The Scottish Cup enters its knockout stage with 16 teams, highlighting intriguing matchups between Premiership and lower-league sides. While the Old Firm favorites loom large, several second-tier teams present potential for upsets.
The Scottish Cup has been whittled down to 16 teams, with six of the eight remaining matches pitting a Premiership side against a lower-league opponent. The draw produced a few intriguing matchups, with the contest at Somerset Park potentially offering the most dramatic spectacle. However, recent form suggests other second-tier teams might also be in for a competitive weekend.
Airdrieonians, despite languishing at the bottom of the table, have enjoyed a resurgence, winning their last two league matches after a five-goal haul against Dumbarton in the fourth round of the cup. This marks their best run of form this season. While they conceded six goals against Dundee in the League Cup back in August and suffered a heavy defeat on their last Scottish Cup visit in 2022, Dundee themselves have been vulnerable, conceding six goals in their past two games against Heart of Midlothian and Celtic. This presents a significant opportunity for Airdrie, who were hampered by a severe injury crisis in the first half of the season. Tony Docherty will be hoping for a stronger defensive performance from his players after a couple of shaky displays.Dunfermline, on the other hand, were victims of Airdrie's recent revival but responded with a crucial derby victory over Raith Rovers before exiting the SPFL Trust Trophy at the semi-final stage. New head coach Michael Tidser was generously supported in the winter transfer window, but the Pars' best chance of success on Sunday might hinge on Aberdeen's recent abysmal form. The Dons have suffered an astonishing slump, going 14 games without a win in the Premiership and managing only one goal in their last eight league outings. Jimmy Thelin delivered some blunt home truths last weekend and appears satisfied with the subsequent discussions with his players, but the atmosphere at Pittodrie will be undeniably tense and apprehensive if Aberdeen continue their dismal run. Hamilton, while hoping to capitalize on any frayed nerves at St Johnstone, have lost their last three matches without scoring, while the Premiership's bottom side have won their past three games.Queen's Park and Raith Rovers are both facing daunting away trips against the Old Firm, and their primary objective might be to minimize the scoreline and collect their appearance money. Celtic, with one eye on their Champions League play-off clash against Bayern Munich, will likely field a strong team, while Rovers can draw inspiration from Falkirk's spirited performance against Brendan Rodgers' B team in the League Cup before Nicolas Kuhn's devastating impact. The Kirkcaldy side also have fond memories of the League Cup final against Celtic, although that triumph occurred over three decades ago, and Rodgers boasts an impeccable Scottish Cup record, having won all 18 of his cup matches. Queen's Park's last visit to Ibrox in this competition was over 50 years ago, resulting in an 8-0 defeat to Rangers. With just one victory in their last seven Championship games, the Spiders seem unlikely to become the first team to leave Ibrox celebrating a win this season, even though manager Callum Davidson has a history of achieving cup miracles.
Scottish Cup Dundee Aberdeen Airdrieonians Dunfermline Queen's Park Raith Rovers Celtic Rangers
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