What to look out for on Scottish Cup quarter-final weekend

After Hearts became the first team through to the Scottish Cup semi-finals, what do the remaining three last-eight ties have in store?

Aberdeen v Queen’s Park (Sat, 12:30)

Queen’s Park were the story of the previous round, knocking out Rangers at Ibrox and contributing to the eventual demise of Ibrox manager Philippe Clement.

It is not only that historic result – the first side outside the top tier to have beaten Rangers in the cup on their own patch – that ensures there will be no element of surprise this time.

The Spiders have visited Pittodrie once before this season, when top-flight Aberdeen had to wait until stoppage time before Topi Keskinen’s solitary goal secured progress in August to the League Cup quarter-finals.

Including Ibrox, Callum Davidson’s side are three unbeaten on the road, all without conceding, but will need to recover from Tuesday’s 3-2 home defeat by Ayr United that leaves them down in sixth place in the Championship.

Jimmy Thelin’s hosts have themselves dropped to fourth in the top flight after a 5-1 thumping at Celtic Park and Sunday’s 2-2 draw at home to Dundee United.

However, the Dons’ recent inconsistency is at least an improvement on their previous dismal run of one win in 15, they have now only lost once in five outings and they are unbeaten in their latest three at home.

Which all points against Queen’s Park causing another major shock in front of a live television audience on BBC One Scotland and BBC iPlayer. Then again, that 2023 humiliation by sixth-tier Darvel is still fresh in Aberdeen’s memory.

• Aberdeen lost in the cup semi-finals on penalties to eventual winners Celtic last season.

• Queen’s Park last reached the Scottish Cup semi-finals in the 1927–28 season, when they lost to Celtic.

• The Spiders last reached the quarter-finals in the 1981–82 season, losing 2-1 at home to Forfar Athletic.

• Queen’s Park have not beaten Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup since their first-ever meeting in November 1889 – when the Glasgow side won 13-1 away from home.

• However, Queen’s Park did beat the Dons on penalties in the League Cup in 2006 after 0-0 draw.

• Aberdeen lifted the cup for a seventh time in 2014.

• Queen’s Park won cup for their 10th and final time in 1893.

Celtic v Hibernian (Sun, 15:00)

The enormity of Hibs’ task on Sunday is highlighted by the fact they have not beaten Celtic at Parkhead in the Scottish Cup since their final success in 1902.

However, on this occasion, they head to Celtic Park having triumphed over the cup holders and Scottish champions just last month, 2-1 at Easter Road in the Premiership.

That has contributed to a 15-game unbeaten run that has lifted David Gray’s side to third in the table and they arrive in Glasgow fuelled by the pride of Sunday’s derby win over Hearts.

Celtic, though, have responded to that defeat by Hibs – and their narrow Champions League exit at the hands of Bayern Munich – by thrashing Aberdeen 5-1 and St Mirren 5-2.

Brendan Rodgers’ side remain unbeaten at home by a Scottish side since losing to Hearts in December 2023 and have beaten Hibs on their latest six visits to Celtic Park, the latest five by an aggregate on 19-4.

If they want to secure a rare consecutive win over the cup holders, they will no doubt have to shackle Daizen Maeda, who has embraced the added responsbility of leading the Celtic line following fellow Japan forward Kyogo Furuhashi exit to pick up the player of the month award.

He is also top scorer in the cup so far this season with four goals – and has three against Hibs this season already too.

• Celtic are unbeaten at home to Hibs in 20 meetings since a 2-1 defeat in January 2010, when Danny Galbraith scored a last-minute winner.

• Hibs lost 2-0 at home to Rangers in the quarter-finals last season and last reached the semis in 2022, when they lost to Hearts.

• Hibs last beat Celtic in the Scottish Cup in March 1986, 4-3 at Easter Road.

• Celtic defeated Hibs 3-1 at Celtic Park in the League Cup in August.

• Hibs last beat Celtic twice in one season in 1992-93.

• Celtic beat Rangers in last season’s final to lift the cup for a 42nd time.

• Hibs won the Scottish Cup for a third time in 2016.

Livingston v St Johnstone (Mon, 19:45)

No wonder David Martindale thinks his Livingston side have “more than a wee chance” of knocking Premiership visitors St Johnstone out of the cup on Monday.

They have already sent one top-flight team – Ross County – packing this season and this time they have home advantage.

Not only that, the visitors are three points adrift at the bottom, in danger of relegation, while Livingston are in the mix for a swift return to the Premiership.

Draws with Partick Thistle and, on Wednesday, at home to Raith Rovers mean Martindale’s side have dropped to third, three points behind Falkirk, but they remain unbeaten in 11 outings, including six at home.

However, Saints will look to take positives from a draw away to Dundee on Saturday that prevented the second-bottom side extending the gap between them and Simo Valakari’s improving side, who have now only lost twice in eight.

A close encounter is on the cards in front of BBC Scotland television channel cameras before the live draw for the semi-finals.

• Livingston lost 4-2 away to eventual winners Celtic in the quarter-finals last season.

• This is the furthest St Johnstone have gone in the cup since lifting the trophy for a second time in 2021.

• Livingston last reached the Scottish Cup semi-finals in 2004, losing to Dundee United.

• Livingston won the latest meeting between the sides, 2-1 at home in May, having drawn the previous three in their relegation season.

• Livingston are five unbeaten at home to Saints since a 2-1 defeat in February 2022.

• Saints won 2-0 in Perth in their latest Scottish Cup meeting with Livi in November 2013 and have won once in Livingston in the cup, 3-1 in February 1999.