Sixteen teams remain in the Scottish Cup; here are the main points to watch out for this weekend.
Game of the Round – Stenhousemuir v Falkirk
Stenhousemuir face Falkirk on Sunday evening in a compelling meeting between two in‑form sides.
Stenhousemuir sit joint‑top of League One and have lost only once in their last nine league matches, strengthened by their emphatic four‑goal win over Morton in the previous round that secured their place in the last 16.
Matthew Aitken remains a key threat, having scored seven league goals, including a decisive double against Morton. The Ochilview outfit even lifted their first league title under Gary Naysmith’s guidance.
Falkirk enter the fixture enjoying an equally impressive season. In their first top‑flight campaign in 15 years, they have established themselves comfortably in the top six and earned praise for their expansive style of play.
Their penalty shootout victory over league leaders Hearts in the last round further highlighted their progress.
Both teams approach the match with confidence, setting the stage for either a potential upset or another step forward for the Premiership side.
Team Spotlight – Queens Park
Scottish football is never short of drama, and Queen’s Park’s 4th Round journey delivered a similar shock. Stranraer originally thought they’d struck gold, defeating the Spiders on penalties to secure a massive 5th Round tie at Ibrox.
However, the celebrations were short-lived; it emerged that stand-in keeper Lyndon Tas was ineligible, resulting in Stranraer’s disqualification.
Now, Queen’s Park head to Ibrox for a 5th round rematch. Rangers fans may be nervous, and for good reason. Just 12 months ago, Philippe Clement’s side put in an abject performance as Seb Drozd’s 69th-minute winner etched his name into Scottish Cup folklore.
Can the Spiders capitalise on this second chance and deliver another historic upset?
Player to Watch – Tawanda Maswanhise
Motherwell continue to fly under Jens Berthel Askou, sitting pretty in 4th and playing arguably the most attractive football in the country. With the Steelmen in peak form, fans are starting to dream of a first Scottish Cup triumph since 1991.
Standing in their way of the quarter-finals is a managerless Aberdeen side. Askou has already tasted success against the Dons this season, knocking them out of the League Cup, and he’ll be leaning on the league’s top marksman to do it again.
Tawanda Maswanhise is coming off a clinical brace against Livingston, and Saturday night under the lights is the perfect stage for the Zimbabwean to cement further his status as the league’s most dangerous man.
