The Scottish Cup kicks off again this weekend after the winter break, with a multitude of mouth-watering ties on the menu.

Hibernian get the action underway on Thursday night as they welcome high-flying League One leaders Cove Rangers to Easter Road, live on BBC Scotland.

League positions aside, history favours the top flight team: Hibernian never having lost a Scottish Cup tie at Easter Road to a team from outside the top two divisions, while Cove have never beaten a top flight side in a competitive fixture.

The televised action continues on Friday night as Premiership champions Rangers begin their quest for the cup at Ibrox against Stirling Albion, live on Premier Sports.

Rangers will be strong favourites, having won all eight of their previous Scottish Cup ties against fourth tier opposition, while Stirling Albion will be hoping to cause an upset that would see them make the Fifth Round for the first time since 2009-10.

The two sides have met only once in the competition’s history, Rangers triumphing 1-0 at Ibrox back in 1978.

A bumper Scottish Cup fixture card kick offs at Beechwood Park on Saturday as Auchinleck Talbot play host to Premiership side Hearts.

The two sides have met twice before in the competition, Hearts emerging victorious on both occasions. Auchinleck Talbot are, however, unbeaten in their last eight Scottish Cup matches at Beechwood Park, while Hearts were knocked out of last season’s Scottish Cup by another non-league side, Brora Rangers.



Amidst a host of exciting cup ties, Aberdeen enter into the unknown when they welcome Edinburgh City to Pittodrie for the first ever competitive meeting between the two sides.

Aberdeen have never previously faced a League 2/Division 3 side in the Scottish Cup, while Edinburgh City have lost all seven previous meetings against top flight opposition. They will be hoping to cause an upset and reach the Fifth Round of the Scottish Cup for the first time in their history.

The New Year marks the centenary of Greenock Morton's 1922 Scottish Cup victory. Morton will be hoping their fixture against Motherwell is a good omen; they also faced 'Well in the Fourth Round 100 years ago. The Steelmen, however, will be going into this one full of confidence; they have won each of their last five Scottish Cup ties against Morton.


The weekend’s action concludes on Saturday night when Alloa Athletic welcome Celtic for what will be the 11th meeting between the sides in the competition – Celtic having won all 10 previous matches.

It is almost 20 years to the day when the two last met in the Scottish Cup, Celtic running out comfortable victors with a 5-0 victory at Brockville on that occasion. Alloa last triumphed over top flight opposition in the Scottish Cup back in 2005-06 when they beat Livingston 2-1, while Celtic have never lost a Scottish Cup tie to a side playing in the third tier or below.

Scottish Cup Fourth Round Fixtures

(All kick-offs 3pm unless otherwise stated)

Thursday, 20 January
Hibernian v Cove Rangers; Kick-off 7.45pm (Live on BBC Scotland)

Friday, 21 January
Rangers v Stirling Albion; Kick-off 7.45pm (Live on Premier Sports)

Saturday, 22 January
Auchinleck Talbot v Heart of Midlothian; Kick-off 12.30pm (Live on BBC Scotland)

Aberdeen v Edinburgh City
Arbroath v Darvel
Ayr United v St Mirren
Banks O’Dee v Raith Rovers
Clydebank v Annan Athletic
Dumbarton v Dundee
Kelty Hearts v St Johnstone
Kilmarnock v Dundee United
Livingston v Ross County
Motherwell v Greenock Morton
Partick Thistle v Airdrieonians
Peterhead v East Kilbride

Alloa Athletic v Celtic; Kick-off 5.30pm (Live on Premier Sports)

Fifth Round Draw

The draw for the Fifth Round of the Scottish Cup will take place following Alloa Athletic v Celtic; it will be broadcast live on Premier Sports and also be streamed on the Premiers Sports Twitter account.