Scottish Cup: Fourth Round and League One Round Up
There was a truncated fixture list across all four divisions last weekend as clubs up and down the country participated in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup, aiming to put their name in the hat for the last 16.
Reigning champions knocked out as Kelty stun Saints
Kallum Higginbotham’s extra-time winner meant fourth-tier Kelty Hearts pulled off a cup shock against struggling cup holders St. Johnstone at New Central Park.
The reward for Kevin Thomson’s men is a fifth-round away draw against Premiership side St. Mirren. The Jambos’ are flying high in League Two and are six points clear at the top of the table, having only lost once all season.
The least can be said for the visitors, who are now winless in 10 matches and are bottom of the Premiership, ahead of a make-or-break match against second-bottom Dundee on Wednesday night.
Saints fans were quick to vent their anger as players and staff headed down the tunnel after the full-time whistle.
The shock defeat further heaps the pressure on manager Callum Davidson, who admitted “of course my job is under threat”.
Seven months on from their historic cup double, the Perth club are in crisis, and with the Saint’s boss hoping to get signings in before the end of the transfer window, he will hope that it is not too late to salvage their season.
Hearts hit five past Talbot to book their place in the fifth round
Goals from Andy Halliday, Peter Haring, Alex Cochrane and a goal and penalty from Liam Boyce ensured there was no cup shock at Beechwood Park as Robbie Nielson’s side comfortably eased past Auchinleck Talbot.
The West of Scotland Premier League have somewhat become cup specialists over the past few years, having knocked out Championship side Hamilton Academical in the third round. They previously reached the fourth and fifth round in 2012 and 2019, playing the Premiership side on both occasions.
Talbot are currently second in the WoSPL table and are 11 points behind league leaders Pollok, with five games in hand.
Robbie Nielson’s side will face fellow top-flight side Livingston at home in the last 16.
Elsewhere in the fifth-round, Championship sides Arbroath, Raith Rovers and Partick Thistle all progressed having dispatched junior side Darvel, Banks O’ Dee and League One club Airdrieonians respectively.
Both Old Firm clubs progressed, with Rangers cruising past League Two club Stirling Albion at Ibrox, while Celtic got the better of League One side Alloa Athletic at the Indodrill Stadium.
Other Premiership sides also went in the hat for the last 16, as Dundee scraped past third tier side Dumbarton at the Rock and Motherwell progressed in extra-time against Greenock Morton at Fir Park.
There were two re-arranged games in League One, with Clyde at home to Queen’s Park in the Glasgow derby and Falkirk away to bottom side East Fife.
Andy Halliday celebrating Hearts 5-0 victory over Auchinleck Talbot. Source - Getty Images
Goodwillie scores from the spot as Clyde and Queen’s Park share the spoils at Broadwood
Michael Doyle had the visitors in front in the 65th minute, however a penalty from Bully Wee captain David Goodwillie shortly after, meant the Spiders had to settle with a point against their Glasgow derby rivals.
It was the third consecutive draw against the two sides this season, after a 2-2 draw at Broadwood in September and a 0-0 draw in the last game at Firhill.
The Bully Wee talisman has been the subject of speculation in the transfer window, with both Championship side Raith Rovers and fellow league rivals Falkirk having shown interest in the 32-year-old.
However, talk has died down in recent weeks, and it still remains to be seen if the striker will depart Broadwood, but if Saturday’s goal is anything to go by, he is still a valuable asset to Danny Lennon’s squad.
The draw for the Bully Wee means they remain in sixth place, four points off the Spiders in fourth, who are now only a point above fifth-placed Falkirk.
For Queen’s Park the result means they have only won once in 11 matches, and will need to get a new manager in place soon if they want to strengthen their grasp on fourth place.
Loan signing Kabia scores twice on debut as Falkirk beat East Fife at Bayview
Jaze Kabia scored in the 54th minute and in injury time as Falkirk swept past East Fife 2-0 in Methil.
The 21-year-old Irish forward has signed on loan from Premiership side Livingston until the end of the season, as Martin Rennie strengthens his squad, in the hope of securing a promotion play-off spot.
The victory for the Bairns moves them a point off fourth-top Queen’s Park and three points above sixth placed Clyde.
However, for the Fifers they failed to take advantage of their game in hand and remain eight points off nine placed Dumbarton, who were in Scottish Cup action.
Stevie Crawford has signed former East Kilbride player Ryan Blair and secured the loan signing of 18-year-old Hearts left-back Leo Watson in his fight to maintain the club’s League One status.
Scottish Cup: Fourth Round Results
Auchinleck Talbot 0-5 Heart of Midlothian
Aberdeen 3-0 Edinburgh City
Arbroath 3-0 Darvel
Ayr United 0-2 St Mirren
Banks O’ Dee 0-3 Raith Rovers
Dumbarton 0-1 Dundee
Kelty Hearts 1-0 St. Johnstone (AET)
Kilmarnock 1-2 Dundee United (AET)
Livingston 1-0 Ross County
Motherwell 2-1 Greenock Morton (AET)
Partick Thistle 1-0 Airdrieonians
Peterhead 2-2 East Kilbride (AET)- Peterhead win 5-3 on penalties
Clydebank 3-4 Annan Athletic (AET)
Alloa Athletic 1-2 Celtic
Rangers 4-0 Stirling Albion
Hibernian 1-0 Cove Rangers
Scottish League One Results:
Clyde 1-1 Queen’s Park
East Fife 0-2 Falkirk
Scottish Cup Fifth Round Draw:
Annan Athletic v Rangers
Arbroath v Hibernian
Celtic v Raith Rovers
Heart of Midlothian v Livingston
Motherwell v Aberdeen
Partick Thistle v Dundee United
Peterhead v Dundee
St Mirren v Kelty Hearts