Hibernian: Scottish Cup - Match Preview

Tomorrow, Ayr United take on SPL struggler's, Hibernian, in the Quarter-Final's of the William Hill Scottish Cup.

The Hibees made the journey down to the Ayrshire coast for a Scottish Cup fourth round replay. The Honest Men won 1-0, a well finished Mark Roberts goal was all that separated the part-time second division club from the SPL side in the 180 mins.

Ayr have strengthened considerably since the last meeting, only fourteen months ago. Jonathan Tiffoney, Eddie Malone, Chris Smith and Mark Roberts are the only players that featured in Ayr's famous victory against the Hibees, that can play at Somerset tomorrow. Hibs have strengthened further, and could possibly start a completely different starting XI to that were put to the sword by the part-timers last season.

The most famous tie between the two clubs was a Scottish League Cup Semi-Final at Hampden Park ten years ago this season. John Robertson, who re-signed for the Honest Men in the summer, for his third spell at the club, was brought down in the box and won the Honest Men a penalty to put them into their first major cup final. Eddie Annand converted from the spot, to send the Ayr supporters into ecstasy.

The Honest Men won a vital league match in West Lothian against Livingston on Tuesday night coming from behind, once again. A Mark Roberts first half penalty cancelled out an early Keighan Jacobs opener for the home side. The penalty was won when Keigan Parker was brought down by Livi keeper, McNeil, When 'Marko' slotted home his fiftieth goal as an Honest Man, and the twentieth from the spot. Michael McGowan got the winner for the Honest Men, knocking the ball home through a crowd of Livi defenders.

Hibs, who remain only four points above bottom place Dunfermline Athletic at the foot of the SPL table, have only won eight game this season, losing seventeen and drawing nine (all competitions). The Cabbage were knocked out of the League Cup in the quarter-final stage at the hands of Celtic, despite being a goal up at half-time, they were undone by a classy second half performance by Celtic and James Forrest in particular.

The prize for tomorrows victory would be a place in the semi-final's and a trip to Hampden Park, a venue familiar to the current Ayr United squad who visited the national stadium only two months ago in the Scottish League Cup Semi-Finals, against local-rivals Kilmarnock, losing out to an extra-time goal from Dean Sheils. And if either club can reach the final the prize of European football could be possible, if their opposition has already qualified for either the Champions League or Europa League.