2021 Scottish League Cup final
Event2020–21 Scottish League Cup
St Johnstone Livingston
1 0
Date28 February 2021 (2021-02-28)
VenueHampden Park, Glasgow
Man of the MatchShaun Rooney
RefereeDon Robertson
← 2019

The 2020–21 Scottish League Cup final was an association football match that took place at Hampden Park, Glasgow on 28 February 2021.[1] It was 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).

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

St Johnstone

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 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. Hibs started strongly but goals from Jason Kerr Shaun Rooney and Craig Conway saw Saints run out comfortable 3–0 winners.[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]

Livingston 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, Livingston 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 Livingston 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 Livingston 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

Summary

In the 32nd minute Craig Conway hit an out swinging corner from the right which Shaun Rooney headed down to the right corner from seven yards out, Livingston goalkeeper Robby McCrorie got a hand to the ball to push it against the post and into the net.[16]

Details

St Johnstone1–0Livingston
Rooney 32' [17]
Hampden Park, Glasgow
Referee: Don Robertson
St Johnstone
Livingston
GK 1 Scotland Zander Clark
CB 5 Scotland Jason Kerr (c)
CB 6 Scotland Liam Gordon Yellow card 82'
CB 4 Scotland Jamie McCart
RM 19 Scotland Shaun Rooney
CM 18 Northern Ireland Ali McCann
CM 26 Scotland Liam Craig
LM 24 Scotland Callum Booth
AM 7 Scotland Craig Conway downward-facing red arrow 77'
AM 10 Canada David Wotherspoon
FW 9 Scotland Chris Kane Yellow card 89'
Substitutes:
DF 2 England James Brown
DF 3 England Scott Tanser
FW 11 Scotland Michael O'Halloran
GK 12 England Elliot Parish
MF 13 Scotland Craig Bryson
FW 14 Scotland Stevie May upward-facing green arrow 77'
MF 15 Scotland Charlie Gilmour
FW 17 Israel Guy Melamed
Manager:
Scotland Callum Davidson
GK 1 Scotland Robby McCrorie
RB 2 Scotland Nicky Devlin
CB 25 Nigeria Efe Ambrose
CB 27 England Jon Guthrie
LB 12 France Julien Serrano Yellow card 90'
CM 33 Togo Steve Lawson downward-facing red arrow 60'
CM 18 Scotland Jason Holt downward-facing red arrow 71'
AM 14 Scotland Josh Mullin downward-facing red arrow 65'
AM 8 Scotland Scott Pittman downward-facing red arrow 65'
AM 6 England Marvin Bartley (c) Yellow card 80'
FW 17 Scotland Scott Robinson
Substitutes:
DF 5 England Jack Fitzwater
FW 9 England Jay Emmanuel-Thomas upward-facing green arrow 71'
MF 10 Scotland Craig Sibbald upward-facing green arrow 60'
MF 11 Scotland Alan Forrest upward-facing green arrow 65'
FW 20 Scotland Gavin Reilly upward-facing green arrow 65'
DF 21 Scotland Jack McMillan
DF 29 Scotland Aaron Taylor-Sinclair
GK 32 Poland Max Stryjek
FW 37 Republic of Ireland Jaze Kabia
Manager:
Scotland David Martindale
Match officials
Match rules
  • 90 minutes
  • 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level
  • Maximum of five substitutions (1 additional in any extra-time)

References

  1. ^ "Betfred Cup dates confirmed". SPFL. 20 July 2020. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  2. ^ "Kelty Hearts v St Johnstone". BBC Sport. 7 October 2020. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  3. ^ "St Johnstone v Brechin City". BBC Sport. 10 October 2020. Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Peterhead v St Johnstone". BBC Sport. 14 November 2020. Archived from the original on 21 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. Archived from the original on 7 December 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  7. ^ a b c McLauchlin, Brian (15 December 2020). "Dunfermline Athletic 1-1 St Johnstone (AET - 3-4 on penalties)". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. 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. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Stenhousemuir v Livingston". BBC Sport. 10 November 2020. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  10. ^ "Livingston v Alloa Athletic". BBC Sport. 10 October 2020. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  11. ^ "Livingston v Airdrieonians". BBC Sport. 14 November 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  12. ^ a b c Barnes, John (28 November 2020). "Livingston thrash Ayr United 4-0 in first game since Gary Holt exit". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 11 December 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  13. ^ a b c McLauchlin, Brian (14 December 2020). "Livingston ease past Ross County to reach Scottish League Cup semi-finals". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. 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. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  15. ^ a b Idessane, Kheredine (26 January 2021). "Livingston: David Martindale deemed fit and proper by SFA". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  16. ^ "St Johnstone sink Livingston to claim their first Scottish League Cup". Guardian. 28 February 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  17. ^ Lindsay, Clive (28 February 2021). "Livingston 0-1 St Johnstone: St Johnstone edge Livingston to lift cup". bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
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