Scottish Cup Fourth Round Draw
The teams have been drawn for the fourth round of the Scottish Cup which is set to take place across the weekend beginning 17th January. From Camelon Juniors in the East of Scotland Premier Division all the way up to 42 time winners of this trophy Celtic. Here is how the teams have been drawn. One of the biggest games to be played is Auchinleck Talbot vs Celtic a game that could see a major away support heading to the Ayrshire team. Camelon Juniors stunned Edinburgh City in the previous round, and their reward for that is a home tie against Elgin. The Spartans have drawn a potential East Coast derby if Tranent FC can beat Inverness after the game was postponed at the weekend due to a waterlogged pitch at Forrester Park. Kilmarnock will take on Dundee, Hearts host Falkirk and St Mirren will travel to Livingston for the all Premiership team ties. Annan Athletic will travel up to Ibrox to play Rangers and Stranraer will also make the journey to Glasgow to take on Queens Park. Newly appointed Billy Davies will take his Greenock Morton side to Stenhousemuir, and their former manager Dougie Imrie’s Raith Rovers will face last years Scottish Cup winners Aberdeen at Pittodrie. A battle of the bottom for League One sides Kelty Hearts and Cove Rangers. Their most recent meeting ended in a 2-0 to Thomas O’Ware’s side. Ross County will make the long journey down to take on Motherwell who have been in good form recently. Partick Thistle have drawn against Montrose. Airdrieonians host Arbroath. Scott Brown’s Ayr United travel to Dundee United and Hibernian will face their former manager Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline Athletic side. Over the years the Scottish cup is always something football fans look forward too and with some interesting draws for the fourth round it is shaping up to be another exciting competition.
Kilmarnock 1-1 Dundee United: Scrappy Stalemate at Rugby Park
The points were shared at The BBSP Stadium Rugby Park following a contentious penalty andgoal line clearance decision as Kilmarnock break six game losing streak, drawing 1-1 with Dundee United. Stuart Kettlewell made three changes to his Kilmarnock side which lost to Motherwell lastweek as Ethan Brown, Bradley Lyons and Marley Watkins were brought into the side. Meanwhile, Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin made six changes to the side which wasblown away by Falkirk last Saturday. Dave Richards replaced Kucherenko following thelatter’s howler at Tannadice, whilst captain Ross Graham, Panutche Camara, Ryan Strain,and Max Watters all returned to the starting eleven. Following early pressure by both teams, the first key decision for referee MatthewMacDermid came 14 minutes into the match as, after a VAR check, Ethan Brown was judgedto have fouled Krisztian Keresztes in the box and Dundee United were awarded the penalty. Tobi Oluwayemi would emerge as the hero for Kilmarnock in this instance, as the Celticloanee would save Max Watters effort onto the post and deny the striker his fifth goal of theseason since joining the Dundee side in the summer. Kilmarnock would look to take advantage of Watters’ miss as 20 minutes later Keretzes’challenge on Marley Watkins would send the Englishmen onto the deck, and despite callsthat Watkins went down too easy Kilmarnock were awarded a penalty of their own. Dave Richards almost emulated Oluwayemi as he saved Bruce Anderson’s attempt with hisfeet, however the ball would roll back to Anderson to follow into the back of the net andgive Kilmarnock the lead. This was Anderson’s third goal in all competitions since the start ofthe season. Kilmarnock thought they had a quickfire second when Dundee United failed to deal withDominic Thompson’s freekick and Scott Tiffoney’s header was cleared off the line. Replays showed that the ball had in fact crossed the line, however the referee wouldinstead bring play back for a supposed foul against Dave Richards, much to the disapprovalof the home crowd, as Kilmarnock possessed the one goal advantage going into halftime. Dundee United needed a response for the second half, and less than 20 minutes into playthey would find it, as Ryan Strain and Luca Stephenson would link up well to find theonrushing Craig Sibbald, who would slot home his finish into the bottom corner to giveUnited their equaliser and get his third goal in five matches. In the final 30 minutes of the match, both teams would see spells of possession but a lack ofclear-cut chances and a busy MacDermid would blow his whistle for full time to see the finalscore as 1-1. This result would see Kilmarnock break their run of six straight losses and sit just above therelegation playoffs in tenth place. They face a midweek trip to the capital to play currentleague leaders Hearts, who are winless in their last three matches. Dundee United are four points off the top six with this result, and only one point aboveeighth placed Aberdeen. They host Rangers in their Wednesday night match, with thetravellers having won all four of their league games under new manager Danny Röhl. Kilmarnock: Oluwayemi, Deas, Mayo, Brown, Thompson, Lyons (c), Watson, Brown,Tiffoney, Watkins, AndersonSubs: Lowery, Kiltie, Thomson, John-Jules, Dackers Dundee United: Richards, Keresztes, Graham, Iovu, Ferry, Sibbald, Stephenson, Camara,Strain, Watters, SapsfordSubs: Fatah, Möller, Dolček Attendance: 4,263
Club vs School Rugby: Finding Balance in Scotland’s Youth Game
The debate between club and school rugby in Scotland is beginning to resemble football’s long-running “club versus country” dispute — but at a youth level, and with far fewer resources at stake. While rugby’s professional calendar is carefully managed to avoid clashes, the amateur landscape tells a very different story. Dual Commitments Work — Until Age 14 Before the age of 14, the system functions smoothly. Young players can turn out for their school on a Saturday and their club on a Sunday, giving them more rugby and more development time without fixture conflicts. But at U15, the structure changes dramatically. Club competitions become formal leagues, and SRU regulations prevent players from taking part in two competitive matches on the same weekend. What had been a flexible setup quickly becomes a direct battle for player availability. Clubs Feeling the Strain Clubs often lose out. Many of the most promising players come from schools with well-established rugby programmes — regular coaching, strong facilities, and weekly fixtures. Clubs, by contrast, rely heavily on volunteers and generally offer fewer training hours. West of Scotland’s U15 side found this out the hard way. After boasting a strong and well-balanced U14 group, the club saw numbers fall significantly the following season as school commitments took priority. But Schools Are Under Pressure Too It’s not just clubs that are feeling the squeeze. Even schools with proud rugby traditions now struggle to field more than one team each weekend. Second XV fixtures are increasingly cancelled because opposition schools cannot raise full squads. The result? Fewer meaningful matches and more young players limited to training-only weeks — a situation that benefits no one. This leaves both club and school coaches with difficult decisions: select the players who regularly attend club training, or choose the stronger school-aligned athletes who may be unavailable under SRU restrictions? Is a Combined Pathway Realistic? Some have suggested an integrated school-club pathway. But that idea immediately hits familiar obstacles: Schools traditionally play on Saturdays Clubs traditionally play on Sundays Neither side is keen to abandon its established slot, and many dual-pathway programmes already rely on this two-day structure. The Open Competition: A Trial with Limits In 2025, the SRU introduced the Open Competition, designed to bring top school and club teams together at U16 and U18 levels. It stemmed from the recommendations of the U18 Pathway Review and aimed to provide high-quality fixtures across both sectors. But uptake was small. Only five schools and three clubs entered, with many major rugby schools opting out entirely. From the outset, it was clear the competition was too narrow to fix wider participation and scheduling challenges. The Road Ahead The core issue remains unchanged: Young players need more rugby — not more barriers. To achieve that, the SRU will need a more inclusive and sustainable approach. The current format of the Open Competition is not enough. Its selective nature fails to address the structural divide affecting most youth players across Scotland. Resolving the club-school conflict will be essential for developing the next generation of Scottish talent. Whether through calendar reform, shared governance, or more flexible development pathways, the goal is straightforward: More games, better development, and greater opportunities for every young player in Scottish rugby.
Livingston 0-1 Aberdeen: Former Lion Haunts Hosts to Steal Victory for Dons
Livingston 0-1 Aberdeen Devlin (80′) A late Nicky Devlin header secured a key victory for Aberdeen in a scrappy encounter at the Set Fare Arena, which left the hosts rooted to the bottom of the Scottish Premiership. The first opportunity didn’t occur until the 15-minute mark, when Danny Wilson directed Stevie May’s looping free-kick wide of the goal. Moments later, Mo Susoho forced Dimitar Mitov into a low save after smart hold-up play by Tete Yengi, as the Lions searched for the opener. Mitov diverted Lewis Smith’s driven cross on the 20-minute mark to keep the scores level. The home side had their opponents on the back foot, and the sea of red support voiced their disapproval of their team’s timid start. They eventually carved out a clear opening in the 23rd minute. Captain Graeme Shinnie broke forward, allowing Jesper Karlsson to drive at the Livingston defence. After moving the ball to his right, he unleashed a deflected shot which crept past the post. Livingston continued to pose a threat, but Daniel Finlayson’s header lacked direction from May’s next free kick on the half-hour mark. May resumed his set-piece barrage minutes later. His 25-yard free-kick was pushed away by Mitov before thumping his second effort into the advertising boards. Sammy Lawal marauded down the Livingston right in the 37th minute, Scott Pittman collected his infield pass, but his shot deflected over. Summer signings Adil Aouchiche and Karlsson linked for Aberdeen on the 40-minute mark, but Jeromie Prior easily gathered the latter’s poked shot. Both sides pushed for the opener in the second half, but Mitov and Prior had little to do. Stuart Armstrong’s right-footed cross was headed into the ground by Marko Lazetic. The striker had endured a difficult opening hour and was substituted moments later. Yengi fashioned a decent opening on the hour mark. His right-footed strike from the edge of the box was saved by Mitov after a clever Lewis Smith pass. Karlsson looked to be Aberdeen’s best outlet for winning the game. He sprung infield in the 70th minute and flashed a shot wide of Prior’s top corner. Dylan Lobban looked lively on the Aberdeen right. His whipped cross was directed towards the goal by Armstrong, but Prior was alert to save. The visitors opened the scoring in the final ten minutes. Topi Keskinen lifted a cross to the backpost, which former Livi star Nicky Devlin headed home across Prior. The visitors saw out the game, confirming a priceless victory which moves them into 7th spot in the Scottish Premiership. Livingston: Prior 6 Lawal 6 Wilson 6 Finlayson 6 Montano 6 Pittman 7 Tait 7 Susoho 6 Smith 7 May 7 Yengi 7 Substitutes: Carey 6 Brenet 6 Bokila 5 Muirhead 5 Aberdeen: Mitov 7 Devlin 7 Milne 7 Knoester 6 Lobban 7 Shinnie 6 Heltne Nilsen 6 Aouchiche 6 Armstrong 6 Karlsson 7 Lazetic 5 Substitutes: Nisbet 6 Polvara 6 Keskinen 5 Milanovic 5 Clarkston 5
Celtic Avoid Capital Punishment With Win Against Hibs
Celtic cut the gap on Hearts at the top of the table as they seen out a 2-1 win away to Hibernian at Easter Road. The champions survived periods of sustained pressure from a fired up Hibs side, who will leave feeling aggrieved that they haven’t taken at least a point from today’s game at a venue which has not been the happiest of hunting grounds in recent years for Celtic. The win makes it six wins from seven games for Martin O’Neill, who said pre-match that there is a possibility he remains in the dugout for Wednesday’s match at home to Dundee. A first-half double salvo from Daizen Maeda and Arne Engels put Celtic ahead at the break, with Australian Martin Boyle converting a penalty to revive any Hibee hopes of a result in the second half. Hibs started the game as the better side but it was Celtic who created most. Daizen Maeda tapped the ball into an empty net 11 minutes in, but his provider Hyun-Jun Yang was offside in the build up. Just one minute later, the home side had a glaring opportunity to take the lead. Nicky Cadden whipped a daring cross in from the left, but Martin Boyle could only knock it wide of Kasper Schmeichel’s right post amid pressure from Marcelo Saracchi. Maeda would tap the ball into an empty net once again 27 minutes in, and this time it counted. A poor pass out from Hibees goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger to Miguel Chaiwa was pounced upon by Reo Hatate, and Celtic’s two Japanese internationals linked up to put the Hoops in the driving seat. Then only 93 seconds later, the visitors doubled their advantage. Yang dipped a ball in from left wing just outside the penalty area, and midfielder Arne Engels got his head on in to nod home and injured himself in the process. Uruguayan left-back Marcelo Saracchi almost made it three on the cusp of half-time. Maeda back heeled the ball into his path, but his effort cannoned off of the post. Hibs clawed one back ten minutes into the second period. Nick Walsh was called over to the VAR monitor and awarded the Edinburgh side a penalty for a Liam Scales handball. Captain Martin Boyle stepped up, and slotted the ball into the bottom right as Kasper Schmeichel stayed standing. There were calls for a Celtic penalty with 22 minutes left to play when winger Yang and Hibs’ Rocky Bushiri’s heads collided following a deflected Kieran Tierney cross, however these claims were quickly waved away from Walsh. A late chance for Hibs went begging with just five minutes of normal time to play. Kieron Bowie got the better of Auston Trusty and fired a low ball into the box. Chris Cadden done everything right to keep his effort goal bound, but Schmeichel’s extended leg denied the hosts an equaliser. Today’s result means that Celtic have cut the gap on league leaders Hearts to just two points with one game played less than the Jambos. Both sides meet next Sunday after midweek action on Wednesday with Celtic at home to Dundee, and Hearts hosting Kilmarnock As for Hibs, they return to Easter Road on Saturday to face Falkirk, after losing at home for only the second time in 19 league matches. HIBERNIAN: Sallinger 5, O’Hora 5, Bowie 6, Boyle 6 (Youan 79’ 1), C Cadden 5, Chaiwa 4(Newell 79’ 1), McGrath 6, N Cadden 2 (Iredale 38’ 5), Mulligan 5 (Barlaser 79’ 1), Obita 6 (Campbell 66’ 3), Bushiri 6 CELTIC: Schmeichel 7, Scales 5, Trusty 6, Yang 6, McCowan 5c(Nygren 63’ 3), Engels 5, Saracchi 5 (Tierney 63’ 3), Maeda 6, Hatate 6, McGregor 6, Donovan 3(Ralston 46’ 4)
Greenock Morton progress to the 4th round of the Scottish Cup
Greenock Morton have progressed to the 4th round of the Scottish Cup in dramatic fashion after defeating Peterhead 5-3 on penalties. Billy Davies is in interim charge following Dougie Imrie’s departure to Raith Rovers midweek. The Ton thought they had the job done until Kieran Shanks scored in stoppage time to make it 2-2, which forced extra time. Tomi Adeloye bagged a brace for the Cappielow Park side but was sent off at the 73rd minute. Despite the difficult circumstances, Davies’ men got through and that’s two games unbeaten for the former Derby County boss. Davies was in charge earlier this season and drew 0-0 with Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline. The Scotsman included two 16-year-olds on the bench, which shows the Greenock club’s ambition of giving youth players a chance. Morton are currently seventh in the Scottish Championship and could be potentially drawn in a glamour tie against Rangers or Celtic in the 4th round of the iconic Scottish Cup.
