Monday, 18 January 2021

BETFRED CUP SEMI-FINALS THIS WEEKEND

This season's Scottish League Cup (known as BetFred Cup for sponsorship reasons) is only the seventh time in history that either Rangers or Celtic have not been in the semi-final line since the historic cup was first competed for in the 1946/47 season when Rangers beat Aberdeen 4-0 in front of 82,700 fans at Hampden Park. That's only seven times in seventy-five competitions that this has occurred - if you like stats that's only 9.33%. 

Celtic were knocked out at home in the second round by Ross County (0-2) and Rangers in the quarter-final 3-2 away at St Mirren. 

SEASONS WHEN CLETIC AND/OR RANGERS NOT IN THE SEMI FINAL LINE UP
1950/51 - Hibs, Queen of The South, Motherwell, Ayr United. 
1954/55 - Hearts, Motherwell, Airdrieonians, East Fife. 
1958/59 - Hearts, Cowdenbeath, Third Lanark, Arbroath. 
1979/90 - Aberdeen, Morton, Dundee United, Hamilton Academical. 
2006/07 - Kilmarnock, Falkirk, St Johnstone, Hibs.
2012/13 - Abderdeen, St Johnstone, Hearts, Inverness Caledonian Thistle. 
2020/21 - Hibs, St Mirren, Livingston, St Johnstone. 

Both Semi-Finals take place at Hampden Park this weekend. St Johnstone are the only side never to have won the competition involved. They did reach the final in 69/70 (lost to Celtic) and in 98/99 where they lost to Rangers. Livingston's only final appearance was in 03/04 when they famously defeated Hibernian 2-0. St Mirren won the 12/14 final 3-2 against Hearts and have also played in the 55/56 and 09/10 finals where they lost to Aberdeen and Rangers. 

Hibs have won the cup three times before in 72/73 (beat Celtic), 91/92 (beat Dunfermline Athletic) and 06/07 (beat Kilmarnock). They have also been runner's up seven times the last time being 15/16 when they were defeated by Ross County. 

Saturday 23th January (5.30pm)
St Johnstone v Hibernian 

Sunday 24th January (4pm)
Livingston v St Mirren 

The sponsors currently rate Hibs as 11/10 favourites followed by Livingston at 11/4, St Johnstone 9/2 and St Mirren at 5/1.


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