RECAP St Johnstone 1-0 Hibs: Shaun Rooney first-half header wins Scottish Cup despite Matt Macey penalty save
It’s been a season like no other and the curtain will come down on the campaign this weekend and the final silverware of the season will be either taken back to Perth or Edinburgh after this afternoon’s showpiece event at Hampden.
Will it be worth the wait? The match has been rescheduled by two weeks due to delays during the year and the impact of covid is still being felt today with no fans in the ground for the second final in a row.
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Hide AdThe Scotsman and Evening News will fill the void though and bring you the best of the action, build-up and post-match reactions and celebrations online and in our live blog below.
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Scottish Cup Final 2021
Key Events
- ST JOHNSTONE WIN THE SCOTTISH CUP 2021
- St Johnstone 1 Hibs 0 - (Rooney 32)
- Perth side make history becoming the FOURTH Scottish side to do the Cup double
Good afternoon and welcome to The Scotsman and Edinburgh Evening News live coverage of the Scottish Cup final.
Unfortunately there are no fans permitted for the second final in a row due to restrictions in Glasgow in the run-up to this afternoon’s main event - and though it’s not quite the same as being there, we will have some of our top team of journalists in the National Stadium to bring you the very best coverage from the ground right up until kick-off then through the match and beyond.
How did they get here?
Here’s a look back both sides’ routes to the final
HIBS
Last 32 - QOS (a) - 3-2 (Doidge x2, Boyle)
Last16 - Stranraer (a) - 4-0 (Doidge, Nisbet, Boyle x2)
QF - Motherwell (h) - 2-2 - (Doidge, Irvine) won on penalties
SF - Dundee United (n) - 2-0 (Nisbet, Doidge) Scotsman match report - click here
ST JOHNSTONE
Last32 - Dundee (a) - 1-0 (Melamed)
Last16 - Clyde (h) - 2-0 (Melamed, O’Halloran)
QF - Rangers (a) - 1-1 - (Kane) won on penalties
SF - St Mirren (n) - 2-1 (Kane, Middleton)
Semi finals - RATED
This isn’t the first time the sides have been at Hampden this season.
Both reached the National Stadium in the Betfred Cup and were obviously here for the semi-finals too
Here’s a reminder of those semi-final matches from our match ratings.
How the Hibs players rated in impressive win over Dundee United
Marks out of ten for every Hibs player to get game time at Hampden this afternoon
Hibs 2 Dundee United 0May 8, 2021
St Johnstone 2 St Mirren 1: How the two teams rated in Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden
St Johnstone remain on course for a historic cup double after a 2-1 win over St Mirren in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden.
St Johnstone 2 St Mirren 1May 9, 2021
Of course we’ll have our final team ratings later this afternoon too
Hampden Hokey-Cokey
Fans were out - as they have been all season, then Pittodrie was offered as a venue before they were allowed into the National Stadium - but with restricted numbers.
Then with just 600 spectators permitted inside Hampden, extended restrictions in Glasgow which have been relaxed elsewhere across the country meant a crowd was not feasible after all!
Here’s how it happened...
Government approval sought ... and given
The build-up has been on-going all week.
Here’s what a selection of our writers have predicted for today’s scoreline - with their reasons why in the link below.
Mark Atkinson: St Johnstone 0 Hibs 2
Matthew Elder: St Johnstone 1 Hibs 2
Patrick McPartlin: St Johnstone 1 Hibs 2
Andrew Smith: St Johnstone 1 Hibs 3
Alan Pattullo: St Johnstone 2 Hibs 1
David Oliver: St Johnstone 1 Hibs 2 (aet)
St Johnstone v Hibs - 'an epic story whoever wins' - our journalists' Scottish Cup Final predictions
We’ve asked some of our writers for their Scottish Cup final predictions and where the key battles on the Hampden pitch will be for Jack Ross and Callum Davidson.
Ex-player’s view
He’s very much in the Hibs camp this afternoon, but here’s what former Easter Road midfielder, and Edinburgh Evening News columnist Mickey Weir said ahead of the big match.
Michael Weir: Hibs players must grasp opportunity to become legends
There is a huge opportunity for Hibs players at Hampden today and I just hope they go out and grasp it.
Saints captain
And for a bit of balance - here’s what Liam Craig - the St Johnstone captain and a former Hibs midfielder himself - had to say ahead of the game...
Liam Craig opens up on making up for lost finals with St Johnstone and Hibs
Maybe a stint as a game-show host beckons for Liam Craig when he retires from playing.