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The 2021 Scottish Cup final was the 136th final of the Scottish Cup and the final of the 2020–21 Scottish Cup, the most prestigious knockout football competition in Scotland. The match was played on 22 May 2021 at Hampden Park, Glasgow. St Johnstone completed a cup double by winning it.

Route to the final

St Johnstone

As a Premiership club, St Johnstone entered the competition in the third round (last 32). Their first opponent was a Tayside derby at Dens Park against Championship side Dundee. An early goal from Guy Melamed and Zander Clark saving a penalty gave Saints a 1-0 win.

In the fourth round they were drawn against League One club Clyde at home. Early goals from Melamed and Michael O'Halloran gave Saints a comfortable 2–0 win.

The quarter-final saw the team travel to Ibrox Stadium for a match against league champions Rangers. A goalless 90 minutes forced the match into extra-time. James Tavernier appeared to have won the tie for Rangers with a goal late in the second half of extra time, but St Johnstone forced a penalty shootout by equalising during added-on time at the end of extra time. Their goal was scored after a header by goalkeeper Clark, who had come forward for a corner kick, was redirected into the goal by striker Chris Kane. Clark then saved two Rangers penalties in the shootout, which Saints won 4–2.

St Johnstone were then paired with Premiership club St Mirren in the semi-finals. After a goalless first half, Chris Kane and a Glenn Middleton free-kick gave the Perth side a 2–0 lead midway through the second half. Despite a header from Conor McCarthy pulling a goal back for the Paisley side, St Johnstone held on to win 2–1.

Hibernian

As another Premiership side, Hibernian started in the third round of the Scottish Cup. In that round they played at Championship side Queen of the South. Goals from Christian Doidge (2) and Martin Boyle gave Hibs a 3–1 victory, with James Maxwell scoring a consolation goal for Queens.

Hibs were drawn away again in the fourth round, against League Two side Stranraer. Goals from Doidge, Kevin Nisbet and Boyle (2) gave Hibs a 4–0 victory

The quarter finals had Hibernian drawn at home (Easter Road) with Premiership side Motherwell. Second half goals from Doidge and Jackson Irvine gave Hibs a 2–0 lead, but late goals by Ricki Lamie and Tony Watt forced extra time. The additional period finished goalless, forcing a penalty shootout that Hibs won 4–2.

This meant they took on Dundee United in the semi-final at Hampden Park. Goals from Nisbet and Doidge, the latter of which was scored from an offside position, gave Hibs a 2–0 win.

Background

Hosting

The final had been originally scheduled for 8 May 2021, but was delayed to 22 May due to rescheduling of earlier rounds caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic and building works ahead of the Euro 2020 tournament led to the Scottish FA initially stating that spectators would not be allowed into Hampden, control of which is being passed to UEFA on 14 May for Euro 2020. Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack told BBC Scotland on 10 May that he would make their Pittodrie Stadium available for the final, as it could admit at least 500 fans. Rangers, Celtic, Hearts and the Scottish Rugby Union had earlier rejected approaches from the Scottish FA for the use of their stadiums. On 11 May it was reported that UEFA had accepted a request from the Scottish FA to admit fans to Hampden. Scottish Government rules regarding the pandemic for areas in Level 2 mean that permission would be needed for any crowd in excess of 500. 600 fans were initially permitted, but this decision was reversed after the government decided to keep Glasgow in Level 3.

European place

St Johnstone entered the third qualifying round of the 2021–22 UEFA Europa League.

Previous appearances

Going into the 2021 final, St Johnstone had won the Scottish Cup once in their only previous appearance in a final (2014). Hibernian had won the Scottish Cup three times from 14 appearances in the final. Their most recent victory and appearance in the final was in 2016. It was the first meeting of the clubs in a Scottish Cup Final.

Match

Summary

In the 32nd minute David Wotherspoon crossed from the left to the far post where Shaun Rooney headed to the left corner of the net from five yards out for the only goal of the match. With fifteen minutes to go Hibernian's Paul McGinn brought down Chris Kane in the penalty area, but goalkeeper Matt Macey saved the penalty from Glenn Middleton and the follow-up from Chris Kane.

Details

St Johnstone

Hibernian

GK 1 Zander Clark CB 5 Jason Kerr (c) CB 6 Liam Gordon CB 4 Jamie McCart RM 19 Shaun Rooney  79' CM 18 Ali McCann CM 13 Craig Bryson  64' LM 24 Callum Booth AM 16 Glenn Middleton  82' AM 10 David Wotherspoon FW 9 Chris Kane Substitutes: DF 2 James Brown  79' DF 3 Scott Tanser FW 7 Craig Conway MF 8 Murray Davidson  64' FW 11 Michael O'Halloran  82' GK 12 Elliot Parish FW 14 Stevie May FW 17 Guy Melamed MF 26 Liam Craig Manager: Callum Davidson

GK 33 Matt Macey RB 6 Paul McGinn  74' CB 5 Ryan Porteous  87' CB 4 Paul Hanlon (c) LB 25 Josh Doig  76' RM 10 Martin Boyle  88' CM 13 Alex Gogić  56' CM 11 Joe Newell  72' LM 36 Jackson Irvine  44' FW 9 Christian Doidge FW 15 Kevin Nisbet Substitutes: GK 1 Ofir Marciano DF 2 David Gray MF 7 Kyle Magennis MF 8 Drey Wright DF 16 Lewis Stevenson  76' FW 18 Jamie Murphy  56' MF 20 Melker Hallberg  72' DF 24 Darren McGregor Manager: Jack Ross

Match rules

• 90 minutes
• 30 minutes of extra time if necessary
• Penalty shoot-out if scores still level
• Nine named substitutes
• Maximum of five substitutions in normal time (a sixth substitute is permitted in extra time)

Media coverage

BBC Scotland and Premier Sports obtained the rights to broadcast the final, in what is the third season of a six-year deal in the United Kingdom to broadcast Scottish Cup matches.

References

1. "St Johnstone: Is cup double the greatest season in Scottish football?". BBC Sport. 23 May 2021. Archived from the original on 24 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
2. Moffat, Colin (3 April 2021). "Dundee 0-1 St Johnstone". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
3. McPheat, Nick (17 April 2021). "St Johnstone 2-0 Clyde". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
4. ^ Southwick, Andrew (25 April 2021). "Rangers 1-1 St Johnstone (St Johnstone win 4-2 on penalties)". BBC Sport. BBC. Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
5. Elgott, Jordan (9 May 2021). "St Mirren 1-2 St Johnstone". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
6. Southwick, Andrew (5 April 2021). "Queen of the South 1-3 Hibernian". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
7. McPheat, Nick (18 April 2021). "Stranraer 0-4 Hibernian". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
8. Lindsay, Clive (25 April 2021). "Hibernian 2-2 Motherwell". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
9. Campbell, Andy (8 May 2021). "Dundee United 0-2 Hibernian". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
10. "2020/21 Scottish Cup to resume in March". Scottish FA. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
11. ^ Barnes, Paul (10 May 2021). "Scottish Cup: Aberdeen offer to host final to allow fans to attend". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
12. ^ "Scottish Cup final: Request made for up to 3,000 to attend Hibs v St Johnstone". BBC Sport. 11 May 2021. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
13. Duncan, Thomas (11 May 2021). "Scottish Cup final 2021: How did the Hampden fans saga unfold?". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
14. "Scottish Cup final: Hibs v St Johnstone at Hampden will be watched by 600 fans". BBC Sport. 13 May 2021. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
15. "Scottish Cup final: No crowd for St Johnstone v Hibs after Glasgow spike in cases". BBC Sport. 14 May 2021. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
16. "Access list 2021–24" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 December 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
17. ^ Ross, James M.; Stokkermans, Karel (18 March 2021). "Scotland - List of Cup Finals". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 14 May 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
18. "St Johnstone 1-0 Hibernian: Shaun Rooney the hero again as St Johnstone win Scottish Cup final". Sky Sports. 22 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
19. "St Johnstone complete dream double after beating Hibs to win Scottish Cup". Guardian. 22 May 2021. Archived from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
20. "Scottish FA Announce Scottish Cup Broadcasting Deals". Scottish Football Association. 12 November 2018. Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2021.

External links

• Man of the match

• 2020–21 in Scottish football cups
• Scottish Cup finals
• Sports competitions in Glasgow
• May 2021 sports events in the United Kingdom
• Hibernian F.C. matches
• St Johnstone F.C. matches
• 2020s in Glasgow