SCOTTISH CUP DOESN’T MEAN SWEETFATOUS
IF you Google ‘the FA Cup has lost it’s magic’ the search engine will come back with 11.5million hits.
That about says it all regarding the so-called most prestigious cup competition on this or any other planet.
FA Cup third-round Saturday has been replaced by third-round Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, while the Premier League big boys don’t even bother sending out their top teams now.
It’s hardly a giantkilling when a side of League Two scrappers take down a bunch of academy schoolkids who wear diamond earrings that cost more than the wee team’s star striker.
Ask Everton about the magic of the FA Cup. Their first-choice side couldn’t even beat their rivals Liverpool, despite Jurgen Klopp sending out a starting line-up who wouldn’t need a Mach 3 razor between them.
English football might have all the dosh but at least we have something a bit different north of the border.
The Scottish Cup still means something to us. Especially this weekend.
The fourth round is where the big boys come in and there won’t be any reserve sides getting sent out because there is too much as stake.
It’s even better to come back to after the top flight has been in hibernation for three weeks – and it’s clear the punters have been pining to return.
Even the supporters who will have to hit the road are getting ready to pile on to the buses on the road to Hampden.
East of Scotland outfit Broxburn are taking an army of more than 1600 to Paisley to face St Mirren.
Celtic fans will take over Firhill with more than 8000 expected on Saturday night.
Hibs are facing a Sunday showdown with Dundee United on Tayside and they will take more than 3000 supporters along to Tannadice.
It’s a similar picture all over the country. Raith Rovers will take more than 500 to Livingston in the hope of causing a shock, while high-flying League Two side Edinburgh City are planning to take a few hundred as they look to topple Premiership Hamilton Accies on their own turf.
The Highlanders will head down the road in their droves with Inverness Caley Thistle at Alloa and Ross County going all the way to Ayr United, while Dumbarton are taking a couple of hundred up the A90 to Aberdeen.