Championship, having won promotion last season. They are also seven matches undefeated, and last week reached the final of the SPFL Trust Trophy with a victory over Raith Rovers. They are competing in the Fifth Round of the Scottish Cup for the first time since 2009.

However, their opponents Hearts are in imperious form just now, having won six straight games in a run of nine wins in the last ten. Top scorer Lawrence Shankland has 22 for the campaign and he will be aiming to fire Hearts back to the final, which they last reached in 2022 before losing to Rangers in extra-time.

The Jambos did suffer a scare in the previous round, however, and needed Frankie Kent's late header to see off a spirited Spartans side at Ainslie Park.

Full fixture information, alongwith potential postponement dates, can be found here.

Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup Quarter-Final Draw

The draw for the Quarter-Final of the Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup will take place live on BBC One Scotland, prior to Airdrieonians match against Hearts on Sunday.

Coverage starts at 4:30, with the draw taking place near the start of the programme.

An Evening With The Cup

The Scottish Cup trophy tour continued earlier this week, with an event at Easter Road.

Dylan McGeouch and Darren McGregor - two heroes from Hibs' historic 2016 Scottish Cup triumph - joined legendary Hibernian Hall of Fame entrant Laura Houston on stage for a Q&A event, while supporters also got their chance to have their picture taken with both Scottish Cup trophies.

As part of the competitions 150th year, the trophy has been out on tour this season, visiting Inverness, Dumbarton, Dunfermline and Ayr so far.