Fans of four Scottish Premiership clubs are patiently waiting with their diaries at the ready after the semi-final line-up for the Premier Sports Cup was completed on Sunday.
But Rangers fans reckon they already know they will be contesting a Sunday showdown with Motherwell for a place in the final on December 15. Why? They haven’t had a Saturday semi final at Hampden for FIFTEEN years.
That’s why the Ibrox legions are bracing themselves for the likely afternoon slot on Sunday, November 3 with Old Firm rivals Celtic and Aberdeen in the tea-time slot 24 hours earlier. There is also the fact that the Hoops host RB Leipzig in the Champions League on the Tuesday and SPFL schedulers, albeit hey will have to consider travelling fans, broadcasters and police advice into consideration, will likely be keen to give Brendan Rodgers and his men an extra day to prepare for that one. Rangers aren’t in action in Europe until the Thursday, travelling to Greece to face Olympiacos.
But the light blue legions are almost resigned to a Sunday slot. Incredibly, Rangers haven’t played a semi-final at Hampden since 2009 when they defeated St Mirren 3-0.
Rangers did land a Scottish Cup semi final against Dundee United on a Saturday during the 2013/14 season but that game was on home turf as Hampden was being renovated for the Commonwealth Games. Are they in line for another Sunday date?
List of Rangers Hampden semis in League and Scottish Cup since facing St Mirren in 2009
- 10/11 Motherwell 2-1
- 14/15 Celtic 0-2
- 15/16 Celtic 2-2 (win on pens)
- 16/17 Celtic 0-1
- 16/17 Celtic 0-2
- 17/18 Motherwell 0-2
- 17/18 Celtic 0-4
- 18/19: Aberdeen 0-1
- 19/20: Hearts 3-0
- 21/22: Hibs 1-3
- 21/22: Celtic 2-1
- 22/23: Aberdeen 2-1
- 22/23: Celtic 0-1
- 23/24: Hearts 3-1