2021 Scottish League Cup Final

The 2021 Scottish League Cup Final will be an association football due to take place at Hampden Park, Glasgow on 28 February 2021.[1] It will be the final match of the 2020–21 Scottish League Cup, the 75th season of the Scottish League Cup (known as the Betfred Cup for sponsorship reasons), a competition for the 42 teams in the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL).

2021 Scottish League Cup Final
Event2020–21 Scottish League Cup
St Johnstone Livingston
Date28 February 2021 (2021-02-28)
VenueHampden Park, Glasgow

Originally due to take place in December 2020, the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on scheduling meant that the match was pushed back to February 2021.

Route to the final
Main article: 2020–21 Scottish League Cup
Round Opposition Score
Group stage Kelty Hearts 2–1 (a)
Group stage Brechin City 7–0 (h)
Group stage Dundee United 0–0 (h)
Group stage Peterhead 3–1 (a)
Second round Motherwell 2–1 (a)
Quarter-final Dunfermline Athletic 1–1 (a) (a.e.t.)
Semi-final Hibernian 3–0 (n)

St Johnstone

St Johnstone won Group C to qualify for the second round, winning 10 points from a possible 12. They won 2–1 at Lowland League side Kelty Hearts,[2] 7–0 against League Two club Brechin City[3] and 3–1 at League One team Peterhead.[4] In their other match, Saints drew 0–0 with fellow Premiership club Dundee United, but lost the penalty shootout.[5]

Saints were unseeded for the second round draw and were drawn to face Motherwell at Fir Park on 28 November. Motherwell scored first through Tony Watt, but late goals from Callum Hendry and David Wotherspoon turned the tie around and sent Saints into the quarter-finals.[6]

Saints were again drawn away for the quarter-final, against Championship club Dunfermline Athletic.[7] After a goalless draw in normal time, Shaun Rooney scored the opening goal in the first period of extra time.[7] Dunfermline equalised to force a penalty shootout, which Saints won 4–3.[7]

Hibernian provided the opposition in the semi-final, played at Hampden Park on 23 January. After Hibs missed a series of chances during the first half, headers from Jason Kerr and Shaun Rooney set Saints on their way to a 3–0 victory.[8]

Livingston
Round Opposition Score
Group stage Edinburgh City 5–1 (a)
Group stage Alloa Athletic 2–1 (h)
Group stage Stenhousemuir 4–0 (a)
Group stage Airdrieonians 4–1 (h)
Second round Ayr United 4–0 (h)
Quarter-final Ross County 2–0 (h)
Semi-final St Mirren 1–0 (n)

Livingston won Group H to qualify for the second round, winning the maximum 12 points en route. They won easily in away games against League Two clubs Edinburgh City and Stenhousemuir,[9] 2–1 at home against Championship side Alloa Athletic,[10] and 4–1 against League One team Airdrieonians.[11]

Livi were seeded for the second round draw and were drawn to face Championship club Ayr United at home on 28 November.[12] Despite their progress in the League Cup, Livi had been struggling in the Premiership and manager Gary Holt left the club before the second round tie was played.[12] David Martindale took charge of the team for the first time in the match with Ayr, which Livi won easily after scoring three early goals through an own goal and two efforts by Jack Fitzwater.[12]

Martindale was still in interim charge for the quarter-final, in which Livi were again drawn at home.[13] They were paired with Ross County, who had knocked out cup holders Celtic in the previous round.[13] Two early goals gave Livi a 2–0 victory.[13]

St Mirren provided the opposition in the semi-final, played at Hampden Park on 24 January. Martindale had been appointed manager on a permanent basis after the quarter-final, and his unbeaten start as a manager continued as an early Scott Robinson goal was enough to give Livi a 1–0 win.[14] Two days after the semi-final, a Scottish Football Association hearing approved Martindale as a "fit and proper person" to hold a management position.[15] He had previously been imprisoned for involvement with organised crime.[15]

Match

Details
St JohnstonevLivingston

References
  1. "Betfred Cup dates confirmed". SPFL. 20 July 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  2. "Kelty Hearts v St Johnstone". BBC Sport. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  3. "St Johnstone v Brechin City". BBC Sport. 10 October 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  4. "Peterhead v St Johnstone". BBC Sport. 14 November 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  5. "St Johnstone v Dundee United". BBC Sport. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  6. Mullen, Scott (28 November 2020). "Motherwell 1-2 St Johnstone: Perth side come from behind to reach last eight". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  7. McLauchlin, Brian (15 December 2020). "Dunfermline Athletic 1-1 St Johnstone (AET - 3-4 on penalties)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  8. Duncan, Thomas (23 January 2021). "St Johnstone 3-0 Hibernian: Perth side stun favourites to reach Scottish League Cup final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  9. "Stenhousemuir v Livingston". BBC Sport. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  10. "Livingston v Alloa Athletic". BBC Sport. 10 October 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  11. "Livingston v Airdrieonians". BBC Sport. 14 November 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  12. Barnes, John (28 November 2020). "Livingston thrash Ayr United 4-0 in first game since Gary Holt exit". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  13. McLauchlin, Brian (14 December 2020). "Livingston ease past Ross County to reach Scottish League Cup semi-finals". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  14. Watt, Martin (24 January 2021). "Livingston 1-0 St Mirren: David Martindale's side edge through to final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  15. Idessane, Kheredine (26 January 2021). "Livingston: David Martindale deemed fit and proper by SFA". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
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