| Venue: ZLX Stadium, Hamilton Date: Friday, 19 January Kick-off: 19:45 GMT |
| Coverage: Watch on BBC Scotland, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website & app; Listen on BBC Radio Scotland & BBC Sounds, live text commentary on the BBC Sport website & app |
Shock results are the order of the day when the Scottish Cup fourth round rolls into view – and this weekend’s set of fixtures has the potential to serve up a feast of surprises.
All eyes will be on Aberdeen – live on BBC Scotland – on Friday night after their shock exit to Darvel this time last year, but there are plenty of other tasty stories to whet the appetite across the weekend…
Dons bid to bury their Darvel demons
Aberdeen were, of course, victims of the biggest shock in the competition last season after falling to a 1-0 defeat at sixth-tier Darvel – a result that contributed to then manager Jim Goodwin being shown the Pittodrie exit door.
The Darvel loss last year brought back memories of 1995, when Stenhousemuir knocked the Dons out of the cup in a 2-0 shock, and Barry Robson will be hoping the omens are better this time.
Having narrowly lost to Rangers in the Viaplay Cup final just before Christmas, the Dons are looking to overcome their patchy league form and build more knockout competition momentum.
This time out, their potential banana skin is just three tiers below them rather than five, but Clyde – bottom of League 2 – are desperate to turn things around under recently appointed manager Ian McCall.
McCall gave Rangers a scare with Partick Thistle in the round of 16 last season and ambitious Clyde are eying fresh giant-killing exploits after famously knocking Celtic out at this stage in 2006.
When’s a shock not a shock?
Second-tier title hopefuls Raith Rovers will fancy their chances at Livingston, who are anchored to the bottom of the Premiership and on a miserable 13-game winless run.
Despite suffering back-to-back Championship defeats in their last two outings, Ian Murray’s Rovers are still challenging at the top of the table as they sit level on points with leaders Dundee United.
As for Livingston, it has been a miserable campaign as their six-year Premiership status is in jeopardy, with David Martindale’s side six points adrift at the foot of the table.
Eleven defeats in their last 13 games, plus a serious lack of goals, sent the West Lothian club into the winter break battered and bruised. But a victory over Saturday’s opponents, who they have beaten twice in the Scottish Cup in the last four seasons, could ignite their campaign.
Celtic on the Buckie, Rangers on the Rock
Rangers and Celtic get their Scottish Cup campaigns under way in front of the TV cameras with two significantly smaller sides as opposition.
The holders will begin their cup defence playing host to Highland League challengers Buckie Thistle, while Rangers make the short trip to Dumbarton on Saturday night.
Buckie boast the high-profile support of horror legend Stephen King, who namechecked them in his bestselling book If It Bleeds, and has been a vocal supporter of the side on social media. Can the Moray side consign Celtic to a nightmare on Sunday lunchtime?
Meanwhile, Dumbarton reached the fourth round the hard way, coming back from two-nil down against Banks O’Dea to snatch victory with goals in the 97th and 102nd minutes – then followed that up with a chaotic 5-4 extra time win over Annan.
Revenge bid & an Edinburgh derby
Partick Thistle travel north to face Ross County with revenge in mind. The sides meet for the first time since last season’s epic play-off finalwhich saw County retain their Premiership status on penalties after a remarkable Thistle collapse.
It will add more than a pinch of spice to their cup clash, with Thistle challenging for the Championship and County having won just two of their last nine matches.
St Johnstone – another bottom half Premiership side – had a miserable League Cup group campaign at the start of this season and are also tasked with safely negotiating a tricky tie at in-form Airdrieonians.
And, Saturday lunchtime’s big kick-off offers SPFL new boys The Spartans the chance to build on their Scottish Cup reputation over their high-flying city rivals Hearts.
There’s only a couple of miles between the two clubs in distance but while they’ve faced each other in friendlies, this will mark a rare competitive clash – in front of the BBC Scotland cameras – between the Edinburgh sides.
In previous years Spartans have enjoyed a host of cup upsets, as the then non-league side claimed the scalps of the likes of Arbroath and Queen’s Park.
