The2020–21Scottish Cup was the 136th season of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The tournament did not have a sponsor, afterWilliam Hill's nine-year partnership with the Scottish FA came to an end following the 2019–20 tournament.^[1]

This was the second season in which a match from every round of the tournament proper was broadcast live via TV partnersPremier Sports and BBC Scotland, with one match in the first and second rounds being shown live on theBBC Scotland channel for the second time.

The defending champions wereCeltic, who won the2020 Scottish Cup Final on 20 December 2020.^[2] Celtic lost to theirOld Firm rivalsRangers in the fourth round, which was their first defeat in the competition since2015–16.^[3]

St Johnstone were the winners of the Scottish Cup, beatingHibernian 1–0 in the final on 22 May to complete a historic cup Double, becoming only the 2nd ever team outside of theOld Firm to do so since Aberdeen in the1989–90 season.^[4][5]

The calendar for the 2020–21 Scottish Cup, as announced byScottish Football Association on 27 October 2020.^[6] On 11 January 2021, the competition was suspended by the Scottish FA due to theCOVID-19 pandemic in Scotland.^[7] On 3 March 2021, new dates for the competition were announced.^[8]

The format featured several changes from the previous season because of the increased number of eligible clubs and the tournament's compressed schedule. Due to the potential for fixture congestion during theCOVID-19 pandemic,replays were not played during the 2020–21 competition.^[9]

The first preliminary round took place on the weekend of 28 November 2020. There were 26 entries at this stage - 20 from theEast of Scotland Football League, 4 from theSouth of Scotland Football League, 1 from theWest of Scotland Football League and 1 from theSJFA North Region. 22 clubs with a valid club licence received a bye to the next round.

Dunipace,Haddington Athletic,Newtongrange Star, andTranent Juniors took part in the Scottish Cup for the first time having each gained their Club Licence, along withMusselburgh Athletic who made their debut as 2019–20South & East Cup-Winners Shield winners.

Auchinleck Talbot,Burntisland Shipyard,Girvan, andGolspie Sutherland withdrew from the competition after the initial format was announced.

Clubs marked ‡ were ineligible for a bye to the second preliminary round.

Banks O' Dee, Blackburn United, Broxburn Athletic, Camelon Juniors, Coldstream, Dundonald Bluebell, Dunipace, Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare, Glasgow University, Haddington Athletic, Hawick Royal Albert United, Hill of Beath Hawthorn, Jeanfield Swifts, Linlithgow Rose, Newton Stewart, Newtongrange Star, Preston Athletic, Threave Rovers, Tranent Juniors, Tynecastle, Whitehill Welfare and Wigtown & Bladnoch received a bye to the second preliminary round.

Penicuik Athletic v Musselburgh Athletic

28 November 2020	Penicuik Athletic	2–3 (a.e.t.)	Musselburgh Athletic	Penicuik
14:30	Somerville 7',84'	[10]	Moffat 5' King 49' Downie 108'	Stadium:Penicuik Park Referee: Chris Gentles[11]

Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale vSt Cuthbert Wanderers

28 November 2020	Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale	2–1 (a.e.t.)	St Cuthbert Wanderers	Edinburgh
15:00	Mbewe 90' Ross 97'	[12]	Deland 59' (o.g.)	Stadium:Saughton Enclosure Referee: Connor Ashwood[11]

The second preliminary round took place on the weekend of 12 December 2020. Along with the two winners from the first preliminary round and 22 teams with byes, there were 28 new entries at this stage - 14 from theHighland Football League and 14 from theLowland Football League.

Forres Mechanics andGretna 2008 withdrew from the competition after the initial format was announced.

Teams inItalics were unknown at the time of the draw. Teams inBold advanced to the first round.

Jeanfield Swifts vUniversity of Stirling

12 December 2020	Jeanfield Swifts	3–1	University of Stirling	Perth
12:30	Whitehead 3' Scott 15' Reid 22'	[13]	Brown 90'	Stadium:Riverside Stadium Referee: Gary Hanvidge[11]

Hill of Beath Hawthorn vWhitehill Welfare

12 December 2020	Hill of Beath Hawthorn	2–1	Whitehill Welfare	Hill of Beath
14:30	Connelly 7' Mitchell 9'	[15]	Hornig 14'	Stadium:Keir's Park Referee: Keiran Trayner[11]

Banks O' Dee vVale of Leithen

12 December 2020	Banks O' Dee	6–1	Vale of Leithen	Aberdeen
15:00	Henderson 10' H. MacLeod 21',55' Gilmour 47' L. MacLeod 52',78'	[16]	Robertson 87'	Stadium:Spain Park Referee: Ryan Lee[11]

Blackburn United v Civil Service Strollers

12 December 2020	Blackburn United	1–1 (a.e.t.) (2–4p)	Civil Service Strollers	Blackburn
15:00	Redfern 44'	[17]	Moffat 53'	Stadium:New Murrayfield Park Referee: Steven MacDonald[11]

Clachnacuddin v Caledonian Braves

12 December 2020	Clachnacuddin	1–2	Caledonian Braves	Inverness
15:00	Callum 63'	[19]	Forrester 6' McNeil 76'	Stadium:Grant Street Park Referee: Craig Wilson[11]

Deveronvale v Camelon Juniors

12 December 2020	Deveronvale	1–4	Camelon Juniors	Banff
15:00	Noble 81'	[20]	McMullan 29',57' Docherty 42' Stowe 51'	Stadium:Princess Royal Park Referee: Colin Whyte[11]

Dunipace v Berwick Rangers

12 December 2020	Dunipace	1–3	Berwick Rangers	Denny
15:00	Davidson 27'	[21]	Nelson 31' Waugh 54' Allan 59'	Stadium:Westfield Park Referee: John Stewart[11]

Edinburgh University v Tranent Juniors

12 December 2020	Edinburgh University	1–2	Tranent Juniors	Edinburgh
15:00	Anderson 89'	[23]	Ponton 72' Lander 76'	Stadium:East Peffermill Referee: Duncan Nicolson[11]

Keith vFort William

12 December 2020	Keith	5–1	Fort William	Keith
15:00	Keith 11',14' Watt 65' Duncan 82' Brownie 90'	[26]	McConnell 35'	Stadium:Kynoch Park Referee: Ross Birrell[11]

The Spartans vEast Kilbride

12 December 2020	The Spartans	2–1	East Kilbride	Edinburgh
15:00	McCrory-Irving 13' Maxwell 85'	[32]	Healy 5'	Stadium:Ainslie Park Referee: Paul Timmons[11]

Glasgow University v Linlithgow Rose

13 December 2020	Glasgow University	1–2	Linlithgow Rose	Airdrie
16:00	Baxter 36'	[34]	Coyne 61',84'	Stadium:Excelsior Stadium Referee: Alastair Grieve[11]

Wick Academy vMusselburgh Athletic

21 December 2020	Wick Academy	3–1 (a.e.t.)	Musselburgh Athletic	Wick
19:30	Gunn 14',102' MacAdie 117'	[37]	King 87'	Stadium:Harmsworth Park Referee: Lee Robertson[11]

Formartine United vTurriff United

21 December 2020	Formartine United	2–1	Turriff United	Keith
19:45	Smith 15' McKeown 28'	[38]	Ward 51'	Stadium:Kynoch Park Referee: Dan McFarlane[11]

The first round took place on the weekend of 26 December 2020. Along with the 26 winners from the second preliminary round, there were 14 new entries at this stage - two from theHighland Football League (Brora Rangers andFraserburgh), two from theLowland Football League (Kelty Hearts andBonnyrigg Rose Athletic) and all 10 teams fromLeague Two.

The draw for the first round took place on Sunday 13 December 2020 at 10am live on theScottish Cup YouTube, Facebook and Twitter accounts.^[39]

Teams inItalics were unknown at the time of the draw. Teams inbold advanced to the second round.

Haddington Athletic v Formartine United

26 December 2020	Haddington Athletic	1–2	Formartine United	Haddington
15:00	O'Neill 88'	[40]	S. Smith 49' Lisle 90'	Stadium:Millfield Park Referee: Daniel Graves[11]

Kelty Hearts vJeanfield Swifts

26 December 2020	Kelty Hearts	2–1	Jeanfield Swifts	Kelty
15:00	Shanley 30' Easton 58'	[42]	McLeish 70'	Stadium:New Central Park Referee: Iain Snedden[11]

Gala Fairydean Rovers v Annan Athletic

26 December 2020	Gala Fairydean Rovers	1–2	Annan Athletic	Galashiels
15:00	Rodger 47'	[44]	Smith 19' Lowdon 85'	Stadium:Netherdale Referee: Stewart Luke[11]

Edinburgh City vCaledonian Braves

26 December 2020	Edinburgh City	3–1	Caledonian Braves	Edinburgh
15:00	Reid 20' (o.g.) McIntyre 51' Campbell 68'	[47]	McNeil 3'	Stadium:Ainslie Park Referee: Barry Cook[11]

Stenhousemuir vPreston Athletic

26 December 2020	Stenhousemuir	4–1	Preston Athletic	Stenhousemuir
15:00	McGuigan 16',80' Tiffoney 28' Hodge 88'	[49]	Edmond 47'	Stadium:Ochilview Referee: Kevin Graham[11]

Tranent Juniors vEast Stirlingshire

26 December 2020	Tranent Juniors	4–1	East Stirlingshire	Tranent
15:00	Watson 4' Paterson 17' Miller 29' Hawkins 45'	[53]	Dishington 63'	Stadium:Foresters Park Referee: Alastair Grieve[11]

Rothes v Fraserburgh

26 December 2020	Rothes	1–3	Fraserburgh	Rothes
15:00	Cormack 23'	[54]	Harris 33' Barbour 36',68'	Stadium:Mackessack Park Referee: Harry Bruce[11]

Dundonald Bluebell v Queen's Park

28 December 2020	Dundonald Bluebell	1–3 (a.e.t.)	Queen's Park	Kelty
19:45	Wedderburn 90'	[56]	Quitongo 48' Murray 100' Longridge 109'	Stadium:New Central Park Referee: Scott Lambie[11]

Huntly vCumbernauld Colts

6 January 2021	Huntly	3–1	Cumbernauld Colts	Aberdeen
20:00	Murison 30' McKeown 54' Elphinstone 89'	[58]	Team 3'	Stadium:Balmoral Stadium Referee: Filippo Mazzoni[11]

Camelon Juniors v Brora Rangers

11 January 2021	Camelon Juniors	1–2	Brora Rangers	Denny
19:30	Morrison 20'	[59]	MacRae 65' Nicolson 74'	Stadium:Westfield Park Referee: George Calder[11]

The second round was scheduled to take place on the weekend of 9 January 2021, however a number of matches were postponed following freezing temperatures. Along with the 20 winners from the first round, there were 20 new entries at this stage - all 10 teams fromLeague One and theChampionship.

The draw for the second round took place on Monday 28 December 2020 at 7:15pm live on theScottish Cup YouTube, Facebook and Twitter accounts.^[60] Teams inItalics were unknown at the time of the draw. Teams inbold advanced to the third round.

Forfar Athletic vLinlithgow Rose

9 January 2021	Forfar Athletic	4–1 (a.e.t.)	Linlithgow Rose	Forfar
15:00	MacKintosh 14' Fotheringham 95',101' Allan 103'	[62]	Wilson 11'	Stadium:Station Park Referee: Kevin Graham[11]

East Fife vTranent Juniors

9 January 2021	East Fife	5–1	Tranent Juniors	Methil
15:00	Agnew 40' (pen.),55',58' Watson 45' Smith 62'	[63]	Thomson 4'	Stadium:Bayview Stadium Referee: Barry Cook[11]

Fraserburgh vBanks O'Dee

9 January 2021	Fraserburgh	2–1	Banks O'Dee	Fraserburgh
15:00	Barbour 71' Beagrie 80'	[65]	Philipson 54'	Stadium:Bellslea Park Referee: Chris Graham[11]

Dundee vBonnyrigg Rose Athletic

9 January 2021	Dundee	3–2 (a.e.t.)	Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic	Dundee
19:45	Afolabi 90' Ashcroft 107' Sow 112'	[67]	Currie 25' (pen.),105' (pen.)	Stadium:Dens Park Referee: Gavin Duncan[11]

Airdrieonians v Edinburgh City

10 January 2021	Airdrieonians	0–1	Edinburgh City	Airdrie
13:00		[68]	See 65'	Stadium:Excelsior Stadium Referee: David Lowe[11]

On 11 January 2021, theScottish FA announced that competitions below the Championship would be suspended as a result of theCOVID-19 pandemic in Scotland. As a result, the remaining second round ties were postponed.^[7] The remaining matches took place on 23 March 2021.

Nairn County v Montrose

23 March 2021	Nairn County	1–7	Montrose	Nairn
19:30	MacLennan 56'	[69]	Quinn 11',25' Johnston 15',60',80' McLean 44' Hawke 70'	Stadium:Station Park Referee: Gavin Ross

Arbroath v Falkirk

23 March 2021	Arbroath	1–2	Falkirk	Arbroath
19:45	Mutch 8' (o.g.)	[71]	Telfer 42' Fotheringham 87'	Stadium:Gayfield Park Referee: David Munro

Formartine United vAnnan Athletic

23 March 2021	Formartine United	1–1 (a.e.t.) (3–1p)	Annan Athletic	Pitmedden
19:45	Wood 17'	[73]	Smith 9'	Stadium:North Lodge Park Referee: Calum Scott

Peterhead v Stenhousemuir

23 March 2021	Peterhead	0–1	Stenhousemuir	Peterhead
19:45		[76]	McGuigan 17'	Stadium:Balmoor Stadium Referee: Mike Roncone

The third round was originally scheduled to take place on the weekend of 30 January 2021 but instead took place in April 2021 as a result of theCOVID-19 pandemic in Scotland.^[7] Along with the 20 winners from the second round, there were 12 new entries at this stage - all from thePremiership.

The draw for the third round took place on Sunday 10 January 2021 at 11am live on theScottish Cup YouTube, Facebook and Twitter accounts.^[81]

Teams inItalics were unknown at the time of the draw. Teams inbold advanced to the fourth round.

Ross County v Inverness Caledonian Thistle

2 April 2021	Ross County	1–3	Inverness Caledonian Thistle	Dingwall
19:45	B. Mckay 38'	[82]	Todorov 40' D. MacKay 54' Sutherland 87'	Stadium:Victoria Park Referee:Nick Walsh

Dumbarton v Aberdeen

3 April 2021	Dumbarton	0–1	Aberdeen	Dumbarton
12:15		[83]	Hendry 84'	Stadium:Dumbarton Football Stadium Referee:Don Robertson

Dundee United vPartick Thistle

3 April 2021	Dundee United	2–1	Partick Thistle	Dundee
15:00	Shankland 78' Clark 90'	[85]	Tiffoney 25'	Stadium:Tannadice Park Referee:Steven McLean

Livingston vRaith Rovers

3 April 2021	Livingston	2–1 (a.e.t.)	Raith Rovers	Livingston
15:00	Fitzwater 70' Poplatnik 109'	[86]	Vaughan 13'	Stadium:Almondvale Stadium Referee:Bobby Madden

Brora Rangers v Stranraer

3 April 2021	Brora Rangers	1–3 (a.e.t.)	Stranraer	Brora
15:00	Gillespie 26' (pen.)	[87]	Sonkur 88' Yates 100' Orr 107'	Stadium:Dudgeon Park Referee: Scott Lambie

East Fife v Greenock Morton

3 April 2021	East Fife	1–2 (a.e.t.)	Greenock Morton	Methil
15:00	Smith 59'	[89]	McGinty 90' (pen.) Muirhead 112'	Stadium:Bayview Stadium Referee:Alan Muir

Dundee v St Johnstone

3 April 2021	Dundee	0–1	St Johnstone	Dundee
15:00		[91]	Melamed 20'	Stadium:Dens Park Referee: Craig Napier

Ayr United v Clyde

3 April 2021	Ayr United	0–1	Clyde	Ayr
15:00		[92]	Cuddihy 4'	Stadium:Somerset Park Referee: David Munro

Queen of the South v Hibernian

5 April 2021	Queen of the South	1–3	Hibernian	Dumfries
19:45	Maxwell 80'	[97]	Doidge 42',67' Boyle 70'	Stadium:Palmerston Park Referee:Willie Collum

The fourth round took place on the weekend of 17 April 2021.

The draw for the fourth round took place on Sunday 4 April 2021 at 2pm live on theScottish Cup YouTube, Facebook and Twitter accounts.^[98]

Teams inItalics were unknown at the time of the draw. Teams inBold advanced to the quarter-finals.

Following the death ofPrince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the fourth round matches were rearranged to avoid clashing with his funeral on 17 April 2021.^[99]

St Mirren vInverness Caledonian Thistle

16 April 2021	St Mirren	2–1	Inverness Caledonian Thistle	Paisley
18:00	Dennis 50' Fraser 89'	[100]	Todorov 48'	Stadium:St Mirren Park Referee:John Beaton

Motherwell vGreenock Morton

16 April 2021	Motherwell	1–1 (a.e.t.) (5–3p)	Greenock Morton	Motherwell
19:00	O'Donnell 120+1'	[101]	Fjørtoft 120+3'	Stadium:Fir Park Referee:Willie Collum
	Penalties
	O'Hara Cole Long Hastie O'Donnell		Orsi Jacobs McGinty McLean

Forfar Athletic v Dundee United

16 April 2021	Forfar Athletic	0–1	Dundee United	Forfar
19:45		[102]	Pawlett 56'	Stadium:Station Park Referee:Don Robertson

Kilmarnock vMontrose

17 April 2021	Kilmarnock	3–1	Montrose	Kilmarnock
11:45	Lafferty 6' Pinnock 24' Kiltie 61'	[103]	Ballantyne 82'	Stadium:Rugby Park Referee:Nick Walsh

Aberdeen vLivingston

17 April 2021	Aberdeen	2–2 (a.e.t.) (5–3p)	Livingston	Aberdeen
17:30	McGinn 77' Kamberi 95'	[104]	Emmanuel-Thomas 37',93' (pen.)	Stadium:Pittodrie Stadium Referee: Colin Steven
	Penalties
	Ferguson Kamberi Hendry Campbell McCrorie		Lithgow Holt Emmanuel-Thomas Taylor-Sinclair

The quarter-finals took place on the weekend of 24 April 2021.

The draw for the quarter-finals took place on Sunday 4 April 2021 at 2pm live on theScottish Cup YouTube, Facebook and Twitter accounts.^[98]

Rangers v St Johnstone

25 April 2021	Rangers	1–1 (a.e.t.) (2–4p)	St Johnstone	Glasgow
18:30	Tavernier 116'	[110]	Kane 120+2'	Stadium:Ibrox Stadium Referee:Alan Muir
	Penalties
	Tavernier Barišić Defoe Roofe		Craig Booth Kerr McCann

The semi-finals took place atHampden Park on the weekend of 8 May 2021.

The draw for the semi-finals took place on Monday 26 April 2021 live onBBC Scotland following the Kilmarnock v St Mirren tie.^[112] Teams inBold advanced to the final.

St Mirren v St Johnstone

9 May 2021	St Mirren	1–2	St Johnstone	Glasgow
14:15	McCarthy 86'	[114]	Kane 72' Middleton 74'	Stadium:Hampden Park Referee:Willie Collum

The final was played on 22 May 2021 atHampden Park inGlasgow. Originally it was scheduled for 8 May 2021 but was pushed back due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Scottish Cup was broadcast by Premier Sports and BBC Scotland.Premier Sports had the first 2 picks of Round 3 and Round 4, the quarter-finals as well as first pick of one semi-final and aired the final non-exclusively.BBC Scotland broadcast one match per round from the first round and two matches per round from the second round to the quarter-finals, as well as one semi-final and the final.

The following matches were broadcast live on UK television: